Help me break into academia

[Anonymous]

I have a BS, MBA, Ph.D, and another MS in strategic studies from the Army War College. I never got into teaching or academia after my doctorate because of my military obligation, which led to private sector jobs culminating in executive C-suite roles. In my fifties now with a lot of real world experience to compliment my education. I would like to get into teaching at the college level as my final career move. However, I don’t know where to begin. Most positions are asking for teaching experience and extensive publishing background. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

If you could somehow get a grant approved to take with you to a university then they would probably just create a tenured position for you on the spot.

[Anonymous]

You should be able to get an adjunct teaching job

[Anonymous]

Um academia is not a “final career move” in your 50s. If you mean some kind of tenure track position. You could probably get some adjunct work but it is extremely low paying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should be able to get an adjunct teaching job

+1. Adjunct jobs are fairly easy to get. The pay is unfortunately close to volunteer work. Teach for a semester or two and see what your options are-because getting hired to teach without any experience I think would be difficult unless you’re a bold faced name.

You could also see if a public policy school would take you on as a “visiting practitioner” for a semester or something like that

[Anonymous]

You wouldn't be tenure track but you might be able to get gigs at business schools and maybe with the military. My boss who was an Office Director at the U.S. Department of Labor taught at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

[Anonymous]

Your best shot might be someplace like NDU, NPS, AFIT, or similar - depending on one’s experience and degrees.

[Anonymous]

I would think that at your level, it’s much more about networking and seeing what is out there rather than applying for some posted job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a BS, MBA, Ph.D, and another MS in strategic studies from the Army War College. I never got into teaching or academia after my doctorate because of my military obligation, which led to private sector jobs culminating in executive C-suite roles. In my fifties now with a lot of real world experience to compliment my education. I would like to get into teaching at the college level as my final career move. However, I don’t know where to begin. Most positions are asking for teaching experience and extensive publishing background. Any advice?

Put an ad on Craigslist and offer $ for someone to call you, “Professor.” That’s the easiest way.

[Anonymous]

You will adjunct.
Look on the local college websites for openings.
Nationwide opportunities are listed in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Look.at what a CV is and write one for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Academic here. It's "complement" not "compliment." And you could adjunct based on SME but that's it. If you have no course preps and have to create everything from scratch it's less than minimum wage. Just retire.

[Anonymous]

Echoing others here--either adjucting or possibly a position at a university research institute, research professor, etc. Unfortunately, academia, despite its long history of questioning the status quo, is extremely closed minded when it comes to hiring for tenure-track positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Echoing others here--either adjucting or possibly a position at a university research institute, research professor, etc. Unfortunately, academia, despite its long history of questioning the status quo, is extremely closed minded when it comes to hiring for tenure-track positions.

While this is true for tenure track, I am a finalist for a Lecturer full-time position with similar career (20 years work experience). However, I am well-known to many faculty and the Dean, and have published recently. I think connections are very important to help them trust you can handle the position and would be a good teacher. OP, do you know any academics? Meet them for coffee/lunch/a drink and talk about the field and your interest in it. See what they think your options might be.

[Anonymous]

Community college would hire you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Academic here. It's "complement" not "compliment." And you could adjunct based on SME but that's it. If you have no course preps and have to create everything from scratch it's less than minimum wage. Just retire.

Oof