CCPA Student Attends the 109th NCA Convention

My name is Katrina Anderson and I am a senior CCPA Fellow on the PRSC track. I am seeking a second major in  Applied Physiology and Sport Management and a CCPA minor. As a CCPA student, I have found an affinity for organizational and internal communication. When presented with an opportunity to attend the National Communication Association (NCA) Convention to participate in the Research Escalator, I jumped at the chance.

All CCPA and PRSC majors must take Dr. Kelly’s CCPA 2375 Research and Data Analytics course, which I took in the fall of 2022. As part of our capstone research paper, a team of co-authors, including myself wrote a paper called Maintaining Remote Workers’ Engagement and Organizational Identification Post COVID-19: The Role of Technology and Supervisor Communication. Dr. Kelly saw potential in the paper and encouraged my team to submit an abstract to the Research Escalator. NCA notified the team of our acceptance to the convention in July. By September, we finalized our edits to submit to reviewers.

The Convention Begins

I headed to National Harbor, Maryland, on November 16th for the 109th annual NCA Convention. The Research Escalator occurred a few hours after I arrived. As I entered the conference room, I remember being both nervous and excited. But all was quickly quelled when I saw Dr. Dixon Hall and Dr. Lynch. The next thing I knew, it was time for the small group discussions.

My small group included authors from across the country, all of whom had completed their master’s programs and were planning to or were actively pursuing their Ph.D. The caliber of their work left me in awe and inspired. Two and a half hours flew by as I absorbed the information and advice that reviewers and fellow participants shared.

Lessons Learned

With two days left at the NCA Convention, I decided to make the most of my time. First, I sat in on a fascinating discussion regarding the upcoming presidential election. Each panelist had decades of experience in political communications. Their opinions provided unique insights into the current state of the election. Next, I sat in on the Organizational Communication Division Business Meeting, where Dr. Dixon Hall is the Vice-Chair Elect. The meeting reviewed the awards that various papers won. Dr. Dixon Hall recognized Dr. Earle and Dr. Lynch for their pre-conference presentation on their project, Restorative Farms, and its impact on the community. I wrapped up the day listening in on the Organizational Communication Division Top Student Paper Panel where Dr. Dixon Hall responded to four papers. I remember listening to this session intently, captivated by the work of the presenters.

Overall, I feel my time at the NCA Convention was inspiring, being surrounded by so many great minds was an exhilarating experience. I strongly encourage any student interested in becoming a communication professional or entering research to attend the NCA Convention.

The Next NCA Convention

The 110th NCA Convention will be in New Orleans, Louisiana November 21-24, 2024. The topic of discussion is “Communication for Greater Regard”.