Adjunct-labor Quote by Alex Kudera
““I'd attended a selective liberal arts college, trained at respectable research institutions, and even completed a dissertation for a doctoral degree. In our shared office, I'd tell new hires I was ABD, so they wouldn't feel their own situation was so bleak. If they saw a ten-year veteran adjunct with a PhD, they might lose hope of securing a permanent job. It was the least I could do, as a good American, to remind the young we were an innocent and optimistic country where everyone was entitled to a fulfilling career. To make sure they understood that PhD stood not for "piled higher and deeper" or "Pop has dough," but in fact the degree meant "professional happiness desired," and at the altruistic colleges of democratic America only the angry or sad ones need not apply.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Academic Career Reflections, Alex Kudera, 2018
The author hides his PhD status to protect junior colleagues’ morale, emphasizing optimism and the true purpose of a doctorate.
In simple terms: He pretends to be ABD to keep hope alive for new hires.
Key Takeaway
Support peers by managing expectations about credentials.
Themes
career mentorship
academic culture
optimism
Mood
reflective
encouraging
Type
career
ethics
When to use this quote
- faculty onboarding
- career counseling
- doctoral program design
Key Concepts
professional identity
psychology
career development
Questions to Reflect On
- What impact does credential transparency have on morale?
- How can institutions foster realistic optimism?
A Different Perspective
Misrepresentation can erode trust if discovered.
