Roads Taken: Women in Student Affairs at Mid-Career

by Renn, Kristen A.; Renn, Kristen A.; Hughes, Carole; Barr, Margaret J.

• ISBN13: 9781579220778
• ISBN10: 1579220770
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-04-01
• Publisher: Stylus Pub Llc

Summary

The work of student affairs professionals is demanding and unpredictable. This book addresses the particular challenges that it presents to women in mid-career. While much has been written about new graduate students, new professionals and senior administrators in student affairs, scant attention has been paid to the issues of mid-career, and particularly as they impact women. Here are the stories of over twenty women, from widely different backgrounds, reflecting on their lives at mid-career. They describe the choices they made and share the lessons they have learned, particularly the ever-present concerns about reconciling the demands of work and responsibilities to family and partners . The volume focuses on issues that have particular and significant meaning for women. The individual narratives are grouped into five sections, each beginning with a scholarly introduction to its topics. The sections deal with education and self development, such as the life implications of embarking on a doctorate; dual career couples and such decisions as relocation; choices about having children and responsibilities for the care of aging parents; arriving at mid-career; and alternatives to traditional, linear career progression in student affairs administration. This volume is a particular gift to women currently in mid-career positions in student affairs, women embarking on their personal and professional journey in student affairs, the partners of such women, their colleagues, and the individuals who supervise them.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD	xi
Margaret J. Barr
PREFACE	xix
PART I: CONSIDERING THE DOCTORATE	1	(50)
1. INTRODUCTION	3	(10)
Mary F. Howard-Hamilton
2. A DEGREE OF SIGNIFICANCE: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN PURSUING A PH.D.	13	(10)
Susan R. Jones
3. "SUENOS Y VALOR" (DREAMS AND COURAGE)	23	(12)
Rebecca Gutierrez Keeton
4. MY LIFE A.D. (AFTER DIVORCE)	35	(6)
Julie M. Wong
5. "TO PH.D. OR NOT TO PH.D.?" THAT WAS THE QUESTION	41	(12)
Gage E. Paine
PART II: DUAL-CAREER COUPLES	51	(36)
6. INTRODUCTION	53	(12)
Lisa E. Wolf-Wendel, Susan B. Twombly, and Suzanne Rice
7. COMING TOGETHER WITHOUT COMING APART: JOURNEYS IN THE EVOLUTION OF A DUAL-CAREER COUPLE IN HIGHER EDUCATION	65	(12)
Melissa McDaniels and Kristen A. Renn
8. PATH FINDING WITH A LIFE PARTNER	77	(12)
Martha H. Ruel
PART III: MOTHERHOOD AND STUDENT AFFAIRS: THE SKILLFUL ART OF MANAGING WORK AND FAMILY	87	(46)
9. INTRODUCTION	89	(12)
Sarah Marshall
10. REFLECTIONS OF A WORKING MOTHER IN STUDENT AFFAIRS	101	(12)
Carole Hughes
11. HOW DID I ARRIVE HERE? A JOURNEY WITH FAMILY AND STUDENT AFFAIRS	113	(10)
Jean Joyce-Brady
12. MOTHERHOOD WITH A BRIEFCASE: WORKING TWO FULL-TIME JOBS	123	(10)
Terry Zacker
PART IV: "I'VE ARRIVED": IT'S THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION	133	(38)
13. INTRODUCTION	135	(8)
Carole Hughes
14. NEW YORK TO NEW ENGLAND AND SEAS IN BETWEEN: ON THE WAY TO TWENTY YEARS IN ONE PLACE	143	(10)
Gail P. Olyha
15. I'VE MADE IT. WHAT NOW?	153	(8)
Sheilah Shaw Horton
16. ARRIVING AT TENURE	161	(10)
Anna M. Ortiz
PART V: ALTERNATE ROUTES: EXITING THE MAINSTREAM STUDENT AFFAIRS HIGHWAY	171	(28)
17. INTRODUCTION	173	(8)
Kristen A. Kenn
18. AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW	181	(8)
Barbara Fienman
19. STRATEGIC WOMEN	189	(10)
Marcie Schorr Hirsch and Lisa Berman-Hills
CONTRIBUTOR BIOGRAPHIES	199	(8)
REFERENCES	207	(6)
INDEX	213