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leontrout
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« on: October 30, 2009, 08:24:04 AM » |
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The "How to address a dean" thread makes me wonder.
If you are interviewing with a college president who has no doctorate but who has a high opinion of himself, what honorific does an applicant use?
Our president was a longtime friend of oldtimers on campus before ascending to the heights, so most senior faculty call him by first name in meetings, in the cafeteria and when they are discussing his bizarre sexual practices when they are wondering whether to take the kids trickortreating at his house. But he doesn't like it, and we junior faculty know that first name is not up for grabs, "Mr." makes him flinch, and "Dr." is just wrong. So we mainly jump into bushes when we see him coming.
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neutralname
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« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2009, 08:32:32 AM » |
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"Sir."
Or just don't use his name. You say you have an interview with him, but you are also very familiar with the campus. It's a bit odd - why do you need to meet with him at all? We have a president with no doctorate. I have met him thrice in three years. I think I used "Mr."
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"My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music." Vladimir Nabokov
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tinyzombie
She hides the stars under her hair, and is a
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 1,242
elevate from this point on - chuck d
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« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2009, 08:35:35 AM » |
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What's wrong with "President LASTNAME"?
TZ, whose undergrad prez went by a nickname bestowed by the student body.
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Do not use those analysis skills which you have been developing to probe deeply into things which have no inner meaning. -glowdart
Your moniker is totally warping my mental rendition of one of my favorite Elton John songs. -csguy
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leontrout
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« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2009, 09:03:38 AM » |
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I didn't say that "I" have an interview. I said that "you," have an interview, using the second person to soften up "one" since these are friendly confines.
My question is quite useless, like art.
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aandsdean
Don't you wish you were such a thoroughly
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 4,029
Positively impactful on stakeholder synergies
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« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2009, 09:15:50 AM » |
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Your grace, your lordship, your highness may all work, depending on context:
Your grace for schools from Christian denominations with an episcopal tradition (Episcopalian, Methodist, etc.).
Your lordship for schools that have aspirations to aristocracy, or ones from the really high church (e.g., Suwanee).
Your highness for presidents of Ivy League institutions and perhaps a few others.
Anyone (male) who flinches for being called "Mr." is a doofus. If he'd wanted to be called "Dr.," he should have earned his d*mn'd doctorate. (Contrary to prevailing opinion on these dear fora, I actually actively dislike being called "Dr." and would considerably prefer being called by my first name. It's odd--a number of the students I know relatively well call me by my first name, while my administrative executive assistant can't bring herself to do so. Old habits die hard.)
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I aspire to be the Sage of the Cornfields
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conjugate
Undistinguished Junior
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 10,954
Tends to have warped sense of humor
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« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2009, 09:23:40 AM » |
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If this president teaches (as some do; I've been at a couple of schools where the president had a class every other semester) then Professor would be appropriate.
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You are easily the scariest person on the fora.
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oatmeal
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« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2009, 09:32:16 AM » |
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If the president is a man, use "Sir" or President ... (last name). For a woman, Madam President or President .... (last name). Then wait to see if the president says "call me Abe" or "call me Doris." Then use that. I would urge you not to say Mr. Smith and never Dr. if the person does not have a doctorate. I have known presidents who do not have a doctorate to be rather sensitive about it, so sir is probably best for a man...
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neutralname
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« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2009, 09:34:50 AM » |
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I didn't say that "I" have an interview. I said that "you," have an interview, using the second person to soften up "one" since these are friendly confines.
My question is quite useless, like art.
Me? If I have an interview with him I'm going to put on an Australian accent and call him "Bruce." |
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"My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music." Vladimir Nabokov
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sibyl
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« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2009, 10:03:12 AM » |
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Say, "Pleased to meet you, President Lastname," when you meet the president; that's the only time you will have to address the president directly.
Actually, I'd do this even if the president did have a doctorate.
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larryc
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« Reply #9 on: October 30, 2009, 10:33:52 AM » |
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Skippy.
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What an unnecessary train wreck. |
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frogfactory
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« Reply #10 on: October 30, 2009, 01:06:01 PM » |
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I didn't say that "I" have an interview. I said that "you," have an interview, using the second person to soften up "one" since these are friendly confines.
My question is quite useless, like art.
Me? If I have an interview with him I'm going to put on an Australian accent and call him "Bruce." |
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I don't organise my bacon like that.
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michigander
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« Reply #11 on: October 30, 2009, 01:21:46 PM » |
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I have called high ranking female people without doctorates "ma'am" with no negative results. It's good enough for the Queen of the Netherlands.
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« Last Edit: October 30, 2009, 01:22:16 PM by michigander »
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kaysixteen
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« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2009, 09:08:28 PM » |
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I don't suppose 'Hi, Unqualified Oldtimersfriend Hack' would cut it, right?
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kaysixteen
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« Reply #13 on: November 01, 2009, 09:09:41 PM » |
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Of course, on further reflection, 'Dude' always works, as it did for Mr. Sarah Palin.
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airball
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« Reply #14 on: November 02, 2009, 09:33:47 AM » |
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If you can't do a good Australian, go with British. Bow deeply and call him "M'lud."
airball
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History would kick your ass around the Bodleian Library, and then it would smile and laugh.
-scheherazade
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