Creating cultural change with the science of joy

Equity initiatives fail because they lack the strategic framework to survive institutional pressure and longevity.

At The Joy Praxis, we help teams move beyond performative gestures to build the structural habits and accountable practices required for sustainable change. We treat joy as a a daily intention, a method for decision-making, and a leadership skill.

A woman with curly red hair, glasses, and earrings crossing her arms and smiling, wearing a blue and white striped shirt and beige pants, standing in front of cream-colored curtains.

The latest from Dr. Dev

Hear Dr. Dev on the latest episode of Culture Stew. What is the role academics play in institutions, especially in the classroom, when it comes to supporting students' critical thinking around social issues? As we struggle with questions around free speech and what can or cannot be taught on campuses, how do educators navigate these issues, not necessarily from an administrative perspective, but from a student-focused one? 

We’ve worked with incredible partners nationwide

  • Commodities Future Trading Commission

  • Northwestern University

  • Pennsylvania State University

  • Warren Township School District: Gurnee, Illinois

  • Western Kentucky University: The Society of Black Alumni

  • Wittenberg University

  • Chickasaw Nation Industries

Joy is the method, praxis is the path

We bridge the gap between "knowing" and "doing" by helping leaders build the internal capacity for long-term institutional change.

Our work is rooted in the understanding that for equity to be sustainable, it must be felt in the body and embedded in the culture. We move your mission from survival mode into high-performance environments by integrating the three dimensions of human capacity:

  • Cognitive (Thinking): Moving from theory to strategic frameworks.

  • Emotional (Feeling): Building the resilience to lead through cultural pressure.

  • Somatic (Being): Embedding equity into the nervous system and daily habits.


“Drawing on her expertise as a professor, she excels at leading thought-provoking conversations and presenting complex ideas in a clear, engaging way, while tailoring each session to maximize every participant's learning experience.”

Ingrid T.
Project Manager, Chickasaw Nation Industries

From good intentions to real impact

Sustained change requires designing a plan that turns theory into practice and moves your organization to a deeper level of maturity. We provide the liberatory support and rigorous assessment needed to match your mission to your daily operations.

Equity Assessments and Policy Audits
A thorough review of policies, procedures, and language to identify structural inequities and bridge the gap between values and operations.

Curriculum Development
Creating custom, care-centered tools that translate complex theory into daily, actionable habits.

Facilitated Learning and Retreats
Designing the "brave space" required for communal growth, somatic integration, and deep cultural shifting.

Somatic and Care-Centered Offerings
Prioritizing restoration as a strategic form of resistance to prevent burnout and sustain the work.

Strategic Consulting
Building the structural frameworks that move equity from a goal to a lived institutional reality.

M.Code Coaching
Maps behavior, helping leaders and teams align their decision-making, reduce burnout, and move with confidence

Read from The Joy Praxis on Substack

Dr. Dev’s latest featured articles.

BLOCKED! by Devin M. Moran, Ph.D.

get out of here...scram... (or maybe let's work on boundaries)

Read on Substack

When Recognition Evaporates... by Devin M. Moran, Ph.D.

joy and pain... and a little more Ph.D reflection

Read on Substack
  • “Whether she’s tackling the less glamorous aspects of scheduling and operations or leading the more dynamic work of program design, facilitation, and relationship-building over long engagements, she brings thoughtfulness and care to everything she does.”

    Melissa G.
    Head of Strategic Operations & Client Solutions