Leveraging Visibility in Social Media: Using Networks to Advance an Agenda

• In Event: The Academic, Version 2.0: The Scholar in the Era of Social Media

Abstract

Presenter 3 is an assistant professor of higher education administration at Delta University. His research examines the lived experiences of Black tenure-track faculty at predominantly White institutions, including their service obligations to academe and the community, issues of work-life balance, and how they conceptualize mentoring relationships. He also maintains an active P-16 research agenda, researching first generation collegians and the experiences of low-income minority students aspiring to college. Active in social networking since 2005, Presenter 3 engages in dialogue about his research interests, game show exploits, and social concerns with students, colleagues, and interested parties via Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, while maintaining a webpage and YouTube channel.

Presenter 3 will share how he leverages visibility via his early adoption of social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter, and few “celebrity” experiences advance his research agenda, thus bringing his scholarship to a far broader audience than possible through traditional academic means – and bringing greater returns regarding scholarly productivity. His contribution addresses a specific concern of junior faculty, which relates to gaining visibility in the field via scholarly productivity. Presenter 3 asserts that traditional means of publishing and presenting at peer-reviewed conferences are essential as ever, but the 21st century academic can (and should) utilize social media to engage in meaningful, relevant dialogue with members of the academic community.

Author

• Richard J. Reddick, The University of Texas - Austin