National Communication Association, 95th Annual Convention
“Discourses of Stability and Change”
November 12-15, 2009, Chicago Hilton
GREETING TO GRADUATE STUDENTS
Like you, I am gett
ng myself ready for the NCA convention coming up very quickly! I remember well my first few NCA conventions as a graduate student. There was so much to choose from–I was anxious see the scholars whose work I had been studying and also a bit overwhelmed
t all the choices and demands for my time. In addition, I was hoping I would find people to talk with among so many convention-goers. Soon I was also ready to present my own work, concerned about doing well, making a good impression, and getting feedback
on my ideas.
With over 1,200 sessions in Chicago, the hardest thing is to figure out what to see first. I suggest preparing your schedule in advance; search the convention program and download a personalized schedule at: http://www.natcom.org/index.asp?bid=11032 or download the program as PDF files.
If you have not yet registered you may do so at the convention. You’ll find registration on the Lower Level of the
Hilton Chicago, and it they will be open to help you and answer any questions. This is also where you’ll pick up your convention program if you are registered (Wednesday, November 11 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, November 12 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Fri
ay, November 13 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday, November 14 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
There are several events of special interest to students and those new(er) to NCA. I have listed some of these below. We focused on adding opportunities for one
on-one interaction and places where you may meet and talk with senior scholars. I am especially excited about the Scholar’s Office Hours event that I planned with students in mind (see below for information).
I encourage you to attend To
Paper Panels and Business Meetings of the units that interest you the most. There is a list of all the Business Meetings toward the front of the program. If you are new to the convention, check out the Convention FAQs for information, especially t
e last section entitled “At the Convention” for helpful tips on making the most of your experience: http://www.natcom.org/index.asp?bid=11035
I hope you meet you in Chicag
. If you have questions, contact me at: braithwaitenca@unl.edu
Warmly, Dawn O. Braithwaite, NCA First Vice President
EVENTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
Newcomer’s Reception: Come, grab a bite to eat,
nd meet NCA officers, staff, and other new NCA members (Thursday 8:00 – 9:15a.m., Meeting Room 4M)
Scholar’s Office Hours: This event is for especially for students! Come meet with a favorite scholar. Seventy-two top scholars will be on
and to meet in an informal atmosphere. Find the full list and a link to bios: http://www.natcom.org/index.asp?bid=13519 (Thursday, 11:00 a.m.-12:15p.m., International Ballroom
orth, Second Floor) *** if I had to pick one event for a student to attend, this would be it!
Five Years Out: Look for over 40 programs throughout the convention from different NCA divisions celebrating NCA’s past, present, a
d future as we move toward our 100th anniversary in 2014. A special program “NCA Presidents Reflect and Respond” is featured on Thursday (11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Waldorf Room, Fourth Floor)
Roundtables on Research in Progress: Joi
scholars in 40 informal peer-based discussions of developing projects (Thursday, 2:00 – 3:15 p.m., International Ballroom North, Second Floor)
NCA Graduate School Open House: Network with representatives of a large number of masters and
doctoral programs (Thursday, 2:00 – 4:45 p.m., Northeast Exhibit Hall, Lower Level)
Carroll C. Arnold Distinguished Lecture: This is one of NCA’s signature events, featuring a top scholar each year. Leslie A. Baxter will present critical
developments in Relational Dialectics in her lecture titled “Discursive Struggles of Relating” (Thursday, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m., International Ballroom South, Second Floor)
NCA Welcome Reception: Open to everyone, this is the largest conventi
n gathering wherein you can reconnect with old friends and meet new people. This year we feature booths for Newcomers, Graduate Students, and other groups to connect (Thursday, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., Grand Ballroom, Second Floor)
Benjamin R.
arber Presentation: The internationally-renowned political theorist whose 17 books include Strong Democracy, Jihad vs. McWorld, and Consumed is a Distinguished Senior Fellow from the non-partisan public policy research and advocacy organization Demos (Fr
day, 11:00 a.m. -12:15 p.m., International Ballroom South)
Town Hall on The Politics of NCA: Should NCA take a stand on political issues of the day? Come and take part in a lively large group deliberation (Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 1:
5 p.m., International Ballroom North)
NCA Presidential Comments and Awards Presentation: President Betsy Wackernagel Bach will be presenting comments entitled “On Practicing What We Preach” followed by a reception and the 2009 NCA awards
presentation. (Saturday, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m., International Ballroom South, Second Floor)
THROUGHOUT THE CONVENTION
G.I.F.T.S. (Great Ideas for Teaching Speech):
Learn about the latest classroom activities, assignments, projects, games, and simulations in an informal small group format. Look for several sessions across the convention (Friday, 8:00 – 9:15 a.m., 12:30 – 1:45 p.m., and 2:00 – 3:15 p.m., International Ballroom North, Second Floor).
Scholar to Scholar: Talk one-on-one with scholars from across the discipline about their projects as they display their work their projects during several sessions across the convention (Various times throughout Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Normandie Lounge, Second Floor)
Graduate Student Lounge: Relax during convention 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Room 5B on the fifth floor of the Hilton Chicago.
Dawn O. Braithwaite, Ph.D.
Willa Cather Professor
Dept. of Communication Studies Graduate Director
National Communication Association First Vice President
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0329
Email: dbraithwaite@unl.edu Office: 402 472-2239
Grad Info: Donelle Moormeier: 402 472-2069; dmoormeier1@unl.edu
Dept.: http://www.unl.edu/cs
