“Academic doula” provides faculty parents with support transitioning back to work: Opinion

In a recent Chronicle of Higher Ed article, Megan Zahneis discusses the support work that Diane Wolf (University of California at Davis) does as an “Academic Doula” for faculty parents. Wolf runs a program that helps parent faculty members transition back to work once their formal leave ends. Wolf helps faculty members through the various challenges they are facing, suggests solutions and plots out logistics with them, and provides a validating third-party perspective. She also works with leadership to revise family-leave policies, get administrators involved where appropriate, and provide departmental leaders with suggestions for how they can be more understanding and compassionate with faculty parents.