Sweet Revenge in Academia: How One PhD Turned a Department Chair's Betrayal Into a Mic-Drop Moment
Imagine working for years toward your PhD, balancing research, teaching, and the rollercoaster of academic life—only to have your dream job yanked away at the last possible second. For u/Aljribi, a Redditor and international scholar, this wasn’t just a plot twist. It was a gut punch with real-life consequences: a career in jeopardy, a family to support, and an immigration status on the line. But sometimes, karma writes the best punchlines.
This is the story of one academic’s epic comeback—and the delicious moment he got to rub it in to the very person who tried to derail his future.
The Set-Up: When Academia Plays Dirty
Academia has a reputation for being a land of tweed jackets, chalk dust, and, if you believe the talk in faculty lounges, cutthroat politics that make “Game of Thrones” look like a polite garden party. When u/Aljribi was invited by his department chair to apply for a Visiting Assistant Professor position—a crucial step for his career and his ability to stay in the U.S.—it seemed like the reward for years of hard work. The chair even assured him that the department needed him to teach key courses.
But as spring turned to summer, the rug was abruptly pulled out. In May (a time when almost every academic job worth having has already been filled), the chair told him the position was canceled with a dismissive, “Go figure something else out.” As u/imhereforthevotes put it in the comments, “This is the kind of bullshit that is absolutely unconscionable but happens relatively frequently in academia. And I say this as an academic. It's awful.”
For an international scholar, the stakes were even higher. Without a university position, his legal right to stay in the country—along with his family’s stability—was under threat. The timing of the rescinding was, in the words of another commenter, “unforgivable.”
Against the Odds: A Twist of Fate (and a New Lease on Life)
With over 60 job applications sent out—most met with polite rejections due to the late timing—u/Aljribi’s chances looked bleak. But then, in a twist worthy of a Hollywood script, he landed not one, but two offers: one in his field (Aerospace Engineering) and another in Mechanical Engineering at a public university in the same state.
He chose the latter. Yes, it meant breaking his lease (and paying dearly for it), but it also meant a path to a tenure-track Assistant Professor role—a leap forward from the temporary, less secure visiting position he’d originally been offered. As one commenter, u/Excellent-Shape-2024, pointed out, “The best revenge is a life well lived.” The community agreed: success and moving on are the ultimate forms of poetic justice.
The Conference Confrontation: Sweet, Petty Revenge Served Cold
Fast-forward to the next academic conference. There, in a sea of lanyards and poster sessions, fate delivered an encore: a face-to-face with the very department chair who’d left him in the lurch. The chair, perhaps expecting tales of struggle, asked how things were going. The response? Pure gold.
u/Aljribi told him that not only had he landed a permanent, tenure-track position, but he was helping launch a new Aerospace Engineering program at his (public, more affordable) university. “So, you will be our competitor?” the chair asked, a hint of discomfort creeping in. The reply: “No, not just competitors. I know your university is struggling with the courses I used to teach. Since your institution is private and expensive, and we are a public university, I plan to recruit all those students to my program instead.” And then, with a tip of the hat, “Thank you for getting rid of me.”
As u/TararaBoomDA said in the top comment: “Well played.” And u/will7179 agreed: “I would have rubbed it in to see the look on their face.” Sometimes, the best closure is knowing you’ve become the competition.
Lessons Learned: The Dark Side of Academia—and the Power of Persistence
The comments section became a therapy session for academics and students alike. Many, like u/RaisedByBooksNTV, shared stories of international students being left vulnerable by sudden job changes or administrative indifference. “Your all's vulnerability makes me feel anxious,” they wrote. “I've personally seen at least one person get screwed re a job at the very last minute...I’m so happy for you.”
u/Aljribi chimed in with an update: his own immigration journey has been a “mess,” but he’s secured his I-140 (a key green card step) and is dedicated to making his new program welcoming, even for community college transfers. “Everyone deserves a chance, and that is what we are trying to provide,” he said. The story resonated deeply—as u/El-ite_96369 put it, “Not all heroes wear capes!” Sometimes, they wear lab coats and carry syllabi.
Let’s not forget the lighter side. When u/Appropriate-Battle32 asked, “Did you drop the mic?” and another replied, “if he did, it has to be a Shure SM58 ;)”—the classic mic-drop model—u/Aljribi laughed, “I should have done so! Better late than never.”
The Takeaway: Karma, Community, and the Joy of Petty (But Justified) Revenge
If this story teaches us anything, it’s that setbacks—no matter how unfair—can sometimes set the stage for even bigger comebacks. The academic world is full of its own drama, but with grit, luck, and maybe a little petty revenge, the tables can turn.
So to all the unsung heroes out there fighting for their place in academia (or any field): keep going, take the high road, and don’t be afraid to savor your victories. And if you ever find yourself at a conference, facing the people who doubted you—don’t forget your mic.
What would you have done in this situation? Have you ever served up some well-deserved petty revenge? Share your stories in the comments below!
Original Reddit Post: Was I in the wrong for rubbing it in to the department chair?