Episode 16. Education-Focused Careers in the United States: The Professor of Practice Pathway with Dr Zach Thompson

In this episode, we are joined by Dr Zach Thompson from the University of Tennessee, USA, to explore the education-focused academic pathway in the United States and the growing role of the Professor of Practice career route.Zach shares his unconventional journey from the charity sector and entrepreneurship into academia, reflecting on how industry experience can enrich teaching, curriculum design and student employability. We discuss the different promotion pathways available in US universities, how teaching excellence is recognised, and why industry engagement is increasingly valued alongside educational leadership.A central theme of the episode is preparing students for an AI-enabled workplace. Zach discusses authentic assessment, integrating generative AI into teaching through a university AI fellowship, and why educators should move beyond simply policing AI use towards helping students develop AI literacy and professional judgement. The conversation also explores work-life balance, mentoring, podcasts as educational outreach, and finding meaningful impact through an education-focused career.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.