I experienced the blessing of team teaching with Gary Burge at Wheaton College for several years. Like his teaching, Mapping Your Academic Career is filled with wisdom, insight and the sort of interdisciplinary courage that makes scholars grow and prosper. This book will be a treasure to faculty members at any stage of their academic careers.
-Mark R. McMinn,
professor of psychology, George Fox University
Gary Burge, in his book Mapping Your Academic Career, brings needed wisdom for those who are on lifelong journeys as academics. He draws on the insights of developmental psychology but grounds it in an understanding of the practice of spiritual disciplines in order to assist independent-minded academics in navigating the ongoing tensions of working within the constraints of an institutional mission, while being on their own life journey of identity formation.
-Janel Curry,
provost, Gordon College
This book is wonderfully humane: humane because it does not say what a generic faculty member should look like, but instead carefully considers the developmental stages that take place in a professor's life; wonderful because Burge's book is brimming with deep insights, helpful anecdotes and wise counsel. His vision for faculty mentoring could especially yield great fruit for all who will follow it. Highly recommended to administrators and faculty alike.
-Kelly M. Kapic,
professor of theological studies, Covenant College
Professor Burge has offered the academic community an exquisite gift: a guide to those called into the teaching vocation within higher education. It is a handbook of sorts - a resource for faculty at each stage of their careers so that they can effectively steward their lives and the work to which they are called. The book reflects a theological vision for this good work and is also eminently practical, with timely advice for young, middle-aged and older faculty.
-Gordon T. Smith,
president, professor of systematic and spiritual theology, Ambrose University
Writing with the careful insights and institutional understandings of a seasoned academic, Gary Burge offers wise counsel and sage advice for those who serve in the academic community. Framing the various aspects and stages of an academic career in terms of security, success and significance, Burge applicably, sensitively and skillfully guides the reader through this pilgrimage in a most helpful manner. Mapping Your Academic Career should be required reading for all new faculty development programs. Morever, this highly reflective and valuable work deserves a wide readership among those who have been teaching for many years, as well as administrators and board members alike.
-David S. Dockery,
president, Trinity International University
Gary Burge aptly applies classic theories of psychological development to the experiences of faculty across the career path. With the turn of each new page, Gary unveiled both my fears and hopes as a junior faculty member. This book inspires self-examination and emotional growth as a means to a meaningful career. Mapping Your Academic Career would be an invaluable addition to any orientation program for new faculty.
-Elisha Eveleigh,
assistant professor of psychology, Wheaton College
Gary Burge proves himself to be a faculty sage with these wise, perceptive and practical words for faculty at every career stage, and for those who work with them.
-Joel B. Green,
dean of the School of Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary
Mapping Your Academic Career is an important contribution to the faith-based literature on higher education. Burge offers an enormously helpful model of faculty development for those who desire to be more effective servant-practitioner-scholars. This book should also be read by anyone seriously interested in preparing the next generation of college students and teachers. Frankly, there is no other book quite like it!
-Richard E. Butman,
professor of psychology, Wheaton College
