Rise with Clarity Podcast

Are you a new professor who is beginning your first year on the tenure track this fall? If so, then this episode is just for you! 

In this encore episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I reflect on the different components of the onboarding process for new faculty, and offer you 5 tips on how to manage some of the overwhelm that may come with this big transition. 

Find the full written transcript for this episode at RisewithClarity.com/59 (or RisewithClarity.com/41), along with all of my other podcast episodes and other resources for women of...

What are your non-negotiables right now?

In this moment of precarity and change in higher ed, faculty are being asked to rethink what they will and won’t compromise on. In Episode 58 of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I address the shifting political pressures facing the academy, especially for women of color faculty. I share 10 reflective questions to help you get clarity on what your non-negotiables are in relation to this changing work environment.

You can find the full written transcript at RisewithClarity.com/58, along with all of my other podcast episodes and other resources fo...

In this 57th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I wanted to use this time to share with you a new program that I am launching later this summer as well as the reasons why I’m doing this. 

The program is called “Writing Support for Faculty Caregivers,” and it’s a pilot group coaching program that I’m developing for faculty who are trying to make meaningful progress on a specific writing goal this summer, while also navigating elder caregiving duties.

You can find the full written transcript for this episode at RisewithClarity.com/57, alo...

What happens when you finally give yourself space to reflect on full circle moments and milestones--both personal and academic? In this episode, I share a meaningful full circle moment (returning to Harvard as a keynote speaker nearly two decades after organizing the same conference as a graduate student), alongside the milestone of turning 50.

In this 56th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I talk about growth, change, and what becomes possible when you step out of the relentless academic grind to allow yourself to intentionally pause for reflection. 

Find the full written transcript for t...

Mentoring and coaching aren’t mutually exclusive practices in the higher education environment. There’s actually a powerful middle space where they can overlap. In this 55th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I explore how academic mentoring and professional coaching can coexist, especially for faculty who seek both informed guidance and a nonjudgmental space to think, reflect, and plan their own next steps.

For women of color faculty navigating promotion, writing, politics, and sustainability in higher ed, this blended approach can offer the best of both worlds: field-specific insight plus a non-directive, supportive thinking partnership.

Do you need an academic mentor or a professional coach? Or both? Or asked another way, what kinds of support can you expect from a mentor vs. a coach when you are trying to reach your career goals?

If you’re a little fuzzy on what some of the distinctions are between mentorship and coaching, then don’t worry, this episode is for you.

In this 54th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I talk about mentoring and coaching within the context of higher education. In order to think through the question that I just...

Are you in a toxic higher ed work environment?

Should you stay or should you leave? 

There’s no easy answer to these questions…especially if you have invested a lot of time and energy in landing a tenure track position in today’s higher ed job market. 

Deciding whether to stay or leave entails a lot of reflection, some soul searching, the weighing of pros and cons, and if you do end up leaving--planning out your next moves. And unfortunately, this is often a decision that you can’t speak that openly about. 

For those of you who are at the midpoint of your academic careers: who are your mentors right now? Have you mostly stayed connected with your mentors or advisor from earlier on in your academic career? Or have you had to continually seek out mentors throughout job transitions and different stages of your career?

I raise these questions because lately I’ve heard from a few mid-career women faculty that it has been challenging to find good mentors in the academy. And this isn’t for their lack of trying. 

In this 52st episode of the R...

Professors: What kind of support systems do you have to lean on right now, in this current moment? 

I think this is a really important question to ask yourself and to answer. In an earlier episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I shared some ways that you can better identify your support systems within and beyond higher education. 

In that episode—which was number 40—I take you through a kind of brainstorming exercise so that you can better identify and articulate what types of support you may actually need and then I ask you to thi...

In this 50th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, and the first one of 2026, I’m going to be reflecting on how I’m going to really try and lean into my word of the year, which is NOURISH. 

There are a couple definitions for nourish:

I love that this word has diffe...

2025 has been a year of peak disruption for faculty in higher ed.

It’s not surprising, then, that this year has spurred some of you to begin to consider what a Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D could look like for you.

This episode is for those of you who are facing some pretty big decisions on the horizon—like whether to stay at your current institution, apply for jobs in different states, start a side hustle, or pivot out of higher ed completely.

In this 49th episode of the Rise with Clar...

Does your research stop after you’ve left academia? 

This is a question that I explore in the 48th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast. I offer some reflections on a few professional experiences that I've had this year as an author, a consultant, and as a speaker, and I think of the ways in which research has been embedded in these experiences even though I'm no longer in the academy.

You can find the full written transcript for this episode at RisewithClarity.com/48, along with all of my other podcast episodes and other hel...

Prior to starting your first job, how many of you were trained to lead an effective graduate seminar? Was your first experience with facilitating a graduate seminar during your first year on the tenure track? And do you remember how that went?

In this encore broadcast of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I’ll be talking about some of the challenges with leading graduate seminars for your first time. And I want to offer you some strategies on how to avoid over-preparing and stressing out about teaching your first graduate seminars.

Find the full transcript fo...

How many requests to review article or book manuscripts do you receive on a regular basis? 

And do you have a process for deciding what you’ll take on in a given semester or academic year?

In this 46th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast I want to talk a little bit about the pros and cons entailed in doing peer reviews. I hope that by addressing some of these dimensions that aren’t talked about so openly, you can start to make more informed and strategic decisions about whether or not you’ll accept...

What are your values when it comes to AI? And following up on that question, what are your pedagogical values when it comes to AI usage in the classroom?

If you’re confused about how to navigate this new reality, it’s completely understandable! It’s also reasonable if you are feeling conflicted about whether you are even Team AI or not.

In this 45th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I share 10 reflective questions that can help you to better assess what your pedagogical values are when it comes to AI. 

I also...

In this encore broadcast, I discuss the topic of amplifying the academic achievements of women of color faculty. I reflect on how it can sometimes be very challenging for women of color faculty to promote their own achievements. Lastly, I offer 6 tips on how to better ensure your academic accomplishments are acknowledged, documented, and amplified.  

Find the full transcript for this episode at RisewithClarity.com/44 or RisewithClarity.com/13.

Dr. Katherine Lee is a Higher Ed Coach and Career Strategist and a former tenured professor at an R1 university. She helps women of c...

Professors: What lights you up in your job?

If you need to think about your response to this question, I invite you to linger a bit here. Because I think it’s important for you to have some clarity on this as you move forward in your academic career—whether you’re just starting out as a new professor or you’re well beyond tenure. 

In this 43rd episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I reflect on how being more  strategic and intentional about how you approach your faculty duties can be beneficial for you. 

Conceptualizing and developing a course syllabus may be daunting if this is a first-time experience for you. You might feel compelled to devote the entire summer to crafting your syllabi.

In this 42nd episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, which is a re-release of Episode 24, I share 6 tips on course and syllabus prep for those of you who are new to teaching. But I also bring into this discussion some newer concerns about how certain AI tools have already been integrated into aspects of teaching and learning on college campuses, often with limited oversight.

...

Are you a new professor who is beginning your first year on the tenure track this fall? If so, then this episode is just for you! 

In this 41st episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I reflect on the different components of the onboarding process for new faculty, and offer you 5 tips on how to manage some of the overwhelm that may come with this big transition. 

Find the full written transcript for this episode at RisewithClarity.com/41, along with all of my other podcast episodes and other resources for women of color faculty in...

In this 40th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I talk about identifying systems of support for you in and beyond higher ed as you move forward in the coming months. I demonstrate how you can use the GROW model to help you identify and articulate what systems of support you need to reach your goals by the end of the summer. You can find the full written transcript for this episode at RisewithClarity.com/40, as well as all of my other podcast episodes and resources for women of color faculty in higher education.

Dr. Katherine...

How do you mentor PhD students on a career pathway that’s very different from your own? What advice would you give to your students who are looking to leave higher ed, especially if you have never worked outside of academia? For many faculty, this situation can seem pretty daunting. 

In this 39th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I introduce you to a simple coaching tool called the GROW model that you can employ to help with mentoring your PhD students who are exploring non-academic careers. Find the full written transcript for this episode at Ris...

How do you help PhD students who want to pursue a non-academic career after graduation? Some programs or departments have the expectation that their graduates will choose careers in diverse fields like industry, healthcare, government, the non-profit sector, or primary education. 

But there are lots of graduate programs out there that offer specific training for graduate students on how to enter the academy as a professor. 

This kind of training is not so ideal, however, for the many graduate students who are not intending to become professors. And the reality of these times is that mo...

If someone were to ask you today about your core values, would you be able to articulate them out loud? Have you ever spent the time to think about your values, especially as they relate to your professional work?

When I asked these questions to a former client of mine in our very first session, she was stumped. She was at a crossroads in her life, where she had essentially come to the decision to leave her job. But she was full of fear and unsure of what to do next. 

The only thing that s...

How do you want to show up as a scholar right now? For those of you who are based in the United States, this is a question that you are already facing now or will in the near future.

No matter which way you turn, you are likely to be impacted by this administration’s repressive actions. At the very least, you will be affected by the recent austerity measures that many university administrators are now implementing in response to attacks from the government and pressure from their boards. 

In this 36th episode of the Ris...

Are you new to caring for an aging parent or parents? If so, I want you to let you know that I’m thinking of you and your loved one on this challenging journey.

I started my own caregiving journey in quite an unexpected way, after my father had a serious and debilitating stroke over 2 years ago. For part of this time, I was a tenured faculty member, struggling to manage my professional duties with my new role as a caregiver and as a patient advocate. I felt like I was completely unprepared for many of the ch...

How many of you are currently providing some form of care for your aging parents while also serving in your faculty position? And how many of you are also raising your own children at the same time? How are you holding up right now?

In this 34th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I share a little bit about my journey as a patient advocate and caregiver for my father. This is Part 2 of a short series that I’m putting out on faculty caregiving. 

You can find the full written transcript for this epi...

Many of us who are faculty who are in our 40s and 50s are part of what is called the “sandwich” generation. This means that some of us are providing care for both our aging parents as well as children while also trying to advance on the tenure track.

In this 33rd episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I'll be discussing caring for aging parents when you're also a faculty member. This will be the first in a series of episodes on the topic of caregiving.

Find the full transcript for this episode at Rise...

In this 32nd episode, I share some information with you about my journey into coaching and Rise with Clarity, which is a coaching and consulting business for women of color faculty in higher education.

Although I’ve talked a bit here and there on the podcast about the business, I haven’t devoted a lot of time to how I came into this work and what my current offerings are. 

So, consider this episode a very short introduction to Rise with Clarity! 

You can find the full transcript for this episode at RisewithClarity.com/32...

In this encore broadcast, I discuss the important tenure self-statement document. Find the full written transcript at RisewithClarity.com/6 or RisewithClarity.com/31, along with other helpful resources for WOC faculty.

For those of you who are junior faculty currently on the tenure track, have you given some thought to the personal statement that is required as part of your tenure portfolio? 

If you have had clear guidance on this from your chair or a senior colleague in your department, I’m very glad to hear this. You may be in the minority, however.

If...

In this 30th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I’d like to talk about assessing your bandwidth in these trying times. This can be a helpful tool for those of you who still need to show up and manage the remainder of the academic semester. 

This episode builds on some of the things discussed in Episode 7: Reassess Your Priorities at the End of the Semester. You can find the full transcript for this episode as well as links to Episode 7 at RisewithClarity.com/30, along with other useful resources for women of color faculty in higher edu...

Given the ubiquity of recommendation letters in graduate school admissions processes, fellowship applications, job searches, and promotion cases—particularly in North America, it’s pretty wild that there isn’t more attention paid to this genre of writing. 

Why is it that faculty receive such little training on how to craft letters of recommendation? Especially when these letters can have a critical impact in an evaluation process? 

In this 29th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I’m going to be reflecting on this mysterious, yet ubiquitous genre of writing. I also provide some strategies...

It’s now been a little over one year since I’ve left my tenured faculty position and launched Rise with Clarity, my coaching and consulting business for women of color faculty. In this 28th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I wanted to offer some of my reflections on having left academia, one year out. Find the full transcript for this episode at RisewithClarity.com/28, along with other useful resources for women of color faculty.

Dr. Katherine Lee is a Higher Ed Coach and Career Strategist and a former tenured professor at a...

As you probably already know, grant writing usually involves a significant investment of time and labor. And after a long period of waiting to hear from the funding agency, this process may or may not yield a positive result for you.

But one thing is for sure. If you don’t apply for the grant, you will certainly NOT receive it.

In this 27th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I’m going to be talking about applying for grants and fellowships as part of your life as an academic. And I want to refl...

For many of you, you’ve likely made it through your first week or two of classes and you’re slowly starting to get back into the rhythm of teaching, research, and writing. But if this is your very first time on the tenure track, all of these new experiences can feel quite overwhelming and sometimes disconcerting. And because you have 6 years to achieve tenure at your institution, the stakes feel high to you.

In this encore broadcast of the third episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, host Dr. Katherine Lee offers some guidance on how to b...

This episode reflects on the narrow set of expectations that are often cast upon academics in higher ed. In North American institutions of higher ed, there are prescribed milestones set up for us, like landing a tenure track position and achieving tenure. In this 25th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I talk about the importance of being able to name and honor your personal milestones as well as your academic ones.

Find the full transcript for this episode at RisewithClarity.com/25, along with all of my other podcast episodes and resources for women of color...

Is this fall going to be your first semester teaching as a professor on the tenure track? If so, congratulations on your new position and this big transition to the professoriate.

Conceptualizing and developing a course syllabus may be a first-time experience for you. And it may seem daunting. You might feel compelled to devote the entire summer to crafting your syllabi.

In this 24th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I’m going to be sharing some observations as well as some tips on course and syllabus prep for those of you who ar...

For today’s episode, I want to open up a discussion on some of the unique challenges that foreign-born faculty, in particular women faculty, face in universities and colleges in the United States. 

I come from a place of seeing and knowing former classmates, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who have gone through different hurdles than what I have experienced as an Asian American who was raised in the United States by immigrant parents from South Korea. 

And I also come from a place of deep curiosity, because I know that there is a wide spectrum of e...

Are you in a toxic higher ed work environment?

Should you stay or should you leave? 

There’s no easy answer to these questions…especially if you have invested a lot of time and energy in landing a tenure track position in today’s higher ed job market. 

Deciding whether to stay or leave entails a lot of reflection, some soul searching, the weighing of pros and cons, and if you do end up leaving--planning out your next moves. And unfortunately, this is often a decision that you can’t speak that openly about. 

It’s one thing to identify and acknowledge that you are in a toxic higher ed workplace, and another thing to figure out what you’re going to do about it. 

What are your next steps?

In this 21st episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I’m going to be offering  6 questions that you can ask yourself if you want to stay at your current institution.

Find the full transcript for this episode as well as additional resources that I’ll include in the transcript at RisewithClarity.com/21.

Dr. Kath...

How do you respond to your various deadlines and projects in higher education? In my case, I wasn’t very skilled at managing my deadlines at the beginning of my academic career. Over the years, I’ve had to learn how to cultivate time management skills, prioritize, and create systems to support my various projects. 

Most importantly, I’ve become more aware of how I personally approach and handle deadlines that involve research and writing.

In this 20th episode of the Rise with Clarity Podcast, I want to talk about deadlines in higher ed. Because this is...