When the Institution Closes: Navigating Job Loss and Identity in Higher Education

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Author(s): John F. Dion (Russell Sage College, USA)
Copyright: 2026
Pages: 26
Source title: Narratives of Upheaval in Higher Education
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Denise Simard (The State University of New York at Plattsburgh, USA)and Janet Acker (The State University of New York at Plattsburgh, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3373-2063-2.ch004

Keywords: Educational Leadership & Administration / Higher Education / Information Science Reference / Knowledge Management and Library Science

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Abstract

This chapter examines the loss of identity felt by faculty whose positions are eliminated due to program prioritization or college closure. Using personal narrative as a reflective framework, the author explores the emotional and psychological effects of this loss, drawing on academic theory from sociology, psychology, and management. These theories offer insight into the deep connection faculty have with their profession, helping explain why the involuntary separation from an academic position can be traumatic. They also shed light on the emotional states that faculty members might experience during this time. Understanding the process of loss may help affected professors navigate the transition to a new identity more effectively.

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When the Institution Closes: Navigating Job Loss and Identity in Higher Education

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