Jennifer Polk
Coach & Entrepreneur | From PhD to Life
Toronto, ON, CANADA
Life and Career Coaching for Graduate Students and PhDs / Professional Development for Nonfaculty Careers / Online Community Builder
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Biography
Jennifer Polk, PhD, is an entrepreneur, career coach, and expert on PhD careers. Since 2013, she’s worked 1-on-1 and in groups with graduate students and doctoral degree holders based in Canada, the United States, the UK, Australia, and elsewhere.
Jen has spoken on university campuses and at academic and professional conferences throughout North America on issues related to graduate education and career outcomes for PhDs. Most recently, she was a keynote speaker at the University of California, Berkeley’s Beyond Academia conference, in late February 2020. Jen regularly facilitates professional development workshops (now online) and delivers presentations for graduate students and postdocs.
Her writing has appeared in University Affairs, Inside Higher Ed, the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Globe and Mail, and Academic Matters. Her University Affairs blog (2013–), “From PhD to Life,” won three gold awards at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards. She’s also contributed essays to three books: Moving On: Essays on the Aftermath of Leaving Academia (2014), Reflections on Academic Lives: Identities, Struggles, and Triumphs in Graduate School and Beyond (2017), and the forthcoming How to Get Your PhD.
Jen was co-founder of Beyond the Professoriate from the company’s founding until her departure in January 2020. Between 2014 and 2019 she co-produced and -hosted several online conferences attended by hundreds of graduate students, PhDs, and career education professionals. For several years she ran Self-Employed PhD, an online network of freelancers, independent consultants, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. She hosted #withaPhD chat, a twice-monthly Twitter discussion, for three years.
Jen is actively engaged in online conversations about careers for PhDs, especially on Twitter. Follow her there @FromPhDtoLife, or interact with her on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Jen earned her PhD in history from the University of Toronto in 2012, and an MA and BA from Carleton University.
Industry Expertise (2)
Professional Training and Coaching
Writing and Editing
Areas of Expertise (12)
Phd Careers
Graduate Education
Career Transition
Self-Employment
Life Coaching
Professional Development
Career Coaching
Academic Coaching
Entrepreneurship
Coaching & Training
Online Community-Building
Social Media for Academics
Accomplishments (3)
Best Blog or Column (professional)
2017-11-14
Gold winner in the Business B2B category for my University Affairs blog, From PhD to Life
Best Blog or Column (professional)
2016-11-07
Gold winner in the B2B/Academic category for my University Affairs blog, From PhD to Life
Best Blog or Column (professional)
2015-11-19
Gold winner in the B2B category for my University Affairs blog, From PhD to Life
Education (3)
University of Toronto: PhD, History 2012
Carleton University: MA, History 2004
Carleton University: BA, European and Russian Studies 2002
Highest Honours; Minor in Russian language
Links (1)
Languages (1)
- English
Media Appearances (5)
Hope for PhDs who want to leave the profession
History News Network online
2017-01-07
Video interview with Rick Shenkman. Recorded at the American Historical Association Annual Meeting in Denver, CO
Finding your dream psychology career
Monitor on Psychology online
2017-02-01
Interviewed/mentioned by Laura Zimmerman in her article for the American Psychological Association's Monitor on Psychology. Print edition Feb 2017, vol. 48, no. 2, p. 54.
Interview with Dan Otter and Scott Dauenhauser
Teach and Retire Rich podcast online
2016-10-13
Ep. 37: From PhD to Life
Help for Academics Thinking Beyond the Professoriate
Camels with Hammers blog online
2016-05-04
Interview with Daniel Fincke.
Laying the groundwork for multiple career paths before you graduate
ScholarStudio online
2016-01-13
Video interview with Daveena Tauber.
Articles (8)
Yes, PhD grad, there is life outside the Ivory Tower
The Globe & Mail2013-11-20
Commissioned op-ed.
From PhD to Life: My Post-Ac Transition So Far
Moving On: Essays on the Aftermath of Leaving Academia2014-01-01
Chapter in an ebook.
A Ph.D.’s Path to Entrepreneurship
Chronicle Vitae2014-02-12
First essay in a 3-part series for the Chronicle of Higher Education's new Vitae website.
My Patchwork Post-Academic Community
Chronicle Vitae2014-06-08
Second essay in 3-part series.
From History Ph.D. to Life Coach?
Chronicle Vitae2014-09-09
Third essay in 3-part series.
What career coaches can do for PhD holders
University Affairs2015-04-07
May 2015 print edition, p. 52.
PhD and then what? Life beyond the professoriate
It's Not Academic (Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario)2015-04-14
Contribution to HEQCO's blog.
Social