Creating a Professional Website
As a graduate student, you might be surprised how many people Google your name to learn about you. That group could include students considering taking your class, future project collaborators, conference attendees, search committee members, potential employers, postdoctoral supervisors—and that’s just a start. A personal academic website allows you to control your image so all of those online visitors see just what you want them to see: a professional, accomplished academic.
With many free, customizable platforms available, you can showcase your unique expertise, credentials, research, publications, teaching experience, service projects, and speaking engagements (past and upcoming). Essentially, an academic website keeps all your work housed in one place, so anyone looking to find out more about you and your expertise can do so easily.
Posting links to your published articles on your site can also amplify the impact of your scholarly work by generating interest and driving more traffic. Those extra hits can improve your search engine ranking, too, since Google algorithms favor content that’s frequently linked and cited.
The superabundance of choices can feel overwhelming. Plus, if you’re willing to pay $15 a year or so for a domain, your options multiply. You may want to start narrowing them down by asking around your department to see what your colleagues are using.
One free platform is Google Sites. You can access it by logging in to Google Workspace using your WMU account and email. Google Sites allows you to choose from a few basic themes and display as much or as little as you want. The downside is that, unless you pay for a short, unique domain like “YOURNAME.com,” your domain will appear as “sites.google.com/view/YOURNAME.”
Another free and beginner-friendly option is Wix, which offers 500 MB of storage. Popular low-cost options include Weebly and WordPress.
Many academic organizations and businesses have their own Facebook pages, so it’s a logical question. Here are a few strong reasons why an individual academic website would be a better option than a social media page for you as a graduate student.
First, social media leaves you susceptible to random posts that could tarnish rather than burnish your reputation. You could attract the wrong kind of followers, or inadvertently discourage those followers you do want. Someone may also have an issue with Facebook or X (formerly Twitter), both of which continue to roil with controversy in the news. And some potential visitors may simply prefer a clear separation between the personal and the professional.
Bottom line: Creating a sleek, professional website that’s dedicated solely to your academic work will give you more control and the right kind of exposure.
Think of your academic website as your online CV. You want to highlight the accomplishments that demonstrate your ingenuity, perseverance, and all-around employability. Examples:
- Research interests and areas of expertise
- Links to any published work
- Papers you’ve presented at conferences
- Titles of courses you’ve taught or co-taught
- Awards you’ve received
- Service and volunteer experience
- Membership in professional organizations
Include an “About” page with your contact info, and a brief description of your scholarly and (if you like) personal interests. It’s up to you if you want to include a photo of yourself, but it can help visitors link your face to your work and recognize you at conferences.
Remember, though: Your academic website should not moonlight as a personal blog. This site is not the place to opine about the meager pay of a teaching assistant, praise the ingenuity of your pets, or comment on the state of the world. Keep the language and content professional, recognizing that future colleagues and prospective employers can access your website anytime.
Once you’ve finished developing your site, share the link with friends and colleagues and ask for their feedback and suggestions.
Revisit your site often (at least twice a semester) to add any new accomplishments. Also, make a habit of reviewing and updating your site before you go to conferences or social gatherings. New people you meet there could (and, hopefully, will) look you up to learn more about you and your work.