Early-career academics

Whether you're an assistant professor, a postdoc, or another early-career scholar, you've probably already discovered that your path is unlike any other.

Autonomy and flexibility combined with extremely high (and often ambiguous) expectations create a unique set of challenges. It's common to feel like you're never doing enough.

Add in the political complexities of an academic environment and it can seem like you're navigating a minefield. The experience may leave you de-energized and overwhelmed. If you don't fit the typical professorial mold, the pressure can feel even more intense.

I hope the tools below will help you find peace and self-trust amid all that's swirling around you.

You may also wish to check out resources for mid-career academics and higher-ed leaders.

Blog posts

Featured

Release the fear that we’re not quite ready

As an assistant professor, especially in the first couple of years, so much is new. It’s easy to feel as if we’re never fully prepared for anything.

Release the fear of being scooped

It happens when we least expect it. We open an email, glance at a website, or peruse a conference program and there it is… OUR paper, written by another author.

Anatomy of a “no”

I know we’re all busy—thus, the need to say no!—so let’s dive right in. The next time you’re presented with a request, how about giving the following steps a try?

Staring down resistance

So why am I sitting here staring at a blank computer screen rather than happily typing away, letting the words magically flow from my fingers? Because I’ve got nothing. Sound familiar? Sigh. Resistance sucks.

Teaching… and learning

Students, colleagues, family members,… people in general will sometimes do things that make us feel “less than.” It often has nothing to do with you.

Stop this brain… I want to get off!

Has your brain been in overdrive lately? Mine certainly has. If you’re like me, you’ve been both blessed and cursed with a brain that never stops.

I’ve been there

I think that one of the biggest mistakes we make in academia is not revealing our struggles, anxieties, and missteps for fear of being judged as not enough. And I see this as a HUGE miss.

Videos

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Mini-Course: Manage Stress by Shifting Your Self-Talk

Let’s face it. Life isn’t easy, and it often feels like there’s so much outside our control. In this course we’ll cover simple strategies for shifting our self-talk to gain a greater sense of calm, increased energy, & improved overall wellbeing.

enroll for free

Well on Your Way: an assistant professor’s companion

Have you ever felt lost or alone as you navigate the winding and thorny path toward tenure? Then Well on Your Way is the traveling companion you’ve been missing. You won’t find tenure hacks here. Instead, through candid stories and evocative questions, Elizabeth Odders-White creates a comforting space for reflection and wraps it in a loving package of poetry, photography, and prayer. Every inch of Well on Your Way is infused with the encouragement and wisdom you’d expect from a lifelong friend. Keep it close by, and discover how small shifts can make both your work and your life easier, happier, and more fulfilling.

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Voices of Authentic Self: The STANDOUT Professor podcast

In Voices of Authentic Excellence: The STANDOUT Professor podcast, host Elizabeth Odders-White is joined by senior faculty members from underrepresented groups who generously share their experiences and the lessons they've learned along the way.

listen here