Service after the PhD

Something I would like you to think about is that once you have your doctorate you will be in a position to make a difference in your community through service. Like what? You could be on the Board of Directors for a nonprofit that you like and care about. These are typically unpaid positions, where you get to influence the direction the group will go in the future. You may also be asked to do fund raising, so check on that before you agree- know what is involved. Also, ask about "fiduciary responsibility" (being responsible for money problems) and if the board has some type of liability insurance for its members (they should!). 

Another type of service is using your research skills that you have learned in your doctoral program as a volunteer in a nonprofit. Here's an example that I am currently doing. My local no-kill animal shelter collects a great deal of information about each animal and its new adopted owner, but they haven't done anything with the data. I am entering all of the data into SPSS and analyzing several months of it for them. They can then use the analyses to better understand their programs and make future changes. I am hoping to publish with this data – so I discussed it with the nonprofit's administrators in advance and got IRB approval. This way I have cleared any obstacles for future publication opportunities. 

As a researcher and doctoral scholar, you will have opportunities to make a difference in your community. I hope that you will step up and create social change on this local level! You may also want to consider being an officer/ member of the board of directors for state and national professional organizations. Use your expertise for things beyond your own advancement, help your profession and community. 

Next time I will give you some info I have been saving for you. Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu