Page 90 - Summer2020

WORK-PARENTING HARMONY
for family and work-life balance needs. The system won’t change if we don’t make it happen” (Aran Mooney).
Stay Involved in the ASA
During the changes that accompany parenthood, sup- port also comes from having a professional connection. Traci Neilsen (Underwater Acoustics, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT) kept attending ASA meetings while stepping back from her career to raise her children.
“Members encouraged me and included me as part of the Society even when I was only able to keep one toe in. I am grateful to have a professional home that has accepted me and allowed me to contribute as I have pursued my non- traditional career path.” Support from the ASA Women in Acoustics Committee “was very helpful and affirming for [Lauren Ronsse], and it gave [her] some comfort to see others who had followed similar paths.” Recently, Laura Kloepper (Animal Bioacoustics, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN) brought her baby to an ASA meeting and shares her experience in this issue of Acoustics Today.
We conclude with two thoughts from our honored women and remind readers to read the full stories of our quoted parent acousticians online to appreciate the breadth of paths when harmonizing career pursuits with raising children.
“The beauty of life is the many roles we reflect upon our- selves. We begin as the children of our own parents, ...and at some point, if the universe chooses to bless us with our own family and children, we take on the role of a partner and parent. Many of us who have gotten the pleasure of a career and raising a family understand the struggle that can come with balancing both” (Zhenia Zabolotskaya).
“Work always expands to fill all available time and comes without the same biological boundaries as family. At any point, you can postpone a promotion or a move, but there is a limit to the time you can postpone having a family... Regardless of what’s going on, the most impor- tant thing is to love your kids and that they know and feel that you love them” (Ilene Busch-Vishniac).
References
Berger, S. (2018). Jeff Bezos doesn’t like the idea of ‘work-life balance’—Here’s what he swears by instead. CNBC Make It. Published August 9, 2018. Avail- able at https://cnb.cx/2Q43thN. Accessed February 25, 2020.
McMillan, H. S., Morris, M. L., and Atchley, E. K. (2011). Constructs of the work/life interface: A synthesis of the literature and introduction of the concept of work/life harmony. Human Resource Development Review 10(1), 6-25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484310384958.
90 Acoustics Today • Summer 2020
Contact Information
Tracianne B. Neilsen tbn@byu.edu
Department of Physics and Astronomy Brigham Young University
N251 ESC
Provo, Utah 84602, USA
Alison K. Stimpert astimpert@mlml.calstate.edu
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories 8272 Moss Landing Road
Moss Landing, California 95039, USA
BECOME INVOLVED
Would you like to become more involved with the
ASA? Visit acousticalsociety.org/volunteer to learn more about the Society's technical and administrative committees, and submit a form to express your interest in volunteering!
acousticalsociety.org/volunteer
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ASA
Visit the
acousticalsociety.org
to learn more about the Society and membership.