Momentum to Full Program

Supporting Associate Professors on the Path to Full Professorship

Faculty Affairs & Development Workshop Series
Facilitated by Professor Eleanor Loiacono, Momentum to Full Fellow

This yearlong workshop series is designed to provide targeted support, resources, and community for faculty navigating the complex and often overlooked mid-career phase. Whether newly tenured or well into the associate professor rank, participants will engage in reflective, practical, and strategic conversations that foster professional clarity, sustainable growth, and pathways to promotion.

Momentum to Full is more than a title; it is a structured arc of development designed to meet faculty where they are and help them move forward with purpose. Across six curated workshops, the series guides participants to:

Set intentions for their post-tenure journey and envision the next chapter of their careers
Identify alignment opportunities between personal goals and institutional promotion criteria
Strategize pathways forward, given departmental and university needs
Set actionable SMART goals for professional advancement
Develop strategies for network, skill, and resource building
Reflect on successes and challenges to adapt strategies for sustainable progress

Through a mix of interactive workshops, peer support and mentoring, and dialogues with institutional leaders, this initiative affirms that advancement is not a one-size-fits-all journey and that associate professors deserve meaningful, structured support across the lifecycle of their careers.

Participation is capped at 10 to deepen connections within the group. Interested associate professors are invited to complete a short application form by clicking the link below. Submissions must be received by October 28.

To support their progression to full professor, current and former participants in the Momentum to Full program are eligible for the Class of 1952 Momentum to Full Professorship, a new pilot initiative of the Office of the Provost. Awarded through a competitive selection process, the professorship supports associate professors as they prepare for promotion. Applicants must expect to apply for promotion to full professor by the end of the second year of their professorship appointment. Please contact the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs & Development (igiuffrida@wm.edu) to learn more about this opportunity.

Workshop Series: Dates and Topics

The schedule below is tentative and subject to change.

Friday, November 6, 2026: Reflect and Envision

Reflect on your Values and Passions; Envision the Next Chapter of Your Career
(12 noon to 1:30 pm)
Location: TBC

Participants review their pre-work to identify core professional values, passions, and various career pathways (e.g., disciplinary superstar, master teacher, institutional change agent, program builder). The workshop builds connections among often-isolated mid-career faculty, establishes group norms, and creates a foundation of trust. Participants gain clarity on personal values and professional aspirations through guided reflection and peer discussion. Participants complete a pre-workshop series survey.

Friday, November 20, 2026: Identify "Alignment" Opportunities

Identify Opportunities for Alignment Given Local Promotion Expectations and Context
(12 noon to 1:30 pm)
Location: TBC

Participants review institutional promotion criteria and complete exercises mapping their values and passions to promotable work, identifying what constitutes "leadership" and what evidence is needed. They create a map of people (internal and external) who can help clarify promotion criteria and brainstorm alignment possibilities. The workshop addresses the spectrum from clear to "muddied" promotion criteria and develops concrete plans to connect with mentors and advocates who can provide guidance.

Friday, January 22, 2027: Navigate Departmental & University Needs

Strategize Best Paths Forward Given Departmental and Institutional Needs; Navigate Common Mid-Career Pitfalls
(12 noon to 2:00 pm)
Location: TBC

Part 1: Senior leaders from different schools clarify discipline-specific promotion criteria, what constitutes "leadership" and promotable work, tangible and symbolic rewards of promotion, and how the university supports equitable advancement.

Part 2: Participants explore common challenges, including increased service responsibilities, work-life balance, questions of meaning and impact, lack of extrinsic motivation, isolation, and unclear priorities. The session examines challenges documented in research and develops strategies to navigate these pitfalls while maintaining alignment with promotion goals and building peer support networks.

This session coincides with the last day of the Writers' Retreat, organized by the Swem Library.

Friday, February 19, 2027: Set Actionable Goals

Create Your "Action" Strategy to Advance Your Professional and Personal Goals
(12 noon to 1:30 pm)
Location: TBC

Participants discuss their draft SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attractive, Realistic, Time-framed) across multiple areas: personal, teaching, scholarship/research, leadership/service, and external visibility/networking. They create a 5-year vision overview with goals mapped to academic years and develop strategies for saying "no" to non-promotable work. The workshop provides dedicated time to refine goals and build skills in prioritizing promotable work while protecting time for high-priority objectives.

Friday, March 26, 2027: Develop Network, Skill, and Resource Building Strategy

Assess Professional Skills Necessary for Goal Attainment; Create Plan for Developing Your Professional Network
(12 noon to 1:30 pm)
Location: TBC

Participants complete a comprehensive skills assessment covering disciplinary knowledge, writing/publishing, teaching and curriculum, and other relevant competencies. They create a professional network map that identifies current mentors, advocates/sponsors, and gaps across categories, including enhancement of teaching, research, and leadership skills; understanding of promotion criteria; intellectual community; role models and access to opportunities; and accountability partners. Participants develop concrete plans for network building and skill development, learning about resources such as the NCFDD.

Friday, April 23, 2027: Dialogue with Leadership & Reflect and Adapt

Understanding Promotion Requirements Across Schools; Reflect on Successes and Challenges; Hone Skills and Strategies for Implementation
(12 noon to 1:30 pm)
Location: TBC

Participants review their SMART goals, reflect on the past year's successes and challenges, identify what worked well and what needs adjustment, and strategize adaptations to further hone their implementation strategies. The workshop establishes ongoing accountability structures and creates a sustainable annual process for goal-setting, implementation, and reflection. Participants complete a post-workshop series survey.

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