Updates & Events

Featured Event

2021 POD Diversity Committee (DC) Executive Team Call for Open Positions

Application deadline: January 28, 11:59 pm EST
The Diversity Committee is excited to announce several openings on its Executive Team, each of which presents an opportunity to work toward POD’s ambitious diversity goals with a group of dynamic, highly engaged POD members.

Progress on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives

In February of this year, the POD Network’s Executive and Core Committees acknowledged the structural, systemic, and interpersonal racism that persists within the POD Network. At that time we knew necessary changes would not happen overnight, nor without errors and missteps along the way. But we believe that we can…

A Message from President Donna Ellis, December 15

Once again, I marvel at all the hard work that our various colleagues engage in on behalf of our organization, and I so appreciate everyone’s ongoing commitment to staying connected and involved with POD.

A Message from President Donna Ellis, September 21

The start of school also signals that it’s time to re-launch activities that got put on hold over the summer. Might one activity you choose include the POD Network?

A Message from President Donna Ellis, August 14

In July, I wrote to you about transitions and how much they can make us feel overloaded. In recent conversations with POD Network colleagues, though, I’ve felt like it’s more than transitions that are exhausting us. I see, hear, and feel the stress and anxiety that is sapping our energy.

A Message from President Donna Ellis, July 13

I considered providing you with some factual updates about our organization given that our Spring Core meeting just happened in June, but I’m going to save that for later. Instead, I’ve opted for something a bit more conceptual, which feels like a better fit at this point in time.

A Message from President Donna Ellis, June 5

I am often at a loss for words, but I’m feeling more so that way at this time. My heart is heavy with the recent overwhelming and devastating acts of anti-Black racism and police brutality in the United States, in Canada, and beyond.

A Message from President Donna Ellis, May 12

Connecting with POD colleagues is my emphasis this month. Our ongoing pandemic conditions can make us feel not only overworked but also isolated. But when I reach out to my POD colleagues, I feel less alone. How about you?

A Message from President Donna Ellis, April 7

In stepping into the role of President as of March 21, I’ve opted to take a slightly different tack in communicating with you. Our newsletter has been phased out and we are putting more emphasis on social media messaging, but we also know that not all of you engage in…

Building on a foundation of empathy: Centering our priorities on inclusion and diversity

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about the importance of inclusion, equity, and diversity for the POD Network and the future of higher education. I am looking forward to changes in the rising and returning student populations and the new perspectives and energy they will bring to our physical…

Leveraging summer . . .

Greetings! Looking toward the coming weeks and months from the perspective of a quickly receding summer, I wonder, like many of you, how to leverage the precious remaining hours—that is, how to use them to maximum advantage both to prepare for what’s ahead and to dedicate a bit of time…

POD in 140 characters or less

Thursday night at the conference, I posed the questions, “Why do we do what we do? Why does it matter?” and asked everyone to share their responses via Twitter. Thanks to a lot of collaboration at the dinner tables, and additional help from our brave Roving Tweeters, the response was…