Doctor and Professor
In their careers, some people may be referred to as doctors and professors, and although the two addresses appear different, they are also closely connected. While typically being thought of as a medical specialist, a doctor is an honorary title awarded to anyone who has achieved the highest degree in their chosen domain (Koshal, 2012). Accordingly, doctors are individuals who have passed doctorate exams or PhDs (Koshal, 2012). If doctors decide to pursue a teaching career, they can become professors (Koshal, 2012). Consequently, a professor is a job title vested to a senior faculty member of a college or university (Koshal, 2012). Although to become a professor, one must have experience in several lower-ranking teaching positions; all professors must first obtain their PhDs (Koshal, 2012). Therefore, doctors are recognized experts in their fields of study, whereas professors are experienced educators who have doctorate degrees.
Dean and Principal
Two occupations that appear to be often confused are dean and principal. The former is a senior administrator responsible for an academic unit at a college or university, whereas the latter is also a head administrator but the one overseeing all operations of a school (Climb, 2022). A dean reports to the university’s provost or president and is accountable for multiple aspects of their academic unit, including forming a budget, designing a curriculum, and managing human resources (Climb, 2022). In comparison, a principal leads their educational facility but also allocates budgets and supervises the personnel (Climb, 2022). A notable distinction between the two professions is that despite both working in educational environments, deans have more administrative duties than principals (Climb, 2022). Accordingly, the former usually performs in offices, while the latter can frequently be seen in classrooms (Climb, 2022). Consequently, a dean and a principal are important players in the academic system, but they operate on different levels.
References
Climb. (2022). Dean vs. principal: What are the differences? [Lecture notes].
Koshal. (2012). Difference between doctor and professor. Difference Between. Web.