New Faculty Community for Women
Hi, I’m Toyin. In May 2016, I had just graduated with my PhD in Math and was so excited to start my career in academia as an instructional faculty member at a university. I was so ready to get there, set up my office, find my classrooms, and prep my courses.
Everything was going so well until I realized that I spent every weekend alone, at home...working.
I had moved to a new town as a single woman with no friends, no family, and no support system around me.
I didn’t realize that I would have to completely start over, socially. And it’s so much harder to make friends outside of school in your late 20s and early 30s. Everyone else around me was already so established with families, friends, and responsibilities.
And I was the youngest faculty member in my department.
It was very isolating.
And even though I’m an introvert, I knew that I had to get out there and make friends and build a support system.
And I did!
By my second semester, I had joined two new communities in my town and started building friendships. By my second year, my calendar was booked with social events, lunches, dinners, girls nights, sleepovers, and game nights.
I have friends now and I actually have to turn down plans because I need me time (introvert, remember).
And I want to help other new faculty members build their own communities!
So I have an idea! What do you think about...
A Mastermind for New Faculty in Need of a Support System?
What do you think about a small group program/mastermind of new faculty members who are women and single. And we would meet twice a month online to chat about our goals and hold each other accountable. Then in August, we would go away for a 3 day retreat somewhere glamorous like Palm Springs to plan out our fall semester.
Each virtual meeting would have a focus or challenge like getting out there and meeting people, trying new hobbies, a book club, etc. And we will also do co-working sessions to get writing done.
Would this be something new millennial faculty members would value?
I would love your feedback!
If this is something you could be interested in or if you have ideas to make this better, will you answer a few questions for me?