While most University of Alabama students no longer subscribe to the elementary school belief that their teacher lives at school, many still hold misconceptions regarding the role instructors play in the campus academic community.

“When I tell people that I do research, they always say, ‘But you’re in English!’” said Rob Dixon, an English instructor at the University. “Most people don’t realize that we do research, too.”

The English Department’s new Emerging Scholars Series plans to promote better understanding of University instructors, specifically their participation in academic endeavors, by facilitating the exchange of ideas between students and instructors in an informal setting.

“This is a cool opportunity for students to see what instructors are doing and learn from them outside of the classroom setting, especially about stuff that the instructors have a passion for,” said Dixon, who will present his work at the program’s first rendition on Tuesday, Oct. 18, in Morgan Room 301 from 2 to 2:30 p.m.

Dixon’s presentation, titled “The Education of Henry Adams and the Death of Benjamin Franklin,” will combine a study of the influence of Franklin’s autobiographical story arc on the creation of the ideal American storyline with an examination of how Adams’s autobiography flipped Franklin’s “rags to riches” stereotype on its head.

“It should be a fun talk,” Dixon said. “Adams is a really funny guy, and Franklin is a funny guy, too. He’s winking at us as he says a lot of these things.”

Carl Miller, an English instructor at the University, created the Emerging Scholars Series to give students a clearer picture of instructors’ responsibilities.

“The idea behind this program was the difference between the roles of instructor and professor,” he said. “As an instructor, the focus is primarily on teaching. With professors, it is innately built into their job expectations that they do scholarly work, but a lot of instructors participate in research as well. There seems to be a disconnect between students, especially undergraduates, and instructors about what kind of scholarly research instructors actually do.”

Dixon said instructors are expected to teach four classes each semester, while tenured and tenure-track professors usually assume a two-class workload. As well as teaching classes, many instructors participate in research.

Miller said he hopes the Emerging Scholars Series, in addition to informing students, will provide a forum for instructors to present their work in a low-pressure environment.

“The lectures are designed to be in the same vein as a conference presentation or job talk,” he said. “This is not only an opportunity for instructors to showcase their work, but also to hopefully receive constructive criticisms and suggestions for improvement from senior faculty.”

Dixon likened the presentation to a practice run for future dissertations and job interviews, but the program might also be considered a taste test of sorts for student attendees who are new to the world of academia.

Miller formatted the series with student accessibility in mind. In an effort to accommodate busy schedules, each presentation will last a total of 30 minutes, including a 20-minute lecture period followed by a 10-minute opportunity for questions.

“The presentations will be only 30 minutes long, because we’re hoping to give people a minimum commitment with maximum exposure,” he said.

Miller plans for the series to host a presentation each month, and hopes to eventually extend the scope of presenters beyond the English Department and showcase instructors from across the campus community.

“This program can only enhance the quality of academia at the University of Alabama,” he said.