What Type Of Person Thrives In The Academia Industry, According To An Assistant Professor Of Political Science At California Lutheran University
Success in academia, according to Assistant Professor Kiku, hinges on a duality: research-focused institutions prioritize "self-motivation, good time management, and curiosity," while teaching institutions value a passion for "the act of teaching and being in the classroom." Ideally, a successful professor blends both, exhibiting strong research drive alongside a deep commitment to student success.
Self-Motivation, Time Management, Curiosity, Teaching Skills, Student-Centered Approach
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kiku Huckle
Assistant Professor of Political Science
California Lutheran University
Western Washington University, 2000
MATS - George Fox Evangelical Seminary; MA - Political Science, Villanova; MA and PhD Political Science - University of Washington
Spanish & Other Languages, Political Science, American Studies
Education
Education
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. For success in research-focused universities, self-motivation, strong time management, and a curious nature are crucial.
2. Teaching-focused institutions prioritize professors who are passionate about teaching and deeply care for their students.
3. Ideally, a successful professor demonstrates both a drive for research and a dedication to teaching and student success.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in your industry?
I would say we have to divide it into two different sectors. When it comes to universities, we have research institutions and then teaching institutions.
If you are at a research institution like the University of Washington, Texas A&M, or USC, there is a higher expectation of completing research and publishing that research. To succeed as a professor in an R1 institution, you have to be very self-motivated, good with time management, driven, and curious.
You're always going to be looking for new questions, new co-authors, new places to publish, new conferences to attend, and new projects to work on. If you are in a teaching institution, like a liberal arts institution, there is a lot more emphasis on teaching.
What will help you thrive is when you really care about your students and love the act of teaching and being in the classroom. That's what feeds you when you are more integrated into the classroom and campus community.
This is not to say that these two are mutually exclusive. You do research at teaching institutions, and research institution professors still have to teach. However, there is more of an overarching emphasis on research in some institutions and on teaching in others.
Ideally, to be a successful professor, you would have both. You'd be driven, curious, and self-motivated to do research, and you would absolutely care about your students and want to help them succeed and be their best.
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