Helping you communicate
your strengths and vision
Christopher L. Caterine
Chris develops clear, concise, and compelling messages so individuals and organizations can present their strengths and vision more effectively. His book, Leaving Academia: A Practical Guide, was released in 2020 by Princeton University Press.
Education and work led Chris from his birthplace in New England to the river-bend of New Orleans. He currently lives there with his wife Mallory, their son Caleb, and their cat Li’l Easy.
Select experience
- Career coach for professionals leaving academia
- Proposal writer for a global consulting firm, specializing in strategic opportunities
- Board director for the Nyansa Classical Community, an educational non-profit
- Visiting Assistant Professor of Classical Studies at Tulane University
- Chair of the Contingent Faculty Committee for the Society for Classical Studies
- Alumni admissions interviewer for Georgetown University
In print
Leaving Academia:
A Practical Guide
“An indispensable guide for grad students and academics who want to find fulfilling careers outside higher education”
Princeton University Press (2020)
‘Leaving Academia’
Inside Higher Ed
Author discusses his book on how to leave an academic career. He provides advice based on his own experience.
A virtual guide to Leaving Academia
Princeton University Press Ideas
Guidance on changing careers during COVID-19, serving in part as a “pandemic preface” to Leaving Academia
Seeking an ‘exit plan‘
Nature Career Feature
Quoted in an article on how science PhDs can adapt their career plans amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Mass Exodus
Inside Higher Education
Point of view on how the COVID-19 crisis stands to drive more PhDs from academia than any event in living memory, and where they can go for help
Identity Crisis
Beyond the Professoriate Blog
Discussion of how your core desires won’t change just because you’re leaving academia for a new career.
Si credere velis
Arethusa
Article on Lucan’s Cato and the reader of the Bellum Civile. My only regret is starting with the word “Despite.”
Services
Speaking
Bring the possibilities of what your students can do with their PhD to life. I’m available to speak about leaving academia in dedicated talks, for networking round tables, and on conference panels.
Coaching
Accelerate your path to a new career with personalized advice and check-ins for added accountability. Billing is hourly, with discounts when you commit to five or more sessions.
Workshops
Cement learning from short courses with practical exercises. Available to facilitate sessions on networking, translating CVs to résumés, building supportive departments, and teaching transferable skills in graduate seminars.
Leaving academia is hard, all the more so with a humanities degree… Chris has forged a a great deal of wisdom negotiating this transition and I was fortunate that he shared it with me… His insights into how to approach informational interviews and how to evaluate an opportunity were also tremendously valuable. I definitely recommend that any academic considering an alternative career get in touch with Chris!
Goda Thangada
Past engagements
Chris has spoken in a number of public forums to advocate for academics pursuing more diverse career outcomes. Select engagements include:
- Skills workshop, Society for Classical Studies. Introduction to translating skills for nonacademic audiences.
- Author interview, Johns Hopkins PHutures. A live Q&A with student Rachel Waxman.
- Author interview, #ChangeHireEd. A live Q&A with founder Eric Stephens.
- Review and author interview, The Thesis Whisperer. An early review of Leaving Academia, including a 30-minute embedded audio interview with Inger Mewburn.
- Speaker, Princeton GradFUTURES Virtual Meetup. Q&A session where my wife, Mallory, and I discussed our journey to fulfilling careers off the tenure track.
- Speaker, Beyond the Professoriate Online Career Conference. Panel on exploring work outside the academy.
- Facilitator, Supporting diverse career outcomes. Workshop for the chairs of graduate programs at the Society for Classical Studies annual meeting.
- Featured Professional, PhD Matters Speed Networking. Rotating sessions for graduate students and early career academics to network with professionals in other industries.
Chris mentored and advised me regarding career development as I was transitioning from graduate school to an “alt-ac” career. His advice was always practical, detailed, and thoughtful, and I gained much from our conversations. He was able to provide encouragement, leads on specific companies to look into, as well as ideas on how to develop my “brand” and make my experiences relevant to employers. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for advice and support in pursuing a new career.
Elina Salminen
Connect
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