FROM A ONE-ROOM SCHOOL ON THE PRAIRIE TO TWO DECADES AS A MARINE SCIENCE PROFESSOR: THE UNLIKELY SAGA OF A PRE-TITLE IX GIRL

During more than 30 years as a tenure-track and tenured member of science faculties in Texas and Florida, I have seen many positive changes. Nevertheless, many of the same problems continue to challenge women and minority faculty, with women of under-represented groups too often facing double challenges. The “leaky pipeline” continues to leak for many reasons, but some are predictable and preventable.

As a pre-Title IX student with very limited financial resources, elite or expensive programs were never an option. Fortunately I realized early on that workshops and short courses can provide invaluable insights that are generally unavailable in academic contexts. Beginning in graduate school, when I have identified a problem, or have seen an announcement of a workshop that targeted an issue that I recognized, I have utilized numerous such workshops. The single most important insight I have gained has been the importance, not only of goals, but of a life vision that provides context for formulating goals, recognizing accomplishments, and living a seamless life with passion. Specific career strategies that I shall share include: identify long-term goals and then create short- and mid-term goals in that context; prioritize commitments and opportunities in the context of long-range goals; work hard, follow-through and be reliable, but learn your limits to avoid commitments that interfere with your priorities; be willing to make mistakes and learn from them; take leadership rolls as appropriate, then build and empower your team so you don’t have to do everything yourself; don’t take leadership rolls that will impede career development (e.g., huge administrative responsibilities before tenure or an associate deanship before becoming a Full Professor); network, engage and lift others as you climb; choose your battles and don’t give up on your vision, even when you have to alter your goals.