I started as an assistant professor at @Carleton_U twenty years ago on July 1, 2000. We had email, but ‘teaching with technology’ mostly meant using an overhead projector. Here are a few thoughts on what I’ve learned as a faculty member over twenty years: 1/21

I learned the best thing about being a faculty member is that no one tells you what to do all day. The worst part is that no one tells you what to do all day. 2/21

I learned to trust my colleagues. A good academic department is a bit like a healthy family - with ups and downs and both conflict and collegiality. But ultimately you stick by each other and are bound by trust. I’m lucky to be in one of those. 3/21

I learned, pretty recently, to collaborate more in writing and research. I came from a field that was all about the lone wolf, hunting your own meat. Working in teams is a pretty new concept for me and I like it. 4/21

I learned not to fall in love with the university, because it won’t love you back the same way. Believe in it; support it; contribute generously to it; but remember it’s ultimately an institution and employer and now and then it may break your heart. 5/21

I learned to stop trying to make coffee in my office. 6/21

I learned to put my family first and use my power to support others to do the same. I am staggered that anyone finds the basic principle hard to accept. Kids and partner always first. Sacrifice and share all burdens. Support people’s caregiving. Respect all choices. Simple. 7/21

(Shout-out to my department chair Glen Williams way back in 2002, who when I told him I was planning to take parental leave over the summer, said, ‘Why would you do that? You’re not teaching then anyway. Enjoy summer and then take leave in the fall too.”) 8/21

I learned that women get completely different comments on their teaching evaluations. In 20 years and thousands of evaluations I recall exactly one comment on my physical appearance. I can’t recall anything that felt like a truly personal attack. 9/21

I learned to respond to journalists when it was convenient, and not to worry if it wasn’t. 10/21

I learned that your views on mandatory retirement keep adjusting with each birthday. 11/21

I learned to invest heavily in relationships with staff. Like faculty, they are people; imperfect and varied. But they are such an important part of the university and not much useful gets done without them, especially for students. 12/21

I learned the importance of exercise and physical health. The unstructured faculty routine does not help here; so much flexible time, yet other stuff always feels more urgent. As much as possible I built exercise and healthy eating into my daily commute and routines. 13/21

I learned how much I constantly walk the line of entitlement as a tenured faculty member, and especially as a white straight cisgendered man. Every day I try to be thankful, to use this power wisely, and to not take this for granted. Please remind me when I fail at that. 14/21

I learned that if you feel totally on top of things in the classroom, you’re probably doing something wrong. 15/21

I wish I could say I learned how to fill out forms correctly, but that’s still a work in progress. 16/21

I learned to build a life outside the university and outside the academic bubble. Find people who have no idea what “tenure-track” means. 17/21

I learned that when I try to explain that power is more dispersed than people think, and it’s really complicated, and there are certain structural realities, and everyone’s trying...and..and..and...it’s best to just shut up, listen, and rethink the above. 18/21

I learned that when I saw PhD students coming in with big but unrealistic dreams that didn’t always end well, I could write a book for them. 19/21

I learned to give myself permission to fail; to slow down; to say ‘I don’t know’; to not keep up; and that the imposter syndrome never goes away and you still sometimes worry that the university will find you out and ask for twenty years of salary back. 20/21

I learned to seek new challenges and things that energize me while helping others.

It is very easy to flatline in this job, and the only person who can fully call you on that is yourself.

So I need to keep moving. Year 21 starts tomorrow.