Her Story
About Alison
Alison Guthrie is a researcher conducting work at Illinois State University while transitioning into a PhD program in systems engineering. She earned her master's degree in cognitive and experimental psychology from Illinois State University and specializes in human factors within healthcare contexts, studying decision-making under conditions of ambiguity or stress. Since 2022, Guthrie has engaged in disability advocacy and public policy, authoring and co-authoring two pieces of legislation in Arkansas that passed to improve accommodations for students with disabilities in higher education. Her personal experience with a chronic illness diagnosed in 2020 has informed her commitment to accessibility and equity. She is a member of the National Weather Association, Disability and Advocacy Research Network, American Psychological Association, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Midwestern Psychological Association, Psychonomic Society, and Spark Society. Guthrie has received a fellowship with her PhD offer, a nomination for the Charter Department Graduate Student Excellence Award at Illinois State, the Dr. Judy Smithson Award, and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation award for Arkansas. She attributes her sustainable success to strict self-care routines developed through managing her health.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alison
01What do you attribute your success to?
Having a chronic illness taught me that rest is important. People think working hard and long hours and sacrificing everything is what gets you successful, but that's only short-term. Long-term sustainable success comes from self-care. I have very strict routines, put my phone away at 6:37 in the evening, have scheduled days off where I do absolutely nothing, get 8 hours of sleep, take good care of my health, and don't commit to things when I don't have the emotional space.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I was told in my first job that you should always outwork the person next to you, but it seems kind of toxic and capitalistic, so I'm not sure if it was great advice.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Success isn't dependent upon exceptional ability or intelligence. It's built from good habits and consistency. If you can create and sustain habits that put you in a position to be able to do well, that's the difference between someone who is successful versus someone who's not.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Accessibility is a huge issue in every field. It's often not a forethought but an afterthought. It's both a challenge because it's not there and an opportunity to grow and develop accessibility so it becomes more of a forethought.
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