Brandi Ansley

For women looking to go into a career in higher education, I would say that although everybody's story is different, it almost always involves some sort of balance of personal and professional roles, and I think this probably disproportionately affects women more than men. A higher education role is not just a job that people go to and punch in and out of - it's a lifestyle, it's a way of living. So the most important thing, and this just sounds so cliche, but really, of all the roles you're balancing, the very first person really does need to be oneself. That prioritization on taking care of oneself is absolutely foundational before all the many things that a person will do in that role of higher ed. You have to unapologetically set boundaries, because you will be asked to do a lot, and you really have to say no a lot to protect your well-being. It does come with a lot of implications for guilt, or feeling like if I don't do this, is this going to come back to bite me, but you're well within your right to say no. You also have to accept mediocrity - there have to be some things where we settle for this is just gonna be good enough. I'm gonna prioritize a few specific things to give my all, but then all these other obligations are going to have to just be good enough, and let go of those perfectionist tendencies.