Jenn McClearen, Ph.D.

I’m an academic writing coach and developmental editor and a former professor at a research university.

I draw on over a decade inside the “publish or perish” system and years of experience supporting graduate students, faculty at all career stages, postdocs, and independent scholars in building sustainable writing practices and publishing their work.

My Mission

The institutional frameworks of neoliberal institutions stifle the important efforts of many scholars who are deeply committed to social change, such as improving education, eliminating gender and racial injustices, combating climate change, or other critical scholarship and teaching. 

I'm on a mission to help scholars produce the critical research the world needs from them, on terms that actually fit their lives. 

My Background

A woman with dark hair styled in a sleek updo, smiling, cross arms, wearing a white blazer and a beaded necklace, standing outdoors with a blurred natural background.

My primary areas of scholarly expertise include media and cultural studies, sports studies, feminisms, gender, race, and sexuality, and I regularly work with scholars across the humanities and qualitative social sciences.

I struggled as an academic writer early in my PhD at the University of Washington. I have a deep understanding of the difficulties faced when trying to navigate the unforgiving "publish or perish" culture.

I embarked on a personal quest to learn how to effectively manage my academic career while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. These invaluable lessons propelled me through a successful tenure-track position at the University of Texas at Austin, where I won several awards for both research and teaching excellence.

I had weathered the storm, but I was determined to make the voyage easier for others. This drive led me to create Publish Not Perish, an academic writing newsletter and podcast for scholars who want to write more—without burning out.

After some deep soul-searching, I resigned from my tenure-track faculty position in 2024 to focus on what truly ignites me: helping other scholars design careers aligned with their values to effect meaningful change in society and for the planet. 

I earned my Associate Certified Coach credential in November 2025 with the International Coaching Federation, the gold standard in coach education. I was also certified as a neurodivergent inclusive coach through In Good Company UK Ltd. in July 2026.

Dr. McClearen's Academic Profile

5 Things to Know About Me

  • Person in graduation cap and gown holding a katana sword horizontally in front of their face with lush green foliage in the background.

    #1

    My scholarly background in feminist and cultural studies drives my commitment to exposing power disparities and dismantling various ideologies through my work.

  • Group of around 20 people smiling and posing for a photo in a room with large windows and city skyline in the background.

    #2

    While I critique academia, my time as a professor holds a special place in my heart, and I fully support my clients striving for institutional change!

  • Black and white photo of a female athlete in fighting stance, wearing a hoodie and gloves, with overlay text 'Fighting Visibility: Sports Media and Female Athletes in the UFC' in purple, black, and blue.

    #3

    I authored a national award-winning book on women, labor, and mixed martial arts, and I'm currently writing another for scholars on navigating the neoliberal academy.

  • Female Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner in a white gi with black belt, smiling in front of a wall with a large black and white logo that reads 'Integração Jiu Jitsu.'

    #4

    I am a black belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu and have spent more than 18 years practicing martial arts.

  • Two smiling people, one woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat and one man with short red hair, holding two dogs, near a creek surrounded by trees.

    #5

    My partner and I, along with our two fur babies, relocated to the Netherlands in summer 2024! 🇳🇱

Work With Me