What is Currere

After surviving 25 years in academia, one faculty member questions whether being the target of nefarious queen bees is worth the career impact, state of one's mental well-being, and bearing upon one's quality of life. After initiating an academic career as a novice assistant professor, attaining tenure and promotion to associate professor, and ultimately achieving promotion to professor, the case study focuses upon the faculty member's questions around relevancy and whether the impact of queen bees upon the creation of a toxic work environment is worth remaining in a situation that chips away at one's academic triad passions of teaching, research, and service. This case study will focus upon aspects of academia that are directly impacted by queen bees, sharing narrative understandings and experiences through a storytelling that takes on a Currere Method style of engagement in what may be described as a complex, difficult conversation.