Duke’s New Faculty Members Get Advice and Resources for a Strong Start

When Provost Alec Gallimore was just beginning his academic career, what advice would he have found most helpful? “I would challenge myself to enjoy the ride, seek out mentors, cultivate new friendships and experiences, and find joy in what I do,” he said.

Kicking off the New Faculty Orientation last month, Gallimore set the tone for a day of reflections and advice from experienced faculty members and an emphasis on the support systems in place to help all faculty grow, thrive and succeed. 

“We hope you’ll see the Provost’s Office as your partner in your academic journey and a source of information, guidance and encouragement every step of the way,” Gallimore told the 50 new faculty gathered for this annual event organized by the Office for Faculty Advancement.

The First-Year Experience as Duke Faculty

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“As a professor, you’re running your own business,” said Dan Scolnic, associate professor of physics. “Essentially, you have to advocate for yourself. Be that CEO.” He moderated a panel of faculty members who looked back to their first year and shared guidance.

“It was important to me to think about who I want to be in the field, and that informs who I want to be at Duke,” reflected Garry Mitchell, assistant professor of public policy. “Gratitude is an important value for me.” He added that faculty can proactively ask to do service work that interests them. “Build bridges and lay down roots,” he advised.

Picking up on the theme of values, Tamika Nunley said she asked herself, “What are the values that I bring to this work? For me, it’s integrity, excellence and generosity.” The William and Sue Gross Professor of History said these values translate into her teaching and research and how she shows up in her department.

“I’m still learning how to say no and yes,” said Pardis Emami-Naeini, assistant professor of computer science. “What helps is to talk to my mentors, then consider and make my own decision. I try to go back to my values. What are my priorities?” 

Interdisciplinary Opportunities and Engaged Scholarship

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“There's a new Center for Community-Engaged Scholarship at Duke,” said Stelfanie Williams, vice president for community affairs. “If you’re engaging with the community, please let us know. There are colleagues and peers who can support your activities.”

Edward Balleisen, senior vice provost for interdisciplinary programs and initiatives, explained that “Duke has a broad array of units [university institutes, initiatives and centers] that may be of interest to faculty with an interdisciplinary orientation. There are so many communities who are interested in engaging with you at Duke.”

Jennifer Lodge, vice president for research and innovation, highlighted her office’s research navigators. “They can point you to a lot of different resources.” Also, Duke has “one of the best offices of translation and commercialization; we’re interested in supporting research that will become translatable and commercial. There is also an Office of External Partnerships.”

Joseph Salem, who is the Rita DiGiallonardo Holloway University Librarian as well as vice provost for library affairs and interim vice provost for learning innovation and lifetime education, mentioned that in addition to many academic services the libraries provide, “we do a lot of really great programming, including a lecture series that will feature Percival Everett in October.”

Undergraduate Education, Graduate Education and Student Life

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All the studies are suggesting we need to look at students as whole people. We provide holistic graduate education,” said Suzanne Barbour, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School. “We hope that you’ll all mentor and advise graduate students.”

Lee Baker, vice provost for undergraduate education, noted that “it’s pretty amazing teaching Duke students” and there are lots of opportunities to get to know them. “For assistant professors,” for example, “we have [the] Faculty-in-Residence [Program].

“If you are worried about a student, call us,” said Mary Pat McMahon, vice president/vice provost for student affairs. “This is a high-touch place. We care a lot about our undergraduates and our graduate and professional students.”

A Strong Start to Teaching and Engaging Your Students

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Bethzaida Fernandez, senior lecturer of romance studies, began by sharing that “it helps to invest a little more time in documenting what you’re doing, so that the next time you teach the class you’ll save yourself time.” 

Bridgette Hard, professor of the practice of psychology and neuroscience, brought up an approach that has worked for her. “One of the most effective ways to be a good and efficient teacher is backward course design. Before you step into the classroom, you want to crystallize your goals for the students and then work backward to use class time. It’s super helpful.”

“I think of my classroom as a community,” noted Aria Chernik, assistant vice provost for faculty development and applied research. “How can we not just reinforce the way we were taught? Don’t be afraid to think about, what are other ways to create the learning experiences you want to see for your students and for yourself? What can you co-create?”

“One of the key factors that can make your lecture more impactful than a YouTube video is personalizing your delivery to each individual student,” said Sina Farsiu, Anderson-Rupp Professor of Biomedical Engineering. “Another is showing respect: if you expect students to be on time, you should be on time yourself. If you set deadlines in your syllabus, you need to keep them.”

“Know who the excellent teachers and mentors are in your department and ask them questions,” advised Jerry Reiter, professor of statistical science. Also, more broadly, “one of the best ways to get to know your senior colleagues is to ask them questions.” 

Advancement and Promotion at Duke

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“Go to the Faculty Handbook and familiarize yourself about what goes in the dossier,” suggested Terrie Moffitt, Nannerl O. Keohane University Distinguished Professor of Psychology. “Understand the promotion guidelines and discuss them with your chair and experienced colleagues.” 

“Create a network of mentors and collaborators,” said Luciana Fellin, professor of the practice of Italian and linguistics. “Take advantage of everything that [the Office for] Faculty Advancement offers.”

“Sometimes in the intellectual development statement, I have seen that faculty do not do a good job making a case for themselves,” noted Abbas Benmamoun, vice provost for faculty advancement. “Get another set of eyes on your dossier.”

Matthew Becker, Hugo L. Blomquist Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, advised faculty not to put their personal lives on hold. “If there are things you want to do, such as get married or raise a family, don’t wait until you get tenure.”

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Wrapping up the day, Executive Vice Provost Mohamed Noor entreated participants to “help us craft a long-term faculty-led vision. We are eager to co-create solutions and build that with you together,” he said. “I want to express my strong belief in your ability to create a better Duke.”

Finally, President Vincent Price told the new faculty that “this is a moment that is exciting in every sense of the word. It is a moment of real opportunity.” He continued, “I hope that you feel in this place that you have an opportunity to grow, develop into the fullest of your capabilities as a scholar, and also that you find it just a wonderful place to live and work.”

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