Information Interview

For this project, I interviewed Dr. Kerry M. Hull, a professor of religion at BYU. This interview took place March 19, 2015. I have for some time been curious about the possibility of becoming a post-secondary teacher. The reason why I would choose this over elementary or secondary education is because I believe it would be more rewarding to me, personally, as I would continue researching and writing about something of great fascination to me. I asked Professor Hull to do the interview because I am particularly interested in foreign languages, religion and history, which seem to all be included to some extent in the religion class I am currently taking.

Background:
Dr. Hull told me that he began with a double major in French and Spanish and many minors in other foreign languages. He got his masters in applied linguistics, but switched his focus to linguistic anthropology for his Ph.D.

Work Environment:
Dr. Hull spends 8-10 hours a day in his office or classroom. Half of his day is spent writing and researching. He noted that the religion department is different because of the high demand for religion classes. So, whereas most professors teach around two classes, religion professors teach four to five. He also spends time correcting assignments and working with students. Hull stated that interacting with students via the internet consumes a surprising amount of time.

Problems:
One of the largest problems Hull noted was acclimating his lessons to the diverse students he teaches. He spends a great deal of effort learning about the students he teaches and adapting the classes accordingly. Apparently, he teaches the same material very differently to each of his classes. He also strives to relate to individual students to the best of his ability. Another challenge he described was staying current about both secular and religious academic developments.

Lifestyle:
When asked about how his work affects his lifestyle, Hull stated that there is a good deal of flexibility. Religion professors in particular are required to wear church attire, but aside from that there are few major restraints. He enjoys a degree of autonomy due to the nature of the job, which demands only that he work when students are in class. Because of this, vacation opportunities are great because he gets summers off.

Rewards:
Hull listed two passions that his job allows him to enjoy: researching/writing with the intent to publish, and teaching. He enjoys watching students progress and teaching something that will make a meaningful difference in their lives.

Salary:
At a university, Hull claims that a teacher could start out as low as $30,000 a year. On average, however, it is closer to $40,000. While the salary does increase over time, Hull states that this isn't something that one does because of money.

Potential:
When asked about his long term goals, Hull said that his goals are related to research and teaching. He does field work in Central America and makes goals about what he is going to produce (books, articles, etc) that would be useful in his field. He is also preparing to teach a New Testament class by researching and becoming sufficiently acquainted with the necessary context.

Skills:
The main skill Hull claimed was necessary in this field was diligence. Simply acquiring a Ph.D requires considerable diligence. He also said the field is very mentally engaging, and one should be prepared to exert a high amount of mental energy for the rest of their life.

Promotion:
According to Hull, the lack of jobs in this field means there is not a lot of turnover. Turnover follows a top-down pattern, with the university deciding that they no longer want someone. Positions are opened either because of this or due to retirement. The university assesses professors based on their research agenda, teaching, and citizenship (committee assignments, interaction with public, being active in the community). If one does well with these three things they will be promoted.

Industry:
Hull predicted that the industry will experience some unfortunate developments. There will be fewer full-time faculty, more emphasis on teaching and less on researching, and more graduate students teaching lower-level classes. He advised that if one wants to get a job in this field then they should quickly work towards a specialization. It is also important to be active in the scholarly community and make connections.

Demand:
While universities are the main employers of professors like Dr. Hull, he said that his skills could translate well into other areas of the workforce. With Hull's particular skills set, he could work for international businesses that need language or cultural sensitivity training done.

Job Market:
Hull said that there are several major networks that list jobs in anthropology.

Practical Experience:
According to Hull, practical experience is crucial to those with the ambition to become a post-secondary teacher. Field work, excavations, and learning languages on-site in other countries would be important if I went into Ancient Near Eastern Studies.