In this episode of The Career Adjunct podcast, host Iliana de Larkin speaks with lecturer Laura Hartmann-Villalta. Hartmann-Villalta shares how she pursued an English literature PhD to lend credibility to her dream of writing a meaningful book on Anglophone women’s literature and the Spanish Civil War, hoping it would also lead to a full-time academic position. Instead, she navigated adjunct life, juggling part-time roles until she landed a rare full-time “unicorn role.” 

In this episode, Laura shares lessons from her journey, the resilience it required, and how she stayed true to her goals despite the challenges. A must-listen for anyone balancing big dreams with the realities of adjunct work.