Chapter 1. A fruitcake imaginary? -- Chapter 2. Stories, games, language, imagination -- Chapter 3. Academia as unhomely habitus? -- Chapter 4. Teaching, research, service, self -- Chapter 5. Taking stock of identity during change -- Chapter 6. Personalising professionalism: balance, risk, chance, change -- Chapter 7. Your dance, your self, your story and the fruitcake imaginary.

This book explores academic identity development in the 21st century university. Recognising dramatic shifts in academic practices and landscapes, the book pushes back on rising neoliberalism with a person-focused, culturally aware pathway for career development. Stories of the author’s own experiences intersect a solid grounding in educational literature, encouraging scholars to take an active role in considering their own academic identity. In doing so, this volume suggests that academics look inward at what matters to them – rather than being overwhelmed by academia – in order to shape identities and career trajectories that are dynamic and satisfying. .