One of the best things about this site is the Transition Q & A series. The stories are so inspiring: they show us that PhDs go on to do many wonderful, fulfilling things. Click the links to read the full posts.
Jump to Q & As on other websites.
Jump to other first-person transition tales.
Transition Q & As
Sunny Chan, PhD in English literary studies / co-op program specialist, Ryerson University
Dragos Popa, political science PhD / manager, Chief Financial Officer Branch, Health Canada
Mike Commito, history PhD / director of applied research and innovation, Cambrian College
Sarah Lockyer, bioarchaeology PhD / casualty identification coordinator, Canadian Armed Forces
Anaïs Bertrand-Dansereau, sociology PhD / mixed methods researcher, Government of Canada
Sarah Culpeper, critical and comparative studies in music PhD / HR generalist, HR organizational services, Library of Parliament, Ottawa
Hayley Furlong, radiobiology PhD / research program officer, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Rose Muravchick, religious studies PhD / assistant director, Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learning, University of Delaware
Helen Kang, sociology PhD / health-care communication consultant
Victoria Abboud, English literary and cultural studies PhD / program manager, social innovation hub
Niem Huynh, geography PhD / manager of graduate student recruitment, Concordia University
Alisa Harrison, history PhD / executive director of the Victoria Division of Family Practice
James McKee, political theory MA (and ABD) / director of research for the executive council of the Government of Alberta
Lisa Bélanger, behavioural medicine PhD / researcher, innovator, and CEO, ConsciousWorks
Stacy Lockerbie, anthropology PhD / research associate in family medicine
Hillary Hutchinson, anthropology MA / higher education administration MEd (and ABD) / academic coach, Transitioning Your Life
Lino Coria, electrical engineering PhD / computer vision engineer, Wiivv Wearables, and partner, Scribble Consulting
Jennifer Askey, German language and literature PhD / project coordinator, YWCA, and academic career coach, Energized Academic
Maura Elizabeth Cunningham, history PhD / social media manager, Association for Asian Studies
Anne Trubek, English PhD / self-employed writer, educator, and independent publisher
Katie Vahey-Gaebler, higher education & student affairs leadership PhD / academic adviser, University of Colorado Boulder & independent consultant GradSchoolAdviser.com
Adam Sanford, sociology PhD / academic coach, writer, instructor
Rebecca Dirnfeld, history ABD / career consultant, Ryerson University
Susan Marie Martin, applied social studies PhD / international educator and independent academic
Lindy Ledohowski, English PhD and former TT professor/ co-founder and software CEO at EssayJack | Read Lindy’s update
Adam Bishop, Medieval studies PhD/ translator, editor, proofreader and researcher
Paige Morgan, English PhD / digital humanities librarian, University of Miami
Nathaniel Bean, DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) / education librarian and program assistant, Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Wu Family Academy of Learning & Engagement
Jennifer De Mello, chemistry PhD / senior business analyst, Manheim Wholesale Auto Auctions
Alison Norman, history PhD / research advisor, Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs
Kenna Barrett, English PhD / director of development, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University
Paul Hartley, ethnomusicology ABD / senior resident anthropologist & head of human futures, Idea Couture
Christine Buske, systems and cell biology PhD / head of outreach, Papers App
Pablo Dominguez Andersen, history PhD / content manager, interactive tools
Sara Langworthy, developmental psychology PhD / educator, University of Minnesota Extension’s Children, Youth and Family Consortium, and organizational consultant, The Exchange Loop
John Robertson, medical biophysics PhD / research communications office, Techna Institute
Tom Westerman, history PhD / high school teacher, Porter-Gaud School
Raj Dhiman, bio-organic chemistry PhD / sales training manager, Vicinity (Rogers Communication)
Viviane Callier, biology PhD / science writer, National Cancer Institute
Nicholas Dion, religious studies PhD / senior coordinator, research and programs, HEQCO
Daveena Tauber, English PhD / higher ed writing and diversity consultant, ScholarStudio
Kara Santokie, political science PhD / nonprofit director
Michael Ryan Hunsaker, neuroscience PhD / special education teacher
Melissa Dalgleish, English ABD / research officer, York University
Kelly J. Baker, religion PhD / freelance writer | Read Kelly’s update conversation with Joe Fruscione
Andrew Miller, history PhD / manager, Ontario Ministry of Transportation | Read Andrew’s update
Bruce Harpham, history MA / senior financial analyst, Bank of Montreal
Christine Slocum, sociology MA / homeless management information system and continuum of care assistant at Homeless Alliance of Western New York
Carolyn Harris, history PhD / adult education instructor, cruise ship lecturer, freelance writer, media commentator | Read Carolyn’s update
Patrick Vitalone, history MA / marketing & sales for a tech startup
Daniel Mullin, philosophy PhD / account manager
Emily Simmons, English PhD / education specialist at the Australian Film, Television & Radio School
Daniel Munro, political science PhD / principal research associate at the Conference Board of Canada | Read Daniel’s update
Maureen McCarthy, English PhD / assistant director (advancement and best practices) at the Council of Graduate Schools
Sarah-Louise Quinnell, geography PhD / learning and development manager for Mactrac
Joseph Fruscione, English PhD / freelance editor, writer, and teacher | Read Joseph’s update and his later update conversation with Kelly J. Baker
Peter Larson, biological sciences PhD / blogger and running coach
Sonja Streuber, English MA (and ABD) / adjunct professor, and metrics and risk manager at NiSource
Jared Wesley, political science PhD / director of federal-provincial relations for the government of Alberta, and adjunct professor | Read Jared’s update
Maria Irchenhauser, German literature PhD / manager of the German division of DWPub
Dawn Nickel, history PhD / consultant and business owner
Jo VanEvery, sociology PhD / academic coach
Kyla Reid, philosophy PhD / research facilitator in the Faculty of Public Affairs, Carleton University | Read Kyla’s update
Rachel Mueller-Lust, psychology PhD / coach and celebrant | Read Rachel’s update
Will Deyamport, III, educational leadership EdD / instructional technologist, Hattiesburg Public Schools
Veronica Rubio Vega, political economy PhD candidate (ABD) / research analyst at RBC | Read Vero’s update
Kris Gies, history PhD / publisher’s representative at the University of Toronto Press
Brenda Bethman, modern German studies PhD / university administrator, affiliate faculty member, and entrepreneur
Peter Konieczny, history MA / librarian and editor, Medievalists.net
Mélanie Brunet, history PhD / librarian, International Development Research Centre | Read Mélanie’s update
Sam Ladner, sociology PhD / senior researcher at Microsoft
Pamela MacIsaac, history PhD / vice-principal and teacher, Voice Intermediate School
Sarah Kendzior, anthropology PhD / columnist, consultant, public speaker, and writer
Chris Humphrey, medieval studies PhD / project manager, Triodos Bank
Kimberley Yates, English PhD / associate director, Jackman Humanities Institute, University of Toronto | Read Kim’s update
Heather Steel, history MA (and ABD) / non-profit researcher | Read Heather’s update
Brad King, history PhD / vice president, Lord Cultural Resources
Jamie Pratt, philosophy PhD / research officer, York University
Alexandra Guerson, history PhD / part-time faculty, International Foundation Program, University of Toronto
Jessica Langer, English PhD / principal, ideas in flight
Natalie Zina Walschots, English MA / freelance editor, poet, and writer
Lauren, “grad school quitta” / undergraduate academic advisor
Ann Daly, former tenured professor and life coach
Erin Aspenlieder (on YouTube), English PhD / educational consultant at Simon Fraser University
Alycia Mosley Austin, neuroscience PhD / university administrator
Other First-Person Transition Tales
Michael Corey, sociology ABD and quantitative researcher, “A Sociologist Working at Facebook”
John Laprise, media, technology, and society PhD /professor and consultant, “An Expat Scholar’s View from the Gulf”
Ysette Guevara, Spanish & Portuguese Literatures PhD / business owner, “Why and How” and “Why and How, pt. 2”
Kathryn Allan, English PhD / independent scholar and business owner, “On Embracing Ambition”
Marga Gual Soler, molecular cell biology PhD / “science diplomat,” “From the Lab Bench to the U.N.”
“Nick Walsh,” anthropology PhD / anthropologist at design firm, “Leaving at the Finish Line”
Daniel Fincke, PhD “On the End of My Adjunct Teaching Career” and “Reflections of a Post-Academic Philosopreneur“