Tag: post-PhD

  • Certainty and time

    Today’s post is a reflection on my troubles imagining a non-academic future for myself given the pervasiveness of the ready-made academic dream. But over time I realized what I truly wanted. Read the post on my University Affairs blog.

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  • Transition Q & A: Peter Larson

    I’ve been remiss lately, not composing anything of my own for the blog… but I’m getting back on track and will let you know what I’ve been up to soon. The short version is: vacation! And continued coaching, learning, and fun. In the meantime, I’m excited to share with you this wonderful Q & A…

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  • Transition Q & A: Jared Wesley

    Today’s post comes via “pracademic” Jared Wesley, a political science PhD, former tenure-track professor, and current director-level provincial public servant. Here’s a taste: What was your first post-PhD job? In this environment, I was extremely fortunate to earn a tenure-track position as an assistant professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba. At the…

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  • Transition Q & A: Maria Irchenhauser

    The newest Q & A is up over at my University Affairs blog site. It’s a good one, with German studies PhD Maria Irchenhauser. Here’s an excerpt: What most surprises you about your job? What most surprises me is how much I have learned about business administration “on the job” in the past 18 months…

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  • Transition Q & A: Dawn Nickel

    Dawn Nickel earned her PhD in the history of health care policy from the University of Alberta. She’s currently working as an independent research consultant and also operates She Recovers, a business that organizes yoga retreats in Mexico for women in recovery from addictions, chronic disease, and other life challenges. Follow her @dawnsherecovers. What did you…

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  • You’re invited: New group!

    After hosting a few group discussions and participating in lots of conversations with PhDs, I’m ready to take my next step: group coaching! So… I’m launching my first From PhD to Life weekly coaching/support group for recent PhDs, soon-to-be PhDs, and ABDs leaving the academy. Together, we’ll support and encourage each other as we take…

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  • Scholar

    Several weeks (months?) ago, Brandy Schillace asked me to contribute to her Rogue Scholar Salon. I haven’t yet. I started but then got stuck. Where? At the word “scholar.” Brandy herself, a former tenure-track professor, is very much continuing as a medical humanities scholar despite going rogue—quitting her academic job! But me? Well, I never…

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  • Confidence

    Last week I was interviewed by David Austin Walsh from the History News Network; you can read the transcript of that here. David titled the interview, “Recent PhDs Need to Have their Confidence Boosted,” which it seems is something I said during our conversation . . . and I was right! I was reminded of…

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  • Money

    My friend Liana Silva-Ford posted what she called a “rant” on Twitter this morning about blogging and earning money. “Folks gotta eat, yo.” Indeed, they do. Reading her Tweets has spurred me to write this post. One of the topics I’ve been vague about on this site is my own financial situation. A couple days…

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  • You’re invited! Post-PhD group

    I’ve been pondering starting a post-PhD coaching/support/discussion group and I’m ready to set a time and give it a go. So… Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 9pm EDT let’s get together over the phone and talk about stuff. I like inclusiveness and think there’s a benefit to having a variety of people on the call, so…

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