James
Lang Provides Insight into Life on the Tenure Track
 April,
2005—An enthusiastic audience
of students, faculty, administrators, and curious parties turned
out on the evening of April 7, 2005 to kick off the book tour for
James Lang's Life on the Tenure Track: Lessons from the First
Year.
Life on the Tenure Track is the second book written by
Lang, an assistant professor of English at Assumption. Written in
a chronological format, the book journals Lang’s first year
at Assumption as a tenure-track professor. Each chapter chronicles
a different month of the 2000-2001 school year, beginning with his
August move to Worcester from his native Chicago and alma mater
Northwestern University. As the year goes on, readers experience
Lang’s increasing clarity of his new life as an academic,
both in and out of the classroom. Early reviews of Life on the
Tenure Track have been outstanding, describing the book as
“beautifully written, honest, and humorous.” One reviewer
even anticipated that it “may become the ‘bible’
for graduate students and new faculty.”
English major Ivy Linton Stabell '05 introduced Lang prior to his
reading and book-signing, praising his teaching prowess in her remarks.
As Lang's teaching assistant, she noted, she received invaluable
insight into a future in education, thanks to his advice and careful
guidance. With plans to enter the University of Connecticut's master's
program in English, she revealed that Life on the Tenure Track
had been "instrumental" in preparing her for her future.
"This book is a wonderful addition to the world of education,"
she concluded.
Lang took the microphone next, reading excerpts from the new book
in an informal style. He began with the first chapters, describing
his first day at Assumption in detail and punctuating his reading
with humorous additions and clarifications to the text. After answering
several questions from the audience, he happily signed copies of
the book.
Lang's colleagues made it a point to attend the event, showing their
support for their coworker and friend.
"I've been reading Jim's Chronicle of Higher Education
columns all along, so it is great to see all of his experiences
together in context," said Becky DiBiasio, assistant professor
of English. "It has given me the chance to see the teaching
process—and the department—from the point of view of
someone besides myself. Also, the voice in his writing is so similar
to that of his voice in person; which is hard to achieve. He is
a skilled writer and narrator."
Mike Land, assistant professor of English and a good friend of Lang’s,
served as an early reader of chapter drafts during the book’s
process. Land began teaching at Assumption in 2000 along with Lang,
so their professional experiences were very similar.
“Frequently, people have no idea how anxious you are [in beginning
a new job],” said Land. “This was especially true of
Jim, who was seemingly so calm and laid back. After reading his
story, I realized that I wasn’t the only one who felt those
same anxieties in the beginning.”
It is also evident to the reader that Lang’s family is a very
important part of his life. At the time, in Life on the Tenure
Track, he was married with two young daughters. Now, the Lang
family has expanded to include a third daughter and infant twins.
Balancing the professional and personal is more important than ever.
And although the book ends in uncertainty about a possible career
move, Lang expressed his desire to remain at Assumption and make
his home in Worcester in his March 10, 2005 column in the Chronicle
of Higher Education.
“In both that column and the chapter, written at earlier points
in my academic career, I concluded that nothing was settled yet,
that my wife and I were still thinking about it, “ he wrote.
“But I think we're done thinking about it.”
Life on the Tenure Track: Lessons from the First Year is
available now at the Assumption College bookstore.
Click here
for a previous interview with Lang.
Click here
for Lang’s personal website.
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