After getting not one, but TWO, emails in the last 48 hours addressed to Ms. Clare Brock, I decided it might be time for a new blog post. This time answering the question: how should you address your professor? The short answer is that it is always acceptable to say "professor last-name." The long answer is that if they have a PhD, then they can be addressed as "Dr. last-name" or as "Professor last-name," but if they do not have a PhD then "Professor last-name" is still appropriate. You should not, however, address your professor as "Mrs. / Ms. /Miss" or "Mr."
Who cares? Why does it matter? The answer has everything to do with respect. First, your professor worked very hard for their degree, and in doing so, built up a wealth of expertise. Addressing your professor by their appropriate title shows acknowledgement of that effort and expertise. Second, for women, people of color, queer or LBGTQIA folks, and other marginalized people in the academy, their fight has often been an uphill battle in institutions that are not built for them or for people like them. These faculty members often face discrimination and bias that follows them throughout their careers and works against their promotion and tenure (see literature on bias in student evals, for instance, here). Referring to these faculty members appropriately acknowledges their place in the academy and their hard-won position of (again) expertise. And if you're not sure about your professors degree, then "professor last-name," is always a good choice.
Who cares? Why does it matter? The answer has everything to do with respect. First, your professor worked very hard for their degree, and in doing so, built up a wealth of expertise. Addressing your professor by their appropriate title shows acknowledgement of that effort and expertise. Second, for women, people of color, queer or LBGTQIA folks, and other marginalized people in the academy, their fight has often been an uphill battle in institutions that are not built for them or for people like them. These faculty members often face discrimination and bias that follows them throughout their careers and works against their promotion and tenure (see literature on bias in student evals, for instance, here). Referring to these faculty members appropriately acknowledges their place in the academy and their hard-won position of (again) expertise. And if you're not sure about your professors degree, then "professor last-name," is always a good choice.
RSS Feed
