I recently completed almost 12 years of service as a graduate dean and associate provost for research and was able to maintain grants and research laboratories. Postdoctoral colleagues and technicians were the mainstays of my day-to-day activities.
Frequent scheduled laboratory meetings, including luncheon periods, Saturday and Sunday excursions into the laboratory, periods of one or two weeks at the Marine Biological Laboratory library, national and international meetings to present papers, and symposia were the vehicles for my continued research productivity.
Frankly, there were clear and substantial benefits, namely, the respect and trust of the faculty. One's colleagues are more cooperative, trusting, and appreciative of an administrator who remains academically active.
I enjoyed my life on the other side, so to speak, having gained the satisfaction of helping many younger colleagues. It was a worthwhile experience, and I am an advocate of the dual path. One does not have to cross ...
