jenseninman

Today, is a big day. Today, my honorific changes from Mrs. to Dr. Today, I successfully passed my defense and I earned my Doctorate in Learning and Leadership at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Throughout my experience people asked me questions about earning a doctorate. Just in case you're interested, today, I'll answer some of those questions.

Why did you decide to earn a doctorate?

I was bored. I don't do bored well. To avoid feeling restless, I set a new challenge for myself. I also thought that earning a doctorate would be (at least in some ways) fun. I wanted to learn new things in new ways. I wanted to explore. I wanted to be a good role-model for my quasi-kid (who just graduated college) and for my college students.

Why earn a doctorate in Learning and Leadership?

I double majored in Graphic Design and Video & Film in undergrad. I earned my masters in Integrated Design. It was time for me to push myself beyond my comfort zone. It was time for me to delve into a new areas of focus. Earning a degree in Learning and Leadership provided new contexts for design. Investigating these new disciplines helped me to see unfamiliar patterns within familiar areas. Learning and leadership are prevalent in every sector. These topics live within everything we do. I explored how they lived within the fields of design, development, and education. I explored their relationships when connecting industry, academia, and community.

Why did you earn a doctorate at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC)?

UTC had the best program for what I needed—flexibility mixed with innovation. For the past two years, I was a doctoral candidate in a competitive pilot program that focused on life embedded, work related studies. Because of this, I was able to view learning and leadership through the lens of design. I was able to study topics like collaboration and connection.

Although, I read a lot and I was exposed to an intense amount of theory, I was also able to learn by actually doing. Most of my assignments were grounded in experiential learning. They were project-based. Theory was interweaved within written critical reflections of my actions. Finding solutions to real problems is the way that I learn best and I was fortunate to be accepted into such a forward-thinking program. I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to work with a variety of knowledgable and passionate professors.

What was your dissertation focus?

My dissertation title is long and I had to set it in all caps in Times New Roman (that about killed me): Can connecting and collaborating with industry professionals and community partners through a project-based initiative create a meaningful learning and leadership experience for college students?

The short answer is "yes."

What was the most important thing that you learned?

I relearned that the value in education, like any experience, depends on you—the participant. With the help of talented educators, I created the educational experience that I needed and that I wanted. It wasn't easy. Being one of the first people to do something, rarely is easy. However, being one of the first people to explore this program was exciting and enjoyable.

Would you do it again?

Yes, I would totally do it again. During the past two years I was never bored. I might have been tired. I might have postponed most of my social life. I might have been burnt out. I might have been frustrated. However, through it all, I was stretched. I learned an incredible amount of information in what seems like a condensed amount of time. There were days that I read so many pages that my head felt like it was going to burst out of pure excitement from all the goodness I was absorbing and synthesizing. I really enjoyed those days.

Will I do it again?

This is the question I get from my mom and from Shaun. "Now, that you have earned your doctorate, you don't feel the need to earn a second doctorate, do you?" No, probably not. Well, at least not anytime soon. For my sanity and for the sanity of all of my close family and friends there is going to be a moratorium on further traditional education. Working full-time while earning a doctorate has been exhausting. I'm looking forward to more balance within my life.

What are you going to do with your doctorate?

Make awesomeness and do good, of course.

Last week, one of my design students who is about to graduate and who is writing his résumé asked a great question: “How do I let people know my skill levels?”

This is a question that many of us face. Most of us have a variety of both technical and professional skills. Sometimes the range of skills is overwhelming. Often we are more skilled in some areas and less skilled in others. So how do we share our technical and professional abilities with others in an ethical and concise way?

I have been researching online portfolio websites to help understand the trends and styles that professionals are embracing. This helps me to help my students. I have noticed a couple of trends: one-page websites, big footers, type that looks like it has been letterpressed, and visually showing skill levels.

Here are some examples of visually showing skill levels:

i-am-tiago.com

adamclark.bottlerockethq.com

skindy.com

markhobbs.net

Feel free to check out my Gimme Bar collection of portfolio websites and feel free to add your favorite portfolio websites to the comments.

Will you be a mentor for my students on a really cool project?

Two ways to mentor students:

1. Be in Chattanooga and mentor in person.
2. Be outside of Chattanooga and mentor via skype, google docs, IM, and/or your other favorite technologies.

We really need mentors who are:

Project details:

This year for the UTC Professional Practices in Graphic Design course (this is the course that the CreateAthon onCampus project was a part of last year) we're embarking on a new endeavor and I hope that you'll participate. We're participating in 48 Hour Launch: The City Love Edition. 

What is 48 Hour Launch? You can read more here: http://colab.is/what-we-do/projects/48hour-launch/ But, the quick pitch is this: several teams compete to launch a project within a weekend. This year 48HL is going with a theme: City Love. Ten teams will compete to create, design, build, and present an app that will enhance the Chattanooga visitor experience.

UTC Design Students are required to attend, and every school is invited. The students will work with teams to provide the design for each project. We're missing one important piece, however—the students will need advice, direction, encouragement, and critiques. Basically, we need you:)

WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO GIVE YOUR WHOLE WEEKEND. We're simply asking you to show up at pre-scheduled times throughout the weekend to check in with the students' work. The schedule is as follows: 

Launch Weekend

3/30/12 at 6:00 pm EST at Co.Lab: Help students prepare a creative brief.

3/31/12 at 12:00 pm EST at Co.Lab: Check in on students' progress.

4/1/12 at 12:00 pm EST at Co.Lab: Check in and direct students on how to build a final presentation. 

Just so you know, your participation as a mentor earns you free entry into the event. Normally, you'd have to pay $40 to attend. If you plan on mentoring please use my contact form to let me know.

Please pass this information to other professionals who could potentially mentor.

Let's get ready to launch!

Please note I’ve withheld the details of this situation to avoid repercussions from the university.

I am earning my doctorate. My dissertation is written. My defense was set for Tuesday, March 6, 2012 (yes, tomorrow). Even though I am well-prepared and my committee finds my work to be defense worthy, due to circumstances beyond my control, I am unable to hold my defense as scheduled and as publicly announced. (The official defense will be held at a later date.)

Instead of a defense, there will be a celebration and presentation of my research on connecting industry, community, and academia through the experiential, project-based initiative, CreateAthon onCampus at Chattanooga. 

You’re invited to join us on Tuesday, March 6th at 5pm in room 413 in the Fine Arts Center. 

Some of this might be common sense but I thought I'd share what I’ve learned by attending SXSWi for the past six years.

Every year in preparation for SXSWi I make a plan and create a schedule. Every year I know that I won't end up doing most anything that I thought I would. The best advice is to just go with the flow.

Every session you want to see has the great possibility of having a packed room and you won't be able to get in...it's okay. The sessions in general are okay. Some are amazing. Some are so bad that you'll walk out. (Really, I've seen it happen and I've even been one of the people who has walked out.)

As a guideline, I rarely go to see a panel with more than 4 panelists. I try to keep to 3 panelists or less. My favorite sessions are solo and dual presentations. Five people on one panel often means very little depth on a subject and often leads to me thinking less of the moderator of the panel...not what I'm interested in.

I don't spend my time going to many sessions anymore. The conversations in the hallway or over coffee/tea (or an adult beverage) are way more valuable.

I plan on going to the award ceremony this year. It’s usually a fun time. This year Jeffrey Zeldman and I are speaking together and since Jeffrey is being inducted into the hall of fame, I really want to go and support him.

I pack for every type of weather. One year, it was freezing cold and then it was tank-top weather—in the same week! The trick is to wear layers. Also, bring extra shoes and socks just in case it rains because wet feet are no fun. Plan to walk and walk a lot. That's how you'll get around...wear comfy shoes (but still look stylish).

If you go to any parties, beer will be spilled on you. Again, extra footwear and extra clothes are important. And/or know a good dry cleaner in Austin. Last year I had a waitress spill an entire tray of ginger, soy sauce, wasabi, and drinks on me at a restaurant...thank goodness for dry cleaning. Why did this happen? So many people packed in the restaurant.

On that note, don't walk around with a large backpack/bag/anything bulky. Again, people packed into small spaces creates an opportunity for crazy mishaps.

Plan for all meals to take way longer than you could ever expect. There are many people trying to eat at the same time. This leads to crazy wait times. Try to eat at slightly off hours. Although, SXSW is so huge now, all hours are on hours. Go to lunch at noon and you won't eat until 2pm or 3pm. Plan on long meals. If you really want to see a session around a meal time plan accordingly.

When you wait in line to pick up your badge, enjoy meeting the people in line with you. Depending on when you go, you could have over an hour wait in line. Bring something to do but also take the opportunity to make friends.

Be prepared to be around extremely drunk people. I don't go to many big parties anymore. They are just not as fun as finding small groups of people to talk and catch up with. However, this is after many years of going to SXSW. Avoiding big parties is a personal preference.

If you want to get into the bigger parties, be prepared to wait in long lines. Again, make friends with the other people waiting in line.

Make sure to be in good health before you go to SXSW (if at all possible). Bring extra meds. There's this thing called the SXSW Scurvy that tends to happen each year. It's a mix of the flu/cold/and other ickiness. If it gets you in its grip, you'll be down for the count. My theory: All of us geeks descend on Austin from all over the world, at the same time, and bring all of our germs with us. These germs combine to make a super duper germy sickness—the Scurvy.

Bring whatever remedy helps you keep to keep your voice. I bring extra peppermint tea and get honey in Austin.I try my hardest to keep my voice. Trying isn't doing but I try my best...at least until after I present. For the past six years, I’ve lost my voice. I imagine this year will be the same but it’s worth it.

Drink water. Drink a lot of water. Shaun and I always grab a huge pack of bottled water when we arrive in Austin. It's better to buy your own water, away from the convention centers. You’ll save money and you’ll save time waiting in line. You can always bring a reusable water bottle with a filter. This would save you even more money and of course, it would help to save the earth. However, I know that I will lose my favorite reusable water bottle with filter at SXSWi if I bring it. So this year, I’m having water shipped directly to the hotel from Amazon (Prime shipping baby!)

Be prepared to eat meat. Austin loves meat. Seriously, eat veggies beforehand. If you're a vegetarian, be prepared to be around people eating meat. I am sure that there are vegetarian options but I haven’t looked into them. Good news, if you eat fish there are many sushi places. If you are like me and are allergic to onions, garlic, and nuts feel free to check out the map I’ve made that shows Leslie safe/unsafe Austin restaurants. Even if you have allergies, chances are you don’t have the trifecta that I have (you’re so lucky). However, I hope that the map helps you to navigate locations that cater to people with allergies.

There is a shuttle from the airport to downtown. It's  $1 each way! It’s easy and it’s clean. Shaun and I use it and recommend it. It drops us off a couple of blocks away from our hotel but we enjoy the walk. 

Just be ready for anything and everything. It's a crazy atmosphere. Lots of people (actual physical lots, especially for parties with free food and booz). 

My very first SXSWi might have shaped my opinion of the event. Even still, SXSWi 2012 is almost here and it's almost time for all of us to make awesomeness.

A funny thing happened to me when I wrote, spoke, and connected with people about following their Map4 Awesomeness: I was reminded that I needed to follow my own map.

In order to truly embrace my passion, define my purpose, foster my promise, and engage my pursuits I need to make a rather large change. So after half a decade of teaching at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), I have decided that Spring 2012 will be my last semester teaching within the Department of Art. I am grateful that my department head continues to support my pursuit of all things awesome. This change is bittersweet; although, I will miss my students, I am excited to set forth on a new journey.

In the meantime, I will continue to teach and to give my students my very best. My last teaching day will be in late April and my other responsibilities will officially conclude early August. If you are not in academia, you might be wondering why I am making this announcement now—6+ months before my teaching duties wrap up. Even if you are in academia, you might be wondering “why now?” I want my students and my department to have the best opportunity for a productive candidate search. This means an official search needs to start right away in order to fill my position by August. Yes, everything in academia takes a long time.

At this time, I will not recap my favorite moments or reminisce about things that I have learned from this experience. Frankly, I’m still writing the pages of this chapter and it’s just too early to write the conclusion. 

You might be wondering “what’s next?”  Here’s the thing: I am not going into details, well, at least not yet (spoilers!). Although, I have some really exciting opportunities in the works, I am open to new possibilities. My future inevitably holds opportunities to embrace my passions:

• connecting (speaking)
• communicating (writing)
• meaning making (designing)
• synthesizing (strategizing)

Even though, I’m not going into details now, I can guarantee you that I will continue to: make awesomeness and do good.