When I was in college, the woman teaching my history class introduced herself by saying, "You may call me 'Jane' or 'Professor Smith,' but nothing else."

My students routinely call me Professor, even though technically I'm a lecturer (and a grad student for a couple more weeks). I tell them to call me "Leslie" or "Ms. Madsen-Brooks."

Last week, another woman professor told me a student addressed her as "Mrs. Feliciano." "I had to explain to him," she said, "why that wasn't OK."