Post by Sindia M. Rivera-Jiménez, Ph.D

Academic careers are often described through milestones: degrees, positions, publications, grants, awards. However, some of the most important and impactful parts of the journey are the people who help us feel grounded along the way. These pictures are with my adopted academic siblings, Sarah Wilson and Jerrod Henderson. All three of us transitioned into tenure-track roles after being teaching professors in chemical engineering, and our careers have evolved in ways we probably could not have imagined when we started. Coming back together at American Society for Engineering Education gives us a chance to reconnect, reset, and celebrate how far we and our students have come. My students know Sarah and Jerrod as their academic aunt and uncle, and our students are their academic cousins. It always makes me smile, but it also reflects something I deeply believe: academia becomes more sustainable when we build strong communities around us. Grateful for the people who make this work feel less lonely and much more joyful.