I am Nyasha Junior and This is How I Work

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Nyasha Junior in the “How I Work” series. Junior is an amateur and professional bookworm. She writes, teaches, and tweets on race, gender, and religion. Discover more at nyashajunior.com and follow her (flame emoji) tweets @NyashaJunior.

Current Job: Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible, Department of Religion, Temple University
Current Location: Philadelphia
Current mobile device: iPhone 6
Current computer: MacBook Pro

Can you briefly explain your current situation and research to us?
I teach biblical studies at Temple University. This semester, I am teaching Death and Dying and Feminist and Womanist Biblical Interpretation. My current research project is on biblical Hagar and how she is reinterpreted as a Black woman.

What tools, apps and software are essential to your workflow?
I use RefWorks for citation, and I use Gcal and Workflowy for staying organized.

What does your workspace setup look like?
I work at home. I’m trying a new setup with a floor desk.

What is your best advice for productive academic work?
Take naps.

How do you keep an overview of projects and tasks?
I use Workflowy, Excel, and strategic avoidance.

Besides phone and computer, do you use other technological tools in work and daily life?
I wear wireless noise-cancelling headphones.

Which skill makes you stand out as an academic?
Brevity.

What do you listen to when you work?
I listen to Laura Mvula a lot these days.

What are you currently reading? How do you find time for reading?
Kindred by Octavia Butler. I turn off electronics an hour before going to bed and read fiction.

Are you more of an introvert or extrovert? How does this influence your working habits?
Introvert. I prefer to work alone.

What’s your sleep routine like?
Early to bed. Early to rise to get to yoga class.

What’s your work routine like?
Email. Work. Email. Highly Questionable. Email. Work. Netflix. All with ongoing Twitter.

What’s the best advice you ever received?
Let your light shine.