The Art of Questioning

The art of questioning—both asking and seeking answers—has been a unifying influence in the career of Dr. Margaret Calkins. From early childhood dinner table discussions to critically framed empirical research questions that seek to deepen our knowledge of how the built environment influences well-being and quality of life for older adults, it is the process of asking and seeking answers to questions that has provided the foundation of her work. High levels of empathy and compassion developed by working in a memory care setting for 5 years, seeing the ways people living with dementia worked to make sense of their surroundings and remain fully engaged in meaningful relationships and their community. She translated this passion into a career that focused on pragmatic solutions though consulting, research, and ultimately academia and philanthropy.