ECA 2023 Harboring Innovation
March 29-April 2, 2023
Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor Baltimore
Hello ECA Friends!
We are just about six weeks away from our time in Baltimore. If you have work accepted, or are just planning to come for the social or professional networking and developing opportunities, now is the time to register and make your plans (if you haven’t already). There are still some rooms available at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore – please support ECA by booking there until it’s sold out (which will be soon). Early bird registration at a significant savings ends March 8. If you are on the fence about coming, or what to register for (there are a lot of options this year!) – please consider the following.
Sean Horan (Fairfield University) and Erin Craw (Chapman University have planned a Basic Course Conference that is sure to be inspiring and useful, regardless of which “basic course” you teach or coordinate. With amazing speakers, plenty of time for interaction and discussion, along with a Dropbox of resource materials to use after the convention, this Basic Course Conference promises to be one of our best yet. Breakfast and lunch are included – so plan on a strong return on a very small investment!
Dr. Seena Haines (Ole Miss University) will bring her “Well-Being Elixir” work to ECA in a special workshop to be offered twice at no charge for ECA participants. “From Meh to Mojo, Moving From Languishing to Flourishing” is a special interactive workshop focused on vitality and wellness in academic work. The pandemic brought a range of intense feelings to the surface for faculty and students. Some struggle with serious mental health challenges, and many are feeling “meh” – wondering about a larger purpose for ourselves and our work, maybe stuck or behind in our scholarship, or tired and unmotivated. If you are struggling, or if you just need to give yourself a minor motivational kickstart – check this out.
Dr. Bruce Herbert, Director of the Office of Scholarly Communications (Texas A&M University), will offer a special workshop on writing strong scholarly narratives. Whether you are applying for promotion, making the case for funding, or trying to attract research partners or popular press attention for your work, you will need to be able to tell your story and demonstrate the impact of your work. This session will cover strategies for achieving more impact, and tips for communicating that impact to compel your readers.
Join your friends and ECA colleagues at our convention-wide luncheon, awards, and keynote featuring the amazing Dr. James Anderson II (University of Georgia). His keynote will help you think through your own personal/professional journey; how it has helped you show up as the scholar, teacher, and collaborator you are today; and how to use your story to build inclusive, welcoming bridges with our students and colleagues. Dr. Anderson is internationally known for his leadership scholarship and has had tremendous impact with groups from the state of Georgia to the continent of Africa. His positive approach to framing diversity, equity, and inclusion will leave you feeling very hopeful.
Leanne Bell McManus is working on field trips – a private tour of Camden Yards (home of the Baltimore Orioles), and tours/tastings at Sagamore Spirits Distillery and Guinness are available this year. Just check the box on the registration form, and Leeanne will be in touch with details and pricing. Interest Groups are planning sessions at Fort McHenry and the Innovation Museum. Just check the program.
Short courses, sessions, and business meetings – this program is full of almost 200 sessions! Please make an effort to attend the business meetings of your interest groups. One of the subthemes of this convention is what ECA and the ECA convention should look like in years to come. While ECA is beloved and the convention well-attended, some of our interest groups have struggled to meet the minimum number of members and meeting attendees to be allowed convention slots by our by-laws. Go to the business meetings and be part of the conversation about what the future could look like.
I can’t wait to see you all in Baltimore.
Jennifer Waldeck
University of Georgia
First Vice President
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