Queering the Academy
Group Coaching

Participant Requirements

You must be an advanced doctoral student (either approaching or in dissertation mode or engaged in some type of independent research project) and/or early career scholar studying some aspect of higher education.

You must identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

You must be committed to working on a writing or thought project regularly throughout summer 2023.

You are open to working with peers in small and large group cohort sessions and eager to build community and support one another.

You must be willing to also have fun and be bold! We are going to do great work together this summer.

Learn More About Our Program

 

  • Participants will receive four individual coaching sessions throughout the summer (between May and September). We’ll start with one 90-minute Discovery Session followed by three 60-minute sessions. Optimally, you’ll be asked to schedule these sessions to be once a month, but ultimately, it’s your choice about when to use them. You’ll be coached by Dr. Dan Tillapaugh, associate professor and chair of counselor education at California Lutheran University and leadership/heartwork coach with Coeurwork Coaching.

  • You’re strongly encouraged to join Dan and your cohort peers for a few group coaching sessions throughout the summer. Some respected queer and trans higher ed senior scholars may also join us at times to offer insights and wisdom. All group sessions will be held via Zoom on Mondays at 9 a.m. Pacific/12 noon Eastern. Everyone is strongly encouraged to attend our opening and closing sessions, scheduled on Monday, May 22 and Monday, August 14. These opening and closing sessions will be 90 minutes long.

    Additionally, we will have some targeted sessions that are open to everyone, but these will be framed for your particular vantage point. These sessions will be 60 minutes long. Attendance is not required, but strongly recommended. All sessions are recorded and made available to participants for watching at a later time.

    Doctoral students/candidates are encouraged to join sessions on Monday, June 12 & Monday, August 7.

    Those already in faculty positions in higher education are encouraged to join sessions on Monday, June 5 & Monday, July 10.

  • We understand that every person has specific needs as it relates to their work doing writing. After you register for the program, you’ll be asked to complete a short survey to help us make some decisions about what works best for you in placing you in a writing group.

    Throughout the summer, you’ll be expected to meet regularly (usually weekly) on Zoom to work on some aspect of your writing/thought project.

    Some folks find that they just need accountability of being on a screen with others and working independently. Others may need a space to process, gather insights, and talk through their projects. Some might need a blend of both. We’ll find out what might be your preference and try to assign you accordingly.

    It is an expectation though that you will do peer review for your writing pod colleagues around the halfway point of the summer program. Dan believes that feedback = love, so we all have a responsibility in sharing our collective love through providing insights and feedback on our projects.

    Additionally, Dan will be hosting some open writing times via Zoom (at least once a month). These sessions are purely optional, but they may be an additional chance outside of your regularly scheduled pod to connect, engage with others, and spend focused time working on your projects.

  • For those interested and very much optional, you will be able to share your summer project draft (up to 25 pages) with Dan at the end of August and receive feedback from him on your work within one month after the close of our coaching program by the end of September.

 

Program Costs

To participate in Queering the Academy, there is a $325 program fee. Participants can choose to pay the program fee in one lump sum when registering or choose the payment plan option (you’ll be asked to pay a $25 deposit fee when registering, and then you’ll be billed $100 at the start of May, June, and July).

A limited number of scholarships (full and partial at 50% coverage) are available to those participants with financial need. Please contact Dan directly at coeurwork.coaching@gmail.com with inquiries regarding scholarships, if applicable.

Ready to commit?

Please click the button below which will take you to a pre-registration page. Once accepted into the program, you will be contacted and provided with instructions on how to register officially.

Registration has closed for Summer 2023.

Program Testimonials

  • “Queering the Academy exceeded my expectations. I signed up to get feedback on my writing and walked away with space to explore my queer scholar identity. Something that I didn't know I needed to do. Highly recommend!

  • “As a queer scholar, the coaching I received from Dan during QTA was invaluable. Dan is a caring, empathic, experienced coach-scholar. He connected with me in deep, meaningful ways that helped renew me and provided me clarity and focus. I'm so grateful I had this chance and hope to have future opportunities for coaching.”

    -Michael

  • “Queering the Academy was such an empowering experience. Dan’s ability to strike at the heart of an issue with a single question made the coaching sessions incredibly valuable. Between those sessions and the insights from senior scholars in our group meetings, I was able to bring where I expend my energies in alignment with the things I value most. My writing productivity skyrocketed this summer, but even more important, learning to trust myself as a critical scholar has been truly transformative.”

    -CJ Venable

  • “The Queering the Academy program provided one of the most authentic and honest spaces I have ever been able to experience with other queer academic. Dan is an amazing coach and facilitator and has designed a superb program. As a final year doctoral student, my QtA cohort was just what I needed to reframe many of my worries, to be held accountable, and to find mentors as I transition into my next steps. I see many lifelong friendships and academic partnerships coming out of my time in the QtA program.”

    -Jeffry Neuhouser

  • "Dan is a fantastic coach and really helped me think differently about some of the things that I was found were getting in the way of my work (mainly, myself). The writing pods are a great way to help combat isolation and build community as a doctoral student and the discussion sessions with other queer and trans scholars in the field were an added bonus. I would sign up again in a heartbeat!"

  • "Dan is like having a therapist for your writing and career. He comes from a place of love and support and genuinely wants everyone to do the work they are most passionate about."