Graduate and Postdoctoral scholars develop skills in academia that can support fulfilling careers in a diverse array of sectors. Many nevertheless dread pursuing non-faculty positions. For these individuals, even exploring jobs beyond the library, lab, or classroom can feel like a betrayal of their discipline, sparking a dual crisis of professional and personal identity.
In this talk, Chris Caterine, will discuss his current work as a communications strategist and proposal writer for a global consulting firm – as well as the path that led him there since earning his PhD in Classics from UVA. Chris is excited to share his insights on the value of humanities training in other sectors, how his approach to work differs from those without academic experience, and the ways his professional identity has evolved since he ventured to a non-academic career path in 2017.
Author Bio
In addition to his day job as an internal “communications consultant,” Chris Caterine is the author of Leaving Academia: A Practical Guide. Earlier in his career he served as Chair of the Contingent Faculty Committee for the Society for Classical Studies, as Visiting Assistant Professor of Classics at Tulane University, and as a member of the Grad Student Council at UVA. You can find him discussing career and higher education issues on Twitter at @clcaterine.