Career Advice From Senior Faculty to New and Future Faculty: An Unconventional Program on Academic Careers

Imagine a TV game show. Envision a very entertaining host and incredibly funny contestants. That seemed to be the mood when I entered Edward C to cover 'Career Advice From Senior Faculty to New and Future Faculty.'

The game show host or the chair was Mark Redmond. The contestants or the panelists were Alberta Arnold, Philip M. Backlund, Steven A. Beebe, Sarah Lynn Contreras, Diana K. Ivy, Andrew S. Rancer, William Rawlins and Richard West. Although the mood of the room was affable and jovial, it dealt with something very important. The panel had gathered to share their wealth of knowledge as administrators and teachers with future and new administrators.

Mr. Richard West advised all the future administrators to remember "increments and balance" as the mantra to success. On the other hand, Mr. Rancer's counsel to the audience was "have the courage and discipline." Among all the valuable advice from the panelists, I could feel the passion enthused in them.

One could tell though that these administrators were teachers just as much if not more. Mr. Rawlins revealed the secret of teaching and mentoring - "generosity." It was apparent that all these professionals had been there and done that. And they had loved every moment of it, every moment of failure and every moment of success.

The most moving segment of the event was towards the end when the panel unanimously agreed on how a teacher can be judged for success - through their students. As they explained it teaching students is like mining for diamonds among coal. Some diamonds are unearthed while some remain the dark dirt. The dirt hurts these teachers but the diamonds give them the greatest satisfaction.

If these teachers cum administrators hadn't followed this path they would have become an attorney, a choral music director, talk show hosts and a drummer for Van Morrison. I know I am not alone in being grateful these great professionals stuck to teaching.