Promoted from Doctor to Professor: what changes?

After my promotion to professor, I wondered if anything would actually change. Over the past few years, change has been subtle, but there are some clear lessons that I have learned. Although talk of leadership is ubiquitous in the university sector, and often quite vacuous, becoming a professor requires taking on new types of responsibilities. These include not just going along with the crowd or keeping your head low, but driving strategic initiatives in research and teaching both in your institution and externally. To be a professor is literally to be a “person who professes” to a certain type of expertise or knowledge. After spending numerous years trying to establish yourself as an expert, you can now use the space and time created by the promotion to explore new opportunities, such as novel, collaborative or interdisciplinary projects that will enhance your research and teaching – and likely your enjoyment of your job.

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