Traveling Ph.D.

It’s the last beautiful day of summer — a little too cold for the swimming pool, but just right for making homemade tomato sauce — and I’m sitting here in my office, having just delivered a new whiteboard to the joint. I guess this is as good a time as any to look over my summer to-do list and berate myself for being terribly unproductive.

Yeah, I’m as crabby as my new pets.

So, how’d I do? It depends on the rubric that you’re using. Was I supposed to accomplish everything on this list? Probably not. Considering the fact that I spend the majority of my time working on my fellowship research, I’m not going to feel bad about the fact that I didn’t get too far on my administrative list. After all, we are only paid to work 20 days in the summer and seven of those days are already spoken for (six advising days, one college-level retreat). There’s really only so much a human can get done and still be sane.

Well, almost sane, but still.

So, what did I actually get done? When it comes to service, I got a lot done. I edited, proofread, and typeset Volume 13 of the Journal. I posted it to the organization’s website and on Tuesday, I’ll send in the requisition to have it printed. I sent all of my notes to the new editor. Plus, I did my community service by serving on the ERA.

When it comes to teaching, I completely redid my Environmental Politics course so it can be integrated into our interdisciplinary studies major. I also redid the syllabus for my research design course so that I can use my students as research assistants. I finished up an incomplete with one graduate student and got my first thesis student through the pipeline. I also monitored an internship (just need to turn in the final grade when he brings me the paperwork). I also wrote a syllabus for a graduate class that I’ve never taught before, but will be offering as an independent study this fall. That’s a lot, considering the fact that I wasn’t paid to teach this summer.

Research wise, I finally have all of my data | notes | pictures | recorded interviews for my book project moved to one computer and backed up on a hard drive. It still needs to be sorted and sifted, but at least it’s in one place. I did a research trip to Louisiana that fit with both my book and fellowship projects. And, I read. I read, a lot. 20 research books in 14 weeks. Plus the two half-finished books I have been hauling around in my purse. I’ve also been thinking deep thoughts about my research projects, but I’m not sure that counts.

Of course, my list of administrative stuff is sitting there, mocking me. I did my required advising days and attended my mandatory retreat. I came in for a couple of emergency meetings. I ordered supplies with our left0ver funds, dealt with grade complaints, answered tons of emails from students, and met with an endless stream of students who have been academically dismissed from the University. I had to do a last minute shift in the schedule when one of my good adjuncts was hired by another department for a full-time job. I proofread the eligibility application for our grad program (the first step in the accreditation process). I got an extension for our MHG and approved the new student handbook for the grad program. 

Did I do enough? We’ll see come this fall.