The Black Academic's Guide to Winning Tenure--Without Losing Your Soul [Paperback]

Kerry Ann Rockquemore (Author), Tracey Laszloffy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 30, 2008 | ISBN-10: 1588265889 | ISBN-13: 978-1588265883

For an African American scholar, who may be the lone minority in a department, navigating the tenure minefield can be a particularly harrowing process. Kerry Ann Rockquemore and Tracey Laszloffy go beyond standard professional resources to serve up practical advice for black faculty intent on playing and winning the tenure game.

Addressing head-on how power and the thorny politics of race converge in the academy, The Black Academic s Guide is full of invaluable tips and hard-earned wisdom. It is an essential handbook that will help black faculty survive and thrive in academia without losing their voices, or their integrity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Both informative and entertaining. The authors dispense practical, no-nonsense ideas.... This is a must-read for any Black person on the tenure-track and is highly recommended for non-Black faculty as well. --Michael J. Cuyjet, The Review of Higher Education

Thought provoking and engaging.... This book is certainly written with the African American junior scholar in mind, but I would highly encourage all junior faculty who are interested in acquiring the necessary tools to achieve tenure to read [it]. --Tiffiany Howard, The Academic Author

This book should be required reading in the professional development courses offered by most graduate programs. It deftly addresses the subtle abuses of power and the always challenging-to-address racial politics that pervade all aspects of society, including academia. --Romney Norwood, Georgia State University

Product Details

• Paperback: 261 pages
• Publisher: Lynne Rienner Publishers (July 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588265889
• ISBN-13: 978-1588265883
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kerry Ann Rockquemore, PhD is Executive Director of the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity. Her scholarship has focused on interracial families, biracial identity, and the politics of racial categorization. She is author of BEYOND BLACK and RAISING BIRACIAL CHILDREN, as well as over two dozen articles and book chapters on multiracial youth. After Dr. Rockquemore became a tenured professor (at the University of Illinois at Chicago), her focus shifted to improving conditions for pre-tenure faculty by creating supportive communities for professional development, writing productivity and work/life balance. Her award-winning work with under-represented faculty led to the publication of her most recent book: THE BLACK ACADEMIC'S GUIDE TO WINNING TENURE WITHOUT LOSING YOUR SOUL. Through the NCFDD, Dr. Rockquemore provides workshops for new faculty at colleges across the U.S., writes a weekly advice column for Inside Higher Education, and works with a select group of new faculty each semester in the Faculty Success Program.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book! October 14, 2008

By E. Branch

Format:Paperback

There are few book that are must-reads. That will help you to navigate the minefield of earning tenure and surviving the madness of being a person of color in the academy. This is one of those rare gems that will help you to anticipate the challenges and to remind you that you are not in this struggle alone, others understand, and have succeeded. I give this book my highest recommendation.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A guide for African American employees of academia November 13, 2008

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Paperback

Although America has made great strides toward equality, some barriers still sadly exist. "The Black Academic's Guide to Winning Tenure: Without Losing Your Soul" is a guide for African American employees of academia who want all the respect and privileges of their fellow professors and other academics. A game must be played, and Rockquemore & Laszloffy offers a solid strategy guide for navigating the administration to get what one deserves. "The Black Academic's Guide to Winning Tenure" is a must for any black Academic who fights for equality in all aspects of society.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource for ALL Untenured Academics November 24, 2010

By William Rhee

Format:Paperback

While this book is understandably aimed towards black faculty and people of color, most of the prescriptions and tips are excellent advice for ALL untenured faculty. In addition, the author does a masterful job of concisely and persuasively explaining the plight of many black academics in a way with which non-black academics can not only understand but also perhaps even empathize. Highly recommended!