The Novice Professor was started by Ciara Kidder during her first year as an assistant professor. She started the blog with the intention to document her experiences as a new professor. The blog also served as a platform to promote the idea that we are all "novice professors" in that we are forever learning and adapting to the ever-changing landscape of higher education. In her original opening blog post, here is how she described the goal for the blog:
"What is the novice professor? Well that’s me, fresh out of graduate school starting my first year as an assistant professor on the tenure track. It’s also a reflection of my teaching philosophy. I strive to learn new techniques, tweaking my approach, and tailoring courses to fit each group of students. So, while in 6 years I may be starting my first year as a tenured professor, I will still be a novice, the picture of the clichéd 'life-long learner'."
In January of 2018, Jennifer Blush and Karly Schleicher joined the blog. As doctoral candidates, both contributors write from the prospective of teaching-driven graduate students. In July of 2018, Brian Day joined the team as a second-year assistant professor at Butler University who is dedicated to undergraduate learning. All four authors continue to exemplify the mission of the novice professor by discussing their teaching experiences and sharing useful resources with fellow educators. To learn more about the authors, click here!
Check out our founders thoughts on the development of The Novice Professor in our interviews with PsychSessions:
Jen & Karly's interview with R. Eric Landrum
Ciara's interview with R. Eric Landrum
Contact the authors at thenoviceprofessor@gmail.com