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Workshops » Teaching and Learning Development Workshop Series 2009/10

The Impostor Phenomenon for Teaching Assistants

Diane Zorn (Schulich)

  • Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2009
  • Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m
  • Location: 1014 TEL
Practicum Category: General

The Impostor Phenomenon designates a well-documented and widespread fear (and accompanying behaviour) common among high-achieving people. Despite outstanding accomplishments and frequent praise, "Impostor" sufferers are plagued by the fear that they are not as capable or intelligent as others think they are, that they cannot keep repeating their successes, and that they will eventually be found out as frauds. This interactive and dynamic workshop begins by defining and explaining the Impostor Phenomenon. Using brainstorming and small-group work, it then explores how the phenomenon impacts faculty and graduate students' teaching, learning and professional development. The workshop finishes by exploring the ways in which the culture of higher education fosters the Impostor Phenomenon, including such cultural aspects as the structuring and political economy of academic work and in particular the valuing of product over process, scholarly isolation, aggressive competitiveness, lack of mentoring, and disciplinary nationalism.

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