You’ve embarked on an Ivy Plus Exchange program to do archival research in Portland, Oregon in your fifth year as a Sociology PhD Candidate. Covid hits, the archives close, what are you going to do? In this episode, we hear Dana’s story about finding a place within university life after more than a decade of trials, tribulations, and ultimately, successes with her “pivoted” dissertation project. We learn that in this case, the time that went by wasn’t wasted time, but instead a pause that allowed Dana to reflect on what about universities she loved and wanted to keep, and what she wanted to let go. We also talk about why it’s never too early or too late to engage with the academic centers on your campus that support graduate writers and teachers. You can do so to hone your skills or to learn about possible career and life paths that can bring you purpose and joy — while still being deeply rooted in university life.

Our Guest

Dana Hayward is the Assistant Director of Assessment and Evaluation at the Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning at Brown University. At the Sheridan Center, Dana works to support the assessment of student learning at all levels and across the university through faculty consultations, program and curriculum review, and the evaluation of university programs and initiatives. Prior to joining Sheridan, Dana worked at Yale University’s Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning, where she earned a Certificate in College Teaching Preparation, as well as a Certificate in Public Communication. Dana has extensive experience conducting social science research with a range of qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as program evaluation for private and public sector organizations including the Canadian International Development Agency. She holds a PhD and MA in Sociology from Yale University, as well as an MA in Political Science and a B.Soc.Sc. in International Development and Globalization from the University of Ottawa. Prior to beginning graduate school, she conducted program evaluation for public and private sector organizations including the Canadian International Development Agency.

Explore Dana’s Sheridan Center webpage 

Credits

A heartfelt thanks to Ryan McEvoy, Podcast and Video Producer at Yale Teaching Studios, for teaching me podcast production and his continued guidance and quality control, The Poorvu Center for supporting the Write In Podcast project, and my wonderful team at the Graduate Writing Lab for their insights and motivation.