Interview with Mark W. Summers, March 3, 1992

Partial Transcript: Okay. Now this question--first question's very unnecessary, but I have to ask it. What's your name?

Segment Synopsis: Summers introduces himself and talks about when and where he was born. He briefly describes his early life and childhood, talking about how he has always had an interest in history. Summers talks about his major and minors at the various universities he has attended and he mentions his degrees. He describes his involvement in high school and how he always made room for history. Summers talks about how he always knew he was going into a history field. He says that his parents had no influence on his decision because he had to choose on his own. Summers adds that he went to school far away from home and rarely returned to visit. In college, Summers states that he chose to take the teaching route with his history major. He mentions that he worked in the library on weekends because it was easier to get his work done since it was quiet and not busy.

Keywords: Awards; Buffalo (N.Y.); Business schools; California; Careers; Civil service; Doctoral education; Dr. Mark Summers; Dr. Mark W. Summers; Graduate education; Graduate schools; Historians; History departments; Law schools; Libraries; Library; Opportunities; Political cartoons; Professors; Undergraduate education; University of California, Berkeley; University of Kentucky; Yale University

Subjects: Business schools.; College environment; College teachers--Social conditions; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; History teachers; History.; Law schools.; Philosophy.; Summers, Mark W. (Mark Wahlgren), 1951-; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Berkeley—History; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Faculty

Partial Transcript: Where were you employed elsewhere before coming to the University of Kentucky?

Segment Synopsis: Summers describes his first job as a teacher's assistant and the various universities he worked at before his current job at the University of Kentucky. He enjoys teaching and does not feel he will ever lose interest. He believes other professors will go on and do different things with their history majors. Summers talks about his day-to-day responsibilities. He explains that he has very long monotonous days. Summers adds that he does a lot of advising and committee work for the department and the university. Summers mentions that he loves to teach big lectures, much like his father.

Keywords: Advising; Advisors; Committees; Dr. Mark Summers; Dr. Mark W. Summers; Faculty advisors; Financials; Hearings; History departments; Job offers; Job titles; Lectures; Lecturing; Loyola Marymount University; Student advising; Teaching assistants; Temporary employment; Undergraduate directors; University of Georgia; University senates

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Faculty advisors.; History teachers; History.; Lecture method in teaching.; Legislative hearings.; Loyola Marymount University; Objective tests; Paper money; Peer review committees; Summers, Mark W. (Mark Wahlgren), 1951-; Temporary employment.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Georgia; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Faculty

Partial Transcript: What important abilities or skills are required in your line of work? I know being articulate--

Segment Synopsis: Summers describes the necessary skills and abilities that professors must possess before they begin teaching classes. He believes that the most important qualities a professor should possess are a love of teaching and the ability to convince your students of your love of teaching. The interviewer, Webb, shares her personal experiences with professors and TAs. Summers describes his likes and his dislikes. He states that he is very impatient so he does not enjoy committee work, but he loves teaching. Summers says that he works from home just as much as he works at the school since he feels like he has no privacy to work at school. Summers talks about lecturing and how it enables him to study whatever he wants. Summers discusses how most students don’t understand the hard work of being a professor or the fact that it doesn't pay much.

Keywords: Abilities; Administrative work; Articulateness; Balance; Committee work; Delivery styles; Dr. Mark Summers; Dr. Mark W. Summers; History departments; Impatience; In-classroom work; Job requirements; Libraries; Offices; Organization; Organizing; Persuasion; Political cartoons; Privacy; Resourcefulness; Skills; Story telling; Storytellers; Teaching; Teaching styles; Versatility; Volunteer work; Volunteering; Work from home

Subjects: Classroom environment.; Classroom management.; College administrators; College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Salaries, etc.; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; History teachers; History.; Political cartoons.; Rhetoric & Society; Storytelling.; Summers, Mark W. (Mark Wahlgren), 1951-; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Faculty; Voluntarism.

Partial Transcript: What part of your work is most difficult?

Segment Synopsis: Summers describes his daily hardships while on the job. He also describes the traveling that he has done to do research. Summers talks about his life at home and with his students, as well as the achievements that he thinks he has accomplished in his line of work. He believes that the university should make changes to classrooms and help with research funding, particularly with assisting in the acquirement of grants.

Keywords: Colleagues; Committees; Daily Work; Definition of Work; Dr. Mark Summers; Dr. Mark W. Summers; Elevators; Grants; History departments; Intellectual Stimulation; Lecturing; Life Abroad; Parking; Policy changes; Research; Stairs; Traveling

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; History teachers; History.; Policy commentary; Summers, Mark W. (Mark Wahlgren), 1951-; Travel.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Research; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Faculty

Partial Transcript: Do you think gender influences academic career possibilities here at UK?

Segment Synopsis: Summers doesn't think that there are gender inequalities in the history field, but thinks that there are some nationalities that are treated unequally in the field. He also believes that inequalities differ across different fields. Summers discusses how budget cuts hurt people's chances of getting jobs. Summers believes that there are, at the time of the interview, more racial tensions in Kentucky than there were in Berkeley when he was in school as a student. He thinks that there needs to be more funding towards the library and that the university needs to do a better job at replacing teachers. Summers mentions that the cost of living in Kentucky is much less than it is in California and that this is what causes salaries and prices to be low in the state.

Keywords: Asian populations; Assets; Black populations; Budget cuts; Costs of living; Dr. Mark Summers; Dr. Mark W. Summers; Earning money; Ethnic inequality; Financial cuts; Gender differences; Gender inequalities; History; History departments; History narratives; History perspectives; Library resources; Medical benefits; Race; Racial inequality; Replacement of professors; Replacements; Salaries; Social inequality; Tuition

Subjects: African Americans--Social conditions; College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Salaries, etc.; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers.; College teaching.; Cost and standard of living.; Discrimination in employment; Discrimination in higher education; Discrimination.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Gender issues; History teachers; History.; Inequality in society; Minorities in higher education; Race and American culture; Race discrimination; Race.; Racism.; Sex discrimination in higher education.; Sexism in higher education; Summers, Mark W. (Mark Wahlgren), 1951-; Tuition; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Faculty

Partial Transcript: Is this your first position in the academic field?

Segment Synopsis: Webb asks Summers a series of questions that result in quick and concise answers. Summers and Webb discuss a wide array of subjects over a short period of time, including career promotions, architecture, influences on Summers' career, and the positive and negative aspects Summers' job.

Keywords: Architecture; Consulting; Dr. Mark Summers; Dr. Mark W. Summers; History departments; Influences on career; Job frustrations; Job rewards; Meeting with students; Promotions; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Career insights; College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Salaries, etc.; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers.; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; History teachers; History.; Promotions.; Summers, Mark W. (Mark Wahlgren), 1951-; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Faculty