Have you heard the myth that being a professor is the most stress-free job there is? In their 2016 book, The Slow Professor, Maggie Berg and Barbara K. Seeber debunk this myth by telling us a little bit more about why being a professor can be a highly stressful job both before and after tenure. One of the reasons for this is that the expectations for tenure are extremely rigorous but also vague. This is also true for promotion, whether that is a promotion from assistant to associate professor or from associate to full professor. Both internationally and in the US, peer-reviewed publications are weighted the heaviest for promotion and tenure. At the same time, there are typically no clear guidelines about how many publications one needs per year or within the time frame for tenure or promotion.
Reciprocity over Hierarchy: Designing and Implementing a Student-Led Reverse Mentoring Program
Many academic leaders, including administrators and faculty members, participate in traditional mentoring programs that prioritize hierarchy. But these programs typically don’t foster engagement and connection between students and faculty or
Marquita Lyons-Smith and Keva Suitte
October 19, 2026
