Interview with Jenn McClearen, Ph.D.

talking career changes and community support

Photo courtesy of Dr. Jenn McClearen

Jenn McClearen, Ph.D., is a writing and career coach who helps scholars design the meaningful work lives they want and make a difference in the world through their work. She shares tips, tricks, and insights on scholarly writing and navigating academia through her bestselling Substack newsletter, Publish Not Perish. You can also connect with her via Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter.  

Kate: Hi Jenn! I love the content you put out on your Substack Publish Not Perish and was thrilled when I learned that you’re shifting out of the university into coaching academics. You shared your reasoning for choosing to leave your position in a newsletter, and I’m curious to hear about the feedback you received from folks at your university, in your community, and online. While some folks must have been bummed to see you go, I imagine that you heard from people who were really inspired by your move, hoped to make a similar transition themselves, and/or were proud of you for making this move to self-employment.

Jenn: Thanks so much for the opportunity to share a bit of my story with your readers, Kate! The response I've received from my colleagues and broader academic community to my recent career change has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive.

Yes, some folks feel a sense of loss that I'm not in formal academia anymore, but they also understand the constraints that staying in academia brings to one's life. I love teaching and research, but I also love myself and my partner, and we needed to have more freedom to live in a place that feels good to us than academia provides. The amazing community that has always surrounded me in academia really gets this. They know that pursuing personal well-being and professional fulfillment sometimes means making tough choices. I've also reassured them that I'm not done being a scholar just because I'm no longer an academic.

I’ve also heard from quite a few people who are inspired by my experience transitioning out of academia. Some have shared that they're considered similar transitions themselves, and others just enjoy seeing someone make a decision to prioritize my happiness and freedom. It's been heartwarming to receive such encouragement and to see that my candid documentation of my experience resonates with so many others.

Kate: There are lots of alt-ac paths out there, so what drew you to pursue coaching over another option? Did you consider other alt-ac paths before you decided to pursue coaching?

Jenn: When I first started considering other careers outside of academia, I thought about other types of writing and teaching as well as industry research, but nothing really seemed like the perfect job description. 

So, I started brainstorming all the things I liked about my job: mentoring graduate students and junior faculty, professional development, sharing strategies for academic writing, and generally just supporting folks to be the best scholars they can be. I also knew I really liked having a lot of autonomy at work and was tired of working for bureaucratic systems. Plus, I wanted a job with more geographical flexibility than academia. 

Initially, I had seen other scholars transition into coaching or editing but never really considered entrepreneurship for myself because it seemed like something only good capitalists did. However, I learned that you can create a business that aligns with your values and ethics, putting human beings first. Once that was clear, I got really excited at the prospect of running my own show and focusing on the work that I really enjoyed.

So, coaching felt like a natural fit for me. It combined many of the things I loved most about my academic role with the freedom and flexibility I was craving. The ability to support other scholars while maintaining control over my work environment and location was exactly what I needed.

Kate: I imagine that your experiences as a professor, mentor, and scholar have influenced your approach to coaching academics, and I’d love it if you could share what you’re taking with you and what you’re leaving behind in academia when it comes to supporting academics in their writing and research.

Jenn: I love this question! In academia, we are surrounded by so many smart people who love learning and nerd out on their topics with abandon. Those are my people, and I'll definitely miss the energy of the university, where there's so much opportunity to learn new things all the time.

However, I'm thrilled that in my new job, I still get to be surrounded by folks who teach and learn for a living, and I get to support them in doing their best work. Academia has become more corporate, and academics face immense pressures on their time, making it harder to focus on the meaningful work they love. I'm really glad to be leaving behind the bureaucracy and the increasing tendency to treat human beings as production machines.

What I'm taking with me from academia is my deep commitment to scholarship and helping people produce scholarship they are proud of. I love supporting scholars as they navigate their careers, develop their professional skills, and enhance their academic writing. These are the aspects of my professorial role that I cherish, and I'm excited to continue this work in a more flexible and supportive environment.

At the same time, I also like the idea of supporting scholars who are continuing to fight against the forces constraining academia now. By coaching academics, I hope to empower them to reclaim their time and energy for the work that truly matters to them. This blend of advocacy and support is what drives my passion for coaching. 

Kate: Your Substack Publish Not Perish is a rich and generous resource for scholars at all stages of their career. I’ve personally benefited from your weekly Writing Circle and love that you structured these check-in spaces to encourage folks to engage with one another in the comments. I’m curious to hear what you’ve discovered about yourself as a writer and researcher since you started publishing your newsletter. What’s next for Publish Not Perish as you develop your coaching business?

Jenn: Since I started publishing my newsletter, I've discovered that I truly enjoy connecting with a broader audience and sharing practical advice and useful perspectives. Writing for Publish Not Perish has helped me refine my ideas and communicate more effectively, which has been incredibly rewarding. PNP also gave me the confidence that coaching would be both a viable and rewarding path for me because people are really drawn to the content I write about. At the same time, not everyone can afford 1:1 coaching, which is why PNP will always have great content available that is accessible to everyone. 

Ultimately, my goal for Publish Not Perish is to create a resource-rich platform that supports academics in navigating their careers with confidence and creativity, helping them maintain their passion for learning and teaching while also finding balance and fulfillment in their professional lives. One of my long-term goals is to add staff writers, as I believe it's essential to have diverse perspectives from a variety of individuals working in roles within and outside the academy.

Kate: Instead of asking you to share some tangible tips (your newsletters are chock full of them!), I'd like to close out our interview by asking you what is making you feel hopeful about the field of coaching and support for academics.

Jenn: What makes me feel hopeful about the field of coaching and support for academics is the growing recognition of the need for holistic, personalized support. More and more, academics are acknowledging that professional success and personal well-being are deeply interconnected. This shift is creating a demand for coaching services that not only focus on career development but also on mental health, work-life balance, and overall fulfillment.

I'm also inspired by the increasing willingness of scholars to seek help and support outside of traditional academic structures. There’s a growing community of academics who are eager to share their experiences, offer guidance, and build networks of support. This collaborative spirit is incredibly encouraging and bodes well for the future of coaching. 

Thanks so much, Jenn! You can learn more about Dr. McClearen’s work here and read her newsletter here.

I’ll be back next week with a post about approaching productivity with patience and compassion.

Take care and talk soon,

Dr. Kate