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Junior faculty serving as an external committee member for an ABD at one’s former PhD program?

A reader writes in:

I recently received a request to serve as an external committee member on a PhD student's committee. This student is working in an area I am deeply familiar with – one in which I have published several articles and a book – and I would be happy to serve this role. However, their graduate advisor discouraged them from having me on their committee because I once received my PhD from the same institution where they are currently studying. However, I have held 3 academic appointments since then and will be almost a decade past my graduation by the time this PhD student completes their dissertation. Their graduate advisor seems to think this would look bad nonetheless — is their advisor right about that?

Good question, and I'm not sure. What do readers think?

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2 responses to “Junior faculty serving as an external committee member for an ABD at one’s former PhD program?”

  1. anon

    I’m not sure. Something I would take seriously in making this decision is just the value of going with the advisor’s recommendation, so as to make sure the student gets a smoothly-operating committee. And if you’re interested in mentoring this student, you can give them feedback on drafts even if you’re not a committee member.

    Reply
  2. don’t do it

    It probably isn’t in the student’s interest to have you on the committee. First, it is a bit too insular, given you graduated from that place (How many years ago?). Second, the student should be working with the current faculty there. Third, if you are currently in a non-TT job, or a lower ranked department, it will do little to help the student on the job market.

    Reply

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