Drs. Alicia Johnson and Melvin Cherry, Jr. had the opportunity to participate in the Advance@Pitt Faculty Professional Development Retreat.
The Retreat is explicitly designed to address the challenges that new and early career faculty often face. As a result of often being ‘new’ or ‘junior’ status in their school, department, or unit, many faculty experience the absence of a strong network of peers and mentors, limited exposure, and access to the unwritten “recipe” for success in the academy, and a lack of both balance and integration between their professional and personal lives.
Both faculty members praised the event:
“The retreat provided dedicated time for me to focus on my teaching philosophy and curriculum vitae instead of me trying to fit it in elsewhere in my packed calendar. All the sessions laid a solid foundation for future growth and development at the university” said Dr.. Johnson.
“The retreat gave me the opportunity to learn practical tools for success as an early career faculty member, including ways to strengthen my curriculum vitae and establish a professional presence. It also allowed me to connect with colleagues and mentors across campus who are navigating similar experiences. Overall, the experience was designed to help me grow both professionally and personally at Pitt” shared Dr. Cherry.