Grace E. Coolidge and Jason Crouthamel

The Preparing Future Faculty Program was instrumental in helping us get jobs. One of the most helpful elements of the program was the Teaching College History course taught by Professor David Pace. It was a valuable asset to building teaching experience at Indiana University. Perhaps most importantly, at each of our job interviews schools asked us what our theories of pedagogy were and how we implemented them in the classroom. We could not have answered those questions or demonstrated those skills without this class. In addition, the PFF program gave us great advantages in preparing for interviews and research talks. We participated in the mock job talk program and the mock interviews, both of which experiences allowed us to benefit from the combined expertise of the History faculty. In addition to helping us form quality research presentations, we received help and advice on the personal aspects of the interview process. This ultimately has helped us get two jobs at the same university, allowing us both to pursue our professional goals.

After the interview process, colleagues at Grand Valley State University told us that we stood out in the candidate pool because of our knowledge of pedagogy, our formal training as teachers, our impressive research talks, and our participation in the PFF program. After serving on hiring committees at both Indiana University and Grand Valley State University, it is clear that the PFF program at Indiana University gives Indiana graduates a tremendous advantage in the job market.