Do You Measure Up?

measuring tape

Author: Kerry Ann Rockquemore, PhD It’s been quite a journey over the past five weeks of our collective work to overcome academic perfectionism. We calculated the costs of perfectionism, we learned what the cycle of perfectionismlooks like and how to disrupt it, and we explored concrete strategies for overcoming perfectionism in teaching, service and writing. I love that so many of you experimented with … Read more

Post-Tenure Pathways

train tracks

Author: Kerry Ann Rockquemore, PhD Originally posted on Inside Higher Ed. Recent news documenting the unhappy state of associate professors was unsurprising to me. I travel to different campuses every week and one of the most frequent requests I receive is to help “stuck” associate professors find their mid-career mojo. And there’s nothing quite like walking into … Read more

The Costs of Perfectionism

nobody is perfect

Author: Kerry Ann Rockquemore, PhD Originally posted on Inside Higher Ed. One of the most pervasive problems I see among academic writers is perfectionism. It’s so ubiquitous and manifests in so many ugly ways that I’ve decided to dedicate a five-part series to overcoming academic perfectionism. And yes, there’s a unique flavor to academic perfectionism and … Read more

Some Thoughts on Writing a “Winning” Book Proposal

sticky notes

Author: Badia Ahad, PhD As a graduate student, I had a lot of difficulties writing the dissertation. I was told by my readers that I needed to “bolster” my language, that my analysis could be pushed “further,” and that my arguments were too diffuse. These kinds of criticisms are not uncommon for dissertation projects, but … Read more

Moving from Associate to Full Professor: Advice and Lessons Learned

lessons

Author: Joy Gaston Gayles, PhD I have been a full professor for a year now. Recently, I was asked to reflect on my experience, given that less than 2% of full professors are African American women. As the first African American in my program area and department to reach this milestone, and one of less … Read more

Writing While Living the Life of an Administrator

administrator writing at computer

Author: Barbara Risman, PhD Nearly all university administrators are really faculty in disguise. We take jobs in administration for a variety of reasons. Whether we are a Department Head, Associate Dean, Dean or Provost, most of us want to both do our jobs well and remain active in our fields as researchers and writers who publish … Read more

Some Thoughts on Writing a “Winning” Book Proposal

winning

Author: Badia Ahad, PhD As a graduate student, I had a lot of difficulties writing the dissertation. I was told by my readers that I needed to “bolster” my language, that my analysis could be pushed “further,” and that my arguments were too diffuse. These kinds of criticisms are not uncommon for dissertation projects, but … Read more

Are You a Professor, A Writer or Both?

writer or professor or both

Author: Barbara Risman, PhD In the 21st Century with higher education budgets shrinking from state legislatures, and small liberal arts colleges going bankrupt, it’s a stressful time to be a professor. The standards seem to keep rising for getting a job, getting tenured and promoted. Yet, for many of us, this is the life we want.  The freedom to … Read more

Writing After Tenure

writing typewriter

Author: Barbara Risman, PhD Congratulations on your tenure!  You are one of the few Americans left with any sort of job security.   After more than two decades of education, and at least six years, and probably more, of precarious employment, you have arrived at your Associate Professorship.  You know just how lucky you are. You’ve worked very hard, … Read more

It Takes a Village, or Maybe Just a Good, Strong Bicycle Wheel: Supporting Dual-Career Families

work and family

Author: Elizabeth Ancarana, PhD. Dual-career matters have become such a significant component of faculty recruitment and retention that you can’t talk about one without the other. Since most of our faculty have working partners and spouses—some of whom are also academics, some in other professions—providing dual-career assistance can be crucial for a successful recruitment for … Read more