Ep 3:6 Sea of Change

The Professor Is In

We continue with the three-part examination of getting stuck and unstuck. Last week we talked about the Island of Perfectionism. Today we talk the Sea of Change (next week, we talk the Quagmire of Failure). The individualism of the (American) academy puts all responsibility for struggle on the individual. But we remind you, you didn’t just “fall” off your path–in the words of Dr. Roxanne Donovan of The Well Academic, something pushed you off. The pandemic and the Great Resignation are currently pushing unprecedented numbers of academics (especially women) off their planned path. But change is scary! And academics are profoundly risk-averse. We talk about turning toward a mindset of process not outcome (“‘to be’ is not the question in the Sea of Change,” quoth Karen), and querying the conviction of “nobility” that so many academics attach to the academic enterprise and that keeps people stuck in untenable academic places – exploited, endangered, miserable. Pushing the sea-metaphor way past its likely utility (!), Karen and Kel talk about befriending the fear, setting out on your little dinghy – maybe with some help pulling it past the break* – and paddling out into unknown waters!

*Like the new Art of Leaving program, which starts next month! And the Professor Is Out private FB group.)

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