What does love look like? Does it last through the wear and tear of everyday work and life? For this Valentine’s Day edition, The BlueStocking interviewed a special couple. They share a household like most married couples, of course, but they also share a profession. Not only that, but they’re both professors in the same department.
Good morning, Dr. McAdams and Dr. Lance. Let’s start with the basics. How long have you guys been together?
Dr. McAdams: That would seem to be an easy question, but it’s a little bit more complicated because we started out as friends, and we were actually dating other people when we first met. We were just a part of the same friend group. So we’ve been married for 15 years; in May it will be 16, and we dated for four years before that. Although we took a little break when Dr. Lance moved to Brazil for a little bit, which is too long-distance, but then it was meant to be. And so we came back together. I guess it’s technically…
Dr. Lance: But let’s say it’s close to 20 years; we’ll just go with that.
Perfect! So you guys were part of the same friend group; did you meet in college?
Dr. McAdams: Graduate School. Yes, we went to different undergraduate colleges, but we went to the same Ph.D. program, and on our very first day of class, I sat in the row right behind Professor Lance. We were kind of near the back and you (Dr. Lance) were talking with some of the other guys. And I was talking to some of the other women. And so yeah, our friend group just kind of started because we started graduate school at the same time.
So, you met in graduate school. Did you study the same specialty or did you focus on different areas?
Dr. McAdams: It’s interesting because I kind of started as a comparativist. Still, I knew that I wanted to do US politics and campaigns, elections, and pre-law early on. So, we studied different subjects, but we did have classes together. In the “How to Teach Political Science,” class, we took that at the same time with the same professor. For a few of our statistics classes, for a few of those we were already dating by then, so we got to study for the tests together.
Dr. Lance: I wouldn’t have made it through without you.
Dr. McAdams: I don’t know, I don’t think I would have made it through the time-series without you.
You went to school together, then started working in the same department. Was that intentional?
Dr. Lance: I mean, we were looking to go to a small school. I think both of us went to a liberal arts college and we wanted to end up there. And so that’s kind of how we ended up here in that regard. But you know, it wasn’t directly straight out of grad school straight here. We went to Pennsylvania for a year and then we went to Charleston, where we were together for a year, working in the same department of the College of Charleston. And then I got a job here. So, I came up here, and then we lived apart for a year. And then you (Dr. McAdams) got a job here. And then you came up here. So now we’re here, and this is where we’ve been.
What is it like working with your spouse?
Dr. McAdams: I think it’s fun; part of that is because our relationship was built on a very strong friendship, to begin with, and we just work well together. We enjoy spending time together. And I think having come from a similar education, we have a very similar perspective and approach to political science as a discipline, but also, both coming from liberal arts colleges, how we want the liberal arts experience to be. We share a common vision that I think makes working together easy. It was a little bit easier for me at least when we were living in Simpsonville because I had about 30 minutes to go from being colleagues in the department who just happened to be married, and then when we would go back home, we were a married couple who just happened to work together.
Dr. McAdams: Some other married couples said, “I don’t think I could do this with my spouse” and I can’t imagine not having someone who understands the pressures of my job and has a similar lifestyle of having summers off and understands the research that I’m doing. Being a professor is very much a part of who I am, and so having a partner who shares that identity with me turned out great.
Dr. Lance: Plus, we’ve never known each other any other way.
Dr. Lance, how would you describe her teaching style and Dr. McAdams, how would you describe his?
Dr. Lance: Oh, her teaching style, I think, is very organized. She stays very much on point with what she wants to convey and very much makes sure the students know what she’s teaching before she moves forward on things. That’s something that I could do a better job at. (Says in between laughs.)
Dr. McAdams: I think his teaching style is more organic and that he kind of goes with the flow of where the conversation goes. He also brings in a lot more, a lot more videos, and a lot more media. And I think that’s particularly important when you’re teaching about different places around the world to students that don’t necessarily have a good understanding.
It’s wonderful to hear that you said you’re trying to be more like her, and you’re trying to be more like him. All right. I guess our last question will be if you have any advice for the young couples at PC.
Dr. Lance: Remember, you’re still young. I think a lot of people want to jump into a relationship or want to do things without really realizing that there is a world after PC. And so, you know, neither one of us ended up with our college sweethearts, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
They have a very long time and they’ll find where they’re going to go.
Dr. McAdams: I think that it’s important to have a strong friendship that underlines any relationship, any romantic relationship. Having that just allows you to give the other person a little more grace sometimes. I think making sure that there’s enjoyment in spending time together.
Well, thank you so much for your time.