As an academic, I am encouraged (required) to have a CV, rather than a resume. The longer it is, the more I am deemed to have accomplished in my professional life. It is simultaneously really cool to see that record…and kind of daunting at the same time. It is also focused solely on the things deemed “worthy” in higher education: the classes I teach, the things I publish in “professional” spaces, the service I do for my employer, my field of study, and my community. So, I thought I would take this space to talk about my important accomplishments – in and out of higher education.
In 2022, I began research on child sexual abuse, targeting Amish and Plain Mennonite people, with Mary Byler, CEO of The Misfit Amish. I proud of our project, and our focus on being transparent with our participants. You can learn more about our project at The Misfit Amish’s Research site. While any publications or presentations I make about this project will be on my CV, I am really proud of the focus we had on transparency with our participants, and there is no real place for that in my academic CV.
In 2021, I began working with several people and organizations dedicated to educating people about sexual abuse among conservation religions, especially Amish and Plain Mennonite communities. I am proud of the work I have done with them, and you can find some guest blogs I wrote for The Misfit Amish blog. Those guest blog posts may not have a space on my CV, but I get to talk about them here! 🙂
In 2016, I became an aunt. The fact that my sister’s child was born was not my accomplishment…but I am an awesome aunt. My sister’s child knows I am there and will always be there…always and forever. That is something I am proud of, but it is never going on a CV.
In 2015, I became a full professor of psychology, while also serving as the Women and Gender Studies Minor Coordinator, at Lock Haven University. It was the culmination of several years of work, recognizing my efforts to be the best teacher, researcher, and contributor I could. Most of my CV documents the types of professional development, research, teaching, and service to my communities I have done. My journey to becoming a full professor began when I started at Lock Haven in 2005. I learned a lot in those 10 years, but I think I am most proud of my growth in the areas of social justice: recognizing and speaking out against interpersonal violence, empowerment models, and accessibility.
Tara's Thoughts 