Page 8 Women in Higher education (www.wihe.com) / September 2014

By Dr. Andria Andiliou

It took me some time to realize that, for many PhDs, life is almost continuously on the move until the next big thing .

That next big thing could be a postdoc, another adjunct job, a visiting professorship or staff position, a tenure track appointment or a promotion at another institution .

Whatever that “thing” might be, the denominator remains the same: Dealing with life’s transitions to differ-ent geographical locations and working environments can be stressful . At the same time it has become a basic trans-ferable skill for people who work in higher education .

Drawing on my experience moving around the United States for school and work, and recently starting a new position in the United Kingdom, I realized how important it is to manage this transition period so that you can adapt to your work community, explore the new place and help your family adjust to the changes as well .

The travels beginI initially moved to the United States for graduate studies

(master’s and PhD in Ohio and Pennsylvania) and then for an adjunct position at a university in Michigan where my husband launched his career with a tenure track position . I spent two years trying to find an academic destination in the United States where we could both realize our career goals .

During the second year I had returned home to Cyprus and had our baby girl . After that we decided that we would relocate to Europe where my spouse accepted a permanent lecturer position and where distances are shorter . I would search for an academic staff developer position I was interested in that was within a couple of hours of commuting .

Our decision to relocate translated into another move—only now with a six-month-old baby, plus another job search cycle for me!

After a five-hour flight with a restless baby and a scary four-hour midnight drive from London to Cardiff during which I thought this would be the last move that I would ever do, we arrived to the place that we would make home the next few months .

Transitioning to a new campusIf you are wondering how we worked this out, it wasn’t

easy, and I still sometimes feel that every new thing is a mountain . But through those transitions I learned more and more about who I am and the things that are important for me despite the changes that happen around me .

I also learned how to best manage transitions to a new work environment and a new community . If you are in the midst of moving for work or for family, you may want to consider some of the following:

• Follow events and programs available for newcom-ers. Most of the institutions implement programs for wel-

coming new academics and staff to their campus . Typically there would be both centralized events, such as inductions and picnics, but also departmental welcome meetings led by department heads . Campus teaching centers often facil-itate new faculty orientations to introduce new instructors to strategies and resources for effective teaching .

Make sure you also read the new faculty handbook if available at your university, as it can provide useful information on the organization of the university, poli-cies, procedures and other support services.

• Search for a person who can potentially become your mentor. Find that person who has experience in the tasks you will perform as a staff member .

If you are in a teaching position ask around for people who have taught your newly assigned courses . Seek advice on syllabus design, assignments, and assessments . If there is a person responsible for teaching issues in your department, keep in mind they can also be a good person of reference for you in terms of teaching policies and procedures .

Don’t forget to locate the teaching support center on cam-pus and follow their events throughout the year .

• Initiate new collaborations. As you grasp a hold of your new responsibilities

and you become more active in your research, try to network and search for collaborators at your new place .

Search for research groups/centers that you can join and follow events

for new researchers at your campus . For example, joining a first grant club

could prove to be motivating and resource-ful in your efforts for securing funding . Also,

shadowing or volunteering for committee work can help you become more connected in your new academic family .

Transitioning to a new hometownIn order to ease your transition, you should ideally plan

to move before your contract actually starts to allow some time for you and your family to adjust to the new place . I found that the following worked well in terms of embrac-ing a new place and getting connected:

• Find where the heart of the community is. If you moved to a big city, it may be the pedestrian area, the parks, the mall, the theater, the museum square, or the community cultural and spiritual centers . Try to experi-ence the vibe of the place .

If not in a big city, try to find alternative places where locals gather, such as the farmers’ market, the garden center, a cozy coffee shop, the library or simply the out-doors . Become adventurous and explore this new place .

In the small college towns in Pennsylvania and Michi-gan where I lived, a favorite coffee shop for a Friday after-noon break was my choice, and I preferred the ones situ-ated in bookstores .

• Keep up the activities that energize you. It may be running, a yoga class, a knitting group, a church group,

IN HER OWN WORDS

Until the Next Big Thing: Working Out Life’s Transitions

Through those transitions

I learned more and more about who I am and the things

that are important for me despite the changes that

happen around me.

Women in Higher education (www.wihe.com) / September 2014 Page 9

a warm cup of coffee, a walk to a park, a visit to the mall, a journal or a blog . As human beings, we enjoy establishing and keeping routines . Staying faithful to these old activities and habits gives you a sense of continuity and familiarity .

I personally found that staying committed to working out and searching for Pilates classes helped to keep my spirits up . They also helped me endure the hours in front of the computer screen .

• Be mindful of others’ experiences of transition. If you are moving with other people be mindful of them as they may be experiencing some difficulty with it as well .

Transitions are challenging for our children, for example . Going out and about helps change their moods . A few of the activities I tried included join-ing play and music groups, visiting the local library and park, trying a mom and baby workout group—weather permitted, of course .

When we returned from a visit to our families back home, my 14-month-old adventurous toddler was eat-ing only a few bites during each meal . As a new mom this worried me, and I called our pediatrician for her advice . She suggested that most probably my daughter was also experiencing this transition, and I needed to show patience, understanding, and not force her to eat .

As you embark to your next life adventure try to keep things in perspective . This will be another transi-tion period and you will gradually find some of your old routines . You’ll also form new routines that will eventually make you feel more comfortable at the new place . One day you will hopefully feel a bit homier wherever life took you for the next big thing .

Dr . Andria Andiliou graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Educational Psychology . She has work experience as an Instructional Consultant (Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence) and as an undergraduate course instructor . She is now an Academic Staff Development Officer at the University of Bristol providing teaching and professional development support to graduate students, post-docs and research staff .

Vice President for Student LifeWest Virginia University is conducting a nationwide search for its next Vice President for Student Life. The Search Com-mittee invites letters of nomination, applications (letter of interest, full resume, and contact information of at least five references), or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the University. Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. It is preferred, however, that all nominations and applica-tions be submitted prior to October 15, 2014. Applications received after this date may be considered at the discretion of the Committee and/or hiring authority. For a complete position description, please visit the Current Opportunities page at www.parkersearch.com.

Laurie C. Wilder, Executive Vice President and Managing DirectorPorsha L. Williams, Vice President

770-804-1996 ext: 109 pwilliams@parkersearch.com || eraines@parkersearch.com

Five Concourse Parkway | Suite 2900 | Atlanta, GA 30328

770.804.1996 | parkersearch.com

serving as CEO of the nonprofit organization Haven House TN .

• Ellen de Graffenreid moves from senior vice president for communications at Brandeis University MA to vice chancellor of marketing and communica-tions at the University of Missouri .

• Dr. Mary V. Dougherty becomes director of the University of Massachusetts Press .

• Dr. Pauline Entin moves from associate dean for academic affairs for the college of engi-neering, forestry and natural sciences to vice provost for academic affairs at Northern Arizona University .

• Dr. Karen Fontenot moves from interim to dean of the college of arts, humanities and social sciences at Southeastern Louisiana University .

• Kenyatta Tatum Futterman JD becomes special assistant to the dean of students at the University of Chicago IL, where she will investigate allegations of student sexual misconduct .

• Dr. Kimberly Suress Gaiters-Fields becomes dean of the college of education at Albany State Uni-versity GA .

• Tiffany C. Graham, JD moves from associate dean of academic affairs and professor of law at the University of La Verve College of Law CA to associate dean of academic affairs at the University of South Dakota School of Law .

• Dr. Anita Hufft moves from dean of nursing at Valdosta State University GA to dean of the college of nursing at Texas Woman’s University .

• Dr. Jacqueline S. Jackson moves from dean of academic affairs and chief academic officer for the Community College of the University of the District of Columbia to dean of students at Anne Arundel Community College MD .

Women on the Move, continued from page 7

continued on page 10