Beyond Burnout: Small Shifts That Help Faculty Recharge and Refocus

Relaxing

Burnout in higher education is widespread and deeply felt. Faculty are teaching, mentoring, researching, and serving their institutions all at once. The workload rarely slows down, and many academics find themselves running on empty long before the semester ends. What was once fulfilling can start to feel like survival. Recognizing burnout is not a sign … Read more

The AIs Go Marching On: Finding Our Way with AI in Education

Finding Our Way with AI in Education Webinar

Watch the Recording: The AIs Go Marching On: Finding Our Way with AI in Education Host:Lance Eaton, PhD – Senior Associate Director, Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning Through Research, Northeastern University Navigating the New Frontier: Making Sense of AI in Higher Education AI has arrived in our classrooms, whether we invited it or not. In … Read more

SREB Institute on Teaching & Mentoring

SREB Institute on Teaching and Mentoring

Theme: Collective Brilliance: Advancing Research, Mentorship and Leadership 📍 October 30–November 2, 2025 | Atlanta, GA We’re excited to announce that NCFDD will be attending the 2025 Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, hosted by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). The conference theme, “Collective Brilliance: Advancing Research, Mentorship and Leadership,” aligns perfectly with our commitment … Read more

Free Department Chair’s Survival Guide

Chair's Survival Guide Preview Image

Lead with clarity, confidence, and balance starting today. Stepping into the chair role can feel overwhelming. This guide from NCFDD offers proven strategies to help you lead effectively, support your faculty, and protect your own well-being. Download Your Free Guide Becoming a department chair is one of the most complex transitions in academia. You are … Read more

From Isolation to Impact: The Role of Community in Securing Research Funding

From-Isolation-to-Impact-The-Role-of-Community-in-Securing-Research-Funding

Securing research funding has always required persistence, but for many faculty, the process now feels increasingly solitary and increasingly uncertain. Traditional sources of support, like federal grants, are harder to access. Research offices are overextended. And the work of identifying funders, tailoring proposals, and navigating institutional requirements often falls squarely on individual shoulders. The result? Faculty are … Read more

Stop Going It Alone: How Academic Community Fuels Real Progress

academic community

Faculty life is often described as a balancing act. Teaching, research, service, and personal responsibilities compete for attention, and the instinct for many academics is to grit their teeth and simply push harder. Late nights, working through weekends, and skipping breaks are treated as badges of honor. The message is clear: if you are strong … Read more

Building Strong Peer Communities: A Resource for Leadership and Advancement

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

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

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