This ongoing series aims to showcase the scholarship of educational developers whose work aligns with JDEED’s aims and scope. In addition to discussing their work, featured speakers will demystify some aspect of the academic publishing process. 

If you are interested in presenting or if there are specific topics you would like us to feature, please don’t hesitate to contact us. All sessions will be recorded and available for viewing on our website. Below are details on upcoming sessions:

Upcoming Sessions

TBA

Previous Sessions

*Meet the Scholar (Writing For Authenticity, Writing As Authenticity): A Conversation with Dr. Michele DiPietro, Friday, October 24, 2025, 2-3pm ET (1-2 CT, 12-1 MT, 11-12 PT)

Description: In this interactive session, Dr. Michele DiPietro will share their journey to writing and publishing their second book, including how they overcame their impostor syndrome, how they bridged the personal and the professional to find their voice, how they approached questions of ethics and responsibility in the writing process, and how they worked to amplify the voices of minoritized faculty. Whether you approach writing with a sense of confidence or uncertainty, we hope that engaging with Dr. DiPietro’s story will be encouraging and empowering in your own journey with writing. After a brief conversation with a moderator, we’ll open the floor for Q&A, so please bring your questions! 

Bio: Dr. Michele DiPietro is the Executive Director for Faculty Development, Recognition, and the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and a Professor in the School of Data Science and Analytics at Kennesaw State University. A certified yoga teacher, Dr. DiPietro is the author of The Faculty Guide to a Balanced and Harmonious Career: Yogic Strategies for Self-growth and Fulfillment, and a co-author of How Learning Works: 8 Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching, now in its second edition. Their scholarship has been translated into several languages, including Chinese, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and Arabic. They served as President of the POD Network in Higher Education and were awarded the Bob Pierleoni Spirit of POD award, the highest honor bestowed in the field of educational development for professional achievement and legacy to the field.

*Meet the Scholar (Navigating the Hidden Curriculum of Book Publishing: Lessons Learned from a First-Time Author): Dr. Tolu Noah, Friday, May 2, 2025, 10-11am PT/1-2pm ET

Description: The book publishing process can often feel like an enigma. How do I get started? What exactly do I need to do? What should I be aware of along the way? This hidden curriculum of book publishing can create additional barriers to entry for people who have great ideas to share but may not know where to begin. In this interactive session, Dr. Tolu Noah will share practical insights gained from her experience publishing her first book. If you are an aspiring author who wants to learn more about what the book publishing process entails, this session is for you! Likewise, if you are an experienced author, please feel free to join and contribute insights from your own experience to the conversation. By having more open discussions, we can demystify the publishing process, and hopefully create more opportunities for people to share their ideas with the world.

*Meet the Scholar (Writing as Connection and Collaboration): A Conversation with Dr. Isis Artze-Vega, Friday, April 25, 2025 2-3pm ET

Description: In this interactive session, Dr. Isis Artze-Vega will share her writing journey, including her experiences with collaborative writing and book publication, how her background as a journalist and writing instructor informs her scholarly work, and how she makes time for writing in conjunction with her other roles in work and life. Whether you are an experienced writer or just getting started, we hope that this conversation will offer practical guidance and inspiration. After a brief conversation with a moderator, we’ll open the floor for Q&A, so please bring your questions! on aims to inspire and guide you in discovering your unique writing path. 

*Meet the Scholar( Finding Your Voice): A Conversation with Dr. James Lang, February 14, 2025, 11am PT-12noon PT/2pm ET-3pm ET

Description: In this interactive session, Dr. Lang will discuss his writing path, including how he transforms ideas into compelling columns, articles, and books; how he engages with feedback and rejection; and how he cultivates a distinctive voice in his work. Whether you’re outlining your first article or looking to refine your craft, this session aims to inspire and guide you in discovering your unique writing path. After a brief conversation with a moderator, we’ll open the floor for Q&A, so please bring your questions! 

Bio: James M. Lang is Professor of Practice at the Kaneb Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Notre Dame, and an Emeritus Professor of English at Assumption University in Worcester, MA.  He is the author of seven books, the most recent of which are Write Like You Teach: Taking Your Classroom Skills to a Bigger Audience, Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus and What You Can Do About It, Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning, and Cheating Lessons: Learning from Academic Dishonesty. Lang writes a regular column on teaching and learning for The Chronicle of Higher Education; his work has appeared in the Chronicle since 1999.  His book reviews and public scholarship on higher education have appeared in a wide variety of newspapers and magazines, including Time, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, and The Conversation.  He co-edits a series of books on teaching and learning in higher education for Oklahoma University Press. 

*Meet the Scholar (Writing Across Genres): Dr. Kem Saichaie and Dr. Jamiella N. Brooks, Monday December 16, 2024, 11a-12p PT (2p-3p ET)

Description: In this interactive session, Drs. Saichaie and Brooks will explore the conventions of a conference paper versus those of a journal article, and will offer advice on converting conference presentations to publications.