"Write to the Top! - How to Become a Prolific Academic"

"Write to the Top! - How to Become a Prolific Academic"

I actually read this book over the winter break and it was very helpful. As a new faculty member, there were many items introduced in the book that I did know about (i.e. - book buyers). I was in student services for a long time and I never knew that these people existed!

Also, I especially liked the section about the ideal letter from a journal editor! This was the best publication ever written, etc. I wrote a few articles over the break and I REALLY needed the humor in that section!

I STRONGLY recommend this book!

MillennialProfessor

HBCUs and the Millennial Generation

Perspectives: HBCUs and the Coming Era of Growth and Service
http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_10508.shtml

An interesting read about the changes that HBCUs have encountered and how they have adapted. One of Dr. Rivers's quotes is very interesting, "Since then, students have changed. Students virtually everywhere did. Sometime in the 1980s, attitudes shifted. The millennial generation now demands greater engagement of faculty and often refuses to afford faculty members the automatic deference and respect they previously had enjoyed."

This quote actually coincides with my research on HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) and HWCUs (historically white colleges and universities) and African American college students. The students who were in my sample indicated that they wanted faculty members who engaged them in the classroom and who challenged them academically. In addition, the some of the HBCU students indicated that they had some faculty members who did not have a strong grasp on the English language.

Again, the article is a very interesting read.

A Black Millennial Professor

Last semester was my first semester at a mid-sized institution in the South. One interesting aspect of the initial semester of my first tenure track position. The most important part of this new journey in my life is the fact that I am one of the only African American female faculty member on my campus (that I have seen thus far). I have met a few African American males, but most of them are either in athletics or are on a satellite campus thirty minutes away.

Despite the fact that I rarely have an African American student in class, I have enjoyed this first semester. Most of the students are from rural communities and consequently they have not experienced any level of diversity. At first, I felt a large amount of pressure to focus on the material and to minimize the fusion of my ethnic background. However, towards the end of last semester, I realized that the students were genuinely interested in my background and wanted to get to know me as a person.

As a millennial, I have to continually display a virtual wall between the students and myself. I am only zero to five years older than they are, but I want to ensure that the students respect me as a professor.

The story of my life. Aside from research, I have to focus on the fact that I am one of the only African American faculty on campus and that I am a 25 year old tenure track professor.

The saga continues...

Two Down...10+ More to Go

My goal for this new year was to continue writing in my blog and to publish as many articles as possible. I am continuing to work towards the second goal and I am lacking in the goal one department.

From the beginning of the new year until now, I have written and submitted two articles already! I am quite excited and I am working on a new article about service learning and millennial students.

This year I am also focused on collaborating with other faculty on campus. I already have one collaboration and I am working on a few more. Hey, the more the merrier.

My classes are going well this semester (it is the first week) and I am introducing a new course that is focused on intercultural matters. I will keep you updated.

Last but not least, I leave you with Nathaniel's wonderful Yo Gabba Gabba video. Over the holidays, I was able to watch A LOT of youtube. Nathaniel is hilarious and I have never seen the show Yo Gabba Gabba, but it looks like fun.