Today, I am introducing a new regular feature on Higher Ed Career Coach. The “Who-Do Review” will profile people, websites and resources that are changing the way higher education works. This new feature grew from my series “How to Tell a Who-Do from a Guru,” which explores the differences between those we think of (or who call themselves) “gurus” versus those who are out there, doing the things they are passionate about, and trying to change the world.
Jeff Jackson and his regular contributors over at BreakDrink (Gary Ballinger, Julie Larsen, and Adrianne Dahms, among others) epitomize the groundbreaking spirit of the Who-Do, and so I’m glad to feature them in my first “Who-Do” Review. I’ll take nominations from here on out and try to feature one “Who-Do” each month. At the end of each year, we’ll choose a “Who-Do” of the Year.
Yes, I am making this up as I go along. But it’s a great idea, and I’d like readers to help me find future nominees, choose people and efforts to feature, and create a process for choosing the “Who-Do” of the Year.
But before we get started with that, there is a way you can help recognize the good work people over at BreakDrink are doing. They are conducting a fundraising campaign on IndieGoGo to support their efforts to offer future conferences and to produce podcasts on various topics of interest to higher ed professionals.
Please visit their campaign by clicking on the widget below, and make a donation. Then, come back here, comment on why you supported the campaign, and give me some suggestions for future people to feature, and any ideas you have about how to create a process for choosing the “Who-Do” of the Year.
In our era of budget cuts, travel freezes and furloughs, it’s challenging to innovate, create new programs, keep our departments adequately staffed, and offer professional development funding opportunities, like conferences and training. Innovation is key to survival, not only in individual careers, but in our field as a whole. On this Friday’s edition of the Higher Ed Career Coach Show, I’ll be talking with Jeff Jackson and others about BreakDrink.Com. We’ll talk about BreakDrink’s upcoming conferences, their expanding lineup of podcasts, and their IndieGoGo Fundraising Campaign. We’ll also be taking calls on this topic, BreakDrink, and suggestions for future people and programs to profile as a part of the “Who-Do” Review series.
BreakDrink says
Wow! Thanks for the shout out and your contributions Sean! I can't tell you how much it means! Thanks so much!
Sean Cook says
You're welcome. I will send you a certificate (suitable for framing) soon, so you can display your made-up award. I might even make you a website badge if you want one.We're still on for tomorrow at 11 am EST, I hope? If not, let me know as soon as you can. I'd send you directions but you know how to get into BTR, so you can call in around 11am EST via phone or Skype. Bring friends if you like. We'll banter, and then hopefully take calls and egg people into giving you more money.Let's break this down NPR Pledge-Break Style, yo. I'll try to be a mellifluous as I can possibly stand.