--- title: Blog | leaving academia description: leaving academia | Read stories about my journey with careers, motherhood, and mental health. --- [![Rowena Winkler logo](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/hs-fs/hubfs/New-Project-4.png?width=937&height=618&name=New-Project-4.png "Rowena Winkler logo")](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/) Open main menu Close main menu - [Home](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/) - About Open the submenu - [Meet Rowena](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/about-rowena) - [Press](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/press) - [Partnerships](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/partnerships) - [Merch](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/merch) - Services Open the submenu - [Career Coaching](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/career-coaching) - [Astrology](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/astrology) - [Coaching Bundles](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/coaching-bundles) - Community Open the submenu - [Masterclasses](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/masterclasses) - [Free Resources](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/resources) - [Blog](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog) Open the submenu - [Letters from My Postpartum Psychosis](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/letters-from-my-postpartum-psychosis) # Blog Select Category mother motherhood anxiety mental health mental illness postpartum postpartum psychosis postpartum support international mindfulness reflection Lindsay Mack Sheppard Pratt academia birthday career change career pivot evolution family fertility issues infertility leaving academia theater 8 affirmations career coaching dancing fertility clinic loss magic manifestation meditation musical theater new years goals numerology pregnancy rituals seasons spoken word tarot yoga CBT DBT Haloperidol Trazodone akathisia alignment art therapy astrology authentic alignment authentically aligned messaging authenticity avatar: the last airbender breakthrough cancer communication communication student community building creativity day hospital death delusions employee spotlight entrepreneurship fall father hallucinations highly sensitive person integration intention setting intern internship intuitive marketing leo season lion's gate portal marketing messaging music therapy new moon new year oracle cards parenting partial hospitalization program postpartum psychosis recovery recovery reframing spiritual awakening storytelling team member introduction tedx tedx talk university of maryland virgo season Posts about: ## leaving academia ![A Soulful Return to the Academy | Dr. Rowena Winkler](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/hubfs/Blog%20Posts/Soulful%20Return%20to%20the%20Academy.png) [career pivot,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/career-pivot) [academia,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/academia) [leaving academia,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/leaving-academia) [career change,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/career-change) [reflection,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/reflection) [evolution,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/evolution) [entrepreneurship,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/entrepreneurship) [coaching](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/coaching) ### [A Soulful Return to the Academy](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/a-soulful-return-to-the-academy) Many of you are well aware that a big part of my business is coaching others in navigating [alt-academia](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/alt-academia). It's been a truly fulfilling process for me — whether it is reviewing job market materials via my [Translate Your CV](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/translating-your-cv) offering, or through [fully personalized 1:1 sessions](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/coaching-services). It validated that leaving academia wasn't a failure just because I didn't want to "stick it out" and get tenure.  [Dr. Rowena Briones Winkler](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/author/dr-rowena-briones-winkler) [Read More](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/a-soulful-return-to-the-academy) ![](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/image-1.jpeg) [career pivot,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/career-pivot) [birthday,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/birthday) [leaving academia,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/leaving-academia) [family,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/family) [career,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/career) [meditation,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/meditation) [career change,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/career-change) [mindfulness,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/mindfulness) [yoga](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/yoga) ### [3 Ways I Gained Perspective in My 30s](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/2019/03/26/3-ways-i-gained-perspective-in-my-30s) ICYMI, I turned 33 years old exactly 10 days ago (you can check out highlights from my [Lady Gaga-themed birthday party here](https://www.instagram.com/p/BvHuWuUFkWy/)). Some folks in my position would be sad to be officially out of their 20s, but in all honesty, I kinda love my 30s. [Dr. Rowena Briones Winkler](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/author/dr-rowena-briones-winkler) [Read More](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/2019/03/26/3-ways-i-gained-perspective-in-my-30s) ![](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/img_6582-2.jpg) [career pivot,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/career-pivot) [academia,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/academia) [leaving academia,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/leaving-academia) [mindfulness,](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/mindfulness) [reflection](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/tag/reflection) ### [This is What Happens When You Live Right Now](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/2018/08/11/this-is-what-happens-when-you-live-right-now) This past week I went to DC after work to visit my academic friends who were in town for the [AEJMC national conference](http://www.aejmc.org/). [Dr. Rowena Briones Winkler](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/author/dr-rowena-briones-winkler) [Read More](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/blog/2018/08/11/this-is-what-happens-when-you-live-right-now) #### About - [Press](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/press) - [Theater Portfolio](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/theater-portfolio) - [Resources](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/resources) #### Services - [Coaching](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/career-coaching) - [Academia](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/academia) - [Astrology](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/astrology) #### Blog - [Postpartum Psychosis](https://www.rowenawinkler.com/letters-from-my-postpartum-psychosis) - [Leaving Academia](https://blog.rowenawinkler.com/blog/2019/06/15/a-confession-letter-to-the-academy) - [Infertility](https://blog.rowenawinkler.com/blog/2019/05/13/striving-for-motherhood-a-struggle-revealed) ### Sign Up for Updates