Shirley Drew
Professor of Communication
Pittsburg State University
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
I realized my Bachelor's degree was not enough to get the kind of job I wanted.
I decided to pursue the MA in communication. I realized that I wanted to be a college professor.
I pursued my Ph.D. I worked outside of academia for 3 years and then found a university teaching job.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Anthony Wayne High School
Anthony Wayne High School
Career
Professor of Communication
I teach Communication at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Writing
Travel
Communicating / Sharing Stories
Day to Day
A student shadowing me would see that I love my job. No two days are the same. But a great day is when I teach my classes and meet with students and colleagues. If I can, I spend time grading and keeping up with emails and phone calls. I have lunch with colleagues on some days, on others I work in my office or just take a walk. Most days I spend the last hour on my writing projects. Then, if I have time, I might do some preparation for the next day.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
First, complete a Bachelor's degree in the field. Then a Master's degree, perhaps at the same institution. If you maintain a high GPA, (3.0 or above) then you might qualify for funding at the graduate level. If you find that you are enjoying working on the MA degree, then it's important to do research on Ph.D. institutions to see if your interests match theirs. It's a decision that should not be made lightly. Make sure you understand the commitment involved in pursuing this path.
