Your department has just hired a new tenure-track professor, and for them, it’s the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Now what? New faculty joining a department may feel an array of emotions—excitement, anxiety, curiosity, and trepidation—all of which contribute to uncertainty and stress (Sun & Simon-Roberts, 2020). They may be unsure of their new identity and voice as faculty and have questions about student engagement. Dealing with those multilayered uncertainties can be challenging, especially when protocols and resources are unknown.
Beyond Programs: Leadership Lessons from Ireland’s Inclusive Universities
During a recent sabbatical studying inclusive postsecondary education in Ireland, I visited four universities—University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and Mary Immaculate
Ashley Rodrigues
July 20, 2026
