Navigating pre-Tenure and COVID-19: A Testimonio of a BIPOC Junior Faculty Mother

Abstract

The challenges BIPOC junior faculty face when preparing for tenure is not a new phenomenon, however doing so during a global pandemic magnifies these issues and requires us to consider the significant impact this has on earning tenure and promotion. Extent literature on pre-tenure BIPOC women faculty highlight their experiences of isolation and added pressures to perform. Women faculty with children encounter additional challenges as they may feel isolated, guilty about their productivity, and added pressure to prove themselves in the academy. Considering these factors influencing tenure, this testimonio provides a brief account of my experiences as a pre-tenure BIPOC junior faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic. I discuss the time constraints and expectations to maintain productivity, while managing my new full-time role as primary caregiver to my daughter. It concludes with implications for supporting pre-tenure BIPOC junior women faculty during COVID-19 as they prepare for tenure.