Firstly, I would focus on opening principles. If you're a professor can you afford a handful of coaching lessons? The handful I've had made a LOT of difference to me.
A good first goal? I think you should just go and play a good few more games until your rating settles down to what seems like it's natural place at this point in time. I see you've played 2 games thus far. The 1st, your opening could have been better. You also didn't seem to recognise the mate threat and so didn't react to it. Your 2nd game, your opening was better but you didn't recognise what white was doing on the kingside (with their bishop and knight) and ended up blundering your queen. All of this recognition comes with experience.
At this point, like I say, check out the opening principles and practice applying those first. Get a good 10 or 20 more games under your belt (maybe more) and then take stock of what you feel you are doing right and wrong.
Good luck!
I want to advance. How do I get a rating? My likelihood of being amazing is slim, what is a good goal to shoot for?
If being a grandmaster is a competitive marathon, I think I might be able to train for a 10k or half marathon, what is the rating equivalent?
I am not ambitious, I just want a thorough understanding and be able to hold my own. I am a professor, I should be able to do this.