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Suddenly Location Matters

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By Doris V. Pendleton

I began my search for a new position as a provost or dean without much consideration of geographic location. In my first column, I stated that I was open to moving almost anywhere, even overseas.

Since then, however, life has intervened. As I write, I am sitting by my mother's bedside in the cancer ward of a local hospital. It is my turn to spend time with her over the weekend, since I live more than two hours away and cannot be with her during the week.

I am a chairwoman of a large department at a regional university, but I'm looking to move up into academic administration. Last fall, as I considered where to apply, I felt open to any and all possibilities. I thought about new and different places that would feed my spirit of adventure, and those that would allow me to grow and develop, both personally and professionally.

In my mind's eye, I yearned for a position that would allow me to showcase my leadership talents in ways that would be beneficial to a new institution. I also wanted to be able to give, not only to the institution, but to the community in which I would live, just as I have been able to contribute to the community in which I currently reside.

I wanted to have an opportunity to make a greater impact in the lives of students at a different level of administration, and to meet the varied and often challenging needs of faculty and staff members. And, yes, I longed to interact with other administrators, and to influence events and decisions at the college level and beyond.

Now, as I sit here, I am called upon to give more to my family. I am called to give my time and energy as well as counsel in making decisions about the care of my mother. I am called to sometimes leave my children in the care of others as I spend time with my mother.

Two months into my search, my mother was diagnosed with inoperable colon cancer that had returned from a previous bout with the disease. I am honored to have an opportunity to be here for my mother and pleased to be able to to make a difference, however small, in her life.

Her diagnosis came after my applications were mailed. I have applied to several institutions throughout the country and even to an institution in Canada, and I still peruse job ads looking for other possibilities. As I sit here, I wonder if I should withdraw my applications to places that are far away and from which it would take more than three hours to arrive at my mother's bedside.

Those locales would also limit my ability to contribute to her care, and limit the frequency of visits that my young son could have with her.

Although I have not withdrawn any applications, I have begun to focus my energy on one institution that is closer to my mother than my current university. The search committee for that position has invited me to come to the campus for an interview. It has no doubt helped that I am an alumna of the institution and a former instructor there.

I received the itinerary for the interview a couple of weeks ago, and soon realized that the day's events seem more designed to see how I would fit with the other administrators than anything else. Over the course of the two-day interview, I am scheduled to spend only 90 minutes with faculty members and students.

With my thoughts preoccupied by mother's condition, it's been difficult to prepare for the interview. But knowing that getting the job would bring me two hours closer to her has helped me realize that I must refocus my attention and prepare as best I can.

To that end, I have asked for, and received, some assistance from a colleague who has been through a similar interview process on the same campus. He has shared with me his knowledge of the institution and the search, as well as some tips on interviewing techniques that could enhance my performance. He has also offered to conduct a mock interview with me to help me polish my responses.

I am as ready as I will ever be. I have spent time visiting the university's Web site and learning as much as I can about how it portrays itself to the world. I have read every newspaper article about the place that I could find. I have also contacted people I know who still work at the institution to ask about the search and the interview process. I even made a preliminary trip to the campus.

Throughout my preparations, it has helped to know that my mother is pleased with the idea that I may have an opportunity to be closer to her and the rest of my family. I know that the collective prayers of family and friends will be with me in the interview.

It is that support that I hope will sustain me as I continue to care for my mother and my own immediate family, keep up with my current work responsibilities, and prepare for a new position.