Profile

I teach college-level courses, conduct primary research on topics of interest to me and do service work for my university, the community and my academic discipline. I also do consulting in a variety of areas (e.g., instructional design and development, mentoring and socialization, conflict management and organizational assessment) with a range of client groups (e.g., including educational institutions, government agencies, corporate and not-for-profit clients).

I typically only go into the office on Tuesday and Friday (which are teaching days for me). Otherwise I can complete my work wherever (e.g., at home) and whenever I choose (e.g., I try to spend time with my son during the day and tend to do work before he gets up and after he goes to bed and on Saturday afternoons). I am only under contract from September until April which means I am completely in charge of my own schedule during the summer months.

This profession, perhaps, has the greatest degree of flexibility of any I have ever encountered.

Attorneys, Judges, clerical staff, police officers, mental health professionals.

I am very autonomous. I design and teach my courses as well as designing, initiating and completing research collaborations and projects. I have colleagues at my university (in other departments) and at other universities with whom I collaborate.

Cognitive, research and critical-thinking skills; writing, oral communication and interpersonal skills; organization and multi-tasking abilities.

People who are very smart intellectually, are creative, self motivated, goal and focused on outcomes. In my profession you have almost complete control over what you study, teach and research but also how, when and where you complete your work.

I typically go into the office only on teaching days (i.e., Tuesday and Friday). On those days I go into the office early (5:30 by my choice) and stay until 5:00 or 5:30. However, I can leave early if necessary since I schedule my own meetings and appointments. On these days, I prepare and teach my classes, meet with students who have questions about course material and/or assignments, attend committee meetings and meet with colleagues. This allows me to be with my son on the days that I am not teaching. I am not under contract in the summer which is when I work on my research projects and tend to accept consulting projects. However, I have complete control over my summer schedule including what I work on, when I complete it, and I can do this work from basically anywhere.

Minimally. I could travel much more extensively if I attended more conferences and were to accept more consulting work.

I can honestly say that I feel I have the best job in the world. I have unbelievable flexibility. I find my work rewarding and feel like what I do makes a difference (in terms of my teaching and research). For example, I enjoy exposing students to new ideas and ways of thinking and engaging in the world.

I also feel like my job allows me to constantly be learning. I also have the ability to study, teach and research things that are of interest to me. I decide what I will research and teach.

Feeling like there is always more you could/should be doing. Prior to getting tenure, I felt a considerable amount of pressure to produce (i.e., do high levels of quality original research). Because academia has a great deal of autonomy you are in charge which can be great, but it also means you have to be a self starter and motivated (e.g., set and meet multiple deadlines, be an excellent multi-tasker).

Doing excellent work, being challenged intellectually and feeling like I am making a positive difference in the world (especially for other women).

My mother who I describe as a “Renaissance Woman.” She lived abroad, got a graduate education, pursued her career, waiting to marry until after 30. She taught me by example that each woman should make her own “roadmap” for a fulfilling life. She also encouraged me to think for myself in spite of what society and/or religious influences might tell me I should do or be.

Do something you love and that you feel will make a difference for others.

Thankfully, I felt like I was given very good advice. However, I didn’t anticipate how difficult it would be to balance advanced education, career and family life. It can be done, but I had to develop strategies for doing so and learn to set boundaries in all areas of my life.

Certainly pursue a career that will allow you to do something you love, feel passionate about and earn a good living. However, if you plan to work and have a family think about a career that will allow you to more successfully balance these (often competing) areas of your life.

No

Spending time with my husband and son, family and friends. We enjoy outdoors activities (e.g., sailing, cycling, hiking, running, skiing, etc.) cooking, eating, reading, discussing politics, exercising and meditating.

Feeling like I am making a difference in the lives of others (especially other women) and in the world, that I am engaged in significant and meaningful activities and am nurturing important relationships.

I chose a career I knew would allow for significant flexibility and autonomy. This (i.e., work-life balance) is also an area in which I conduct research since it is a significant challenge for most professional women.

I had parents who valued education, limited the amount of TV we were allowed to watch and promoted reading and other intellectual and creative endeavors. I have been able to achieve my professional goals with the support of parents (who told me I could do and be anything I wanted to) and the support of my husband (who has been my biggest cheerleader) as well as professional mentors and friends.

I completed an undergraduate degree and during my senior year of college worked as a teaching assistant and as a tutor for the athletics department. I then was asked to teach a college-level course while I did work in public relations, marketing and later program administration. I completed a master’s degree while working full time and then left full-time employment to complete a Ph.D. During my Ph.D. I worked as a teaching and research assistant and as a consultant. Upon completing my Ph.D., I took an administrative position at Northeastern University where I worked in a consulting role. I later was asked to join the university’s faculty as an assistant professor.

I had a professor who asked me to teach a college-level course immediately after I graduated with my undergraduate degree. He knew I was planning on attending law school and told me he thought I could make more of a difference as a professor. He knew that equity and fairness are core values for me and realized I would likely be frustrated in the legal field where legal precedent is what is valued rather than what may seem morally right or fair.

My mother was an English professor, and I could see she loved what she did and seemed to be able to balance her work with her personal, religious and social responsibilities/priorities.

Colleagues who were at times hostile and attempted to undermine my success because they felt threatened, were jealous or bought into stereotypes (e.g., they had negative perceptions of my religious affiliation, some tended to be very sexist, competitive and mean spirited). Also, I have had ongoing health problems which have made it more difficult for me to achieve my professional goals.