On the importance of steady production as an assistant professor (or what have you done for me lately?).
When I was an assistant professor, I was lucky. I had a pair of pretty good papers accepted my first year. The papers bought me time as I sorted out getting married, having a baby, & getting divorced.
I'll always look back on those papers as a blessing.
Except.
Having a pair of pretty good papers accepted early meant that senior faculty expected more.
At first, I published papers in less-recognized journals - causing a peer to caution - "XYZ faculty member wondered out loud when you would high again?"
I was lucky again.
A senior mentor pushed one of our papers through at a top journal.
This bought me more time.
Yet, my annual evaluation encouraged me to keep publishing.
I always thought this was unfair. I'd made the "n" required for tenure - I should have been able to slow down? Right?
About that time, my uni started a search.
One of our applicants, a senior assistant professor, had exactly the same "n" of top papers - so I suggested an interview to the search chair.
I will never forget the response
"In the words of Janet Jackson, what has he done for me lately?"
I recall my stomach sank. "I thought. I'm in trouble."
The chair saw my face & said: "look, they have not had a good paper in four years, they have no A revisions, & they have not expanded their collaborations."
I feigned interest (still panicking) & asked what could they do better?
The chair said "They should have kept working. We hire rookies for potential - we don't know what they will do. We hire senior assistants based on evidence - their record should show a trajectory."
He went on.
"We only #tenure people whose trajectory suggests they will keep working."
It was a powerful moment.
From that conversation, I learned three lessons.
(1) Early career success does not promise tenure or mobility.
Early success sets a tone - which buys you time.
(2) You have to keep working.
As your career unfolds, you are only as good as your last couple years.
If you stop working, you lose mobility & respect.
As my career has unfolded, I've come to know that is just as true for senior people as junior people.
(3) Never underestimate the power of a good mentor.
Too often assistant professors ask "how many papers are required for tenure?"
The search chair taught me to ask "what behaviors are required for tenure?"
My department wanted people who continually improved, it was the core competency necessary to tenure and earn a promotion to Full Professor.
That understanding has shaped my professional life.
I learned to look forward, introspect on how to improve (as a #scholar, a #teacher, & a person), and constantly attentive to my context.
While I often make missteps, that ability to look forward has proven invaluable for navigating academic life - and making sure - no one asks me "what have you done for me lately!"
Best of luck!
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