The First Few Weeks
With the fall semester slowly getting into full swing across the United States, we here at ALPS are starting a new column, titled “Office Hours: Year One“, that follows a group of first-year assistant professors in Political Science across the United States, as they set sail (or continue) on their journey through academia. The intention is to demonstrate the variety of experiences on the tenure-track and create a community of relatability.
I am excited to present the inaugural class of the first-year cohort: Dr. Polina Beliakova (American University – School of International Service), Dr. Jennifer Ostojski (Indiana State University), Dr. Brooklyn Walker (University of Tennessee-Knoxville), and Dr. Charmaine Willis (Old Dominion University).
As our assistant professors embark on their first year, they find themselves navigating a delicate balancing act: teaching, service, and research. These are the three pillars of academic life, each pulling in different directions. They are weighed differently across institutions, yet all are essential to success on the tenure track. Through this column, I’ll check in with our cohort as they reflect on their work, share their challenges, and explore how they manage the push and pull of competing demands.
Continue reading “Office Hours: Year One (Part 1)”