An Election Project for the Social Studies

Being a professional is not merely an intellectual exercise but, rather, involves a commitment to being something compelling and transformative in the classroom and on campus. Viewing oneself as a professional elicits one's best work, essentially because it involves living up to a set of ideals. Being a professional is animated by an inner commitment that is deeply personal. While exemplary, everyday practices of professionalism are important, they are a consequence, not the cause, of professional behavior. Professionalism is less a matter of what professionals actually do and more a matter of who they are as human beings. Professionals live by the principles of contribution and creation, as opposed to the principles of organizational survival and social exchange. In daily practice, professionals are results centered, internally directed, other focused, and externally open.