End of another amazing academic year!
Academia is a strange little beast, doing so many things using processes, structures, and timelines that would never survive the brutal competitive pace of today’s business world.
But one thing that is still incredible and invigorating in terms of the seasons and pace of professional life is the beauty of the “academic year”. We have a weekend full of happy, pageantry-filled graduation events and then take off that regalia and BOOM - we are free! And part of that freedom includes having the time to think deeply about how we will modify and improve things next year, when a new academic year starts after Labor Day. It’s not exhaustive, it’s pure refreshment.
It is hard to believe this is the end of my 17th year as an academic. How did that happen? Those first few years while I was still finishing my doctorate are a bit of a blur, but now it is just pure teaching enjoyment. So congratulations to me on another academic year well-lived! Let’s go for at least another 7 (or more if I keep coming up with expensive construction projects around here!)
Why do I always forget to put on my doctoral tam for my annual selfies?
Another selfie with my fellow business professor friend and graduation buddy, Kevin Parker. I also love the look of deep contemplation on the colleague photobombing behind us.
The graduate commencement on Saturday was cold and just finished before the rain started (paranoid me in my golden regalia which I’m not sure can handle getting rained on), but the undergrad ceremony on Sunday had absolutely perfect weather, not too hot, not too windy, blue sky abounds.
