Demystifying the Profession Helping Early-Stage Faculty Succeed

Taken together, the three inter-related papers included in “Demystifying the Profession” present numerous insights and “tricks of the [professorial] trade” derived from Dr. JoAnn Moody’s decades as a national consultant. She has collaborated with hundreds of early-stage and senior faculty, administrators, post-doctoral scholars, and graduate students at professional schools, colleges, and universities.The aims of the papers are to:* Demystify certain parts of academic careers that typically bewilder not only early-stage faculty—tenure-track, adjunct, clinical, visiting, research, term, physician/faculty, and others)—but also other academics such as post-doctoral scholars, medical residents, and advanced graduate students who are considering academic careers.* Coach early-stage as well as future faculty in concrete ways to increase the likelihood of success and enjoyment in their profession. To this end, Practice Scenarios are included.* Spotlight and tell the truth about the special burdens and taxing dynamics often imposed on non-majority faculty (especially if they are “one of a few” or the “only solo”) in majority settings. The burdens and taxes are usually related to the non-majority person’s gender, ethnicity, sexual preference, social class, or religion. * Present ways of organizing practice sessions for senior faculty, department chairs, deans, provosts, and campus presidents so they grasp in detail the stresses and confusions experienced by less advanced majority and non-majority faculty; and then are able, based on their new understanding, to take pro-active steps to reduce those confusions and stressors. JoAnn Moody is the author of three additional booklets used across the country by colleges, universities, professional schools, and individuals: Rising Above Cognitive Errors: How to Improve Searches, Evaluations, and Decision-Making; Mentoring Early-Stage Faculty; and “Solo” Faculty: Improving Retention and Reducing Stress. Moody’s four booklets, formerly used in her consulting practice, may now for the first time be ordered through Amazon. Dr. Moody also has written the book, Faculty Diversity: Removing the Barriers, Second Edition (Routledge Press, 2012, 263 pp).