Faculty Perspectives on Coaching
Nearly 400 Duke faculty members from all schools have invested time in working with a professional coach in the Office for Faculty Advancement.
Coaching is a series of confidential, structured conversations that help people reflect on complex situations, navigate challenges, enhance self-awareness, set goals and exercise accountability for meeting those goals. Maria LaMonaca Wisdom, assistant vice provost for faculty advancement and adjunct associate professor of the practice in the Program in Education, is a professional certified coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation.
What are faculty getting out of it? Here are perspectives from three coaching participants who volunteered to share their insights.
Theresa Coles
Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences
I’ve had the pleasure of participating in group and one-on-one coaching with Maria. When I’m feeling discombobulated and losing direction, coaching helps me realign my goals with my values and research trajectory.
Coaching has taught me that I hold many of the answers and the direction that I need is inside; I just needed to learn to trust my inner compass. Coaching is one of those gifts that keeps on giving; I take learnings from each coaching opportunity and incorporate them in my day-to-day; the learnings echo for months and years beyond the actual coaching sessions. I look back on where I am now compared to before I started any peer or one-on-one coaching, and it’s night and day.
Coaching has also helped me address burnout; I’ve learned tools to help drag myself out of those tough times and find clarity. Most importantly, coaching has supported me in learning to draw clear boundaries.
Norbert Wilson
Professor of Food, Economics and Community
Faculty coaching with Maria Wisdom has been a critical part of my story here. I have had one-on-one sessions with her and group sessions. Each has provided me with critical insights on academic leadership, navigating my career and the relationship between my work and life.
Working with Maria, I developed language to discuss the work I lead with funders and colleagues with whom I work. In group sessions, I gained perspective on the challenges and opportunities I face, as well as how to balance the needs of stakeholders and my professional needs compassionately.
During coaching, I was able to identify my priorities and develop strategies to engage others in articulating their goals. I am grateful to have participated in the faculty coaching program, and I hope to participate in the future.
Jennifer Knust
Professor of Religious Studies
I am so glad that I had the opportunity to participate in Duke’s coaching program! When I first arrived at Duke, working one-on-one with Maria Wisdom helped me gain the skills and confidence I needed to grow into my new role. When I was offered a chance to participate in group coaching this Spring, of course I immediately took it!
Structured conversations with colleagues under Maria’s expert guidance helped us find ways to pursue a better balance among the many competing goods that occupy a busy university life.
How to Get Involved
Faculty Group Coaching
Registration is now open for Fall 2025. Each interdisciplinary group will be facilitated by Maria Wisdom and include up to four faculty peers at similar career stages and faculty rank. Participants benefit from multiple perspectives and the opportunity to meet other faculty dealing with similar professional issues. Learn more and register by July 25.
Faculty or Academic Leader 1:1 Coaching
Chairs and unit leaders who would like 1:1 coaching support in their administrative roles may self-nominate via email to Maria Wisdom, which will remain confidential. Alternatively, they may nominate any faculty colleague for 1:1 coaching support for a critical research, teaching or service role.
Main image: Theresa Coles, Norbert Wilson, Jennifer Knust