The Professional Development Area of The Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association seeks participants for the following panels. Our Area is a service area, so participation here does not count as a paper presented. In fact, there is no limit in participation on these panels. In an academic world beset with rising adjuncts, decreasing positions, and intense competition, this Area serves an extremely important function. We seek to aid those of our colleagues who are entering the job market, and also those of us who have attained the coveted job and now need to succeed in that job. The accumulated knowledge and experience of many of us is definitely an asset to our colleagues. Please consider participating in this panel; not only is it highly useful, it is also a lot of fun!

Please e-mail Linda J. Holland-Toll (lholland-toll@moc.edu and indicate which panel(s) you might find of interest. If you wish to Chair a Session, please let me know that also.

Call For Papers #1
“Thou Shalt NOT: Tips on Successful Presentations”

If you have seen one too many bad presentations, if you have sat fuming while a chair let a presenter maunder aimlessly on for 55 minutes, allowing you the three minutes left at the end; if you have watched in increasing irritation as someone shuffles trough a whole dissertation chapter, mumbling “it’s here somewhere; if you have pet peeves you wish to air, here is your opportunity. If you have seen participants who could clearly use a few tips on presentation techniques and realize the importance of building a reputation as a dynamic presenter, we would like your input.

In general we have a Chair and Participant structure. We generally divide the concerns (etiquette, how to be an effective Chair, delivery, etc.) into sections of interest. We then deliver our informal notes, inviting audience participation. This is an extremely important session for those who have not presented many papers.

Call for Papers #2

“Workshop on Letter Writing and Curriculum Vitae Editing.”

This year, we will not present on this topic; rather we will ask for volunteers to assist in editing and advising people on composing effective letters and CV’s. All demon editors are invited to participate. One-on-One editing is the key to success here and "the letter" is quite often the key to success on the job market. Red pens will be provided in copious amounts.

Call for Papers # 3

“Tricky Positions, Slippery Questions, Downright Unethical Situations and How to Handle Them.”

This session, we would like to address problematic situations candidates, particularly at on campus interviews, may encounter, such as “Illegal” questions, Hostile Search Committees, In-fighting, Improper Behaviour, etc. Many of us have probably encountered these situations and our participation would be very helpful. In general, participants will be invited to give a very short talk on helpful tips; we will then answer questions from the audience. The focus here will be on meeting the audience needs, so a formal presentation is not really needed

Call for Papers # 4

“You Got the Job! You Finally Got the Job!: Survival Tips for the New Kid on the Block.”

As many of us know, although the search for an academic job is all-consuming, but getting the job is just the beginning. This panel will focus on strategies for a successful first year. Participants will share the knowledge and experience they have accumulated and give advice on to any one who wants it. Again, this is a very important part of academic success. So many unwritten rules exist into which the first year professor may unwittingly blunder . .. and I will bet that many of us can think, “Ah, yes, I remember . . .”