Tracy Maxwell

Tracy Maxwell is an entrepreneur, river guide, speaker, retreat leader, author, blogger, traveler, and all-around adventurer. A journalist by education, she has spent most of her professional career in higher education, first as a traveling consultant for two different organizations, next on a college campus in Wisconsin, then on the staff of a national college speakers agency (ending her time there as CEO), and most recently as the founder and executive director of the nonprofit HazingPrevention.Org, dedicated to empowering people to prevent hazing.

Maxwell is also a survivor. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2006, she underwent surgery, chemo and other mainstream treatments and had a clean bill of health for 4 years before doctors discovered new masses. Through, now, four recurrences, she has turned to other ways to deal with cancer, including diet, emotional well-being, spiritual growth and alternative therapies.

Perhaps her greatest therapy during three bouts with the “C” word has been her writing. She started writing her blog, “A Single Cell,” to mark her one-year “cancerversary” (the anniversary of her diagnosis) and published a book based on her blog, Being Single, With Cancer: A Solo Survivor’s Guide to Life, Love, Health & Happiness.

Maxwell’s blog and book both focus on the unique challenges of facing cancer and surviving it without that special partner or a built-in support system. Her work now, whether talking about hazing with college students, leading trips and workshops for single people, or coaching those diagnosed with cancer, focuses on helping people heal on mental, emotional, physical and spiritual levels. Her events and coaching highlight the importance of connection, community and self-love.