BY AMIE GLOVER | DAILY TEXAN (U. TEXAS)

In print | April 17, 2008

(U-WIRE) — Students might plan on meeting their future spouse on campus. So might professors.

According to a February 2007 publication by the American Society for Cell Biology, almost 27 percent of faculty are coupled with a fellow faculty member. While universities nationwide are increasingly focused on gaining a competitive edge in research, athletics, the arts and social justice issues, they are also increasingly affected by romantic partnerships among faculty. “Dual-career academic couples,” as they are commonly called, are populating university campuses in growing numbers.

In line with national trends, the number of UT faculty members coupled with other scholars is on the rise. Spouses may have offices down the hall from one another, as is the case with communications studies professors John Daly and Anita Vangelisti. The two have co-authored a book and more than 13 articles.

Daly said that couples who choose to collaborate should also assert their intellectual independence. “It’s important to disagree,” Daly said. “If you collaborate, people always think one person’s really smart and the other one’s carried by the other.” Daly also cautioned that even professors need a break from school sometimes and stressed the importance of leaving work at the office and not bringing it home.

While some professors are married before coming to UT, others meet on campus. Associate English professor Beth Hedrick said she met her husband, associate history professor Bruce Hunt, while she was doing research for a paper. “I was writing an essay with connections between literature and the history of science, and a colleague of mine said, ‘Why don’t you talk to this guy in the history department?’” Hedrick said.

The two began dating, were later married and now have two children. Incidentally, they now carpool with another UT faculty couple. Some couples even collaborate in class. Kinesiology lecturers Phil and Dixie Stanforth teach a course together, alternating days.

Daly also said that the benefits of working alongside one’s spouse are not only academic. “I can pop in her office and get a kiss,” Daly said, smiling. “It’s fun to watch students when they see you holding hands with another professor? it’s nice to have two cars on campus so you can leave love notes on each other’s cars.”

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