Presentation Collaboratory Fellowship Program
University of Georgia, Division of Academic Enhancement
A year-long fellowship program that taught public speaking and presentation skills to first-generation and rural undergraduates.
The challenge
Faculty across disciplines were seeing a growing gap in how well undergraduates presented and spoke in public. UGA already offered courses in these areas, but the need was large enough that the Division of Academic Enhancement wanted a program of its own, one aimed at students who are often underserved on campus: first-generation and rural undergraduates. I was brought in to research, design, and teach the curriculum for a cohort over one academic year.
What I made
I started with the research on how communication skills develop and drew out the principles behind the whole program. Students improve through regular, applied practice over time. Recording and reviewing their own speeches teaches them to judge their performance objectively. They need to see skilled speakers modeled, both professionals and peers. Feedback has to be timely, regular, and consistent in format.
From there I built the program’s materials: a handbook covering outcomes, schedule, workshops, consultations, and expectations; a rubric developed with a subject matter expert; workshop slide decks, student guides, and practice assignments. The year built toward a capstone in which each fellow delivered an elevator pitch and presented their own research at a conference-style poster session. I led the monthly workshops and met with each fellow individually to coach toward their speaking goals.
Outcome
The pilot launched on limited funding. Fellows completed assessments and evaluations throughout the year, and I used the results to write end-of-year program summaries for division leadership. Those summaries helped make the case for the program, and the division secured funding to continue it after the pilot.