A few weeks ago, I had an exchange on Facebook with Leo Ribuffo about encouraging people to get a doctoral degree. Leo and I are much alike in some ways—I think our backgrounds in the NY metro area account for certain aspects of a common worldview that spans generations. But I am hopelessly more optimistic about the prospects for doctoral programs than he is. I have built a new one at IUPUI in American Studies and the thought of that makes Leo shake his head (not the first time my work has made him do that). Read more