In the 1970s most professors were in the tenure system, expecting to be employed for life. Today those proportions have inverted and most graduate students and recent PhDs face an uncertain future. Given increased pressures on higher education, even tenure system faculty increasingly wonder, How can I better manage my life as an academic? or What else is out there for me? For the many academics at a career crossroads, here comes the first comprehensive guide to support holistic exploration across Ac, Alt-Ac, and Out-Ac sectors. Karen Cardozo encourages you to claim your inherent authority through authentic and brave career design (ABCD), the most fitting and flexible process for an era of disruptive change. Now is the time to trust your own intuition and think outside the box. In ABCD, you don’t have to choose "a" career or decide whether To Ac or Not to Ac? You only need to learn how to take your best NEXT step with integrity. A series of authentic steps leads to meaningful work in a fulfilling life, wherever you land. Stay tuned for updates on the book's release!
Advance Endorsement
I am so excited that Karen is writing this book! It really resonates as something that would appeal to academics at all stages of their careers who are searching for something more than what they've seen as the available options. Karen's is a much-needed voice in the academy, helping individuals to trust themselves rather than outside structures and "experts" alone. Her approach begins by challenging dominant ways of thinking about the PhD job search and career options. I love the idea of "careering" as a dynamic process, not an outcome. But Karen doesn't stop with the big ideas, transformative as they are: she also provides a unique combination of practical strategies. My husband and I know first hand from working with her that the combination works wonders, inside and out.
--Deborah Valentine, PhD, Founder, Thriving4Equity and former Exec. Director of Early Care and Education at UCLA