Dear Colleagues,
I am conducting a research study on the lived experiences of returning to work as breast cancer survivors and would very much appreciate your participation. This study, “Breast Cancer and Academic Work”, has been approved by the IRB at Fairfield University.
For the purposes of this research study, I am using broad understandings of survivor, treatment, and academic work. Those definitions are as follows:
Breast cancer survivor: Any individual who has received a medical diagnosis of breast cancer and is living in the aftermath of that diagnosis. (For the purposes of this survey, a breast cancer survivor may or may not have received treatment following their diagnosis.)
Treatment: Receipt of medical interventions including, but not limited to, lumpectomy, single or double mastectomy (with or without reconstruction), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, endocrine/hormone therapy, immunotherapy.
Academic work: Employment in an academic environment involving, but not limited to, undergraduate and/or graduate teaching, teaching as a graduate student, advising, writing program administration, writing center administration, director/coordinator of an Rhetoric and Composition-allied program, department chair.
If you are currently in any stage of breast cancer survivorship and your academic work falls under the broad umbrella of the field of Writing Studies (including Writing Centers, WPA, WAC, and Technical Communication), you are invited to complete this survey: https://fairfield.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3PrfoUWVcK9IPEq.
Please feel free to share this survey widely across your Writing Studies networks. Please forgive cross-postings.
This 29-question survey should take you approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
Resulting data will form the basis of a conference presentation and a journal article. There will be an opportunity to input your email address if you are willing to be interviewed; however, interviews are entirely voluntary and not a requirement for completing the survey. Given the sensitive nature of the topics addressed, participation in this research may evoke complex memories and feelings (some questions may evoke personal, unpleasant, upsetting, and/or distressing memories or feelings). If you agree to participate, you may withdraw from participation at any time without penalty; you may also skip any question.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me directly.
Thank you so much for your time!
Sincerely,
Nadia Zamin
Dr. Nadia Francine Zamin
Assistant Professor of the Practice
Core Writing Program
Department of English
Fairfield University