Teaching in Higher Ed Higher Expectations: How to Survive Academia, Make It Better for Others, and Transform the University
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Nov 6, 2025 Roberta Hawkins is a geography professor researching digital media and environmental politics, while Leslie Kern is an academic and author specializing in feminist geography. They discuss how academia often exploits passionate faculty, urging a shift in how we perceive academic work. The duo advocates for collaboration, non-hierarchical practices, and the importance of making invisible labor visible. They propose practical strategies like service audits and time-blocking to combat workload demands and create a more equitable academic environment.
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Advice Books Miss Institutional Context
- Roberta Hawkins and Leslie Kern noticed mainstream academic advice ignores institutional injustice and exclusion.
- They argue career survival guidance must connect practical tips with institutional change goals.
Build Non-Hierarchical Collaborations
- Intentionally structure collaborations to be non-hierarchical and play to each other's strengths.
- Share responsibility so projects keep moving and reduce isolation and burnout.
Collaborate On Everyday Academic Tasks
- Open up collaboration beyond research: share syllabi, co-grade, invite peer observation, and swap assignments.
- Doing tasks together reduces isolation and reveals most colleagues are not true competitors.
