Shaping Your Career

“Early faculty, please read and add some years onto your life. I wish I had this companion when I began academia. It would have saved me from multiple bouts of heartburn. This text goes over what they do not tell you as a graduate student or post-doc. It echoes great advice given to me by senior colleagues whom I respect and trust, especially in regards to tenure, promotion, grant writing and balancing work with family.”

"Haviland, Ortiz, and Henriquez have thoroughly described the joys and frustrations of faculty life using straightforward language. Their treatment of the subject is well researched and all assertions are thoughtfully documented with evidence and practice-based knowledge. They have made numerous helpful suggestions for success, encouraging us to examine our perspectives in order to find, and maintain, career satisfaction. I especially enjoyed learning about the justification for 'service' requirements for tenure and promotion, as it is the least intuitive of the traditional roles for university faculty."

Michael Elioff, Professor, Physical Chemistry

Millersville University

"The authors of this book offer a vision of faculty work that recognizes [that the academic landscape is changing] and embraces the full diversity of faculty demographics and faculty appointment types. In providing this practical handbook to guide those new to the professoriate, they are informed by deep knowledge of the research and literature on academic work and careers, which they weave skillfully throughout the book in ways that shape their recommendations, as well as by the extensive personal experiences they have each had in their own careers."

Ann E. Austin, Professor of Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education, Michigan State University

“Shaping Your Career is full of essential tools and advice to help early career faculty members navigate many confusing processes, such as grant writing, promotion, and tenure. This book is one that can be read cover to cover or used as a quick reference guide that covers the full range of issues we confront as we begin our careers in the professoriate.

The authors act as guides to clear up some of the uncertainty around processes that are not given much, if any, attention during graduate training programs [and] draw attention to recent trends over the past two to three decades that have impacted the landscape of higher education and, more specifically, the role of the faculty member. This is done with unparalleled clarity and is especially helpful to those still considering graduate programs or those early in their careers as they consider their potential priorities and activities.

It is especially useful that the authors devote a full chapter to women and minority faculty members as these individuals face specific professional development and campus climate issues that are important to consider but that are often overlooked. [It] offers great tools for those visiting new campuses or seeking to better understand their own.

In conclusion, the authors of Shaping Your Career weave exercises, strategies, data, and anecdotes into the narrative in a way that makes this both a useful and enjoyable resource. The authors have produced a high-quality text that effectively fills a gap in the available literature centered on professional development for early career faculty. I highly recommend this book for those planning, pursuing, or supporting newer faculty appointments within 4-year institutions.”

Teachers College Record

"This book has vaulted to the top of my recommended reading list for new and prospective faculty members. This book counteracts the deluge of negative reports about how difficult life in academia has become. The message is positive, encouraging readers to exercise their agency and become the author of their careers.

The authors offer practical advice that takes into account the contemporary realities of faculty life. They emphasize a developmental perspective. Professional satisfaction comes with time, as you develop and discover your own 'sweet spot' which aligns your teaching, research and service with your personal values."

Chris Golde

Stanford University