Academic careers are often thought of as having a traditional path that most faculty will follow, yet in reality there are many unique ways that individuals enter and navigate through their academic careers. While I followed a particularly unorthodox pathway, along the way I benefited from several supporting and collaborative communities. There is power in finding your community and my successes in microbiology education and research are directly related to the communities to which I belong. I will share my academic journey and the communities that have supported me along the way.
