Surviving the First Year as New Faculty during a Pandemic

As we near the end of the academic year, I find myself reflecting back on the challenges and successes of being a new faculty member. To put this whole adventure in a clear lens, one has to bear in mind that the beginning of my tenure occurred during a world-wide pandemic; a time when the faculty did not know day to day whether we would be required to shift to all distance learning, return to face-to- face classes, or create a whole new delivery system for our students. It was a year that forced me to learn as much as the students I serve.