Associate professors get tips on moving up

Associate professors got advice and learned about resources for moving on to full professor during a panel hosted by Advance at UNM.

Audience members heard about goal setting, understanding expectations and seeking support from others so they can avoid stalling out.

Presenters included Advance at UNM director Julia Fulghum, Mary Jo Daniel, director of UNM’s Faculty Research Development Office, UNM Biology professor Tina Takacs-Vesbach and Phil Ganderton, the senior associate dean and associate dean of faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Fulghum said that while there are some common ways to be promoted, each person’s path can and should be unique.

“This really is a choose your own adventure story. Think about that first,” she said.

“Think of what you want to excel at, not necessarily about a certain number of presentations you need to make,” she said.

Takacs-Vesbach said it helped her promotion path to make a plan with her department chair and colleagues first, and to think of promotion as a plan that might be 50 years long instead of five.

“Don’t let an individual set back get you down,” she said.

“Think of this more as a long-distance race and not a sprint,” she said.

Takacs-Vesbach also encouraged audience members to not be afraid to ask for help along the way.

“Don’t do this one alone,” she said.

One area that faculty often need help with is research.

Daniel said there are a wealth of resources available through her office to help. One of her tips is to think about focusing on the broader meaning of faculty research.

“Think about the impact you want your research to have on the world,” she said.

She also said that professors should start small when thinking about applying for grants.

“Don’t go for a $20 million grant first time out…there are smaller pieces out there that you can go for,” she said.

“Rise above the urge to do it alone. Get some help.”

Ganderton said one tip for associate professors is to think of their dossier and the review process as a place to shine.

“Create subsections within the sections of the dossier in order to bring out the breadth and the depth of your scholarship,” he said. “This is your time to shine.”

He encouraged professors to remain upbeat about what they’ve done.

“As you’re preparing for promotion, be positive yourself. Focus on what you’re doing and focus on what you have done. Don’t focus on what you haven’t done.”