Visualizing the Impact of Neglectful Parenting

For Dr. Maria Schmeeckle’s keynote at Illinois State University (November 7, 2025), I created a series of 8 full-color illustrations, 5 spot illustrations, and 5 diagrammatic charts to visually communicate the developmental effects of neglectful parenting. The work translated complex psychological concepts into clear, compelling visuals, helping to convey the emotional and developmental insights of the presentation to an academic audience.

Dr. Maria Schmeeckle served as a faculty member in the Sociology and Anthropology department at Illinois State University. Her teaching and research focused on children and youth, families, aging/social gerontology, and sex & gender.

In 2015, she co‑led the wrap‑up session of the University’s International Studies Seminar series on the theme “Global Knowledge, Global Attitudes, Global Skills.”

She is an inspiring, incredible woman to work with, of whom I admire deeply. She made the decision to step away from her full faculty position after about 20 years of fulfilling, impactful service, while continuing to work on a book manuscript and collaborate on a theatre project involving adult children and their parents.