Don't Let Me –

Running on Fumes

Nov 22

Something I have found incredibly irritating in the academia world is the complacency. Well, it's in every world.

Story time.

As you may know, I'm seeking a dissertation chair so I may begin the dissertation process in 2024. The requirements are a chair and a reader (2 separate people). Thus far, I have a reader; however, in emailing and consulting with nearly a dozen professors now, I still have no chair. A chair is basically the dissertation god of one's dissertation. The reader is like a fancy editor. Reader: check. Chair: negative. As you can imagine, I'm quite frustrated.

Back to complacency. In numerous conversations with potential chairs, I've received quite the feedback, but this one was the most eye rolling. The professor (mind you - he is considered an expert in his field, a phD holder, someone who professes to others on the subject of my doctoral degree) stated he had never heard of my potential subject subset. Further, he used the words "...in all my years...". Enter complacency. My projected area of study has been around for decades; it's not new. It's also a simple combination of 2 well-known areas. The real issue is complacency with what "has always been done". Granted, I'm harshly perceiving his words, but how often does it happen that someone becomes an expert and then stops actively learning? My guess is often.

To counteract my grumpiness and frustration, I got outside to enjoy some fall. Also, I was home with sick people so I needed an escape.

Don't let me - get complacent, live for the "this is how we've always done it", and forget to find fall.

Update prior to posting: I have a chair AND a reader!!!! Long story, I'll explain later. So, now you all have to listen to me complain for the next <1.5 years about how I will manage to pull this off. But I will!

______________________

I ask you -

What are your thoughts on complacency?

Is it feeling like fall?

Tell me some of your good news! Happy Thanksgiving, tomorrow, to all who celebrate. I will, of course, be writing and catching glimpses of the football game.

(The post Don't Let Me - first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)