Some feminists don't like the Dr. Karen method. By the Dr. Karen method I mean my practice of telling women to stop acting “like girls” and to start learning to recognize and master the codes of power and authority that operate in academic settings, … [Read more...] about Stop Acting Like a Girl! A Response to Feminist Critics
Strategizing Your Success in Academia
Women Fail, But Men Bomb: A Special Request Post for Guys on the Market
Today's post is a Special Request post for Jon, who wrote very good-naturedly to ask, “You have much advice for women. Got any male-specific advice for the ABD, on-the-market sort of guy?” Jon went on to ask, “did you ever meet a promising job or … [Read more...] about Women Fail, But Men Bomb: A Special Request Post for Guys on the Market
Is That Your Final Answer? Or, Why Graduate Students Ramble
Graduate students ramble. The question is not, do you ramble. The question is, why. I was on the phone with a client last week, working on interview responses for an upcoming fellowship interview, and for the first time, I understood the answer to … [Read more...] about Is That Your Final Answer? Or, Why Graduate Students Ramble
Wanted: The Academic Equivalent of the “Pretty Girl Rock”
Today's post is a Guest Post by Kristen Ghodsee, John S. Osterweis Associate Professor of Gender and Women's Studies, and Director of the Gender and Women's Studies Program, at Bowdoin College. I originally got in touch with Kristen to … [Read more...] about Wanted: The Academic Equivalent of the “Pretty Girl Rock”
Do. Or Do Not. There Is No Try. (Academic Writing and The Force)
The best piece of advice about writing that I got as a graduate student came from my external Ph.D. committee member, a full professor in the English department. A poet and a romantic and undoubtedly a former or current pot smoker, he was much more … [Read more...] about Do. Or Do Not. There Is No Try. (Academic Writing and The Force)
Interviewing and Confidence
This past week I did a handful of “Interview Bootcamp” sessions with clients, and will soon have many more. People are starting to look ahead hopefully to the pain and the glory of conference interviews and campus visits. And it got me thinking … [Read more...] about Interviewing and Confidence
Memo to Professors: How Useless Are You? Really?
Regular readers of this blog know that I use this space for focused advice for young academics on overcoming specific pitfalls and challenges in the academic career—how to write an abstract, apply for a grant, deal with a difficult advisor, etc. I … [Read more...] about Memo to Professors: How Useless Are You? Really?
Finding Mentors
Today's post is a Special Request post for Lauri, who is a new assistant professor, and wishes to know how to cultivate mentors on campus. Regular readers of this blog will know that I frequently mention the importance of cultivating mentors on … [Read more...] about Finding Mentors
What is Evidence of Teaching Excellence?
Today's post is a Special Request post for quite a few clients, who wanted to know what is meant when a job ad asks for “Evidence of Teaching Excellence.” I want to state at the outset that I have only a few thoughts to offer on this subject, and … [Read more...] about What is Evidence of Teaching Excellence?
Be Careful What You Wish For
Amanda Krauss left a position at Vanderbilt to become a web developer in Austin. I got to know Amanda when I approached her about writing a Guest Post on her blog, the post that ended up as "Death of a Soul (on Campus)." I loved her spirit from … [Read more...] about Be Careful What You Wish For