2024 NCA Institute for Faculty Development at Duquesne University
The 2024 NCA Institute for Faculty Development (IFFD), formerly known as the "Hope Conference," was held July 15-19 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. The general purpose of the IFFD is to stay abreast of ongoing changes and issues in communication theory and research, with an eye to enriching instructional insights and practices. This five-day conference offers participants an opportunity to network with fellow undergraduate scholar-teachers and learn from and with leading scholars in the field.
This year's Scholar-in-Residence was Andre Johnson, Ph.D., whose focus is Rhetoric, Race, and Religion. Workshop topics included toxic interpersonal relationships, communication ethics in the workplace, research methods, community engagement, Kenneth Burke, Andy Warhol and the communication ethics of branding, political communication, generative AI, alternative perceptions and conceptions of sound, integrated marketing communication, and more.
Following a presentation by Sarah Deluliis, Ph.D., on Andy Warhol, the Philosophy of Ethics and Branding in Communication, the entire Institute took an excursion to the Andy Warhol museum on Wednesday. Ryan D'Souza, Ph.D., also presented on Music and Culture, inviting two community members to present on the topic of "Appreciating Indian Music."
Though a complete report of the event is still in progress and will be delivered to the National Office, one of the organizers, Katherine Thweatt, Ph.D., said she expects to include at least two early unexpected outcomes of the conference in their report. According to her:
- Facilitators engaged as participants when they were not facilitating. This created an enriching experience for everyone.
- There was increased interest in involvement in NCA on the part of an international participant.
Janie Harden Fritz, Ph.D., agreed, writing: "We were delighted to include a focus on the community, given the excursion to Warhol and the inclusion of community members in one of the sessions. Although we had been working implicitly with a focus on local engagement from the start, seeing this emphasis develop as it did was gratifying."
A full list of presenters and their topics follows:
1. Andre E. Johnson - Keynote Address
2. Theodore F. Sheckels - Political Communication
3. Naomi Bell O’Neil - Research Methods
4. Danielle R. Mehlman-Brightwell - Generative AI
5. Richard H. Thames - Kenneth Burke
6. Jeanne M. Persuit - Integrated Marketing Communication
7. Amanda McKendree - Crisis Communication
8. Megan R. Dillow - Toxic Interpersonal Relationships
9. Erik Garrett and Carla Richards - Community Engaged Teaching and Research
10. Ryan D’Souza - Music and Culture
11. Sarah Deluliis - Andy Warhol/Philosophy of Ethics and Branding in Communication