Donna is going to give a “MuddTalk” at our alma mater. This virtual presentation is open to all Harvey Mudd College students, alumni, parents, and community members.

We talk a lot about exercise, nutrition, and sleep when it comes to staying healthy, but we rarely talk about social connection. And yet, decades of research show that loneliness has real, measurable effects on the body, from increased inflammation and stress hormones to higher risks of heart disease, cognitive decline, and early mortality.

In this talk, we’ll unpack the science behind why feeling connected matters so much to our health, how modern life can quietly push us toward isolation, and why loneliness isn’t a personal failing but a biological signal. This MuddTalk will take us through an evidence-based perspective for why human connection is a foundational, and often overlooked, component of well-being.