This Academic Life

In this episode, we invited Dr. Lucy Zhang to the show to talk about her experience at the

National Science Foundation as program director.

Contact list: If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic,

please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage

https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”.

Cast list:

Guest:

● Dr. Lucy Zhang is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Dean for

Research Innovations, Partnerships, and Workforce Development at Rensselaer

Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

●

Hosts:

● Prof. Pania Newell (host) is an Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering

Department at The University of Utah.

● Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of

Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

(RPI)

Editing team:

● Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])

● Edited by Angella Chen

● Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)

In this episode, we share some personal experiences and stories near us on being implicitly biased during our academic journey.

Contact list: If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”.

Hosts:

• Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.

• Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Editing team:

• Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
• Edited by Angella Chen
• Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)

Sponsorship:

• This episode is sponsored by the School of Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: eng.rpi.edu

In our anniversary episode, we discuss faculty on “Side Track”: moving before tenure with Dr. Andre Clayborne who is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and BioChemistry at George Mason University. Dr. Clayborne has successfully navigated the transition between universities while on the tenure track. He candidly shares with us his experiences, concerns, and challenges on his “train” to tenure.

Reference list:

• Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])

• Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)

Contact list:

If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”.

Cast list:

• Prof. Andre Clayborne (guest) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and BioChemistry at George Mason University. https://science.gmu.edu/directory/andre-clayborne

• Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.

• Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.

• Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

In this episode, we discuss the taboo topic of a professor’s salary and the importance of academic salary transparency. We also discuss how administrators can work with junior faculty and help them ease the salary negotiation process.

Reference list:

• https://www.ccdaily.com/2021/04/a-look-at-faculty-presidents-salaries/
• https://www.lifeofaprofessor.com/post/are-professors-rich
• The Annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession, 2018-19
• https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2014/07/02/327289264/episode-550-when-salaries-arent-secret
• Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])

Contact list:

If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on facebook group “This Academic Life”.

Cast list:

• Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.

• Prof. Pania Newel (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.

• Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

In this episode, we talk about the faculty search process starting from creating the job posting to selecting a successful candidate.

Contact list: If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”.

Cast list:

Hosts:

• Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.
• Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.

• Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Editing team:

• Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
• Edited by Angella Chen
• Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)

The fall season is time to look for faculty positions and universities are also getting ready to find the most suitable candidate(s) for their openings. This episode talks about some aspects of this search.

Reference list:

• Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])

• Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)
• An interesting read: https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2016/06/10/how-write-effective-diversity-statement-essay

Contact list:

If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”.

Cast list:

• Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.

• Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.

• Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

The fall season is time to look for faculty positions and universities are also getting ready to find the most suitable candidate(s) for their openings. This episode talks about some aspects of this search.

Reference list:

• Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])

• Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)
• An interesting read: https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2016/06/10/how-write-effective-diversity-statement-essay

Contact list:

If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”.

Cast list:

• Prof. Kim Michelle Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research, Graduate Programs, and Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.

• Prof. Pania Newell (host) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.

• Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

In this episode, we invited Dr. Girum Urgessa to the show to talk about ABET and discussing its significance in ensuring quality education in engineering and technology programs. In this episode we will also learn about the accreditation process, its impact on curriculum development, and how it benefits both institutions and students.

Contact list: If you have any comments about our show or have suggestions for a future topic, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on the webpage https://thisacademiclife.org and on Facebook group “This Academic Life”.

Cast list:

Guest:

• Dr. Girum Urgessa is a Professor of Structural Engineering and Director of Student Leadership and Success in the College of Engineering and Computing at George Mason University. He is a Fellow of the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Before joining George Mason, Dr. Urgessa was a structural engineer at Weidlinger Associates (now Thornton Tomasetti) and Dekker/Perich/Sabatini. A passionate and award-winning teacher, he is the author of the popular FE-Civil Exam Practice Book. Dr. Urgessa is an ABET Civil Engineering Program Evaluator and a corresponding member of ASCE’s Committee on Accreditation. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Maryland.
• https://civil.gmu.edu/profiles/gurgessa
• https://www.amazon.com/FE-Civil-Practice-Questions-Detailed-Solutions/dp/1985675889

Hosts:

• Prof. Kim Lewis (host) is a Professor of Physics and Associate Dean of Research in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.
• Prof. Pania Newell (host) is an Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Utah.

• Prof. Lucy Zhang (host) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Editing team:

• Music by RuthAnn Schallert-Wygal ([email protected])
• Edited by Angella Chen
• Artwork is created using Canva (canva.com)