Publication Development Forum – Works-in-Progress from Contingent Faculty
Call for Works-in-Progress from
Contingent Faculty Colleagues
Publication Development Forum
hosted by Tufts University
February 7, 2020 – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Invitation
The Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at Tufts University announces a one-day Works-in-Progress Publication Development Forum for contingent faculty colleagues in the Greater New England area. Specifically designed to support faculty in contingent to positions, this forum invites them to share their current research at a no-cost regional event, sponsored by Tufts University, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and the American Theatre and Drama Society.
Overview & On-site Hosts
Participants will have the opportunity to discuss their current research with faculty colleagues and to meet with journal and book series editors. On-site hosts and mentors include Professor Barbara Wallace Grossman (former Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Cultural Council), Mellon Bridge Assistant Professor, Kareem Khubchandani, Fletcher Foundation Assistant Professor of Dramatic Literature, Lilian Mengesha, Associate Professor Noe Montez (Vice President for Professional Development at ATHE and Editor of Theatre Topics) and Professor Heather Nathans (past President of ASTR and current Editor of the Studies in Theatre History and Culture series for Iowa).
Guest Speakers
We are delighted to announce that Robin Bernstein (award-winning author, Professor at Harvard University, and Editor of the Performance and American Culture series for NYU Press); Andrew Sofer (award-winning author and Professor at Boston College); and Harvey Young (award-winning author, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Boston University, and Editor of Theater: Text, Theory, Performance book series at The University of Michigan Press) will join us for conversations about the publication process.
Event Details
The conference will be Friday, February 7, 2019 from 10:00-5:00. It includes topical workshops or discussions on various facets of professional development; 10-minute overviews of participants’ work presented to the assembled group; and one-on-one sessions with faculty mentors. Informational sessions will be in the morning, followed by a group lunch (hosted by Tufts). During the afternoon sessions participants will share their current scholarship and receive one-on-one mentorship.
The sharing of current research projects is not intended to be a series of formal paper presentations. Instead we hope colleagues will use these sessions to brainstorm, seek advice, and push their work forward. Colleagues maychoose to use their 10 minutes to share portions of conference papers in progress, sections of book chapters, drafts of book proposals, etc.
How to apply/Eligibility
Individuals holding PhDs in the fields of theatre, performance, dance, or related specialties and who are working part-time or fulltime while seeking permanent academic positions will bring work-in-progress to the meeting to share with a faculty mentor/host. The goal is to advance draft writing towards publication/submission.
Each participant will commit to a mentoring relationship with a tenure-line or emeritus faculty member who will serve as commentator on the writing and mentor on career-related questions. Mentees will commit to developing their writing projects and mentors will work with the mentee until the writing is ready to submit for publication.
To make it possible for the maximum number of colleagues to join us, we will offer a small stipend to offset any gas/subway/bus costs. Lunch and other refreshments will be provided throughout the day. Tufts University will purchase one-day parking passes for participants arriving by car.
To apply, please submit the application form below to pdcontingent2020@gmail.com. The application asks you to provide the title and status of your current project to assist in pairing participants with prospective mentors. Applications should be received no later than December 20, 2019. Please note that space is limited. Applicants will be notified by December 30, 2019 if they are accepted. Participants must submit drafts of their materials no later than January 5, 2020 to allow mentors time to review their works in progress.
Support and Sponsorship
This event owes much to the generous support of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and the American Theatre and Drama Society. These organizations recognize the challenges non-tenure stream and contingent faculty may face in participating in annual national conferences due to travel costs. They also recognize the challenges many contingent faculty members encounter in terms of ongoing mentorship towards publication.
Please contact Heather Nathans, Chair of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, Tufts University at pdcontingent2020@gmail.com with any questions.