Faculty Publications

Wellness and Worth: A Reflection on Community Engagement and the Academic Career Path

Document Type

Article

Keywords

boundary spanners, community-engaged scholarship, faculty well-being, tenure and promotion

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement

Volume

29

Issue

3

First Page

107

Last Page

114

Abstract

There is a disconnect in higher education between higher education professional practices and valuing the community impact of engaged scholars. In this reflective essay, the authors highlight personal experiences with the process of working toward and earning promotion and tenure in academic settings. Those personal experiences are then contextualized through an examination of the literature regarding evaluation processes, engagement-ready institutions, the history of campus engagement, and the role of community-engaged scholarship in the civic purpose of institutions of higher education. There are clear systemic contradictions that create misalignments between institutional aspirations and individual metrics for success. Faculty serving as boundary spanners advance institutional missions and create transformative student learning opportunities, while sometimes sacrificing personal and professional well-being.

Department

Department of Nursing and Public Health

Original Publication Date

10-1-2025

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