From the President
Dear NCA Members, I am delighted to share this edition of spectra, which focuses on crucial topics in the Communication discipline. As our field continues to address new and evolving challenges and opportunities, it is essential that we continue to examine the focus of our scholarship, including our research practices,…
From the President: Introduction
Dear NCA Members, It is with great enthusiasm that I present to you the latest edition of Spectra. Packed with insightful articles, updates, and opportunities tailored specifically to our members, Spectra serves as an important connection point for all of us. Communication, now more than ever, must be at…
From the President – With a Will
When I struggle to find the words, I turn to poetry. Tonight, I am drawn to three poems. Cemal Süreya (1931-1990), a Turkish poet, in “Now Sweetheart” wrote: One of my favorite poets, Nayyirah Waheed,…
From the President – To Be Seen, Heard in NCA and the Discipline
Ahlan wa sahlan (“Welcome” in Arabic) to my first Spectra column as President of the National Communication Association. January 1 marked the beginning of my year of service as NCA’s President. My primary purpose in this role, as I see it, is to help create the conditions for each of…
From the President – Professional Associations and Political Engagements
“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.,“The Death of Evil upon the Seashore” sermon given at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City, May 17, 1956 The task of retaining one’s faith and resolve…
From the President – Envisioning NCA’s Future
As I write this first Spectra column since assuming the presidency of our association, I am humbled by the responsibility of undertaking this leadership mantle and exhilarated by the opportunity to serve. In the two years that I have had the honor of being an NCA officer, together we have…
From the President – Advancing Change in the Discipline
In my first presidential column for Spectra, I noted that one of the strengths of the Communication discipline is that the changing nature of what we study requires continued inquiry and innovation. Academic pursuits within the discipline have the potential to be continuously active and dynamic, and the potential for…
From the President – Convergence in the Discipline
Few other disciplines can match the expansiveness of Communication. Such expansiveness can be regarded as one of the many strengths of the discipline. This particular strength, however, is also one of the discipline’s potential weaknesses, sometimes resulting in the separation of scholars and the subsequent disconnection of scholarship. Communication scholars…