Skip to main content

MCC Daily Tribune Archive

President's Wednesday Message


It is the season of commencement speeches. Many speakers, like Tim Wentworth did so powerfully last Saturday, share the lessons they have learned over their own lifetimes and careers. Tim told our graduates that, with their MCC degrees and education, they can do and be anything. But, perhaps his most important message was that professional success must be balanced with personal integrity and connection to others. His remarks perfectly fit the spirit of MCC’s commencement—an event both momentous and wonderfully celebratory.

Recently, I came across an essay in The Chronicle of Higher Education by Robert J. Sternberg, Professor of Human Development at Cornell University, that seemed the perfect commencement speech for academics. It has the not-quite-so inspirational title of “Career Advice From an Oldish Not-Quite Geezer,” but it also has a great opener: “Over the course of my career, I’ve given and received a lot of advice. Much of it was wrong.” One could make a pretty solid case that Sternberg’s essay should be required reading for anyone considering an academic career.

His advice is straightforward, even blunt; it is, by turns, honest and poignant. And anyone who works in a college environment will recognize it is real. He begins with the hard-earned reminder to “Put your family first,” and ends with “Take some risks.” In between, Sternberg writes about helping others, saving for the future, being true to yourself, having fun, and more. He advises readers both to “stay away from jerks” (as I said, blunt) and take care of their personal health. In some ways, his comments are not that different from those of Tim Wentworth, but they are situated squarely in the life of an academic. After 40 plus years as a faculty member, Sternberg writes with perspective:

… when I ask my students, none of them recognize the names of my famous advisers. Their work continues to matter, but often people have forgotten who did it. I hope my work continues to make a difference, in the sense that it gives way to the contributions of the future. Our students and their students are not here to perpetuate our ideas, but rather to incorporate — often without attribution — our ideas into the ideas of tomorrow.

Sternberg’s essay likely hit home with me because throughout a long (probably too long) time in college, I was lucky enough to be mentored by faculty like Sternberg, who shared their insights into the particular work and specific context of an academic career. To this day, I am indebted to them for their wisdom, which seems to grow in value each year.

Looking back, which of your professors or mentors would you thank? Which piece of advice stands out? Please share your thoughtsaca on the blog.

Anne M. Kress
President
06/03/2015