@jenvanalstyne.bsky.social
Online presence for academics | Website Design, Social Media, Bio Writing The Social Academic blog and podcast 🎙🎧 https://TheAcademicDesigner.com/ Peruvian-American poet ✨️ https://JenniferVanAlstyne.com
I've got cool guests lined up for you this season! I can't wait to share them with you for Season 8.
First up, a long-time friend returns to the show: Dr. Echo Rivera. Want to design slides that resonate and make an impact? She's my favorite resource for you theacademicdesigner.com/2026/researc...
Hi, I'm Jennifer van Alstyne. I started The Social Academic podcast and blog back in 2018 to help Higher Ed faculty, researchers, and graduate students be intentional in how they show up online.
It's nice to meet you! 👋
Past episodes are on YouTube and Spotify
theacademicdesigner.com/podcast/
The Social Academic Podcast is back this week with our 1st guest in a new series.
We're featuring winners of the 2025 Best Personal Academic Websites Contest to chat about their website and online presence. Spread out across season 8, I can't wait to share these conversations with you #AcademicSky
An old friend returns to the show in the season 8 opener of The Social Academic podcast.
Meet Dr. Echo Rivera @echoechor.bsky.social
Her free YouTube tutorials for PowerPoint are a valuable resource for folks in academia and research.
Watch or listen 🎙🎧
theacademicdesigner.com/2026/researc...
Starting the day with a new Bakermat song that comes out this Friday. It's so good, literally had me out of my chair dancing 💃
Playing with Fire 🎵
Creative research communications, data visualization for academics, and slide design.
It's all in the new episode of The Social Academic Podcast. Hi, I'm Jennifer van Alstyne.
Check out the season 8 premiere featuring guest, Dr. Echo Rivera @echorivera.com
theacademicdesigner.com/2026/researc...
Season 8 of The Social Academic podcast premieres today. I can't wait!
Dr. Echo Rivera is back. We'll be talking about online presence, presentations, and data visualization for sharing your research.
Join us live on YouTube or Instagram just after 12pm Pacific Time @HigherEdPR
My talk is on Your Online Presence at Times of Transition ✨️
4 hours, 6 speakers, 1 day 🎟
#AcademicSky
When: March 5, 2026
Where: Virtual on Zoom
Price: $49 USD
You're invited 💌
Register for IMPACT 2026: ThirdRailLeadership.com/IMPACT2026
Join me at IMPACT 2026 on Thursday, March 5
A 1-day conference on making thoughtful transitions when you're leaving something behind.
For academics leaving:
- moving institutions (leaving one place for another)
- shifting roles
- considering leaving higher education
- looking ahead to your legacy
I'm speaking at IMPACT 2026, a mini conference about leaving for academics.
It's next week on Thursday, March 5 (virtual on Zoom). 4 hours, 6 speakers.
My talk is about Your Online Presence at Times of Transition ✨️
#AcademicSky
Register for IMPACT 2026 thirdrailleadership.com/impact2026
I'm speaking at IMPACT 2026, a mini conference about leaving for academics.
It's next week on Thursday, March 5 (virtual on Zoom). 4 hours, 6 speakers.
My talk is about Your Online Presence at Times of Transition ✨️
#AcademicSky
Register for IMPACT 2026 thirdrailleadership.com/impact2026
When I have the new profile video from that faculty member, I'll be sure to add it to the course for you.
Here's the course on LinkedIn Profile for Academics and Researchers, free for you on YouTube 🫶
Please save it for later 🔖
You can update your profile when it's helpful for you with this video guide.
P.S. Read the video descriptions for tips and recommendations.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
She's happy to be an example for the course on YouTube. Which is perfect. I'd made a video for her lab on how to add that to their Experience section on LinkedIn.
In the video, I'll share her profile, page for her research lab, and behind the scenes with her profile cover image graphic on Canva.
I had permission from a couple academics to share links to their profiles in the course platform. I haven't had a chance to connect about sharing their profiles publicly.
I did a LinkedIn Profile VIP Day in January. The professor and I just met for our live follow up consultation.
She said yes!
Back when I stopped my paid courses for online presence, I kept the materials up (3 years ago?). When the annual course platform fee almost doubled?
I moved the LinkedIn course to YouTube. I haven't had a chance to share it, but people have been finding it and finding it helpful. Yay.
Yay, this will really enhance it. My faculty client gave permission to share her LinkedIn profile on YouTube.
Back in 2021 I created a LinkedIn Challenge to help professors, researchers, and grad students update their LinkedIn profile. People have found it helpful on demand course for years.
I'll be out of the office tomorrow. We're filming on location at a cool art museum space. This video will be meaningful, I'm looking forward to it.
I got busy busy and behind on the new season of The Social Academic podcast. It's coming! Next month at the latest, but I'm hoping to release an episode in February if I can make it work.
My cat's too cute to only share on Instagram.
This is Bartlet, my favorite office buddy when designing academic websites 🐈⬛️
We rescued Barty back in grad school. He's been with us ever since 😸🫶
This was SUCH a fun convo with @jenvanalstyne.bsky.social and @acadiaediting.bsky.social
youtu.be/AVyM_C-6YQQ?...
Extreme & dangerous ice out there, & a nasty winter storm too, so stay in with all the great public scholarly writing, podcasts, new & forthcoming books in my 260th #ScholarSunday thread. Add more below, share widely, & stay warm & safe, all! 🗃️
blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...
It's a LinkedIn Profile VIP Day for a favorite faculty client! I've got to dive right in for her but will share more about it this weekend 🤗
Yay! A new website is in the world. We've just hit publish on a Library and Information Science PhD's website. It's my favorite part of our Review and Training Meeting.
Next: follow up email, personalized my how to help people find your new website PDF, and a graphic to help her share her website.
Find free resources for your online presence on The Social Academic blog, podcast, and YouTube
theacademicdesigner.com/blog/
Want done-for-you support? Let's connect on Zoom about teaming up for your academic website design, social media profiles, and bio writing 🤗 higheredpr.as.me/meet-with-je...
Some things go on the back burner while you focus on priorities.
But others? It's okay if it's not gonna be right for you in the future too.
You can be intentional about your online presence in what you put your energy into. And, what you choose not to pursue.
I'm cheering on your journey.
Would she like to just let it go? I asked because it's okay if she just wanted to focus on LinkedIn and her website in 2026.
Instagram was a goal for her last year. It's okay to let go of what's not working for you.
The look of relief? I loved it.
No more guilt.
No more 'I haven't done it yet.'
When you know something doesn't align for your personality or life? It's ok to let that go, try something new, or to take a break.
You have agency in how you use social media.
I chatted with a professor last week who tried Instagram and it just wasn't for her. "But I still have the account."
Some people I know post a lot on social media. Most people I know post rarely or not at all.
There isn't a right way for everyone to be on social media as a faculty, researcher, or graduate student.
This quick thread is about social media for academics. Hi, I'm Jennifer van Alstyne.
#AcademicSky 🧵
For your holiday weekend reading & reflection, here’s my 259th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing, podcasts, new & forthcoming books from the past week. Add more below, share as widely as possible, & solidarity, all! 🗃️
blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...