Lewis Honors College to Host Talk on Why ‘30 is Not the New 20’

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 23, 2018) — The University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College will host author and psychologist Meg Jay next week, who plans to tell students that “30 Is Not the New 20.”

Jay will be the inaugural speaker of the Lewis Honors College Speaker Series, and her talk will begin 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, at the Lewis Honors College.

Jay is an associate professor of education and clinical psychologist at the University of Virginia where she teaches and researches adult development. Her latest book, “Supernormal: The Untold Story of Adversity and Resilience,” is an examination of those who have overcome childhood adversity to become high-functioning adults. Jay is also the author of “The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now,” that details what psychologists, sociologists, neurologists, economists and reproductive specialists know about the power of the 20-something years.

“We are so pleased that Dr. Meg Jay will be first in our Lewis Honors College Speaker Series," said Christian Brady, dean of the UK Lewis Honors College. "Her message encouraging students to understand the unique opportunities of the time of life they are entering into is timely and vital. Our 20s are an age of opportunity, a time of growth and learning that will provide us a firm foundation from which to build their lives."

Her work has appeared in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Psychology Today and on NPR. Jay is also known for her TED Talk “Why Your 20s matter,” that was named by Forbes.com as one of the five bright, inspiring ideas from the 2013 conference in Long Beach, California. It was also chosen as one of 15 “TED Talks That Will Change Your Life” on mashable.com.

During “30 Is Not the New 20,” Jay will use her 15 years of experience to discuss the power of the decade, why it matters and how to make the most of the years.