(The whole chapter is about networking, which will be fun to think about. Networking is something I think I am good at. And it is something that so many of my colleagues think is "dirty," like one should succeed as if the university was a meritocracy, based on the quality of research and the quality of teaching. It is essential. This will be fun to think about.)
Situation 1: Meeting a faculty colleague at a conference
Introduction: "I'm David. I'm an associate professor of rhetoric at the University of Minnesota Duluth. I research the intersections of writing, speaking, reading, listening, in traditional academic disciplines and in popular culture."
Reflection: Three moves worth noting:
- I am intentionally ambiguous about my departmental home. When I am at a communication conference, I am willing to let my actual departmental affiliation be ambiguous. Similarly, when I am at an English conference, I want the same ambiguity. Rhetoric is my identity, neither composition nor communication is enough to span my identity. I don't want my elevator speech to limit me because people are predisposed to a limited vision of what it means to be either a composition or communication specialist. And in the end, I don't care what department I am in -- I would do the same research either way.
- It matters to me that I am an associate professor. I have plenty of colleagues who are associates who introduce themselves as professors. I won't be one of those until I achieve full.
- The longer I do this, the more I oscillate between seeing popular discourses as the object of study and academic discourses as the object of study. (Ten years ago,
Situation 2: (Until a few years ago, when I was less secure, I guess) I introduced myself this way): Meeting a graduate student colleague at a conference
Introduction: "I'm David. I'm an associate professor of rhetoric. I research the intersections of writing, speaking, reading, listening, in traditional academic disciplines and in popular culture."
Reflection: I have been startled in the past, especially early in my career, with the way that graduate students dismiss faculty at "branch campuses," as if only faculty at doctoral granting institutions do interesting work or can help their career. (Then again, I am sure that graduate students are taught nothing about networking.)
The longer I am around, and the more tools like Academia.edu exist, the less often I face this underestimation, thankfully -- people in my subfields of rhetorical studies know who I am more and more often, without any awareness of being "only" at a branch campus.
Situation 3: Meeting anyone else.
Introduction: "I'm David. I'm a writing teacher at UMD. I occasionally also write for local media."
Reflection: No one knows what rhetoric is. No one cares what I research. They are intimidated by professors. They may recognize my picture from the newspaper or from the Perfect Duluth Day website.
What would your three situations be? And what would you say?
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