The Social Academic | Online Presence for Professors with Jennifer van Alstyne

We're back with Ruth C. White, PhD, MPH, MSW, RSW to talk about her life beyond academia. Join us for this conversation about why female academics suffered through the pandemic, and why they are feeling so burned out.https://theacademicdesigner.com/2025/ruth-c-white-phd-on-burn-out-for-female-academics/Ruth C. White, PhD, MPH, MSW, RSW is on a mission to help women find success that feels like them. Dr. White’s career has taken a meandering path with success in many roles. She has worked as a social worker in the USA, Canada and the UK, and gave up tenure in the social work program at Seattle University to teach in the ground-breaking virtual program at the University of Southern California. Yes… She gave up tenure! Then she left academia for a role as a DEI executive at a Silicon Valley tech firm, and followed up with another DEI role in academia.Ruth is the author of four books, and has written articles on mental health for Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Tracy Anderson Magazine. She built a consulting practice in DEI and mental health, with clients such as PwC, Indeed, JPMorgan Chase, Premera Blue Cross, Aetna, Applied Materials, Protiviti, Gainsight, among others. Since 2020, Dr. White has appeared 30+ times as a mental health commentator on KRON4-TV Bay Area, and she has also appeared as an expert on The Today Show, BBC, podcasts, and radio. Her groundbreaking research on the LGBTQ+ community in Jamaica, led her to be an expert witness in more than a dozen cases in collaboration with Yale, Columbia and NYU Law Schools, and advocacy groups across the USA.In addition, Ruth has a modeling career, that has included major campaigns, and representation by agencies in Toronto, San Francisco, Paris and London. Recently she merged her love for words and travel to become an in-demand travel writer, with articles in CN Traveler UK & US editions. And she accomplished all this as a mom with an atypical brain: one labeled with ADHD and bipolar disorder. Her sense of adventure has led to PADI diving certifications, kayaking across San Juan Islands and rapids on the White Nile and Pacuare, hiking solo up Mt. Ellinor, and racing sailing boats in the San Francisco Bay for several years. She is also competent with crochet hooks, knitting needles and sewing machines.Website https://lumoracoaching.com/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthcwhite/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lumoracoaching/Past interview with Ruth: https://TheAcademicDesigner.com/2020/ruth-c-white-talks-youtube/The Social Academic blog and interview series https://TheSocialAcademic.com/blog

Dr. Anna Clemens, an academic writing coach and founder of the Researchers' Writing Academy, shares her insights on the power of storytelling in scientific writing. She emphasizes how framing research in a narrative enhances reader engagement and streamlines the publishing process. Anna discusses the evolving social media landscape for academics, advocating for a diverse online presence. Additionally, she highlights the importance of community support in overcoming the challenges faced by researchers, fostering empowerment and accountability in writing.

Join Amanda Thorne, owner of Thorne Artistry, and Melissa McClure, an experienced wedding and branding photographer, as they explore the world of visual branding for academics. They share invaluable tips on how to feel confident in front of the camera and the transformative power of hair and makeup. Discover the importance of trust in collaboration for stunning photos and learn practical advice on self-photography, including lighting and styling tips. Get ready to elevate your online presence and embrace your unique identity!

Are you thinking about leaving academia? Dr. Jen Polk of From PhD to Life joins me on The Social Academic for an interview about career clarity and your online presence. This interview is especially for academics considering leaving academia (or if you're forced to leave unexpectedly).0:00 Meet Jen Polk1:17 Social media for academics in 20255:27 Social media for PhDs on the job market11:03 Blogging and other ways to share online15:07 Reclaiming your online presence22:15 How to work with Jen Polk24:47 PhD Career Clarity Program31:54 Wrap upJennifer Polk, PhD, is a career coach, educator, and recognized expert in PhD careers. She regularly facilitates professional development workshops and delivers keynote presentations at institutions across the US, Canada, and internationally. Jen created her PhD Career Clarity Program to help PhDs navigate their career paths with confidence.Jen’s writing is published in University Affairs, Inside Higher Ed, the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Globe and Mail, Academic Matters, and in three books. More recently, she was an expert panelist for the 2021 Canadian Council of Academies report, Degrees of Success, on the challenges PhDs face transitioning to employment. Jen currently serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies, and she’s on the management committee for a multi-year transborder project about PhD career paths. She earned her PhD in history from the University of Toronto. Find Jen online at From PhD to Life.Sign up for Jen's free webinar https://fromphdtolife.com/phd-job-search-help/Explore the PhD Career Clarity Program https://fromphdtolife.com/join-the-program/From PhD to Life website https://fromphdtolife.com/Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/fromphdtolife.comLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-polk-phd/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FromPhDtoLife/X https://x.com/FromPhDtoLifeCheck out our other interviews on The Social Academic podcast:What are informational interviews? (2022) https://youtu.be/xOjBynwpDqEWhat is networking? (2020) https://www.youtube.com/live/didV0bHHsGs-----------------------------------------Professors! Welcome to The Social Academic. I’m Jennifer van Alstyne (@HigherEdPR). I help academics feel confident when showing up online. Let's build a strong digital footprint for your academic life through social media, websites, and bio writing.Schedule a no pressure Zoom call with Jennifer to talk about working together 1-on-1 on your online presence 🌟https://higheredpr.as.me/meet-with-jenniferView services https://theacademicdesigner.com/services/Visit my websitehttps://theacademicdesigner.comLinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/jennifervanalstyne/Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/jenvanalstyne.bsky.socialInstagram https://instagram.com/HigherEdPRX https://x.com/HigherEdPRFacebook https://facebook.com/higheredprThreads https://www.threads.net/@higheredprYouTube http://youtube.com/@higheredpr

Are you an academic open to making an impact with your research in creative ways? Dr. Walter Greason is back on The Social Academic podcast with artist, Tim Fielder.They created The Graphic History of Hip Hop, a graphic novel taking the education sector by storm. When I asked, "did you expect this kind of response from your book?" It was a definite no. The ripple effect of engagement and impact The Graphic History of Hip Hop is creating for students is inspiring."Hip Hop isn’t just beats and rhymes… it’s a movement that fought to redefine the times," --Graphic History CompanyThe Graphic History of Hip Hop with Walter Greason and Tim Fielderhttps://theacademicdesigner.com/2025/graphic-history-of-hip-hop-walter-greason-tim-fielder/Read bios for Walter Greason and Tim Fielder https://theacademicdesigner.com/2025/graphic-history-of-hip-hop-walter-greason-tim-fielder/#biosAbout The Graphic History of Hip Hop, vol. 1 https://www.graphichistorycompany.com/graphichistoryofhiphopLive event with Sheena Howard on Saturday, April 12, 2025 on Promoting Your Book Online for Academics: https://theacademicdesigner.com/2025/live-workshop-on-promoting-your-book-online-for-academics/Professors! Welcome to The Social Academic. I’m Jennifer van Alstyne (@HigherEdPR). I help academics feel confident when showing up online. Let's build a strong digital footprint for your academic life through social media, websites, and bio writing.https://theacademicdesigner.com-----------------------------------------Schedule a no pressure Zoom call with Jennifer to talk about working together 1-on-1 on your online presence 🌟https://higheredpr.as.me/meet-with-jenniferOnline presence services for academics https://theacademicdesigner.com/services/___ Let’s connect on social media ___LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/jennifervanalstyne/Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/jenvanalstyne.bsky.socialInstagram https://instagram.com/HigherEdPRX https://x.com/HigherEdPRFacebook https://facebook.com/higheredprThreads https://www.threads.net/@higheredpr

How can we help new readers find your words? How can you help your book have a legacy? Website designer / book designer HR Hegnauer joins me for this featured interview. HR has designed over 350 books, creating award-winning covers and interiors for both print and ebook editions. She's also an expert website designer who helps authors create a lasting presence for their writing online. Let's talk about author websites with HR Hegnauer 📚https://theacademicdesigner.com/2025/author-websites-with-hr-hegnauer/I’m Jennifer van Alstyne (@HigherEdPR). I help professors feel confident when showing up online. I work with faculty and researchers 1-on-1 to build you a strong online presence that shares your teaching, research, and leadership. Welcome to The Social Academic YouTube channel, an extension of my blog/podcast about your online presence as a professor or researcher.HR Hegnauer is a designer, writer, and creative professional specializing in book and web design for authors, independent publishers, and artists. As the owner of a design studio, HR has designed over 350 books, creating award-winning covers and interiors for both print and ebook editions. She is recognized for her website design as a Squarespace Circle Gold Level Member, ranking in the top 8% of over 100,000 professional Squarespace designers worldwide. With over a decade of web design experience, she builds engaging, intuitive websites that help authors not only establish but also grow their digital presence.She is the author of When the Bird is Not a Human (Subito Press) and Sir (Portable Press at Yo-Yo Labs) and holds an MFA in Writing & Poetics from Naropa University, where she has also taught in the Summer Writing Program. With an MBA from the University of Denver, HR brings a unique blend of artistic sensibility and strategic expertise to her work. Her approach is highly collaborative, ensuring that every project—whether a book or website—amplifies the unique voice of its creator.https://hrhegnauer.com___ More from The Academic Designer ___Visit The Social Academic blog https://theacademicdesigner.com/blog/Schedule a no pressure Zoom call with Jennifer to talk about working together 1-on-1 on your online presence 🌟https://higheredpr.as.me/meet-with-jenniferHere's ways we can work together https://theacademicdesigner.com/services/Sign up for emails from Jennifer 💌https://theacademicdesigner.com/about/email-list/___ Let’s connect on social media ___LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/jennifervanalstyne/Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/jenvanalstyne.bsky.socialThreads https://www.threads.net/@higheredprInstagram https://instagram.com/HigherEdPRTwitter https://twitter.com/HigherEdPRYouTube https://youtube.com/@HigherEdPR

Brittany Trinh returns to The Social Academic featured interview series. We talk about how her thinking on websites for professors, scientists, and researchers has changed. And, about how life has changed now that she's back in grad school. Plus, hear about our Team VIP Day service for research lab websites.https://theacademicdesigner.com/2025/website-design-for-academics-and-research-labs-with-brittany-trinh/0:00 Meet Brittany2:35 Online presence as a graduate student11:29 Beyond Your Science, a podcast for grad students and early career scientists13:17 How Brittany's thinking about academic websites has changed20:04 Updating her personal website22:19 Best Personal Academic Websites Contest returns in 202524:55 Research Lab and Research Group WebsitesBrittany Trinh is a Vietnamese-American website designer and chemist. She helps enterprising scientists, science communicators, and academic entrepreneurs create a website that integrates your creativity and expertise. Brittany knows when your website reflects the awesome things you do within and beyond STEM, it helps you forge your own path.She hosts the Beyond Your Science Podcast, where she talks about integrating science, entrepreneurship, and creativity within and beyond STEM, from her own experiences and interviews with other scientists and small-business owners. Listen to the Beyond Your Science Podcast.Brittany is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on synthesizing high-impact polymers in a more eco-friendly way and leveraging their tough mechanical properties into industrial applications. She received her BS in Chemistry with a minor in Psychology from the University of Houston.When she’s not in the lab, she’s probably playing piano or violin, watching slice-of-life anime, or cooking some kind of noodle. Connect with Brittany on LinkedIn.https://brittanytrinh.com/I’m Jennifer van Alstyne (@HigherEdPR). At The Academic Designer LLC, I help professors feel confident when showing up online. I work with faculty and researchers 1-on-1 to build you a strong online presence that shares your teaching, research, and leadership.Welcome to The Social Academic YouTube channel, an extension of my blog/podcast about managing your online presence in Higher Education.Resources mentioned in this episode:How to write a powerful conference speaker bio https://youtu.be/b8oTNAT2PBM?si=EVdoH0UBByKYGUgvSTEM Websites with Brittany Trinh (featured interview on The Social Academic in 2020) https://youtu.be/CD-49VqCEXc?si=45IQ4nQLFDHWiTt5___ More from The Academic Designer ___Visit my websitehttps://theacademicdesigner.comSchedule a no pressure Zoom call with Jennifer to talk about working together 1-on-1 on your online presence 🌟https://higheredpr.as.me/meet-with-jennifer___ Let’s connect on social media ___LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/jennifervanalstyne/Instagram https://instagram.com/HigherEdPRBluesky https://bsky.app/profile/jenvanalstyne.bsky.socialX https://x.com/HigherEdPRFacebook https://facebook.com/higheredprThreads https://www.threads.net/@higheredpr

We Can See Into Another Place: Mile-High Writers on Social Justice (The Bookies Press and Bower House 2024) is a multi-genre anthology by writers and faculty at the Mile High MFA Program at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. In this featured interview, anthology editor Dr. Andrea Rexilius joins me to talk about social justice, radical imagination, and the power of storytelling.Includes a short excerpt from Steven Dunn's book on Nas.About the book: We Can See Into Another PlaceIn this thought-provoking, multi-genre anthology, editor Andrea Rexilius gathers some of Denver’s most inspiring literary voices to explore the nuances of social justice with unflinching candor. Through comic panels, short stories, nonfiction essays, plays and poetry, the collection beautifully illustrates how the written word, in all its forms, can impart healing and empower readers to seek social change.Anthology contributors include:Olivia AbtahiR. Alan BrooksSteven DunnCarolina EbeidSteven Cole HughesKristen IversenTraci L. JonesTarashea NesbitLori OstlundKhadijah QueenJenny ShankSuzi Q. SmithChristine SneedMathangi SubramanianAddie TsaiDenise VegaRachel WeaverErika T. WurthDavid HeskaWanbli WeidenCo-published with The Bookies Press (formerly Book Bar Press)https://www.bowerhousebooks.com/shop/we-can-see-into-another-place/Dr. Andrea Rexilius is the author of Sister Urn (Sidebrow, 2019), New Organism: Essais (Letter Machine, 2014), Half of What They Carried Flew Away (Letter Machine, 2012), and To Be Human Is To Be A Conversation (Rescue Press, 2011), as well as the chapbooks, Séance (Coconut Books, 2014), To Be Human (Horseless Press, 2010), and Afterworld (above/ground press, 2020).She earned an MFA in Poetry from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2005), and a PhD in Literature & Creative Writing from the University of Denver (2010). Andrea is the program director for Regis University’s Mile-High MFA in Creative Writing. She also teaches in the Poetry Collective at Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver, Colorado.https://www.andrearexilius.net/I’m Jennifer van Alstyne (@HigherEdPR). I help professors feel confident when showing up online. I work with faculty and researchers 1-on-1 to build you a strong online presence that shares your teaching, research, and leadership. Welcome to The Social Academic YouTube channel, an extension of my blog/podcast about managing your online presence in Higher Education.https://theacademicdesigner.com___ Let’s connect on social media ___Facebook https://facebook.com/HigherEdPRThreads https://www.threads.net/@higheredprX https://x.com/HigherEdPRLinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/jennifervanalstyne/Instagram https://instagram.com/HigherEdPR

Dr. Martha Kenney knows your time is precious. She cares deeply about employee engagement, burnout prevention, work-life balance and career development amongst professional women. That’s why she works with women in medicine and beyond find work-life alignment. She helps women gain clarity on who you are, what you want in life, and what truly matters to you.She’s also an Assistant Professor who researches mechanisms of chronic pain in young adults who are living with sickle cell disease. I’m delighted to share this conversation with Dr. Martha Kenney in this featured interview on The Social Academic.Watch on YouTube.

Introducing Dr. Monica Cox, professor and change maker for equity in the workplace Jennifer: I’m so excited to feature Dr. Monica Cox, a professor, author, and change maker. We talk about her new book, Never Defeated: Nine Lessons from the Workplace Front Lines. "I am an academic and a professor, an engineering education professor. I’m also a former administrator and I am an entrepreneur who is the CEO and founder of STEMinent, LLC, which offers a variety of offerings that have an umbrella of helping people to emerge whole and bold and strong in the workplace, or whichever environment they so choose. That's me in a nutshell."Read on The Social Academic blog.Watch on YouTube.