The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of becoming university professors through investigating the experiences of new faculty members. Two newly appointed women academics, including myself, met regularly, had conversations, and exchanged...
The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of becoming university professors through investigating the experiences of new faculty members. Two newly appointed women academics, including myself, met regularly, had conversations, and exchanged journals.
The experiences of the participants were reconstructed in narrative form. The major concerns of two novice professors were giving lectures, doing research, developing relationships with colleagues, and balancing between domestic duties and professional work. The meaning of becoming university professors through their experiences were found; identifying themselves through academic achievement, living in a complex world of relationships, balancing their multiple roles, and self-reflecting on teaching.
The results of the study suggest that workshops and guidelines should be offered for new faculty members based on our understanding of their lives.