Dissertation advisor who's never completed dissertation

Do you think someone who has never completed a dissertation or similar doctoral research project would be competitive for a faculty position that requires them to be a dissertation chair or committee member? Would you feel comfortable with advising dissertation students if your doctoral program didn’t include a major research project?

 

As the advisor? No. But as a committee member? Sure, as a subject-matter expert, if appropriate. There have been exceptions.

 

Apply

 

If they're comfortable enough, maybe they should just apply. I'd be more concerned about the students who have advisors who've never written anything like a dissertation. I'm in a PhD program, so there's a dissertation, and I have no interest in full-time teaching. Although, there are adjuncts chairing, which sometimes leads to problems due to high turnover.

 

I think any doctoral-level learner, particularly someone who is paying full-whack retail to the university, deserves something less precarious than an adjunct-chaired committee. I think that's a case of a university skimping to maximize profits. Not illegal, but not exactly fair ball, as I see it. Let adjuncts ---adjunct. Teach courses, grade work etc. Dissertation committees and other bodies with doctoral-level functions should not be composed of people who may / may not be around the following semester.

Says the guy who will not likely ever earn a Doctorate, so you may prefer to take this magno cum grano salis.

 

I was on a Doctor of Criminal Justice (DCJ) committee where a J.D. was the chair. They called him Dr. (Laughable). He never included me in the process and when I reached out he said he'd get back to me. Needless to say, I ghosted them and never logged back into the university's LMS or my email account.

The pay was $1500 to be a member and $3000 to be the chair.

 

John Bear used to talk about a guy who was a tenured full professor and sat on doctoral committees without having a doctorate himself.

 

Gotta hand it to the guy, whoever he may be. To get that far without a Doctorate - he must have been exceptionally brilliant. As long as we're talking about a Professor at a properly-credentialed school, of course - and I presume we are. Do you recall this Professor's field of expertise, Rich? Just curious.

 

I don't. But I know John talked about it here.

 

OK Still working on it. John wrote a post centred on Albright College in 2001 that might be it - but all the articles cited are long gone into dust. Only thing close I could find on that search. Will let folks know when / if I'm sure I have the correct one.