October 29, 2012
Faculty invited to presentation about work-life balance
Ever wonder how to juggle the demands of life as a faculty member and parent? If the answer is yes, then join your colleagues in attending a presentation that addresses work-life balance.
“Academic Parenthood: How Faculty Manage Work and Family” will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2, in Town Hall at the Leadership Studies Building. Presenters are Kelly Ward from Washington State University and Lisa Wolf-Wendel from the University of Kansas. The event is sponsored by the College of Education faculty mentoring program, dean of the College of Education, the office of the vice president for research and Women of K-State.
Christy Moran Craft, event organizer and College of Education associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs, said the presentation is targeted to both male and female faculty members and addresses realistic situations specific to faculty.
“The truth is work-life balance is always on my mind as a faculty member,” Craft said. “It just doesn’t have a formal name when I’m thinking about how to teach class, pick my son up from day care on time and still get my research and writing done. I am so glad to be part of this effort because it highlights these issues and affords us the opportunity to learn from others who are at different places in their lives and careers.”
Craft said that over the last few months, the media sought out Ward and Wolf-Wendel when events steeped in work-life balance sparked controversy in higher education classrooms.
“These researchers are subject matter experts in our field of higher education,” Craft said. “I hope our faculty members take full advantage of the information and wisdom they have to offer.”