Tenure!
Joel Correia's promotion to associate professor was conferred by Colorado State University on July 1, 2026.
Tenure! Joel Correia's promotion to associate professor was conferred by Colorado State University on July 1 of this year.
I entered this new role the same day that Silvia de Melo Futada and José Roberto Porto de Andrade Junior and I co-hosted the first of two sessions on Storytelling Political Ecology from Latin America at the 2026 Political Ecology Network Conference in Barcelona, Spain.
The day was especially poignant because three current and former graduate students I've had the pleasure of working with were at POLLEN presenting their research: Silvia de Melo Futada, Paula Cepeda Mahecha, and Laura Botero Arellano. Their commitment to deeply engaged, transdisciplinary work is genuinely inspiring. I also spent the day reflecting on the opportunities to do engaged research because I presented a paper co-authored with Clemente Dermott, a collaborator and friend I've learned alongside for over a decade. POLLEN also meant reconnecting with friends and fellow travelers from across the years, a good reminder of how much community this work is built on.
I share this to underscore how grateful I am for the people I've learned from and been in community with over the years. Tenure has been arduous and exciting in ways I didn't expect going in. The road has been long and winding, with more than a few failures and hurdles along the way. One thing I've come to value most through all of it is the power of connection, of being in place with people, of sharing stories and life together. Thanks to all who have been a part of this so far.
I have been fortunate to learn from the mentorship of community collaborators and coworkers, the drive of students who keep me energized, and the support of friends and family. Tenure is not a singular achievement but the result of community. As they say, teamwork makes the dream work. La unión hace la fuerza. Oñondivepa lo mitã.
I'm fired up for what's next: working alongside students, community partners, and colleagues who believe more just futures are possible. The challenges are huge, but so is the opportunity to ensure people and the planet thrive. We're just getting started.
Onward!