The Social Academic with Jennifer van Alstyne | Online Presence for Professors

Dr. Toyin Alli returns to The Social Academic podcast to talk about showing up online for yourself and your business as an academic. As an entrepreneur herself, Toyin has balanced full time academic life with her business. Now, she helps academics like you create a semester-proof business that works for your full time academic life.In this episode: finding community, video for YouTube, and running a business in 5 hours a week or less https://theacademicdesigner.com/2025/academic-entrepreneurship-with-toyin-alli-phd/0:00 Professorpreneurship with Dr. Toyin Alli3:48 What can a professor business look like?8:46 Creating content for your academic business15:44 It’s like building an airplane while it’s already in the air22:47 Six Figure Professor Program28:15 Think of it as teachingBioDr. Toyin Alli is a math professor, business strategist, and the founder of The Academic Society, where she helps grad students with time management, productivity, self-care and grad school success strategies.After building her own six-figure business while teaching full-time, Toyin now mentors other professors through her signature program Six Figure Professor and her community, The Secret Society of Academic Entrepreneurs.She’s been featured on various academic podcasts and has spoken at universities across the country.Whether she’s teaching in the classroom, facilitating a virtual workshop, or coaching behind the scenes, Dr. Toyin Alli is on a mission to help academics reclaim their time, expand their influence, and redefine success on their own terms.https://www.drtoyinalli.com/Professors! Welcome to The Social Academic. I’m Jennifer van Alstyne (@HigherEdPR). I help academics like you feel confident when you show up online. You have agency in creating a stronger online presence for yourself. Let's build a strong digital footprint through your academic website, social media, and bio writing.https://theacademicdesigner.comThank you for watching! Please subscribe for more videos for your online presence in academia.Want to support The Social Academic? Buy Jennifer a matcha or tea 🍵: https://buymeacoffee.com/higheredpr-Schedule your no pressure Zoom call with Jennifer to talk about working together on your online presence for academics 🌟https://higheredpr.as.me/meet-with-jenniferHere's how we can work together, view services https://theacademicdesigner.com/services/___ Let’s connect on social media ___LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/jennifervanalstyne/Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/jenvanalstyne.bsky.socialInstagram https://instagram.com/HigherEdPRTwitter https://x.com/HigherEdPRFacebook https://facebook.com/higheredprThreads https://www.threads.net/@higheredprYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@HigherEdPR

Cheryl Lau, a podcast content strategist and producer, shares her expertise on becoming a standout podcast guest. She offers practical tips like understanding a show's format, communicating effectively with hosts, and enhancing audio quality. Cheryl emphasizes the importance of engaging conversations and sharing resources beforehand. She also encourages academics to showcase their unique stories, whether through personal podcasts or guest appearances, and discusses strategies for maximizing impact after the recording ends.

Join Brittany Trinh, a Ph.D. candidate in chemistry and host of the Beyond Your Science podcast, and Ian Li, the brains behind Owlstown, as they unravel the secrets of personal academic websites. Discover the importance of authenticity in storytelling and how to present your academic journey effectively. They share tips on choosing the right website builder, the balance between aesthetics and functionality, and why showcasing a diverse range of works is crucial for a compelling online presence. Get inspired to elevate your academic digital footprint!

Dr. Lily Rosewater, a science communicator and neuroscientist, runs Pitch Science to help scientists amplify their online presence. She discusses barriers early career researchers face, like imposter syndrome, and the shift from hidden experts to visible advocates. Lily emphasizes the importance of personal branding and high-quality social media content in reaching audiences. She shares insights on transforming research into impactful stories and fostering community among scientists to navigate the nuances of effective science communication.

Jo Davis is a professor, author, freelance writer, film critic, artist, and a beacon of creativity. She teaches writing and rhetoric at the University of Denver.In this episode of The Social Academic, we talk about her analog and digital life. As a writer, she's used to sharing through her online presence.We talk about her life online such as her digital portfolio. And, offline through the coloring book series she designed, the Panic Pages, and journaling. We also talk about what it means to show up authentically as herself as a faculty member and online.Visit Jo's LinkTree for her social media and other links.This episode of The Social Academic is Jo Davis on Your Digital and Analog Lifehttps://theacademicdesigner.com/2025/your-digital-and-analog-life-with-jo-davis/

Sarah Layden joins me to talk about her new satire piece about the trend of "unfriend me now" on social media. A fun conversation with thoughtful advice for faculty on social media.When she shared her satire piece, ‘Unfriend Me Now’ on her LinkedIn profile, I reached out right away about her appearing on The Social Academic interview series. The epigraph to the piece is a quote from research from Floyd, Matheny, Dinsmore, Custer, and Woo, “If You Disagree, Unfriend Me Now”: Exploring the Phenomenon of Invited Unfriending, published in American Journal of Applied Psychology.Sarah Layden is the author of Imagine Your Life Like This, stories; Trip Through Your Wires, a novel; and The Story I Tell Myself About Myself, winner of the Sonder Press Chapbook Competition.Her short fiction appears in Boston Review, Blackbird, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Best Microfiction 2020, and elsewhere. Her nonfiction writing appears in The Washington Post, Poets & Writers, Salon, The Millions, and River Teeth, and she is co-author with Bryan Furuness of The Invisible Art of Literary Editing.She is an Associate Professor of English at Indiana University Indianapolis.

We're back with Ruth C. White, PhD, MPH, MSW, RSW to talk about her life beyond academia. Join us for this conversation about why female academics suffered through the pandemic, and why they are feeling so burned out.https://theacademicdesigner.com/2025/ruth-c-white-phd-on-burn-out-for-female-academics/Ruth C. White, PhD, MPH, MSW, RSW is on a mission to help women find success that feels like them. Dr. White’s career has taken a meandering path with success in many roles. She has worked as a social worker in the USA, Canada and the UK, and gave up tenure in the social work program at Seattle University to teach in the ground-breaking virtual program at the University of Southern California. Yes… She gave up tenure! Then she left academia for a role as a DEI executive at a Silicon Valley tech firm, and followed up with another DEI role in academia.Ruth is the author of four books, and has written articles on mental health for Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Tracy Anderson Magazine. She built a consulting practice in DEI and mental health, with clients such as PwC, Indeed, JPMorgan Chase, Premera Blue Cross, Aetna, Applied Materials, Protiviti, Gainsight, among others. Since 2020, Dr. White has appeared 30+ times as a mental health commentator on KRON4-TV Bay Area, and she has also appeared as an expert on The Today Show, BBC, podcasts, and radio. Her groundbreaking research on the LGBTQ+ community in Jamaica, led her to be an expert witness in more than a dozen cases in collaboration with Yale, Columbia and NYU Law Schools, and advocacy groups across the USA.In addition, Ruth has a modeling career, that has included major campaigns, and representation by agencies in Toronto, San Francisco, Paris and London. Recently she merged her love for words and travel to become an in-demand travel writer, with articles in CN Traveler UK & US editions. And she accomplished all this as a mom with an atypical brain: one labeled with ADHD and bipolar disorder. Her sense of adventure has led to PADI diving certifications, kayaking across San Juan Islands and rapids on the White Nile and Pacuare, hiking solo up Mt. Ellinor, and racing sailing boats in the San Francisco Bay for several years. She is also competent with crochet hooks, knitting needles and sewing machines.Website https://lumoracoaching.com/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthcwhite/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lumoracoaching/Past interview with Ruth: https://TheAcademicDesigner.com/2020/ruth-c-white-talks-youtube/The Social Academic blog and interview series https://TheSocialAcademic.com/blog

Dr. Anna Clemens, an academic writing coach and founder of the Researchers' Writing Academy, shares her insights on the power of storytelling in scientific writing. She emphasizes how framing research in a narrative enhances reader engagement and streamlines the publishing process. Anna discusses the evolving social media landscape for academics, advocating for a diverse online presence. Additionally, she highlights the importance of community support in overcoming the challenges faced by researchers, fostering empowerment and accountability in writing.

Join Amanda Thorne, owner of Thorne Artistry, and Melissa McClure, an experienced wedding and branding photographer, as they explore the world of visual branding for academics. They share invaluable tips on how to feel confident in front of the camera and the transformative power of hair and makeup. Discover the importance of trust in collaboration for stunning photos and learn practical advice on self-photography, including lighting and styling tips. Get ready to elevate your online presence and embrace your unique identity!

Are you thinking about leaving academia? Dr. Jen Polk of From PhD to Life joins me on The Social Academic for an interview about career clarity and your online presence. This interview is especially for academics considering leaving academia (or if you're forced to leave unexpectedly).Jennifer Polk, PhD, is a career coach, educator, and recognized expert in PhD careers. She regularly facilitates professional development workshops and delivers keynote presentations at institutions across the US, Canada, and internationally. Jen created her PhD Career Clarity Program to help PhDs navigate their career paths with confidence.Jen’s writing is published in University Affairs, Inside Higher Ed, the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Globe and Mail, Academic Matters, and in three books. She was an expert panelist for the 2021 Canadian Council of Academies report, Degrees of Success, on the challenges PhDs face transitioning to employment.Jen currently serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies, and she’s on the management committee for a multi-year transborder project about PhD career paths. She earned her PhD in history from the University of Toronto. Find Jen online at From PhD to Life.Sign up for Jen's free webinar https://fromphdtolife.com/phd-job-search-help/Explore the PhD Career Clarity Program https://fromphdtolife.com/join-the-program/From PhD to Life website https://fromphdtolife.com/Jen Polk on social mediaBluesky https://bsky.app/profile/fromphdtolife.comLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-polk-phd/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FromPhDtoLife/X https://x.com/FromPhDtoLifeYouTube https://YouTube.com/@FromPhDToLifeCheck out our other interviews on The Social Academic podcast 🎙What are informational interviews? (2022) 🤔 https://youtu.be/xOjBynwpDqEWhat is networking? (2020) 🤔 https://www.youtube.com/live/didV0bHHsGs-----------------------------------------This is The Social Academic podcast. I’m Jennifer van Alstyne (@HigherEdPR). I help academics feel confident when showing up online.Let's build you a strong digital footprint for your academic life through social media, websites, and bio writing.Schedule a no pressure Zoom call with Jennifer to talk about working together 1-on-1 on your online presence 🌟https://higheredpr.as.me/meet-with-jenniferView services https://theacademicdesigner.com/services/Visit my website https://theacademicdesigner.comLet's connect on social mediaLinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/jennifervanalstyne/Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/jenvanalstyne.bsky.socialInstagram https://instagram.com/HigherEdPRX https://x.com/HigherEdPRFacebook https://facebook.com/higheredprThreads https://www.threads.net/@higheredprYouTube http://youtube.com/@higheredpr