Purpose and Joy

How do Christian higher education faculty navigate their careers well?Despite common assumptions, Christian faculty, in fact, face considerable headwinds in their work. For example, a recent Best Christian Workplaces survey found that comparing all sectors, those working in Christian higher education reported the least satisfaction. Christian higher education was also the only sector in which the average employee engagement score fell within the "unhealthy" range. As BCW summarized in its report on Christian colleges and universities, "This data should rightly sound an alarm."

Purpose and Joy addresses faculty longevity and thriving over the course of their careers, providing better support as faculty make decisions and navigate academic life: determining when and how to seek promotion; stepping into department, program, and college leadership; pursuing research opportunities that take them out of the classroom or the academy, or conversely, worrying about research trajectories that have stalled; pursuing meaningful professional development opportunities; acting as faith leaders; and balancing important responsibilities related to family and community with their own needs for sabbath rest.

This volume draws on a vibrant collection of personal essays focused on navigating varied pathways within, through, and beyond Christian higher education. Written by and for faculty, this book features engaging stories, cultivates a conversation rooted in care for fellow academics, and provides support for those seeking to pursue purpose and joy in their careers.