For many faculty, stepping into a department chair role can feel like a detour—an administrative obligation that pulls time and energy away from research, teaching, and personal goals. But the chair position doesn’t have to be a pause in your career. When approached with intention, it can be a strategic opportunity for growth, visibility, and … Read more
Author: Fred A. Bonner II, EdD For researchers in general, and tenure-track faculty in particular, perhaps the most critical task they must engage is to develop a clear and concise research agenda that will serve as the scaffolding for a career in Academe or also the workforce beyond the Academy. From developing a researchable topic to … Read more
Connect Your Strategic Priorities to Targeted Faculty Development Your institution’s goals — from increasing faculty retention and research output to fostering a culture of support — all depend on one thing: your faculty’s success. That’s where NCFDD comes in. We work with colleges and universities to align their strategic priorities with proven, research-based faculty development … Read more
What Does a Happy Future Look Like? Let’s Talk at AASCU 2025. 📍 July 15-17, 2025 | Indianapolis, IN | Booth #X As public universities navigate rising uncertainty—tight budgets, shifting demographics, AI disruptions, and growing skepticism about higher education—one thing is clear: faculty well-being is central to institutional resilience. That’s why we’re heading to the … Read more
For new and experienced department chairs alike, leadership can feel isolating. You’re expected to manage conflict, mentor faculty, make strategic decisions, and balance countless priorities—often without any formal preparation. That’s exactly why we launched the Department Chair Success Program (CSP). After welcoming our inaugural cohort, one thing became clear: when chairs are supported, everything changes. … Read more
Author: NCFDD For many faculty, the biggest barrier to consistent writing isn’t a lack of ideas—it’s time. Or more accurately, how time feels. Unstructured. Fragmented. Constantly overtaken by urgent demands. It’s easy to blame teaching loads or service expectations (and yes, those are real). But underneath the surface, many faculty wrestle with deeper issues: guilt … Read more
By Danielle Bainbridge, PhD, Assistant Professor, Northwestern University Many academics share a commitment to bring our work and expertise to a wider audience outside of our own classrooms. This could be through video web series, podcasts, op eds, online articles, building our own websites, and so much more. I think one of the biggest mistakes … Read more
It’s not uncommon for mid-career professors to feel conflicted about going for a promotion to full professor. Once tenure is earned, it’s easy to fall into a routine and say yes to everything you are asked to do, like engaging in too many service activities that could get in the way of the activities that … Read more
Author: NCFDD Uncertainty is a constant in higher education today. As we conclude the Navigating Uncertainty webinar series with the final session, Building Resilience, we reflect on how faculty and academic leaders can embrace change and adapt to the challenges of an unpredictable academic environment. From funding instability to the personal and professional pressures faculty face, navigating uncertainty … Read more
One of the most pervasive problems with academic writers is perfectionism. It’s ubiquitous and manifests in so many unfortunate ways. There is a unique flavor to academic perfectionism, and it is exacerbated by the culture of colleges and universities (particularly for tenure-track faculty members). Many perfectionists are painfully aware of their problem but many of … Read more