On Becoming a Community College Professor–Activist

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2025.585

Keywords:

EdD activism, reflective inquiry, community college, equity, faculty burnout

Abstract

This article traces my intellectual and professional transformation from community college professor to professor-activist that began with my doctoral studies. Divided into four sections, it begins with an overview of the community college mission and the essential role of faculty in advancing the academic and social success of a diverse student population. The second section explores my intellectual development within the University of South Carolina’s EdD program, highlighting how coursework on equity, social justice, and action research deepened my understanding of positionality and reflective inquiry. The third section, becoming, articulates my rationale for an action research dissertation addressing community college faculty burnout and situates my scholarly growth within my evolving activist identity. The final section, beyond, envisions how I will continue leveraging my positionality as a tenured professor to advocate for policies and practices that uplift contingent and early-career colleagues, fostering a more equitable and sustainable academic community.

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Published

2025-11-11

How to Cite

Pipitone, C. (2025). On Becoming a Community College Professor–Activist . Impacting Education: Journal on Transforming Professional Practice, 10(4), 52–57. https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2025.585

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 4 (2025): EdD-Activism: The Dissertation in Practice and Beyond

Section

Themed- EdD-Activism: The Dissertation in Practice and Beyond

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Copyright (c) 2025 Christine Pipitone

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