Mastering the Scholarly Agenda

Crafting Research that Inspires and Endures

Sep 28, 2024

It’s a crisp autumn morning in Washington, D.C.

I’m sitting in my new office, surrounded by half-unpacked boxes and the faint scent of fresh paint. I’ve just started my first tenure-track position, brimming with excitement and ideas. Suddenly, a knock at the door breaks my trance.

In walks a senior faculty member known for their groundbreaking work.

“Welcome aboard,” they say warmly. “I thought I’d stop by and see how you’re settling in. So, what are you working on these days?”

My mind goes blank. I frantically shuffle through my mental catalog of research projects, trying to assemble a coherent response.

“Well,” I stammer, “I’m looking into...” I trail off, mumbling about a few scattered ideas, struggling to recall the research agenda I had hastily crafted for my job interview.

The truth is, I didn’t really have a clue.

The senior professor listens patiently, then leans forward, their eyes twinkling with understanding. “It sounds like you have a lot of interesting topics to explore,” they say. “Have you thought about how these ideas might come together into a larger research agenda?”

Sensing my uncertainty, they smile kindly.

“Don’t worry,” they say. “Academia is a journey. We can grab coffee sometime and talk more about it. I’d be happy to share some ideas from my experience.”

That conversation, with someone who would become a valued mentor, was the start of a transformative journey—one that taught me how to build a scholarly agenda.

Welcome back to another edition of the The Tenure Track Newsletter, where we navigate academia with purpose, passion, and poise!

We’re wrapping up September’s theme, Vision and Purpose, before transitioning into October’s focus on Leadership and Influence.

In previous weeks, we explored the art of goal setting, the challenge of professional norms, and the power of personal branding. Today, we tie it all together with one of the cornerstones of a purposeful academic career: the scholarly agenda.

Here’s a roadmap of what we’ll cover:

Defining the scholarly agenda and its key components
Aligning your agenda with your values and interests
Navigating institutional expectations
Turning your agenda into actionable goals
Refining your scholarly vision
Promoting your scholarly agenda

By the end of this newsletter, you’ll have a clear understanding of what a scholarly agenda is, why it matters, and how to craft one that aligns with your academic passions and goals.

Plus, I’ll also be sharing a downloadable template to help you start refining your own scholarly agenda today!

So, grab your favorite beverage, settle into a comfy spot, and let’s embark on this final leg of our September journey. Together, we’ll clarify our purpose and map out where we want to go in our academic careers.

Trust me, it’s going to be great!

I. Defining Your Scholarly Agenda

What is a Scholarly Agenda?

Many early-career academics mistake a scholarly agenda for a simple to-do list of research projects. However, as I learned from my mentors and colleagues, it’s so much more than that.

A scholarly agenda is your academic North Star. It’s a comprehensive vision that encapsulates your research interests, methodological approaches, and long-term goals.

Think of it as the narrative that ties together your past work, current projects, and future aspirations. It’s not just about what you’re doing—it’s about why you’re doing it and where you’re headed.

Key Components

Core Themes/Topics: Your agenda should center around the core themes that drive your research.
In my case, these themes include racial justice, environmental justice, poverty, legal history, community empowerment, and interdisciplinary connections.
These are the pillars that guide every research question I pursue.
Long-Term Vision: A well-defined agenda addresses key societal issues in your field, aiming not only to contribute to academic discourse but to make a tangible impact on the world.
Ask yourself: How will my research shape my field and society over the next 5, 10, or 20 years?
Methodological Approach: Your agenda should reflect your unique approach to research and scholarship.
For example, my exploration of legal history and the intersections of Black studies and law allows me to bring fresh perspectives to long-standing social issues.
This interdisciplinary lens helps me uncover new insights and contribute to multiple fields.

II. Aligning With Your Values and Interests

Self-Reflection

To create a meaningful scholarly agenda, start with introspection.

What values drive your academic pursuits?
What societal challenges keep you up at night?
What research questions make you excited to get to work each morning?

For me, the pursuit of social justice through legal scholarship isn’t just an academic interest—it’s a calling that aligns with my deepest values.

Your agenda should reflect a similar synergy between your personal convictions and academic work.

Balancing Passion with Practicality

While pursuing research that excites you is important, it’s equally vital to consider the practical aspects of your career. A successful agenda balances passion with the realities of institutional expectations.

Consider the following:

How does your research align with your department’s goals?
Are there funding opportunities that match your research interests?
Can your agenda support your teaching responsibilities?

By balancing personal passion with professional expectations, you’ll ensure that your research is both fulfilling and professionally advantageous.

III. Aligning With Institutional Expectations

Understanding Institutional Priorities

Let’s face it, every institution has its own priorities and values.

Thriving in academia means being attuned to how your research can support these goals. However, this alignment isn’t about sacrificing your vision—it’s about finding creative ways to harmonize your scholarly interests with the institution’s mission.

The key is to align without compromising.

Start by having candid conversations with mentors, senior colleagues, and even department heads. These discussions can offer valuable insights into the institution’s unspoken expectations and priorities.

If you feel pressured to compromise, you might be in the wrong place.

For example, if your institution highly values interdisciplinary research, explore opportunities to collaborate across fields, enhancing the reach and impact of your work.

If there’s a strong emphasis on community engagement, consider how your scholarship can contribute to local or regional issues, positioning your research as a bridge between academia and the broader community.

Building these connections will not only help you navigate institutional expectations but also make your work more relevant and impactful within the broader goals of your department and university.

Navigating Tenure and Promotion

A well-defined scholarly agenda is one of the most powerful tools you can have when it comes to navigating the tenure and promotion process.

It tells a clear story of your research trajectory, emphasizing both your past contributions and your potential for future growth.

More than just a research plan, your agenda is the blueprint for how you intend to contribute to your field—and it becomes an invaluable asset when filling out tenure and promotion applications.

To make the process easier, I recommend mapping out a yearly project plan that balances long-term, high-impact goals with shorter, more immediately achievable projects.

This approach allows you to steadily build your CV while still dedicating time to larger, transformative outcomes. It also demonstrates that you’re consistently productive and capable of managing multiple streams of research—a key criterion for promotion.

What’s Next?

In upcoming newsletters, we’ll dive deeper into strategies for building supportive relationships with colleagues that enhance collaboration and mentorship.

These relationships can be pivotal, not only for research opportunities but also for navigating the tenure and promotion process with confidence.

Additionally, I’ll be sharing productivity tips specifically tailored to the academic environment, so you are always publishing—subscribe today so you don’t miss out.

Now, let’s explore how to turn these insights into actionable steps that will elevate your academic journey and refine your scholarly agenda.

IV. Turning Your Agenda into Action

Setting Short-Term Goals

Your scholarly agenda should serve as a roadmap for setting concrete, measurable goals. Break down your long-term vision into annual, quarterly, and monthly objectives.

Examples include:

Submitting a specific number of articles for publication
Presenting at targeted conferences
Completing chapters of a book project
Applying for specific grants or fellowships

As you map out and achieve these goals, you’ll gain valuable insights into the direction and impact of your research. This continuous feedback loop will allow you to refine your scholarly vision as you go.

Developing Your Personal Brand

Remember our discussion on personal branding?

Your scholarly agenda is closely tied to your academic brand. As you refine your research, you’re simultaneously clarifying your unique contributions to your field.

To communicate your brand effectively:

Develop a concise “elevator pitch” summarizing your research focus and its significance. This comes in handy at conferences.
Ensure consistency across your CV, faculty profile, and online presence.
Tailor presentations to highlight how your work contributes to your broader scholarly agenda. Every paper presentation should serve as an entry point into your broader agenda and scholarly vision.

V. Refining Your Scholarly Vision

Flexibility is Key

A scholarly agenda should provide direction, but it shouldn’t be rigid.

The most successful academics adapt their research focus to respond to new discoveries, emerging societal needs, and evolving personal interests.

Set aside time annually to review and revise your agenda. Consider the following questions:

Are my current projects aligned with my long-term goals?
Have recent findings shifted my research interests?
Are there new methodologies or collaborations I should explore?

Getting Feedback

External input can be invaluable in refining your agenda.

First, draft a comprehensive scholarly agenda outlining your core research themes, methodologies, and long-term goals. Then, share it with mentors, colleagues, and junior scholars in your field.

A strategy I’ve found useful to get started is to identify three related areas of interest as distinct branches of research.

This approach fosters depth and breadth while opening multiple avenues for collaboration and funding.

VI. Promoting Your Scholarly Agenda

Building Your Scholarly Reputation

Your scholarly agenda is more than a research plan—it’s the cornerstone of your academic identity and a key tool for establishing your reputation in the field.

By crafting a compelling narrative around your agenda, you can effectively communicate the significance and coherence of your research.

Here’s how to elevate your academic profile:

Job Talks: Use your agenda to tell a compelling story.
Highlight how your past work, current projects, and future research plans build on one another to form a cohesive, forward-thinking research program.
Frame your contributions in a way that underscores your long-term vision and how your work addresses critical issues in your field.
Faculty Profiles: Go beyond a basic list of publications or credentials.
Take the opportunity to explain the underlying themes that guide your research. Articulate the broader societal or disciplinary impact of your work, demonstrating how each publication or project contributes to your overarching academic mission.
Conference Presentations: When presenting your research, ensure that it aligns with your larger scholarly agenda.
Frame your findings within the context of your broader vision, allowing your audience to see how this piece fits into the long-term arc of your work.

This approach not only enhances your reputation but also creates opportunities for meaningful connections with scholars who share similar interests.

Leveraging Your Digital Presence

In the digital age, academic reputation isn’t just built within the walls of your institution or at conferences. Your online presence can amplify your reach, enabling you to engage with broader audiences and showcase your research to a global community.

Here are some strategies to maximize your impact online:

Create an Academic Website or Blog: An academic website serves as a dynamic portfolio where you can document your research journey, share insights, and demonstrate thought leadership.
Use it to publish accessible summaries of your work, post updates on ongoing projects, and share any media coverage or collaborative ventures.
A blog can also offer space for deeper reflections on your research interests, helping others better understand the evolution of your scholarly agenda. More on this in future posts!
Engage Broader Audiences on Public Platforms: Platforms like the local newspaper, The Conversation, Medium, or Substack allow you to reach a wider, non-academic audience.
Writing for these outlets gives you an opportunity to translate complex research into compelling, accessible articles that can influence public discourse and policy, expanding the impact of your work beyond the academic realm.
Utilize Social Media Strategically: Social media platforms like Twitter/X or LinkedIn or Facebook are invaluable for staying connected with colleagues, sharing updates, and building your professional network.
Use these platforms to announce new publications, promote upcoming presentations, or engage with relevant academic discussions. Consistent engagement helps reinforce your reputation as an active, contributing scholar.

Consistency and authenticity are key.

Your digital presence should reflect the same themes and values that drive your scholarly agenda.

Authenticity is essential—whether you’re sharing insights on social media or maintaining a blog, ensure that your voice remains true to your academic mission.

Consistency is critical—regular, thoughtful engagement across your digital platforms will reinforce your expertise and demonstrate a sustained commitment to your research and its impact.

By integrating these practices into your academic life, you’ll not only strengthen your scholarly reputation but also create new opportunities for collaboration, funding, and influence.

Take Action Today

A well-crafted scholarly agenda is more than a research plan—it’s a reflection of your academic identity and a roadmap for your career.

By aligning your passions with institutional expectations, setting clear goals, and communicating your vision, you’ll not only thrive in academia but make meaningful contributions to your field.

Remember, becoming full as a professor is a lifelong journey, and the road to a fulfilling academic career starts with clarity of purpose.

Download the scholarly agenda template here and start refining your vision today. And, as an additional gift for being a paid subscriber, here is my own scholarly agenda that you can use as a reference.

Stay tuned for next month’s theme: Leadership and Influence.

Until next week, keep pursuing your purpose with passion and perseverance.

Becoming Full,

P.S. Know someone who could benefit from this journey? Share this newsletter today and let’s grow this supportive academic community together!

Our Mission: At The Tenure Track, we believe every academic deserves to thrive both in their career and personal life. Our mission is to provide the tools, insights, and community support to help you achieve lasting success on the path to becoming a full professor—and beyond.