CFI Faculty Lounge Podcast
The CFI Faculty Lounge Podcast is an interview-style podcast created as a convenient faculty development resource. Focused on teaching effectiveness and related areas, it offers valuable insights through the experiences of current educators. We explore real-world stories, best practices, and teaching strategies in each episode. Whether listeners are seasoned educators or new to the field, they’ll find actionable takeaways that will bolster their teaching and overall faculty experience.
CFI Faculty Lounge Podcast
Episode 21 - Teaching as Action: Empowerment, Identity, and Impact with Dr. Leonard Richards Jr.
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In this episode of the CFI Faculty Lounge Podcast, host Eric Magrum talks with a JMU alum turned professor, Dr. Leonard Richards Jr, about his journey from student to educator and how that path shapes his teaching today. He reflects on mentorship, identity, and the importance of empowering students to take action and see their impact.
Listen in as they discuss:
- What it means to teach as a verb, not just a role
- Supporting first-generation students and students of color
- Navigating identity as a Black educator at a PWI
- The value of feedback, self-reflection, and growth
- Balancing personal life, mental health, and academic work
He also shares a reminder: be yourself, trust your journey, and know you’ve earned your place.
