Career and life coaching for academics
An academic job is actually many jobs in one: teacher, administrator, researcher, writer, mentor, project manager, curriculum developer, public expert... I could go on. So how do you decide, on any given day, where to invest your time, energy, hope, and aspirations? Last week I was away on a writing retreat with three colleagues with… Continue reading The work versus the job
Not surprisingly, the first article I ever submitted for peer review was rejected. When I opened the envelope and saw the decision (yes, this was back in the day when journals still had paper submissions), I immediately stuffed the reviews back into the envelope and shoved the envelope deep in a drawer. I never read… Continue reading Vulnerability and academic work
Let's face it: your average introverted academic would rather encounter the three terrors of the fire swamp than a conference networking event. And who can blame us? The awkwardness of small talk combined with the pressure of meeting the people who will review your publications, assess your grant proposals, and rank your job applications is… Continue reading Conference networking, or, surviving the terrors of the academic fire swamp
Normally at this time of year (spring), I'm getting ready to head to one of the big annual geography conferences. Although I'm taking a break this year, I'm noticing my colleagues' excitement as they share news of their upcoming panels and presentations across social media. At their best, academic conferences let us share research, catch… Continue reading Conference presentations: 6 ways to make an impact
One of the supposed perks of academic work is the flexibility to set your own schedule. With regular breaks from teaching built into the academic calendar, it should be easy for scholars to take time off, relax, and recharge. Unfortunately, this very flexibility often translates into a lack of boundaries and an inability to truly… Continue reading How to take time off