Kim Cotzias

Building Strong Peer Communities: A Resource for Leadership and Advancement

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building peer communities

Author: Chrystal Bruce, PhD, Associate Dean, John Carroll University The NSF ADVANCE Partnership Project, Advancing STEM Careers by Empowering Network Development (ASCEND), was conceived to support the professional advancement of mid-career women STEM faculty and administrators. Through this collaboration, we created regional peer-to-peer networks and provided participant-informed education, training, and professional support to equip faculty … Read more

Closing the Year with Intention: Reflections Before Reset

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end of year reflection

Author: NCFDD As the academic year draws to a close, it is tempting to focus only on the next set of deadlines, the next proposal, or the next project waiting for intention. The culture of higher education often rewards forward motion, yet meaningful progress requires a pause. Reflection is not a luxury. It is a … Read more

Rethinking Your Research Funding: A Conversation with Franco Montalto, PhD

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rethinking your research funding course franco montalto

Author: NCFDD Ahead of the start of our new Rethinking Your Research Funding course, we’re spotlighting the experts who helped shape the curriculum. Franco Montalto, PhD, is one such contributor, bringing extensive experience working across federal, state, local, and industry-funded projects. Franco is a Professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at … Read more

Rethinking Your Research Funding: A Conversation with Sabrina Noel, PhD, RD

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research funding subject matter expert sabrina noel

Author: NCFDD Ahead of the start of our new Rethinking Your Research Funding course, we’re spotlighting the experts who helped shape the curriculum. Sabrina Noel, PhD, RD is one such brilliant mind, who brings years of research and faculty expertise to the course.  Sabrina is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health at … Read more

Rethinking Your Research Funding: A New Course for Today’s Faculty

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research funding course

Federal funding has long been the gold standard for research support, but today’s realities tell a different story. Award rates are shrinking, political climates are shifting, and many scholars are left scrambling to keep their work afloat. Faculty who once relied on NIH or NSF grants alone are now asking: what other options exist? That … Read more

Flawed by Design: The Problem with Teaching Reviews for Tenure (and What to Do About It)

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flawed tenure process

Author: Chavella T. Pittman, PhD, Effective & Efficient Faculty Most campus procedures for reviewing teaching for retention, tenure, and promotion run counter to best and evidence-based practices. This means that faculty must be intentional and proactive about their teaching review materials.  This is especially important for diverse faculty because we often face unfair teaching threats … Read more

Embracing Innovation in Academia: How Faculty Can Leverage AI Without Losing Their Voice

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AI in academia

Author: NCFDD Artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education. Tools that can generate text, summarize sources, or analyze data are now freely available to anyone with an internet connection. For faculty, this shift brings both opportunity and uncertainty. Will AI accelerate research or diminish originality? Will it enrich teaching or undermine student learning? The answer depends … Read more

From Burnout to Renewal: Rethinking Mid-Career in Academia

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burnout mid career acaemia

When you first imagined your academic career, you may have pictured the mid-career stage as a time of ease. Tenure would be behind you, the pressure of constant evaluation would lessen, and you would finally have the freedom to pursue the work you love. For many faculty, the reality looks very different. Instead of freedom, … Read more

Rethinking Your Research Funding: A Conversation with Jolie Sheffer, PhD

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rethinking your research funding

Author: NCFDD Ahead of the launch of our new Rethinking Your Research Funding course, we are spotlighting the experts who helped shape the curriculum. Jolie Sheffer, PhD is one of those experts, bringing deep experience as both a faculty member and an academic leader to the conversation.  As Associate Dean in the College of Arts … Read more

5 Questions Every Faculty Member Should Ask Before Their Next Grant Cycle

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grant funding strategy

Securing research funding is a high-stakes process for faculty. Whether you are applying for your first major grant or working to sustain a long-term project, the time and energy you invest is significant, and competition continues to rise. Before starting your next proposal, asking the right questions can help you focus your efforts, strengthen your … Read more