Workshop: A narrative approach to broadening schema about engineering professors

What images come to mind when you encounter the word “professor”? In many cases, our notions of a professor lead us to think of someone conducting research and teaching classes. However, our understanding of professors is in part limited by the professors we have been in contact with through our own educational experiences. Most people with PhD degrees attended a Doctoral University with Highest Research Activity, and therefore possess schema of professors in line with the professor at this type of institution. In this session, participants will be introduced to the narratives of twelve professors affiliated with institutions other than a Doctoral University with Highest Research Activity. These institution types include Baccalaureate Colleges, Master's Institutions, Doctoral Universities with Moderate Research Activity, and Doctoral Universities with Higher Research Activity. Through the use of personal narratives, the experiences of twelve assistant engineering professors will be considered. Session attendees will gain a broader understanding of what it means to be a professor by studying the experiences of professors at universities with varying focus on research and teaching.