2016 – Liz accepts her first-ever full-time faculty job

Arizona State University dean Steven Tepper called me out of the blue and asked me to come work there at ASU. It’s a nice thing to hear at a certain time in your life. I wasn’t ready to sign on, so I initially said “no,” but then after a visit I said “yes.”

Much is written about the need to have young faculty members at universities, to make sure that the disciplines and departments and the silos are all getting fresh ideas. I concur. But the good thing about hiring someone old like me is you get gratitude. After decades of running a small non-profit I am still amazed at what you get with a job: an office, a computer, bathrooms that work, heat, light, health insurance, and every two weeks money in the bank that I didn’t raise. Wow.