What a crazy week! Up early today to write some end-of-term papers and get a start on the day. So much to do and so little time to do it. Our cohort is close to finishing our third semester, and I am starting to feel as if there is in fact a way to balance life, work, and the PhD program.
Looking at our semester (five classes), I would have to say it has not been an easy ride. I have been reminded that the PhD is not a degree that will be easy. The rigorous standards are the journey that you are encouraged to embrace and enjoy. The challenges that I have faced this semester have helped prod me along to my dissertation topic in virtual leadership. Understanding that it takes some time to all fall into place, I am feeling better now about moving forward with this topic. Looking around me, I am starting to see the importance of this research and its “timing” on what is going on in society and our global community.
I must remember that it is a long race and pace is important. We are almost half way done with the program! Now the focus is on the end of the semester. Those last couple miles….that will be the challenge….
-j-
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Life of the Ph.D. Student
I have been away from the blog for a couple weeks while I get the time to take a deep breath and reflect on what a difficult semester this has been for me personally, and begin thinking about new ideas as to how I am going to tackle yet another semester of learning, running a business, being a faculty member, and trying to live a family life.
I am here to say it can be done. I was told that with a little flexibility and a lot of Starbucks coffee, anything is possible. I can attest that this is true.
Now just a couple more loose ends to tie up, with some classes and one class that needs a little more than just tying up. I will be 3/4th of the way done with the course work. Now if only I felt 100% sure of my dissertation topic.
Hopefully this time away will give me some of the fire back. Based on experience, I know that it will. It is like finishing a marathon; when you are done, you are not surprised since you knew that you had it in you, but you really feel more tired than excited about being finished.
Now it is time to get in line at the starting gate for the next five months of running… I hope to improve my time. The fact really is, at the end of the day, I will just be happy to get done and try to enjoy the run.
-j-
I am here to say it can be done. I was told that with a little flexibility and a lot of Starbucks coffee, anything is possible. I can attest that this is true.
Now just a couple more loose ends to tie up, with some classes and one class that needs a little more than just tying up. I will be 3/4th of the way done with the course work. Now if only I felt 100% sure of my dissertation topic.
Hopefully this time away will give me some of the fire back. Based on experience, I know that it will. It is like finishing a marathon; when you are done, you are not surprised since you knew that you had it in you, but you really feel more tired than excited about being finished.
Now it is time to get in line at the starting gate for the next five months of running… I hope to improve my time. The fact really is, at the end of the day, I will just be happy to get done and try to enjoy the run.
-j-
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Back to Reality
I am back in Rochester after a great trip to Vancouver for the International Leadership Conference.
It was a time to really reflect on the Ph.D. program and my dissertation topic of virtual leadership. I am very excited to say that there was the opportunity to meet with many different professionals and scholars who all have a similar interest in virtual leadership, and we were given the forum to really explore this area that has little history. I was even more excited to meet up with some other Ph.D. students from other institutions who I can now correspond with on the topic. This is exciting for me.
What really made the trip special was the dinner that we had on Friday night.
As a large group of 11, we were able to enjoy great conversation regarding UI&U. It was great to get to have conversations with my fellow learners, professors, administration, dean, and president all at the same table. This is what makes UI&U special for me.
I have circled the calendar for next year’s convention in Los Angeles.
-j-
It was a time to really reflect on the Ph.D. program and my dissertation topic of virtual leadership. I am very excited to say that there was the opportunity to meet with many different professionals and scholars who all have a similar interest in virtual leadership, and we were given the forum to really explore this area that has little history. I was even more excited to meet up with some other Ph.D. students from other institutions who I can now correspond with on the topic. This is exciting for me.
What really made the trip special was the dinner that we had on Friday night.
As a large group of 11, we were able to enjoy great conversation regarding UI&U. It was great to get to have conversations with my fellow learners, professors, administration, dean, and president all at the same table. This is what makes UI&U special for me.
I have circled the calendar for next year’s convention in Los Angeles.
-j-
Friday, November 2, 2007
Guest Blogger II
I am including a posting from my colleague Rupert Loyd. We have shared some great experiences up here in Vancouver at the ILC. Enjoy the post!
-j-
Rupert Loyd writes:
Opennness…it’s about openness. I’m here at the International Leadership Conference in Vancouver, and it is great and tiring and exciting and stretching and…well, you get the idea. This is different from other academic conferences I’ve attended. No “stuffiness” allowed here. People are real and open. I met Peter Northouse, the author of one of our leadership textbooks. He’s as down to earth as you could want and seemed as interested in me as I was in him. Open.
Last night was a reception for new learners, and we had UI&U faculty and one of our deans and the president of Union there. Not a stiff and formal exhange of pleasantries and policies and information, but real communication with prospective learners. Then out to a delightful dinner at a local sports bistro with faculty and administration that kept us up way past our bedtime. Lots of laughter, stimulating conversation, and some great opportunities to be with good people. Openness. I love it.
-j-
Rupert Loyd writes:
Opennness…it’s about openness. I’m here at the International Leadership Conference in Vancouver, and it is great and tiring and exciting and stretching and…well, you get the idea. This is different from other academic conferences I’ve attended. No “stuffiness” allowed here. People are real and open. I met Peter Northouse, the author of one of our leadership textbooks. He’s as down to earth as you could want and seemed as interested in me as I was in him. Open.
Last night was a reception for new learners, and we had UI&U faculty and one of our deans and the president of Union there. Not a stiff and formal exhange of pleasantries and policies and information, but real communication with prospective learners. Then out to a delightful dinner at a local sports bistro with faculty and administration that kept us up way past our bedtime. Lots of laughter, stimulating conversation, and some great opportunities to be with good people. Openness. I love it.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Update from the ILC
I have turned over the writing to the guest bloggers of the day. This is something that I will continue to do not only throughout the ILC but also during future events and residencies. I am looking forward to sharing both my experiences and the experiences of those I work and learn with. Let the sharing begin!
Today’s post is written by two members of the Cohort Ph.D. administration–Dr. Robin Selzer and Jonathan Eskridge:
Here we sit at the exhibition table at ILC, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows over lovely downtown Vancouver. As new-timers to the conference, we’re impressed by the number of attendees (nearly 800), as well as by the coming together of researchers and educators across a variety of disciplines. The number of resources available to attendees, from books to business cards, is well worth the 5-7 hour flight from the east coast. We’re excited about tonight’s information session on the Cohort Ph.d program to hear about how our learners’ lives have been transformed by a program we’re so proud to be a part of.
Today’s post is written by two members of the Cohort Ph.D. administration–Dr. Robin Selzer and Jonathan Eskridge:
Here we sit at the exhibition table at ILC, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows over lovely downtown Vancouver. As new-timers to the conference, we’re impressed by the number of attendees (nearly 800), as well as by the coming together of researchers and educators across a variety of disciplines. The number of resources available to attendees, from books to business cards, is well worth the 5-7 hour flight from the east coast. We’re excited about tonight’s information session on the Cohort Ph.d program to hear about how our learners’ lives have been transformed by a program we’re so proud to be a part of.
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