Interview with Ernest J. "Ernie" Yanarella, April 15, 1992

Partial Transcript: Okay, this is April the first.

Segment Synopsis: Yanarella discusses how he began working at the University of Kentucky and how he began teaching a record six different courses at the time.

Keywords: Background information; Careers; Confidence; Courses; Interactions; Job descriptions; Job titles; Jobs; Life before UK; Non-academic work; Occupations; Providers; Records; Teaching history

Subjects: College choice; College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Selection and appointment.; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, let's see. Can you see yourself working--or can you see yourself seeking non-academic employment in the future and what would precipitate such a decision?

Segment Synopsis: Yanarella talks about whether he has thought about working at a research facility. He says he prefers to be in the classroom getting firsthand observations on students. Yanarella gives his opinion on what he believes are the downsides of colleges and universities during that era. The idea that school systems prevent certain students from receiving an education is discussed.

Keywords: College histories; Consideration; Creative work; Disadvantages; Political aspects of education; Political theorists; Prevention; Research institutes; School systems

Subjects: College environment; College students--Social conditions; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Research; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, but to, to get back to your, your direct question...

Segment Synopsis: Yanarella talks about the opinions students have and how he tries to determine why they feel the way they do. He observes political frustration among his young adult students. He sees how they react to certain government decisions. He talks about characteristics that help him with his job, including “being a people person.” He takes pride in hearing all political points of view from students and is interested in how they shift over time. He talks about the importance of being true to yourself despite the outside world.

Keywords: Academic frustration; Analyzation; Characteristics; College involvement; Creativity; Detail; Frustration among government; Inputs; Observation; Persuasion; Political frustration; Resentment; Student politician involvement; “Behind the scenes”

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, do you have any further comments about your career history?

Segment Synopsis: Yanarella talks about his own experience making career choices as a student and how he is satisfied with his career path. He talks about his students making important career choices. He gives an example of one of his successful students who is not happy with his direction in life.

Keywords: 20 year paths; Seeing students make the wrong choice; Success; Unhappy; Wrong decisions

Subjects: College environment; College students.; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers.; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, okay. Well, the next section is titled 'work.'

Segment Synopsis: Yanarella describes his typical day at work. He talks about his daily schedule of working at the University of Kentucky. He talks about how he uses time outside of work to get work done. He gives some examples of how he uses his time as wisely as possible.

Keywords: Advising hours; Advisors; Busy; Jobs; Long work days; Sacrifices; Sequences; Skipping lunch; Teaching classes; Variety; Waking up early; Work

Subjects: College environment; College students.; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, what important abilities and skills are required in your line of work?

Segment Synopsis: Yanarella talks about the skills he needs in his work at the university.

Keywords: Creative person; Key qualities; People person; Well-spoken; Well-written; “Idea person”

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Uh, another quality I think that is, is, uh, of immense value for an academician, and is something that, uh, tends to be, um, poorly developed...

Segment Synopsis: Yanarella talks about how he structures his presentations based on who the audience is. Every incoming class of students have different points of view, and he analyzes and reacts accordingly. Yanarella gives an example of giving a presentation to those who are in a retirement home.

Keywords: Basing your lecture on your audience; Fairytales; Knowing how to pitch your lecture; Retirement homes; Rough alignment between audience and vocabulary choice; Translation of concepts; Vernacular

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, let's see. That was part of, um, the variety question, I believe.

Segment Synopsis: Yanarella talks about the importance of proper time management for a college professor.

Keywords: Balancing; Community; Family; Managing time; Scheduling; Work

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Families.; Teachers--Kentucky; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, what part of your work do you like best?

Segment Synopsis: Yanarella talks about what in his line of work he enjoys the most. He likes getting into students’ minds and getting them to think deeply about why they believe what they do.

Keywords: Debate of ideas; Expressing new ideas; Personal “wrestling of ideas”; Student engagement; Working with people with different ideas

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, well the counter to that question of 'what do you like the most' is, what part of your work do you dislike the most?

Segment Synopsis: Yanarella talks about what in his line of work he enjoys the least.

Keywords: College society; Long meetings; Politics in college

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Political activity; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, n--another question about work.

Segment Synopsis: Yanarella talks about where he completes the most work. He talks about the distractions of both working at home and working in the office.

Keywords: 75-80% at work; Better concentration at home; Doesn’t need to juggle as much at home; Hard thinking; Reading

Subjects: College environment; College teachers' spouses; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Do you have sufficient privacy at home, uh, to work?

Segment Synopsis: Yanarella talks about his work schedule and balancing family life.

Keywords: Balancing schedules; Children; Different schedules; Distractions; Family schedules; Kids; Wife; Work at home

Subjects: College environment; College teachers' spouses; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, do you apply your work skills outside your job?

Segment Synopsis: Yanarella talks about privacy in his home and the application of his work skills outside of work. He talks about volunteer work and why he feels its important. It gives an inside look or a head start on that career field. He tells of his frequent blood donations that he does in order to help those in need of white blood cells.

Keywords: Bloodwork; Co-chair; Community service; Head chair; Important; Involvement; Organizations; Politics; Proud; Therapy; Values

Subjects: College environment; College teachers' spouses; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Social conditions; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky