The Professor Is In

Guidance for all things PhD: Graduate School, Job Market and Careers

Ex-Academics: A TPIO Support Community

It’s happening!

 

What It Is

Ex-Academics: A TPIO Support Community (affectionately knows as ExAcs) is a private, sliding scale, membership-only team-led online support group for any academic considering leaving academia, at any level and any stage of that process.  All are welcome, no matter where you are in your journey, from initial contemplation stage to actually applying and interviewing for non-academic jobs.

An offshoot of the Professor Is Out private Facebook group, this support community is led by a team of coaches who have all made the transition out of academia ourselves, and who are dedicated to trauma-informed principles in offering support and resources for this difficult process.

What You Get

Access to a private membership page [hosted on the Honeycommb platform] for sharing thoughts, feelings, anxieties, resources, support and advice.

Access, on the membership page, to regular contributions of advice, techniques, resources and more from the team of facilitators.

Access to 2 live events a month, led by a facilitator or guest speaker, on topics such as goal setting, discerning priorities and values, recognizing and coping with academia trauma, setting boundaries with nay-sayers, and dealing with fear and anxiety. Some of the live events will be open Q&A with Dr. Karen Kelsky.

An exclusive 30% discount code to the new Leaving Academia Speaker Series that will run concurrently Sept-May.

What It Costs

The support group is sliding scale, recognizing that for many this time of transition is also a time of great financial stress.   All of the facilitator team are paid – nobody associated with The Professor Is In/Out is ever expected to work for free as that expectation is the very core of the toxicity of academia. Your membership fees make the group sustainable.

$20/month – “I’m Done” Level membership

  • Access to page and all live events
  • 30% discount code for 2022-23 Prof Is Out Speaker Series webinars

$40/month –  “See Ya” Level membership

  • Access to page and all live events
  • 30% discount code for 2022-23 Prof Is Out Speaker Series webinars
  • Free access to our Art of Leaving program, a $45 value

$60/month – “Outta Here “Level membership

 

Ready to Join?

Clicking below takes you to the Honeycommb platform; you have to create an account (free) and then you’ll see our Ex-Acs subscription options – choose the tier you want, subscribe, and you’re in!*

 

Who Is On The Team

Dr. Karen Kelsky

Dr. Karen Kelsky is the founder and CEO of The Professor Is In, and the founder of the private Facebook group, The Professor Is Out.  She has been writing, speaking and coaching on leaving academia since her own traumatic transition out of the academy in 2010. Since that time she has observed the trickle of academics transitioning out turn into a tidal wave.  And yet the journey remains a lonely and isolated one for most, fraught with judgment from advisors and peers, and lack of support. That led her to create the Facebook group, which in turn showed the vast unmet need for not just logistical advice, but also emotional support that recognizes the trauma of the transition. While individual coaching  is always available, Karen realized that a low-cost, accessible option is urgently needed; this new support group seeks to fill that gap.

 

Dr. Karina Batistelli

Dr. Karina Batistelli is an Argentinian mathematician and also a certified ontological coach. After 18 years of suffering from paralizing imposter feelings she discovered ontological coaching, which provided her with the tools that allowed her to overcome it. She now helps other (former and current) academics do the same. She also coaches people who are looking for or going through change find and carve their own path by helping them understand and hone their conversational and emotional skills. Another one of her superpowers is facilitating fun, creative workshops that help people gain clarity in a light-hearted way. She has experience helping high-functioning teams improve their productvity by using different time-effective team-building dynamics. With her you will find a safe, judgement-free and confidential space where you can make whatever personal or professional decision that is best for you. She is looking forward to embarking in this journey with you and safely navigating these waters together.

Dr. Sumi Raghavan

Dr. Sumi Raghavan is a licensed clinical psychologist and former psychology professor who walked away from tenure and couldn’t be happier about it.  Sumi is a cross-cultural researcher who is interested in the ways in which contexts affect behavior, and clinically, enjoys working with diverse client populations.  One of her areas of specialty is trauma, and another is workplace stress, which led her to connect with Karen about coaching on the TPIO support group platform.  As a practicing psychologist, Sumi has worked with many clients coping with workplace and career stress, and as a former academic, she knows how difficult it is to walk away from something you’ve worked hard to achieve.  As a woman of color, she’s also tuned into issues of intersectionality and the specific challenges that folks on the margins may experience in systems like academia. She’s warm, curious and thoughtful, and looks forward to helping you all navigate this transition.  Find her at www.drsumiphd.com.

Dr. Nelson Zounlome

Nelson O. O. Zounlome, Ph.D., is the Founder, CEO, and a mental health & academic thrive consultant through Liberate The Block, LLC (https://liberatetheblock.com/) ~ an agency dedicated to helping Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities liberate themselves and achieve their wildest dreams. Dr. Z. is also a first-generation college graduate, child of immigrants, and a published author. He is a former McNair Scholar, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine-Ford Foundation Fellow, Herman B. Wells Fellow, International Counseling Psychologist, and former Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Z.’s research program focuses on examining the impact of intersectional oppression on historically excluded groups & creating culturally relevant interventions to enhance their well-being. Within this framework, he studies academic persistence and mental wellness to promote holistic healing among BIPOC. He earned Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology & Sociology, a Master’s degree in Learning Science-Educational Psychology Track, and is a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Indiana University. In addition to work, Dr. Z. loves reading, discovering new music/art, outdoor activities, time with friends and family, and living a holistically full life.

Ready to Join?

Clicking below takes you to the Honeycommb platform; you have to create an account (free) and then you’ll see our  Ex-Acs subscription options – choose the tier you want, subscribe, and you’re in!*

*Navigating the Honeycommb platform might be slightly tricky at first. Don’t freak out!  They have amazing support, and the Ex-Acs Admin Team is standing by to help!  The main thing is: you have to create (and confirm) an account before subscription options/tiers are visible. Then once you’re in, use the “compass” icon (the green icon third from right at the top, in the image below)  to see our feed.  Finally, right now we are only web based but if enough folks join, I’ll upgrade to allow for a phone app! Stand by for that!