#senior scholar

[academickindness]

feeling human for a moment

when i was trying to decide where to be while writing up my dissertation (in my program’s college town or in a different city) one, and only one, of my professors asked where my living expenses would be lower. maybe my bar for kindness was really low at that point, but i still massively appreciate that he acknowledged that there were economic, and social etc, realities to my life that were beyond just being a student. it felt good to feel human in that moment. 

[academickindness]

Wonderful Viva Examiners

I haven’t seen any tributes to viva examiners here, and am delighted to be the first (in a while?). I was really nervous in the days and still more in the hours leading up to my viva - I had heard numerous horror stories, ranging from the viva being a thoroughly unpleasant experience to it being a genuine trauma. I was shaking slightly as I waited outside of my internal examiner’s office, and was probably a few shades paler than I should have been. My examiners no doubt saw this as they invited me in. They responded by shaking my hand, bidding me to sit down, and telling me immediately: 'congratulations, you’ve passed. Now that we’ve gotten the anxiety out of the way, let’s talk about your dissertation’. After which we had an absolutely lovely and fascinating conversation about my research for two hours, they invited me for a pint, and very generously offered to lend their support to my efforts to adapt my dissertation into a monograph. My internal and external examiners made the viva the best day of my academic career.   

[academickindness]

A year into my PhD, I felt lost and unable to find myself in my chosen subfield. I had been lucky enough to take a course with one of the most senior scholars in another subfield, one that I was considering switching to. 

After a department talk, I approached her and told her that I was thinking of switching to her subfield. Her face lit up in a way that I will never forget and she immediately said: “Does that mean I get to work with you?!” She said “get,” as if it were a privilege for her to work with me, rather than the other way around. She then pulled over another full professor and said: “He’s going to be in my subfield!” And then she said: “I’m blushing!”

That generosity of spirit meant so much to me, as a first-generation college student–not to mention graduate student!–from the rural Southern U.S. who now found himself at an elite R1 university. I felt seen, and cared for. 

Despite having many, many students, and being busier than anyone I’ve ever met, she has been, and continues to be, the most dedicated and supportive adviser I could have ever asked for. She’s the only reason I’ve stayed in the academy, and I am incredibly grateful for that.

[academickindness]

Last-Minute Recommendation

In my undergrad days, the head of my Major dept was a total d*ck. She waited until the very last week of my MA scholarship application period to tell me that she changed her mind and won’t be signing my recommendation letter (which she had me write myself). I was in tears.

I ran into my advisor (who was from my Minor), visibly utterly depressed; he noticed and was quite concerned. He asked if there’s anything he could do to help, so I said ‘i don’t suppose you could write me up a recommendation letter for a scholarship to Japan by tomorrow morning?’

He did. Wrote it himself, and he even looked up the scholarship guidelines for style&envelope sealing. I got the scholarship and my life has been amazing since, all thanks to him asking me what was wrong.

[academickindness]

Messing up

Today, I found out I had messed up. A senior scholar and one of my previous practical supervisors then vouched for my ability, assuring my current practical supervisor (and, indirectly, me) that this was just a human error on my part.

[academickindness]

In undergrad, I wasn’t in his field at all, but I was interested in it. He invited students to attend a discussion group and I went along. He encouraged us to attend conferences and present there. He encouraged us to apply to top programmes for our MAs. He stayed in touch with me during my MA in a field that wasn’t his field at all, and encouraged me to apply for a PhD in his field. He contacted my current supervisor and made a case for me despite the fact that I had no formal qualifications in his field whatsoever. He got me that PhD. 

[academickindness]

Sunshine mentor.

I asked this person for help once five years ago and he hasn’t stopped helping me ever since. I got forwarded an email he wrote to someone recommending me for work (reply all does that!) and he described me in a way I didn’t see myself. The best part that it was an entirely honest description, while being useful and appreciative. I will be forever grateful.

[academickindness]

Senior scholar welcomed me

I recently attended a conference in another country, where I knew nobody else. I’m naturally pretty shy so I had a hard time talking with others.

After my presentation, a senior scholar came up to ask me further questions about my work and share what she’s been working on. She later sought me out at the conference dinner to make sure I sat with her and her friends, introducing me to a journal editor in the process.

I appreciated that she supported my work but it meant the most to me that she included me and made me feel part of the group.