The Great Awakening
Who was I and who was I becoming before March of 2020?
I have been a leader and entrepreneur in information technology since 1997 and in higher education since 2011. This is who I was before March of 2020. In January of 2020, I was working as a Professor and a Sr. Systems Engineer. I have been working multiple jobs since 9/11/2001. That date has significance to many people. I was laid off from my job because I had a college degree and my co-worker did not. I was told I would be able to find another job faster than he could. From that day forth, I decided to work more than one job at a time for fear of a loss of income. I also started a managed security services company (https://theonyxitgroup.com). The purpose of the company is to ensure a certain income and provide my clients with the cybersecurity resources required to protect their resources. Who I was and who I am are the same person.
Who have I become during the pandemic?
I have always been somewhat of an introvert. The pandemic allowed the introvert in me to flourish. I was able to work from home and at a pace that worked for me. I was able to focus without hearing side conversations around my desk. I was able to stay in the house for days at a time. I have become a super introvert. I can complete more work from home than I can in the office. At home, I work until all tasks for the day are complete. In the office, I would take multiple breaks to clear my head. If work was not completed within 15 minutes of quitting time, I started packing up and would complete it the next day. I think the pandemic has allowed me to become a better employee and live a stress-free work life.
Who do I want to become now that the world is open again?
My goal is to complete my doctorate and focus on conducting research on things that need to be discussed. For example, a philosophy doctorate should not outrank a practitioner doctorate in information technology. Undergrad students should be learning the skills required to gain a career versus learning how to do a job in theory. I have noticed when students reach my courses in their senior year they are lacking the practical skills to do most information technology tasks. In fact, there are gaps in the theories they have learned as well. This is something I strongly believe needs to be addressed. Another concern of mine is salaries in higher education for information technology and cybersecurity professors. A practitioner in cybersecurity can earn upwards of 3 times the salary of a practitioner professor. Both have the same skillset. The only way for a cybersecurity professor to earn the same as a practitioner in the field is to consult on the side. For someone like me who has been working multiple jobs simultaneously for over 20 years, this is fine. Unfortunately, it can be overwhelming for others. Who do I want to become? I want to become a change agent for professors with practitioner degrees. We deserve more respect.
