Josh Neunuebel, an associate professor of psychological and brain sciences, and Ramona Neunuebel, associate professor of biological sciences, appreciate being able to thrive in their research and have the opportunity to teach at the same university.

Supporting dual-career couples

Article by Jamie Washington Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson and courtesy of Donald and Mary Watson July 29, 2024

UD ranks #1 among nation’s research universities for partner-hiring practices

Early in their academic careers, Ramona and Josh Neunuebel could find jobs only at universities hours apart. But that changed when the couple came to the University of Delaware.

Because of UD’s dual-career program — which supports working couples in finding faculty and staff positions at the University or in the surrounding area — Ramona is now an associate professor of biological sciences, and Josh is an associate professor of psychological and brain sciences.

“I could tell from the beginning that this University has a growth mindset,” Ramona said. “The dual-career program is like a declaration: We’re here to keep people together but also to grow together.”

The Neunuebels appreciate being able to thrive in their research and have the opportunity to teach at the same University; their offices are in the same building, a floor apart from each other.

"We’re thankful for the opportunities and resources that UD gave us to pursue the careers we dreamt of as graduate students and postdoctoral fellows,” Josh said.

The eight-year-old program is now getting national attention, thanks to research conducted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that ranked UD as #1 in the country for its support of couples working in higher education. The Dual Careers Project’s Partner Hire Scorecard examined policies at 146 R1 academic institutions, with creation of tenure-track positions for academic partner hires as a key variable.

“We are proud of the efforts in our colleges and departments to provide a welcoming environment that fosters not only faculty research and teaching but also wellbeing and work-life balance,” UD Provost Laura Carlson said. “Our dual-career program provides an incredible opportunity to grow our faculty by offering full support to partner hires, recognizing and fully valuing their careers and contributions.”

According to the Dual Careers Project, more than a third of academic researchers are in relationships with other academics. Consequently, many partners decide early on in their careers that working at the same institution is a non-negotiable for them.

Two of the researchers on the project are themselves partners: Jill Fisher, professor of social medicine, and Torin Monahan, professor in communication, at UNC Chapel Hill.

“Our goal for this study is to create a positive climate for partner hires at universities,” Monahan said. He hopes institutions will either continue to grow their partner-hire programs or, those who compared unfavorably in the study, will begin to develop a partner-hire program.

The other variables in the study, each weighted differently, include:

A clear partner-hire process, including web presence;
No restrictions based on immigration status, legally documented marriage or relocation to the area;
Access to start-up funding for partner-hire positions;
Includes non-faculty positions within and outside of the university for nonacademic partners;
A dual-career office and staff to help handle dual-career needs for current and potential employees.

The development of UD’s dual-career program began after UD’s ADVANCE team identified a study on dual-career faculty hiring that found that candidates identifying as women were more likely to have academic partners and were disproportionately affected by issues related to partner job placement, said Heather Doty, co-director of the UD ADVANCE Institute. The study also found that partner hiring can help universities recruit talented candidates from underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds.

“UD has a history of supporting dual-career couples, but we needed a more formal program to realize the many benefits to UD, including increasing diversity and retention among faculty and staff,” said Matt Kinservik, professor of English and previous vice provost of faculty affairs, who led the working group.

The University received a $3.3 million NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation grant in 2014, which created the UD ADVANCE Institute and formalized UD’s dual-career program.

“This award had several goals and objectives — mainly to diversify and strengthen UD's faculty, with an emphasis on increasing the number of women faculty in STEM departments and in leadership positions at UD,” Doty said.

Don and Mary Watson, professors of chemistry, benefited from UD’s forward thinking before the formal establishment of the dual-career program.

Don and Mary Watson, who came to UD 14 years ago, benefited from UD’s forward thinking before the formal establishment of the dual-career program. They had decided to work together before they were interviewing at UD for the same faculty role in the chemistry department. Their future colleagues realized that a partner-hire was not only beneficial for the Watsons but also for the University.

“It’s not just about the retention of one person,” said Don, professor of chemistry. “UD realizes that it's advantageous to hire really qualified candidates at the same time. It’s a strength and a resource, not a compromise.”

Don appreciates that being hired as a pair has never felt as though it was unwelcoming or a favor.

“UD does a great job of making sure that people are welcomed as individuals,” he said. “I’ve never felt like a trailing spouse.”

Working together in the Department of Chemistry — Don’s research focuses on building chemical bonds, while Mary studies how to break them down — is a benefit to their family and their students. For instance, they request teaching schedules that do not overlap, allowing them to cover each other’s classes if the other has to care for either of their twin daughters.

“All of my students know Don, and all of his students know me,” Mary said. “Sometimes they’ll come to either of us when they need a second opinion or advice on their research.”

She also said that working in close proximity with her spouse humanizes the work and lives of scientists for their students, providing a model of a realistic work-life balance.

Supporting couples in academia and those on staff helps the entire University, said Melissa Bard, vice president of human resources.

"UD values its faculty and staff," she said. "The dual-career program is another example that the institution recognizes how work-life strategies give us a competitive advantage, benefit our employees and strengthen our talent pool."