Emerging Immprof: Arc of Career for Immigration Law Teachers & Scholars
Immprofs Rose Cuison Villazor, Sabrina Balgamalla, Carolina Núñez, Pooja Dadhania, and Sarah Rogerson
Our afternoon panel at the 5th Biennial Emerging Immigration Scholars Conference took a look a the career arc of an immprof.
Sabrina Balgamwalla (Wayne Law) moderated an energetic discussion of career trajectories.
Pooja Dadhania (Cal Western) offered helpful advice regarding staying zen while at the meat market (enjoy meeting new people, recognize hiring is a black box) and what’s needed in the process (FAR, research agenda, references, publishable “WIP”). Wonderfully, Pooja has compiled a list of every question asked of her in the process — reach out if you want a copy! She also discussed moving from clinical to doctrinal teaching and bringing experiential opportunities into the podium classroom.
Carolina Núñez (BYU) offered numerous tips about the tenure process that are so wonderful, I’m going to list rather than summarize them:
- Know when you’re eligible for tenure and when you’re not eligible anymore
- Know exactly what the expectation for tenure is (read your rank-and-file document, talk to faculty about past decisions and what they’re looking for)
- Keep track of everything you do
- Do a good job on your 3rd year review file, which can be the basis for your tenure file
- Built a coherent story, brand
- Get involved in the discipline beyond scholarship
- Ask around about potential tenure reviewers
- Think about concrete measures to improve teaching
- Start earlier on your tenure file than you think you should
- Use that 3rd year review file
- Remember your two audiences: (1) the la school and (2) the university.
- Know everyone at your school wants you to get tenure
- Think about your post-tenure life and what you’ll be doing
Sarah Rogerson (Albany) spoke about her journey into academia, following a push from co-panelist Rose! She talked about starting in a family violence clinic and working with law students who formed a pro bono immigration group. She regaled us with the improbable and inspiring story of how she got state funding to start an immigration clinic at Albany: knocking on the doors of state legislators, getting help from her institution, and working up a funding proposal.
Rose Cuison Villazor (Rutgers) talked about lateral academic moves from her own experience of securing tenure-track jobs at SMU, Hofstra, UC Davis, and Rutgers. She encouraged everyone to consider seriously head-hunting calls as they come in and to evaluate the benefits that might accrue from a move.
-KitJ