This article is published in the April 2024 issue.

Upcoming CRA-E Webinar Series to Explore Teaching Career Paths

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By Matt Hazenbush, Director of Communications 

As institutions continue to expand their computing programs, the number and variety of opportunities for teaching-focused faculty positions has never been greater. Most PhD-granting departments have introduced a teaching faculty track – often with academic rank – while many masters-granting and primarily undergraduate institutions are significantly growing their faculty rosters. 

“There’s a lot of demand right now if you’re interested in opportunities to focus on teaching,” said Janet Davis, CRA-E Board Member and Professor and Microsoft Chair of Computer Science at Whitman College. “But understanding the growing range of opportunities, and how to be successful in the hiring process, can be a real challenge.” 

If you’re a computing PhD student, postdoc, or industry professional interested in a career focused on teaching, an upcoming webinar series from CRA-Education (CRA-E) is just what you need to help you make sense of your options and successfully navigate the increasingly complex teaching landscape. 

Virtual Career Landscape Workshop 2024

Based on updated material from two past highly-successful in-person workshops offered at ACM’s Federated Computing Research Conference (FCRC), CRA-E’s three-part Virtual Career Landscape Workshop will discuss and compare teaching-focused career paths, highlight how to best prepare for teaching positions, and discuss how to effectively apply for different kinds of positions. 

“The aim of these sessions is to enlighten folks about the career options that exist for people interested in teaching,” said Kelly Shaw, CRA-E Co-Chair and Professor of Computer Science at Williams College. “It’s our hope that the workshop will be beneficial for those who are exploring a range of different career paths, and give participants the knowledge they need to pursue a teaching-oriented career if they decide that’s their goal.” 

Open to all and offered at no cost, the three-part virtual workshop series will take place over three consecutive Thursdays in May at 6:30 pm ET / 5:30 pm CT / 4:30 pm MT / 3:30 pm PT. Participants may attend all three sessions or only the ones that interest them. 

 

Register Now

 

Each 80-minute interactive session will include a formal panel presentation, time for candid Q&A with the panelists, and a breakout session for networking and small group conversations.

  • Thursday, May 9: What is the landscape of teaching-oriented careers?
  • Thursday, May 16: How can I prepare myself for a teaching-oriented career?
  • Thursday, May 23: How do I apply for teaching-oriented positions?

“It’s our intention through blending presentations with Q&As and small group discussions that participants will walk away with not only an understanding of the career landscape, but also personalized insights based on their connections with experienced faculty and peers,” said Borja Sotomayor, CRA-E Board Member and Senior Instructional Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Chicago. 

In late summer, organizers and panelists will host online office hours to answer questions as job seekers prepare their application materials. Additional feedback will be available for participants who identify with minoritized groups.

Teaching Faculty 101

In anticipation of attending the live sessions, participants are encouraged to watch the below Teaching Faculty 101 video, featuring Drew Hilton, Professor of the Practice in Electrical and Computing Engineering at Duke University.