Career Path of an Associate Professor of Special Education at Ohio State
Carly's career path took an unexpected turn from print journalism, a field "rapidly becoming obsolete," to special education, a passion ignited by an education beat internship. This led to a Master's in secondary English education, Teach for America, and ultimately, a PhD and a faculty position at Ohio State University following five years at Texas A&M University.
Education, Special Education, Higher Education, Academic Career, Career Change
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Carly Blustein Gilson
Associate Professor of Special Education
The Ohio State University
University of Florida, 2010
Boston College, M.Ed. in Secondary English Education (g. 2011); Vanderbilt University, Ph.D. in Special Education (g. 2017)
Creative Writing, Journalism
Education
Education
Scholarship Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Carly's career path showcases the value of exploring different fields. Starting in journalism, she discovered a passion for education through internships and pursued a master's degree in secondary English education.
2. Her experience with Teach for America provided invaluable practical experience in special education, solidifying her career focus.
3. Earning a PhD in special education and securing faculty positions at Texas A&M and Ohio State demonstrates the importance of advanced education and research in achieving her career goals in academia.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Any internships or jobs you had before your current role?
I started as a journalism major at the University of Florida, focusing on print journalism. This was during a time when print journalism was rapidly becoming obsolete.
I did a couple of internships in journalism and became really interested in education. I was on an education beat during one of my internships, which really propelled my interest in the field.
This led me to pick up a minor in education and then pursue a Master's in secondary English education. I joined Teach for America and was placed in special education.
I really fell in love with special education, particularly in middle school and high school settings. I worked in those settings for about three years.
After that, I decided to pursue a PhD in special education, which brings me to where I am now. I'm in a faculty position.
I recently started at Ohio State University last year. Prior to that, I was at Texas A&M University for five years as a tenure-track assistant professor in special education.