The Story Behind The Engaged Professor
The last three years have changed me as a teacher in ways I never would have expected. But how did I get here? After spending six years in a tenure-track role and earning tenure, my husband was moved to California for work. So, what is usually a celebration of achievement was bittersweet for me. While it felt good to know I could earn tenure, there was no celebratory glass of wine or dinner with my colleagues. I was moving on from one university with no tenure-track prospects - and as many of us know, most institutions won’t hire you and bring you in with tenure regardless of your previous track record.
I was lucky enough to find a part-time visiting assistant professor role in California, teaching sport marketing, analytics, and marketing classes at University of the Pacific. However, the sky-high cost of living in California made it a necessity for me to start teaching as adjunct, which I did at universities across the U.S. At the same time, I expanded my consulting work by working with another marketing and PR consultant to write marketing plans for clients and worked as a marketing manager for a few different small businesses.
And this is where the idea for The Engaged Professor came from.
I realized that this diverse professional experience outside the traditional academic path was a having a huge impact on my teaching. Working with industry professionals across a variety of industries broadened my perspective, gave me new and exciting teaching examples, pushed me to improve my marketing skills, and gave me a chance to stay connected to industry trends in new and applied ways. And you know what else? It improved my research too by giving me new ideas and connecting me with professionals who could partner on research projects.
I have always leaned more toward the applied in my teaching and research. But this experience reinforced, more than ever, the crucial role continual development and industry engagement plays in great teaching.
I was motivated - by the positive feedback from students in course reflections and surveys, and my own professional growth - to share these insights more broadly.
Let’s face it. There are so many options for post-secondary and post-graduate learning and access to information is easier than ever. Institutions of higher education are competing for a smaller group of students with more options than ever before.
The bottom line? I believe that we must enhance the quality of teaching in higher education to increase the value of a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
The keys to doing so are the core values The Engaged Professor was built on. It’s about connecting the science of teaching and learning with more faculty in fun and accessible ways so they can implement change in their courses tomorrow. It’s about recognizing that everything we do – teaching, research, industry, and service - is interconnected.
It's about making learning stick.
What will you find here?
Ever felt like you were thrown into the deep end with teaching? You're passionate about your subject, but figuring out how to deliver it in a way that clicks with your students is a different story. You should know - you are not alone. Teaching doesn't come with a manual, and sometimes, it feels like you're supposed to magically know the what, when, why, how, where of teaching. But it just isn’t that easy.
The Engaged Professor was built to be a place of community, ideation, and education. You will find examples, resources, and stories to help take your teaching to the next level – regardless of where you are today. This is a work in progress, which means that resources will continue to be added.
What is the long-term vision for The Engaged Professor?
To Provide Resources for Course Design and Teaching
As The Engaged Professor builds, you will find a collection of downloadable resources, tips, tricks, and techniques designed to enhance your understanding of teaching fundamentals and advance your instructional strategies. Think straightforward tips, tricks, and techniques to help you nail the basics, and create a learning experience that’s as engaging for your students as it is rewarding for you. It's all about making your life easier and your teaching more impactful. The goal is to give you techniques and resources to encourage innovation and creativity in your teaching in a way that integrates the values of The Engaged Professor. Some will be templates, but eventually the plan is to add short courses, certifications, and workshops.
To Publish an Informative and Helpful Newsletter
Ever feel like you're always a step behind on the latest in higher education or tech tools like generative AI? By subscribing to The Engaged Professor newsletter, you'll gain access to curated content focusing on the latest trends in higher education, practical ways to integrate industry into your coursework, and innovative uses of technologies like generative AI to enrich student learning experiences. Expect to find actionable templates and tools at your fingertips, ready to be implemented in your next class.
To Foster an Engaged, Diverse, and Supportive Community
The ultimate goal of The Engaged Professor is to create a hub for community where we can engage and interact across institutions, disciplines, and experience levels to continually adapt and improve our teaching. Most of us have been there. We’ve felt the frustration and asked the same questions. The goal is to create a space to vent, ask, share, and learn from each other. Need feedback on an idea? Looking for a fresh way to tackle a topic? This is where you will find your community, because sometimes you just need a place to connect with people who understand what you do day in and day out. As The Educated Professor continues to build, the hope is that it evolves into a gathering place for like-minded educators dedicated to mutual growth and support where you can share ideas, ask questions, seek feedback, and find inspiration among peers who are equally committed to improving their teaching and making a lasting impact on their students.
The Engaged Professor is a place where you can learn, grow, connect, and contribute to the collective advancement of higher education - your go-to spot for getting unstuck, finding inspiration, and maybe even getting a little excited about teaching again. We can tackle those ‘how the heck do I do this?’ moments together.
At the end of the day, I want you to feel like teaching is more than just a job - I want you to feel like it’s your calling.
