I have appreciated the numerous reminders lately to take care of oneself and one’s community and to not lose sight of hope, joy, and a brighter future. May this note serve as a gentle reminder of the same, including of the vibrant and supportive community within the POD Network. May you have opportunities to slow down, hold space for one another, and find strength in our shared values and commitments.
The often invisible labor of educational development is critical in this moment and your presence, voice, expertise, and efforts mean more to higher education than you may realize. Earlier this month, I received a note from a faculty member thanking me for what I considered at the time to be a very small act of kindness. The beautiful handwritten note is now pinned to my desk and serves as a welcomed reminder of what truly matters.
One of the gifts of serving on the POD Network Executive Committee for me has been learning more about what is happening within the organization and all that members have to offer. Whether you are seeking community, inspiration, or meaningful engagement, the POD Network has many options to consider. Engagement and leadership opportunities are offered within standing committees, Special Interest Groups, and Affinity Groups. Scholarly work is disseminated through journals and paper series. If you have not checked out the conversations taking place within the POD Network Google Discussion Group or the newest community space within the OneHE platform, I encourage you to do so.
If I can be of service or answer any questions, I welcome the chance to connect. I can be reached at [email protected]. Part of my 2025 self-care commitment includes setting aside more time for reading. I have been particularly invigorated by re-reading Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom, so I offer the following from bell hooks for our collective reflection: The classroom remains the most radical space of possibility in the academy.
Despite our varied institutional contexts, educational developers play pivotal roles in fostering such radical spaces. I am grateful to be in community with you all as we carry out this work that is so critical to our shared futures.
Christine Rener
POD Network President
Incoming President-Elect, Jonathan Iuzzini
As announced at the Annual Conference in November, we are delighted to welcome Jonathan Iuzzini as the incoming President-Elect. Jon has participated in the POD Network since 2009, serving on the Core Committee, the ACE/POD CTL Matrix author team, and the Adjunct Faculty Special Interest Group. He has led sessions in signature POD Network programs such as the Institute for New Educational Developers, the Getting Started pre-conference workshop, and the Organizational Development Institute. He currently serves as Associate Vice President of Faculty Development & Learning Innovation at Howard Community College having previously served as the inaugural Director of Teaching & Learning at Achieving the Dream, a national nonprofit network of community colleges, technical colleges, and Tribal Colleges. Jon will assume the role of President-Elect in July 2025.
Become a Member of the Core Committee
The POD Network invites self-nominations from members to serve a three-year term on its governing board, the Core Committee (known as “Core”). Serving as a member of Core is a great opportunity to help the POD Network advance our strategic priorities, including equity and evidence-based practice, by leveraging your unique perspective and professional experience. We welcome voices that broaden our understanding of educational development and the evolving needs of professionals in the field, allowing us to advance the POD Network’s mission and critically engage with our values in practice.
Future Conferences
At the close of our 2024 conference in Chicago, we were thrilled to announce that the POD Network’s 50th Annual Conference will take place in 2025 in San Diego, California. To support more advanced logistical and budget planning for both our organization and our members, we’re also excited to share that the 2026 conference will be held in Baltimore, Maryland.
Our process for selecting conference locations is grounded in transparency, intentionality, and alignment with POD Network values. Guided by criteria approved by the Core Committee in 2024, this approach ensures consistency, predictability, and a focus on sites that best meet the needs of our members and the goals of our gatherings.
Looking further ahead, we are still finalizing locations for 2027 and 2030. However, we are pleased to announce a return to San Diego in 2028 and Baltimore in 2029.
By planning thoughtfully and strategically, we aim to create meaningful, engaging, and accessible conference experiences for our community year after year. We look forward to connecting with you in these vibrant cities as we continue to grow and strengthen our network.
Publications
Journal of Diversity and Equity in Educational Development
We are also excited to launch the Journal of Diversity and Equity in Educational Development. A journal dedicated to developing and sustaining a scholarly space for minoritized voices in higher education and centering dynamic conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging practices, theories, and possibilities in educational development. This journal expands opportunities for publication within the POD Network and compliments the work of our inaugural journal To Improve the Academy, as well as the POD Perspectives Papers series (formerly POD Speaks).
To Improve the Academy
The latest issue of To Improve the Academy was published in November. To Improve the Academy publishes scholarly articles for educational developers and focuses on faculty, graduate student and professional student, instructional, professional, and organizational development in higher education. The journal welcomes submissions for both practice- and research-based works that advance the field of educational development. Follow the link below to learn more about the journal and access current and past issues. Be sure to check out the “Opportunities” tab to learn more about volunteer options, including the recently opened call for Editorial Board members.
POD Perspectives
Two new issues of POD Perspectives were published in December, bringing thought-provoking insights on the value of educational development work:
- Yoho, R. A., & Reid, S. (2024). Establishing Teaching Centers as Partners in Institution-Wide Initiatives.
- Frank, N. M. (2024). Addressing Non-Promotable Tasks to Advance Faculty Equity: Partnering with the Center for Teaching and Learning.
We encourage you to use these papers to advocate for educational development with your provosts, deans, and other academic leaders, campus partners, and colleagues!