 | |
Below are brief introductions to our eight virtual mentors (Christy, TJ, Emma, Geoff, Zelig, Talia, Susan and John)
who include a post-doc, an administrator, and tenure-track, adjunct,
and visiting faculty. They are employed at public and private schools,
research and teaching institutions and reflect a diversity of goals,
experiences, disciplinary field, gender, and ethnicity.
They
share something with most of you -- they all were graduate students at
a research-oriented university before entering the job market. (And the
three who are ABD -- All But Dissertation -- remain graduate
students...for a while.) We hope their experiences and advice are
helpful to you...in answering some questions and in posing others. We
hope they can help you prepare for the challenges ahead and the success
that follows.
Christy
My name is Christy, and I finished my Ph.D. in Physical/Analytical
Chemistry in June of 2003 at a Doctoral/Research-Extensive (DR EXT)
university. While writing my dissertation, I interviewed for both
post-doctoral and tenure-track faculty positions. Both job searches
were successful (much to my surprise!), and I will start a tenure track
position at a top 25 school in Fall 2005; this fall I start a
post-doctoral position at the top-ranked institution for Analytical
Chemistry. My post-doctoral work is in a significantly different area
from my doctoral work. While I complete my post-doc, my partner will
work on an MBA at the same institution. Thankfully, he is flexible and
willing to move again in two years.
TJ
Hi, my name is TJ, and I was recently hired as a visiting instructor at
a Baccalaureate-General college. Because I am still ABD -- all but
dissertation to finish my Ph.D. in history a top (11th) ranked research
university, my faculty rank here is instructor. I will be teaching as
well as striving to finish my dissertation ASAP. So, in addition to
discussing my first year as a professor here at SPLAC, I also can
entertain you with stories of my job search! I am a family man, married
with one son and another one on the way. I'll bring a variety of
perspectives and roles to The Virtual Mentor as an ABD, a job
candidate, a husband and father, and a visiting instructor -- one who
had been advised to treat the position as if it were tenure-track. I'll
write more about that advice soon.
Emma
My name is Emma, and I received my
Ph.D. in English in 2001 at a Doctoral/Research -Extensive university.
I remained at the same institution and am employed as a full-time
lecturer. Each semester I teach four undergraduate classes -- freshmen
to seniors -- with some opportunity to teach in the summer. I also
serve on departmental committees, advise a few select students, and
have occasional university and departmental responsibilities, such as
acting/interim administrator positions. As a graduate student, I
received the departmental teaching award, the University's Chancellor
Award for excellence in teaching, and this past year I received an
award as outstanding experienced tutor in the University Writing
Center. I am entering my third year on the job market.
Geoff
My name is Geoff, and I am completing my Ph.D. in marketing and supply
chain management at a Doctoral/Research-Extensive (DR EXT) institution
and starting a tenure-track position at a Doctoral/Research-Intensive
(DR INT). My job search foray involved accepting an initial position at
a DR EXT, the birth of my first child, wrangling with a promising but
frustrating dissertation, and then later accepting a position at the DR
INT, which was also my undergraduate alma mater.
Zelig
My name is Zelig, and I am
currently working at a community college in California, near Monterey,
so you can all feel sorry for me right off the bat, 15 minutes from the
ocean, perfect weather, it's a hard life. I am currently and possibly
forever ABD in Biology. I started my position a year ago; I found the
job by accident. While looking at a biology position I saw a link to a
position for the director of the Math, Engineering, and Science
Achievement (MESA) Program. The MESA Program assists educationally and
financially disadvantaged students in the sciences, math and nursing.
It's an administrative position that was a good match for my incredibly
diverse background in advising, science, teaching, and management. I
wanted to be at the community college level to focus on teaching and
student interaction…and here I am. The first year was a whirlwind --
successful -- and has led to another position at the college this year.
In fact, I may be the only person in California to be helped by the
state budget crisis, but more about that later.
Talia
My name is Talia. I just defended my dissertation and am continuing in
a full-time administrative position at a teaching-learning center at
the 11th ranked private DR EXT. I haven't had to contend with the
dual-career search yet but will soon when my partner finishes graduate
school. I got this position by being in the right place at the right
time. I started working part-time in this office as a graduate student
and was asked to apply for a full-time position, on the condition that
I finish my degree in a year. Miracle of miracles, I defended a few
months ago after balancing working full time for the past year and
writing each day. Now I'm adjusting to "just" working full-time and
deciding which way to go with my career. Trying to stay in the moment
and enjoy my current position this year was quite a trial with the
dissertation looming while I worked. I'm constantly trying to figure
out whether to stay on this track (perhaps moving up within
administration at another university), pursue a full-time academic job,
or leave academia for nonprofit work. It's hard to know which path to
pursue, which path will suit me best. I suspect I'll figure this out
and report on the decision making process as I manage this struggle
throughout the year.
Susan
Hello! My name is Susan and I
obtained a Ph.D. degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology over 2
years ago from a Doctoral/Research-Extensive (DR EXT) institution. I
had to make a (hard) decision during my job search process with regards
to becoming a professor in a psychology department or in a business
school. (I could have done either because my doctoral degree was a
joint program in both). Many people informed me that it would be hard
to switch from one of these locations within a university to another
(if I would ever want to make the change at some point in my career). I
ended up choosing the business school option and am very happy! I'm
currently working as a visiting professor at a
Doctoral/Research-Extensive (DR EXT) institution. I took a leave of
absence from my tenure track position at a private university located
in a large metropolitan area to explore what it would be like to work
at a state university located on a rural campus. I've discovered that
it was a risk worth taking and am interested in finding a tenure track
position in such a setting now. If it hadn't been for this opportunity
to work as a visiting professor, I would have never been able to
discover this within myself. Finding an academic position at the
"right" university for you is no easy task and I'm here to share my
experiences, thoughts, and insights about this journey. You'll also
hear about my efforts toward finding a "home" for myself (i.e., my
quest to live in a great location, near a big city, at a university
with a research emphasis). Wish me luck! Stay tuned…
John
Hello. My name is John--I'm completing my dissertation in American
literature at a DR-EXT and have just begun a one-year visiting
instructor position at a DR-INT in North Carolina. I'll be teaching a
3/3 load of literature and writing courses, finishing my dissertation,
and exploring the job market this year (though I'd hope to be able to
stay in this area until a permanent position becomes available). I had
the option of remaining in a graduate assistant position
(administrative, rather than teaching or research) at my graduate
institution, accepting a one-year offer at another research university
in Minnesota, or taking the position here in North Caroline. But based
on the pay offered, the quality of the school, the favorable teaching
load, small classes, and the location (i.e. mild climate, good cost of
living and quality of life), I decided to opt for the southern route!
So far, my experience here has been wonderful. The department has been
very welcoming and supportive, the resources are impressive for a
school of this size, and the students seem smart, eager, and unusually
respectful toward their professors. (Is this a southern quality or a
small school quality?). I'm still getting adjusted to the pace of life
here (slow) and the pace of the work (fast), so it's been a challenge
getting into the swing of things. But it's nice to be in a place and a
position where I'm no longer seen primarily as a "student" and where
finally I'm given a chance to try the role as "colleague." I look
forward to sharing my experience with all of you.
| |
