DR. JAMES N. GLADDEN
PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, EMERITUS
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS
HIGHEST DEGREE:
PH.D. POLITICAL SCIENCE
EARNED AT: INDIANA UNIVERSITY
SPECIALIZED TRAINING:
ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH TRAINING.
PUBLICATIONS IN PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS
MEETING STANDARDS FOR TENURE AND PROMOTION.
NUMBER OF YEARS IN SPECIALTY?
I AM RETIRED OR SEMI-RETIRED
WHAT I REALLY ENJOY ABOUT MY FIELD.
AS A PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS, I VALUED THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP LEARNING IN MY FIELD OF INTEREST. IT INVOLVED TRAVEL TO OTHER COUNTRIES FOR RESEARCH ON PUBLIC POLICY FOR MANAGING FEDERAL WILDERNESS AREAS. I ENJOYED TEACHING STUDENTS AS A REWARDING WAY TO STIMULATE MY OWN THINKING.
MY ACHIEVEMENT STORY:
AS AN UNDERGRADUATE, I LEARNED THAT PROFESSORS MADE CAREERS OUT OF DOING RESEARCH AND TEACHING IDEAS. THIS WAY OF LIFE EXCITED ME, AND FOCUSED MY MIND TO THE TASK. A POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSE SET ME ON THE PATH TO ACHIEVE MY GOAL OF EARNING A PH.D. AND BEING A PROFESSIONAL ACADEMIC.
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE(S) STUDENTS FACE:
STUDENTS WHO WANT TO BECOME POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS FACE TWO MAJOR CHALLENGES. FIRST IS TO DECIDE WHICH FIELD OF STUDY IN THE DISCIPLINE TO SPECIALIZE IN. THE OTHER IS TO DEVELOP THE CAPACITY TO PERSIST TOWARD GOALS ACROSS TIME.