Author: Jennifer Polk

  • Transition Q & A: Joseph Fruscione

    Earlier this week my Q & A with English PhD Joe Fruscione was posted to my University Affairs blog! He’s making the transition to post-academic employment, dropping full-time adjuncting in favour of a freelance career as a writer, editor, tutor, and teacher: Now, I’m at peace with my decision to leave after this year: I’m…

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  • Guest post: Grad students need social media

    In a first for From PhD to Life, I’ve got a non-Q&A guest contributor! Thanks to Carleton University’s Leah DeVellis for this advice column on the benefits of social media for graduate students, postdocs, and academics in transition to work beyond the tenure track. Leah notes five reasons why social media can be useful and…

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  • Breaking bad habits, building better ones

    In my latest post for University Affairs, I fess up: I’ve got some bad habits! It’s time to break those, and build better ones. Read the rest here. What good habits or practices did you once have that have since fallen away? Maybe it’s time to bring them back? Good luck to us!

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  • 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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  • “I’m a coach”

    Remember my “I’m a loser” post? Well, guess what? It’s been a year since I felt that way . . . and not only that, but I’m settling in to a nice new post-academic identity: coach! Read my latest blog post over at University Affairs.  

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  • Supporting dissertators

    My most recent blog post over at University Affairs is about how coaching has really been helping me now, my “what if” thoughts about my PhD years, and my new offering: a discussion and support group for dissertators! An excerpt: I’m launching a virtual discussion and support group, open to dissertators and graduate students in…

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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: Sonja Streuber

    Yesterday my Q & A with Sonja Streuber was posted on my University Affairs blog. Here’s an excerpt: You left your graduate program ABD, without earning a PhD. Why? Multiple reasons: . . . 2. Personal experience. I had colleagues who had already graduated with their PhDs, who were financing their job searches with anything,…

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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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  • Academia’s many worlds

    My latest reflection is now live on my University Affairs blog. In it, I ponder the many possibilities within academia: Take a handful of tenured professors, even in the same or closely-allied disciplines, and you’ll find a handful of worlds represented. One may use her position to create community between scholars across departments, universities and…

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