Join a thoughtful conversation about finding purpose and joy as faculty in Christian higher education. 

A Best Christian Workplace survey conducted in 2024 found that those working in Christian higher education reported the least satisfaction with their work and their institutions, compared with other surveyed sectors. Christian higher education was also the only sector in which the average employee engagement score fell within the "unhealthy" range. 

This book 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 to associate and full professor; stepping into department, program, and college leadership roles; 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 within their institutions and beyond; and balancing important responsibilities related to family and community with their own needs for sabbath rest.

This volume comprises a vibrant collection of personal essays focused on navigating Christian higher education, written by college, university, and seminary faculty. Above all this book features engaging stories that explore the unique opportunities and challenges faced by Christian faculty, cultivating a conversation rooted in care for fellow academics and providing support for those seeking to navigate their careers with purpose and joy.

Dr. Elisabeth E. Lefebvre is Associate Professor at Bethel University. Elisabeth taught in Louisiana and Morocco before earning an MA in Global Studies at the University of Oregon and a PhD in Comparative and International Education at the University of Minnesota. Elisabeth's research focuses on the mutually constitutive relationships between schooling, history, and culture. She has published in Comparative Education Review, Journal of Education Policy, and elsewhere. She has also written about education, justice, and community. Elisabeth lives in Minnesota with her husband and two children. 

Dr. Kristin VanEyk is Assistant Professor of English Education at Hope College. After graduating from Calvin University, Kristin taught high school English for ten years while also completing her MA in Educational Leadership. In 2021, Kristin earned her PhD in English and Education at the University of Michigan. Kristin's scholarship about teaching, education, and language studies appears in Daedalus, Pedagogy, Christian Educator's Journal, and elsewhere. Kristin lives in Michigan with her husband and two children. 

ISBN: 9781684264629

Pages: 304

Dimensions (inches): 6 x 9

Weight (pounds): .5