An invitation to teach in the School of Communication is a coveted honor, yet for post-doctoral fellows, PhD candidates, and early career faculty, the process can be fraught with questions about resources, pathways to advancement, and research funding. To address these concerns, the School launched last fall CommFutures: The SoC Mentoring and Development Initiative, a program of conversations and workshops designed to provide guidance and support to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty just beginning in their fields.

Spearheaded by Dean E. Patrick Johnson and organized by Bonnie Martin-Harris, the Alice Gabrielle Twight Professor and Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, and Sumit Dhar, the Associate Dean for Research in the SoC, the program fits into the larger framework of initiatives intended to make the School more equitable, accessible, and supportive for all. CommFutures will include a mentorship and faculty development committee with representation from each department.

The CommFutures events fall on Mondays from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Invitations will be sent for each and RSVPs are required. The topics are as follows.

Winter Quarter

Monday, February 8, 2021
Building a Compelling Tenure Dossier for Artists and Humanists: The Research/Creative Statement
Speakers: Tracy Davis, Jan Radway
Audience: All pre-tenure faculty in SoC

Monday, February 15, 2021
Building a Compelling Tenure Dossier for Artists and Humanists: The Teaching Statement
Speakers: Zayd Dohrn, Lynn Spigel
Audience: All pre-tenure faculty in SoC

Fall Quarter 2020

The Review, Promotion, and Tenure Process — Science
Monday, October 5, 2020
Speakers: Bonnie Martin-Harris, Sumit Dhar, Molly Losh
Audience:  All pre-tenure faculty in SoC

National Science Foundation/Corporate Funding
Monday, October 12, 2020
Speakers:  Leslie DeChurch, Darren Gergle
Audience:  PhD students, Postdoctoral fellows, and early career faculty

Foundation Funding
Monday, October 19, 2020
Speakers: AJ Cristian and Khloe Kang (Foundation Relations)
Audience:  PhD students, Postdoctoral fellows, and early career faculty

The Review, Promotion, and Tenure Process – Arts and Humanities
Monday, October 26, 2020
Speakers: E. Patrick Johnson, Bonnie Martin-Harris, Sumit Dhar
Audience: SoC pre-tenure faculty from Theatre, Performance Studies, Radio/Television/Film, and Communication Studies

National Institutes of Health/Veterans Affairs Funding
Monday, November 30, 2020
Speakers:  Bonnie Martin-Harris, Nina Kraus, Megan Roberts
Audience:  PhD students, Postdoctoral fellows, and early career faculty

SoC faculty may access recordings of some of the sessions above at: https://faculty.soc.northwestern.edu/