The “good enough academic” on the tenure-track
Expert Talk with Irene Strasser (SUNY Cortland) on how to reach goals and balance demands
Target group: Researchers in qualification and development agreement contracts
When planning for long-term committment to the academic career, researchers need to find ways to protect their time and energy, set realistic goals, and work sustainably. For this, a “good enough” mindset can be helpful, since it is unrealistic to be equally committed to all tasks. In this expert talk, Irene Strasser will share strategies for thriving within qualification and development agreements and invite an open conversation with participants. A focus will be on setting boundaries – saying no to unproductive demands while staying collegial, and on positioning yourself for success – identifying what you need to thrive and advocating for it.
Irene Strasser is a developmental psychologist and Department Chair at SUNY Cortland (NY, USA). She received her PhD from the University of Vienna and, after serving as an assistant professor with a qualification agreement at the University of Klagenfurt, pursued an international academic career with positions in France, Egypt, and the United States.
As department chair, she mentors faculty on the tenure track and has developed strategies—both individually and through committee work—to improve the conditions and success of tenure-track scholars. Drawing on her experiences across diverse academic systems, she brings insight into how to make scholarly achievements transferable across contexts and how to balance competing demands in order to protect time for the work you truly value.
In this expert talk, Irene will share strategies for thriving within qualification and development agreements and invite an open conversation with participants. The discussion will be facilitated by Johanna Stadlbauer of the RCC.
- Navigating agreements – turning qualification or development requirements into growth opportunities
- Making achievements visible - across local and international contexts
- Balancing demands – managing research, teaching, and service while protecting time
- Telling your ‘story’ – presenting work effectively in reports, evaluations, and applications
- Setting boundaries – saying no to unproductive demands while staying collegial
- Positioning for success – identifying what you need to thrive and advocating for it
Agenda:
- 5 min welcome by the RCC
- 10 min intro round / speed-networking among the participants (depending on group size)
- 20 min input by Irene Strasser
- 60 min open space: Questions from the pad and directly from the audience
Post your questions here by Oct 25, 2026: https://pad.riseup.net/p/ExpertTalkStrasserRCC-keep
Please note that your registration is binding, and we are counting on your participation in the expert talk.
Organising our course programme takes time, resources and careful planning by our team. If you are unable to attend, please inform us promptly by emailing rcc@uni-graz.at or cancelling your registration on the website. This will help us with our planning and give someone on the waiting list the opportunity to participate.
