Category Archives: higher education

We were on a break!

Academic breaks are an awkward time for us scholars. With only 15 weeks in the classroom every semester, there is little time to escape, little chance for a “vacation” day. Academic breaks are a time to recharge and to play … Continue reading

Posted in academia, higher education, holidays, schools, work, writing | 3 Comments

Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me in My First Year of Graduate School

As I get closer to the finish line, I now seem to qualify as an “advanced” graduate student.  I sat on a panel this week for the first year students in my grad program. I didn’t voice these things verbatim, … Continue reading

Posted in academia, higher education, teaching, work, writing | 13 Comments

On the importance of original thoughts…

I do my writing in a local coffee shop.  When I’m sitting in their uncomfortable aluminum chairs eating fluffy scones and sipping the house blend, I wrestle with my keyboard. I drudge up ideas, type some thoughts, erase them, start … Continue reading

Posted in academia, higher education, teaching, work, writing | 2 Comments

exercise your rights and please vote

According to the U.S. Census, 58.2 % of registered voters actually cast ballots in November 2008. That figure is on par with rates of voting in the 2004 election and only slightly higher than the election in 2000.  That means … Continue reading

Posted in community, culture, economy, gender equality, health, higher education, marriage, politics, Uncategorized, work | Leave a comment

A Case for Marriage

I have been reading too many Chronicle of Higher Education pieces on the academic job market (on academia in general, really) and people’s personal lives (grad students getting married and hiring academic spouses).  These articles portray the work/life choices of … Continue reading

Posted in academia, higher education, marriage, work | 4 Comments

Where is the collegial in college?

It is surprising that the words college and collegial share a common origin, yet they bear little resemblance to one another in my lived experience. I did not always feel this way about academia, because in the last six years … Continue reading

Posted in higher education, work | Leave a comment