Navigating the Complexities of Post-Academic Life: Ageing, Identity and Professional Transition

This thoughtful exploration examines the complex and multifaceted transition of retirement from academia, addressing fundamental questions of when and how to retire, and what retirement looks like. The work challenges assumptions about aging while acknowledging the profound sense of loss that often accompanies the end of an academic career. Through engaging autoethnographies, the book reveals both challenges and opportunities inherent in this significant life stage, offering unique insights into how academic identities evolve beyond formal employment. It focuses on the ongoing development of self and community in post-academic life, examining themes including the cultural production of retirement, the impact of political and social changes on academic careers, and the role of metacognition in shaping personal narratives. By presenting these complex issues through deeply personal stories, the work invites readers to reflect on their own experiences within the broader context of academic work and professional identity transformation. This volume will interest current academics contemplating retirement, retired academics navigating post-career life, and researchers studying workforce transitions and aging. It holds particular value for students and professionals in social work, social policy, gerontology, and higher education administration, offering both guidance and inspiration for understanding the complexities of post-retirement academic life.