I am grateful to be presenting tomorrow (Saturday, October 25th) at the 2025 Conference on Community Writing, speaking on the roundtable “After Academia: Alternate Career Paths for Designing Justice.”
Thanks to Megan Faver Hartline, Ph.D. (The Grants Clearinghouse) for organizing this session. And lots of gratitude for co-panelists Sonia Arellano, Ph.D. (Tampa VA Research and Education Foundation), Rachel Bloom-Pojar, Ph.D. (Confianza Collective), and Candace Epps-Robertson, Ph.D. (Full Circle Writing, LLC).
Session Description
For many community-engaged scholars, the question of where we can be most effective in designing justice is a key consideration. Is that in a faculty position? In a community engagement or public research office? At a non-profit? Or through other means? As many higher education institutions move against justice-focused initiatives and many scholars are concerned about potential chilling effects on their research and teaching, this is a particularly apt moment for asking the question:
What happens when your commitments to community (and yourself) can no longer be fulfilled at the university? What do you do next?
This roundtable brings together a group of scholars who have worked through these questions and ultimately left academia to pursue work that best fulfills their community and personal goals.
Together, we’ll center our discussion on three questions:
Work: How can you think about your work beyond academic confines? What are the overarching goals you want to accomplish wherever you are working?
Life: What aspects of your life and work do you want to prioritize? How can you make that happen?
Commitments: What opportunities might there be for work or collaboration between academic and nonacademic co-conspirators for justice?
Panelists
Sonia Arellano, Ph.D. is a technical writer who supports VA researchers with their funding applications concerning research projects that serve veterans and veteran caretakers.
Rachel Bloom-Pojar, Ph.D. is a consultant and story strategist who helps mission-driven leaders write and share stories that increase trust, visibility, and impact for their programs.
Candace Epps-Robertson, Ph.D. is a writer, writing coach, developmental editor, and consultant who collaborates with individuals and cultural institutions to support writing and literacy projects.
Beth Godbee, Ph.D. is an educator, writer, and, like the other speakers, former writing studies professor, who offers a range of public writing and community education, including career discernment, courses, coaching, writing groups, retreats, and workshops.
Megan Faver Hartline, Ph.D. is a freelance grants and assessment specialist, connecting clients with needed funds to contribute to the public good in their areas.
Join the Conversation
If you’re attending the Conference on Community Writing (CCW), I hope you’ll join us for this roundtable discussion.
If you’re not able to attend, reach out to any of us on the panel. Candace, Rachel, and I all offer one-with-one coaching. I share more of my story in articles published in Inside Higher Ed and in audio format via a career discernment playlist in YouTube. I’m always happy to connect to talk about career paths. Learn more via “Career Discernment for Academics: Aligning Career with Commitments.”
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This post is written by Beth Godbee, Ph.D. (she/her) for Heart-Head-Hands: Everyday Living for Justice—with credit to Megan Faver Hartline, Ph.D. who crafted the roundtable proposal and to Rachel Bloom-Pojar, Ph.D. who designed the accompanying image.
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