Author: NCFDD For a long time, academic mentorship has followed a familiar formula: a junior scholar is paired with a more senior colleague—someone with experience, wisdom, and insider knowledge. This “guru model” was once the gold standard, designed for a time when faculty careers were more linear, roles more narrowly defined, and success pathways more … Read more
Author: NCFDD In our recent webinar, Navigating Uncertainty in Higher Ed: Approaches for Academic Leaders, we focused on the most pressing concerns that higher education leaders face and shared strategies for guiding institutions and supporting faculty through these challenging times. Throughout the discussion, we heard from a panel of experts—Dr. Lisa Hanasono, Dr. Alison Levine, Dr. … Read more
Author: NCFDD As we continue exploring the complexities of navigating uncertainty in academia, our second webinar in the Navigating Uncertainty series focused on one of the most pressing concerns for faculty: research funding. In this session, we examined how faculty can adapt to shifting funding landscapes, identify new opportunities, and leverage both institutional support and external resources … Read more
Author: NCFDD If you ask most faculty whether mentoring matters, the answer is almost always yes. But if you ask whether their mentoring experiences are actually helping them thrive? That’s where the conversation shifts. Many faculty enter academia expecting mentorship to be a meaningful part of their growth. They’re told they’ll get guidance on research, … Read more
Author: NCFDD Uncertainty is a defining feature of academia today. From shifting funding landscapes and evolving institutional priorities to broader political and social changes, faculty are continuously navigating unpredictable terrain. During our recent webinar, Navigating Change and Uncertainty in Higher Education: Approaches for Faculty, we explored strategies to manage these challenges, break the cycle of overwhelm, … Read more
Author: Steve Lee, PhD In an upcoming workshop, I’ll be offering some strategies to help faculty find and manage relationships with mentors. My approach has been to encourage faculty to “mentor up”, i.e. to learn how to pro-actively engage with their mentors, which is based on Gabarro’s and Kotter’s original concept of “managing up”. When Gabarro … Read more
Author: Tasha Souza, PhD I run a monthly seminar for new faculty and, during one meeting, I had a smaller group of only women. We had time for general questions and they wanted to know more about the best ways to set themselves up well for retirement. I thought this a strange request, given they … Read more
Author: Julia Staffel, PhD At the end of November in 2022, OpenAI launched ChatGPT, a text-generating AI with never-before-seen capabilities of producing almost any type of text with the click of a button. Students immediately realized the potential of using it for their assignments, easily generating essays and code, while avoiding being caught by existing … Read more
Author: Carlita Favero, PhD When I think back to 2009 or so when I was starting my first professional pivot, I was at a point in my career where I was transitioning into the next expected phase, a faculty position, but I was seeking employment at an institution very different from the ones I had … Read more
Author: NCFDD The challenges that face academics in today’s fast-paced environment can often be overwhelming, leading to a state of chronic stress. Stress, especially when prolonged, can have detrimental effects on both physical health and overall well-being, and it can seriously hinder productivity in both personal and professional life. In these demanding times, it is … Read more