What You Need To Know About Becoming An Academic In Engineering: A Woman's Point Of View

An academic career offers many advantages: choice of research area, choice of teaching style, flexibility in scheduling, a new start each semester, options on how the summer is spent, working with really great people, and after tenure, job stability, to name a few. Academia is an opportunity to help people directly, to be able to see the “light bulb turn on,” to be a mentor, to be a role model. The academic profession also has some disadvantages. There are areas of academia that are frightening, not the least of which is struggling to achieve “tenure.” There may also be a perception of boredom, repetition, and that academia is either a very easy profession or a very difficult one in terms of hours and effort required. The author will give her perceptions of what she has learned over more than three decades of serving in academia, including being the first female faculty member on an engineering faculty. Factors such as a sense of humor, “getting it in writing,” and a sense of satisfaction in knowing that you made a difference will be discussed. The career/family balance will also be examined.