Episode 1. Who is an education-focused academic and why this career path matters.

Welcome to the first episode of The Education-Focused Academic podcast!Hosts Dr Rushana Khusainova and Professor Sally Everett open the series by exploring what it means to be an education-focused academic and why this career path deserves more visibility in higher education.In this conversation, we discuss:what “education-focused academic” means in practicewhy this role is timely and important across the sectorthe story behind our book How to Become an Education-Focused Professor, out in spring 2026Sally’s and Rushana’s own career journeyswhat this podcast will cover in future episodesWe also introduce upcoming conversations with contributors from the book, How to Become an Education-Focused Professor, who will share real experiences and insights from different universities and career stages.Thanks for joining us for Episode 1 — let’s keep the conversation going!Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of their universities or employers. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or career advice. Participation by guests is voluntary and by invitation, and their contributions are shared with permission. All book-related content is © the respective publisher and used with permission. This podcast is an independent project and is not an official production of any university.