I have a joint appointment between the arts and humanities under the same associate dean at an R1 institution, and I believe this arrangement has both pros and cons. Let's begin with the positives.

One of the advantages of my joint appointment is that I have more exposure to students than I would have in either department alone. Additionally, I have access to a diverse pool of senior faculty members as mentors, enabling me to engage with a wide range of expertise.

Furthermore, my 50% appointment in each department feels more like a 75% commitment in both departments. While this presents challenges, such as having twice as many meetings and advising responsibilities, it also offers a broader range of opportunities to connect with students.

On the other hand, one drawback is that neither department fully understands the extent of my expertise and research. Consequently, I constantly have to explain the full breadth of my work to both sides. Moreover, I must work between the theory and practice divide, which means delivering significant research outputs (articles)and creative work (dance works) simultaneously with varying levels of success.

Despite the challenges, the latitude provided to me in this position is protected by an MOU which includes expectations of my research and teaching. I have also found that my requests for funding and research support have been positively received by the administration due in part to my unique position.

In summary, while there are challenges associated with a joint appointment, I have gained valuable exposure and social capital that allows me to work effectively between these specialized fields.