In this practical summer organization episode, President and executive writing coach Christine Tulley introduces a systematic approach to managing academic conference logistics, planning, and participation. She shares her streamlined method for transforming the often chaotic world of conference attendance into a manageable, strategic process that saves time and reduces stress throughout the academic year.

Christine opens by acknowledging the common academic struggle with conference management chaos - missed deadlines for desired conferences, last-minute scrambling for hotel reservations, lost abstracts, and the tendency to attend conferences out of habit rather than strategic professional development. Her solution emerged from recognizing that summer provides the ideal window for systematic conference planning when academic schedules allow for thoughtful decision-making.

As someone who attends approximately four conferences annually, all requiring travel and significant logistical coordination, Christine developed this maintenance system to ensure she presents at conferences aligned with her current research interests while avoiding the stress of deadline-driven panic decisions. She emphasizes that this process typically requires only about an hour of focused work, making it accessible even for busy academics.

Tools Mentioned:

• Asana - Free project management software for idea tracking
• Email search functions - For CFP and acceptance management
• Calendar blocking - Strategic scheduling protection
• Airline alerts - Automated flight price monitoring

Related Episodes:

• Episode 74 - CV and Online Profile Updating 
• Episode 119: Making Time for Career Advancement Tasks

Resources from Defend, Publish & Lead:

• Summer Professional Development: Defend Publish & Lead offers multiple free webinars and seminars designed for faculty developers, graduate students, and academics at all career stages, available through their Eventbrite page.
• Free Resources Available: Visit defendpublish.com and click "Events" to access comprehensive faculty development programming including writing group facilitation, administrative writing support, and dissertation writing strategies.
• Need help developing systematic approaches to conference planning or other professional development organization? Contact Defend, Publish & Lead for personalized coaching support. Email Christine directly at christine@defendpublish.com for guidance on creating sustainable academic organization systems.