Mr. and Mrs. Ph.d.: The life of married professors

By Meredith Keller

Daily Arts writer

Amidst the hustle and bustle of leading our lectures, handing out homework and administering exams, marriages among University professors make the grade. Ignoring the workplace wives-tales and marital myths, which advise colleagues against couplehood, these partnered professors prove that it does work.

Psychology Prof. Charles Behling said, while it is a plus to have a spouse with similar academic interests and career understandings, these were not his marital motives when he met fellow Psychology Professor Jennifer Crocker on a blind date. "This was just the person that I wanted to be married to, who I was head over heels in love with," he said. A married couple since 1987 and University colleagues since a joint transfer brought them from the University of Buffalo in 1995. Both professors' fields of interest are centered on issues of social diversity and social justice.

However, there is not a direct crossover between their actual work. As Behling suggests, while he and his wife share similar professional interests, Crocker "is more of a researcher ... and I am more interested in applied programs and action related to social justice." So while their work does not overlap, in true marital fashion, they "compliment each other" nonetheless.

This relationship characteristic is particularly helpful when faced with common work-related demands, which Behling suggests can "feel like we're both in a pressure cooker." Sharing similar work-related pressures, however, provides for a more intuitive understanding of each other's needs, as both colleagues and as a couple.

"We're just clear on our commitment to our relationship," Behling said, "And clear that work is important to each of us." Similar to Behling and Crocker's relationship, this notion of professional understanding is equally prevalent and relevant within the Saxonhouse's marriage as well.

Political Science Prof. Arlene Saxonhouse said one of the greatest advantages in being married to a fellow professor is having a companion who "understands the unique pressure of the job."

Married for 36 years to Economics Professor Gary Saxonhouse, the partnered professors suggest that in addition to having comparable lifestyles, one of the greatest benefits of having a common career is the luxury of synchronized scheduling. "The flexibility of the profession is a real upside," Arlene said.

Her husband said he fully agrees. "Being a professor is not a nine to five job, so you have a lot more control over your time," he said. Despite the flexibility of their schedules, however, in their 28 years of teaching together at Michigan, the Saxonhouses have only attended each other's lectures once.

"It's one thing (to lecture) in front of my students," Arlene Saxonhouse said, "but it's another thing in front of my husband, because he's also my sharpest critic."

Aside from intellectual critique, however, is there a downside to marrying a fellow professor?

Gary said one of the greatest challenges is "job mobility," and in particular finding jobs at the same universities.

Arlene notes, "We have both had other offers, (but) you have to evaluate all the issues and assess the interests of each of us."

And above all, Arlene said that, as with most marriages, it often requires "a lot of compromise." So students, take note, there will be a test on this material (perhaps later in your own married lives).

It's all fine until they get a divorce and she takes half the icing.

Family Stats

In 1998 there were 70.9 million family and 31.6 nonfamily households

49 percent of family households had own children under 18 living at home

14.4 percent of family households had own children 18 and older living at home

27.3 percent of family households with children under 18 are managed by single parents

2.1 million father-child family groups

9.8 million mother-child family groups (42.2 percent of mothers had never been married)

Families had an average of 3.18 members

Weekend, Etc. editor