If Not Now, When? Putting the “Me” in Research

Abstract: The article is my ASHE Presidential Address from 2013 – it has not been substantially revised or updated. It is a reflective piece on my journey in academia, with a particular focus on the role of personal identity in research. The piece begins by discussing my initial belief in the importance of maintaining objectivity in research by distancing personal identity from my work. This belief was rooted in the traditional academic notion that research should be “objective” and “distanced.” My position, however, evolved as I came to realize that my positionality was not objective but was instead problematic. This realization was not immediate but was the result of years of reading, studying, and being influenced by other scholars. In this piece I share an “aha moment” that greatly influenced my professional and personal life. This moment led to a significant shift in my approach to research, making privilege and awareness central to my work. The essay includes not only my perspectives on this matter, but also those of my colleagues in the field in the form of data as well as vignettes. The paper concludes by encouraging other academics to acknowledge their personal identities and experiences as fundamental parts of academic discourse – to engage in me-search. This perspective challenges traditional notions of objectivity and distance in research, suggesting a more inclusive and self-aware approach to academia.