I am deeply grateful to the National Communication Association for my first international faculty development opportunity through the Institute for Faculty Development (IFD) and Duquesne University. I extend sincere appreciation to program organizers Ryan D’Souza, Janie Fritz, and Katherine Thweatt, for creating such an engaging and inclusive environment.
As a first-time NCA participant, I approached each session with genuine curiosity. Three domains particularly impacted my academic understanding. Sarah Tracy’s presentation on qualitative research methods within an AI-integrated landscape was illuminating. Her Big Tent framework for evaluating rigorous qualitative research, coupled with insights into how artificial intelligence can enhance research quality, provided valuable methodological perspectives, which I will incorporate into future work. The Digital Media and Culture sessions, led by Cheryll Soriano, Jess Rauchberg, and Jessica Maddox, offered fresh perspectives on leveraging digital platforms for classroom engagement and research. I must also highlight Nessa Keddo and Omedi Ochieng’s exceptional contributions on Diversity and Africana philosophy, respectively, which significantly broadened my scholarly perspective.
Participating from India presented unique challenges. The time difference meant attending sessions as late as 1:30 a.m. local time – a schedule that considerably pushed my boundaries. However, every late-night session justified the sleep deprivation. The dedication and enthusiasm of organizers and participants, and presenters content seemed so engaging that I almost forgot geographical boundaries. The program largely met my expectations of gaining research and teaching insights. I sought innovative areas for scholarship and pedagogy, leaving with numerous actionable ideas. The only minor limitation was occasionally insufficient time during breakout discussions to fully contribute my perspectives, though this is understandable given the comprehensive agenda.
What impressed me most was each presenter’s commitment to their subject matter – from historical contextualization through problem identification to practical application. The integration of theory, essential readings, and praxis demonstrated how global socio-cultural perspectives can be meaningfully incorporated into academic work. Discussions surrounding AI’s role in teaching and research were especially relevant and will directly inform my classroom practices. The breakout room discussions were lively, offering unique glimpses into diverse classroom environments and teaching philosophies. The welcoming nature of fellow participants made exchanges both comfortable and productive.
While overwhelmingly positive, I suggest two enhancements: providing recorded sessions through YouTube or the NCA database would benefit international participants facing time zone conflicts, and facilitating networking through shared contact information could foster valuable research collaborations.
My most significant takeaway extends beyond excellent content, and it was the genuine intellectual community that emerged through virtual conversations. Engaging with fellow educators who share similar passions and student challenges reminded me of our profession’s collaborative spirit.
And, I conclude with profound gratitude to the NCA and entire IFD team. You have expanded my knowledge base and renewed my enthusiasm for teaching and scholarly inquiry, preparing me to approach my work with fresh perspectives and enhanced confidence. I eagerly look forward to the next IFD from NCA.
Nambiar is professor in the NMIMS Kirit P. Mehta School of Law in India.
By Rayna Batool
This one week was an experience of constant learning, involving group communication, resolving classroom issues, constructing dynamic pedagogies, sharing classroom stories, and approaching diversity from different perspectives. I was the only graduate student in this prestigious workshop, and I noticed a significant difference in my pedagogy and research cultivation following this training. The outstanding collaboration of the organizers made the event a success, and I would like to congratulate the team and express my gratitude for the opportunity to be part of this intellectual event.
Dr. Sarah Tracy’s lecture on qualitative research enhanced AI understanding while conducting qualitative research. I also had office hours with Dr. Tracy, and I received significant feedback on my own work. Her one simple response regarding participant selection for my project has guided me further in the data collection process. One of my favorite days was July 9, when we discussed the plans for next IFFD. It was a very collaborative session, where I had many opportunities to share my perspective with the entire team. We discussed the current war situation, including human rights violations in Kashmir, Gaza, and Ukraine, and offered suggestions for future conferences on these topics. All the peers shared future planning suggestions and recommendations, and I think that moment was exciting for everyone to share their thoughts and recommend faculty for the next workshop.
On Friday, we had Dr. Jessica Maddox, who discussed the importance of social media in the classroom. I never realized the importance of social media in this way before. I asked questions about the privacy policy of these social media platforms, and she navigated the whole conversation through good examples. She infused a new spirit into the mechanization of social media in the classroom through various approaches, and she shared her syllabus with us. I asked students to bring a part of their social media into the classroom, if they are comfortable, such as a picture or a video they want to share as a metaphor. This workshop helped me—centering students in the classroom, asking them to structure an activity, adopt a public speaker/leader for public speaking skills, and create their own groups.
As 2025 is a year of war and chaos, I literally missed a scholar who could have talked about peace, misinformation, and the role of media. A postcolonial or decolonial scholar from South Asia can be a good fit in the next workshop. It was not only an opportunity to listen and learn, but I believe this workshop instilled the confidence to be a more effective instructor in my classroom and a better researcher. The inclusiveness of this workshop was exceptional and well structured. Five days might seem like a lot, but the workshop was very relaxing due to the breaks and the way the presenters structured their lectures with group activities. If you are a graduate student or faculty member interested in applying for IFFD, I highly recommend doing so, as it will enable you to be more innovative and dynamic as an educator and researcher.
Batool is a doctoral student in the School of Communication Studies, Ohio University.
For only the second time in more than 50 years, and the first time since the COVID pandemic, this year’s NCA Institute for Faculty Development was held July 7-11 online (Zoom), allowing about 60 faculty members from the USA and other countries to participate. (When the Institute has been held...