One of the best parts of my job and a primary reason I joined the professoriate at an RI institution is the opportunity to work with graduate students. I have had the immense fortune to enjoy positive, collaborative mentoring experiences as a student, and it is my hope to provide similar enriching experiences for students at NDSU. This document serves as a guide to my advising philosophy and outlines the mutual expectations and responsibilities that I hope will foster a supportive and productive environment for your academic becoming.

Advising Philosophy

I welcome students from a wide range of backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Diversity enriches our academic community and strengthens our research. I am committed to creating a space where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to make meaningful contributions. I seek individuals who are willing to listen and evolve, to consider alternative perspectives, and who, above all else, endeavor to be kind in their interactions with others.

Advising is an active word! New students should plan to meet with me weekly—some meetings will be about 45 minutes; others will be just a few minutes. I value my time and yours, and we should meet as often and as long as it is productive. More advanced students may shift to other meeting schedules as they move through the graduate program and establish their research trajectory.

As a mentor, my goal is to consult, rather than direct. I have no interest in micro-management or other forms of overly directive mentoring. I find that these approaches can stymy independent decision-making. My style is more focused on collaborative milestone and goal setting that gives you the ability to decide how to navigate and reach them. You should always feel free to reach out to me and ask questions. I want to help you!

The university (despite my best efforts) emphasizes strong hierarchies. Professors are in positions of power over students, and students are unfortunately not always able to speak up when something is not right. I welcome student input, especially if one of my colleagues or I has said or done something that makes a student feel uncomfortable. Harassment, intolerance, and other injustices are unacceptable. I will always try to do the right thing and help you. Though I can’t promise just outcomes, I will always be available to listen to students and try to make their experiences better.

Mutual Expectations & Responsibilities

Signing up to work with a professor, especially as a Ph.D. student or a paid research assistant, is a significant responsibility and commitment on both of our parts. I have high expectations for myself, and in turn, I have high expectations for the students who work with me. In general, we should all be responsive, respectful, honest, timely, and hard-working. When those things are not happening, we should talk to figure out how to get better together. I am less interested in having someone work for me than I am in working alongside them. This typically means that I want you to pursue a personal interest that I can help support, given my experiences and scholarly background. That said, my expertise is not unlimited, and I will respect the boundaries of my own expertise. Of course, I am happy to learn with you, but I might also suggest specific faculty members to join the committee to provide expertise. 

Academic life, for many, is unlike previous work experiences. There are a few metaphors I like to use to describe graduate study: First, graduate school is an ultramarathon, not a sprint. Attend to your own environment selecting and structuring practices to design a writing process that will be sustainable for the long haul. Second, graduate school is like a gas—it will expand to fill whatever container you set out for it, so be mindful about how you draw those boundaries.

There are far fewer ready-made structures for your time, especially once coursework is completed. This poses a few challenges that I expect my students to manage over time. You will need to learn how to focus, manage your time, and work efficiently. As a new scholar and student, these skills are trying, but you should see yourself getting better and more strategic as you progress through your doctoral studies. If you do not see this progress or are struggling with time management or being overwhelmed — don’t wait to talk to me about it. We can figure things out together. This is a critical part of our relationship. I want to help you succeed!

Continual Revision

This document is meant to be a living guide rather than a static text. If your needs or goals change, or if you believe there are ways to improve our advising relationship, let’s revisit and revise these expectations together.

Through collaboration and mutual respect, I hope to help you achieve your academic and professional aspirations while fostering an enriching graduate experience. I look forward to working with you.