Presidential Spotlight: Reflection and Advocacy—Creating and Addressing Elements Central to Leadership and Higher Education

Abstract

Drawing from my experiences as President of the Central States Communication Association, I examine how service allows for opportunities to create relationships, identity, and leadership in profound ways. I then consider how Communication scholars can unite to resolve ongoing economic issues that threaten both communication pedagogy and research. The academy as a whole faces serious economic challenges; this essay identifies some of these specific problems and potential action steps that academic associations can take in an advocacy role on this front. This is done in the hope that associations or even individuals begin (or continue) thinking about what they can do to help address the economic issues in higher education that so many face across the academy.

Keywords:

• Leadership
• Constitutive
• Economics
• Higher Education