The Doctor is IN!

On December 14th, 2009, I successfully defended my dissertation. Now, as I and my colleagues look for a new life in the uncharted waters of professorship, I begin to muse upon the challenges of this new direction life is taking us.

In particular, I'm interested in a number of things that you might be, too. They are, in no particular order:

• Networking--useful, and also a lot of fun.
• Teaching--serving my students, cooperating with my colleagues.
• Research--currently focusing on the relationship between epic and religious ritual.
• Finding a job--especially, but not limited to, teaching composition and/or literature at a Catholic institution or program in the Midwest.
• Professional development--we can all use improvement, can't we?

Now, just because I get the initials "Dr." in front of my name doesn't mean I think I have all the answers--far from it! After eleven years in higher education, though, there's a good chance that I can find someone who does. Or that I can at least pose the question in an interesting way.

But from there onward, it's a journey into the unknown.

So let's get started, shall we?