Courtney Rydel

1. What are some past jobs/positions you have held?
I have worked as a researcher for the Schoenberg Institute of Electronic Text and Image (SCETI), as a tutor in the Rutgers University Summer Bridge Program for athletes, and as a lecturer in the Critical Writing Program at the University of Pennsylvania.

2. Were there any particular TCNJ courses/internships that helped jump-start your career? 

I earned a Creative Writing minor, which gave me additional experience in writing workshops that were really helpful in teaching writing. My Classical Studies minor also gave me a solid background for going into medieval studies.

Also I made a sure to take the literary theory course with Professor Hustis, as well as write a senior thesis with Professor Steele. Once I figured out I was interested specifically in medieval literature, I took all the medieval/early modern courses I could (I basically earned enough credits to have the English major twice over). So I took all the challenging courses I could, even auditing extra courses to get sufficient background in the area.
I learned how to write effectively, and undertake ambitious research. I also learned how to be mentored, how to ask for help, and how to look for role models in those a few years ahead of me. Professors Steele, Glenn and Diane Steinberg, and Carney consistently looked out for me.

3. Any advice for students who want to go into academia?
I feel lucky every day to have landed my dream job. Teaching indefinitely as contingent or adjunct faculty is not a good life. So I don’t advise any of my own students to plan on “being a professor,” because the odds are against you. Instead I encourage the interested ones to look at graduate school and keep an open mind about where that might lead.

Going to graduate school can be a transformative experience that opens you up to many possibilities and adventures, gives you new skill sets, deepens you intellectually, and leads to lifelong friendships! If you’re interested in any kind of graduate study, go to the “So You Think You Want To Go to Graduate School” presentation, do a senior thesis and basically live in your advisor’s office for a year, and go to the Sigma Tau Delta annual convention to give a scholarly paper. From those who six students who went to the first conference, we earned two PhDs, four MAs, an MLS and a JD.