The Faculty Relations Fellows (FRF) program team brings together faculty who are trained to support their colleagues in navigating challenging situations and conversations with care, skill, and empathy. Through ongoing training and collaboration, the Fellows have developed expertise in conflict management practices such as nonviolent communication, mediation, bridge-building, problem-solving, and constructive dialogue.
Meeting regularly to learn, practice, and reflect, the Fellows are equipped to help colleagues approach difficult interactions with confidence and thoughtfulness. As the program continues to grow, it aims to build a strong network of faculty dedicated to supporting one another and contributing to a more constructive, connected campus climate.
Below, you can learn more about each member of the Faculty Relations Fellows team.
Faculty Relations Fellows
Jennifer Goodlander
"It has been such a privilege to be a Faculty Relations Fellow this semester and to learn from so many talented professionals on how to navigate conflict and difficult conversations. I work in theatre where collaboration is at the heart of all we do, and yet, there are few tools for teaching or managing this vital skill. I look forward to not only impacting the work we do at IU but sharing these ideas with my professional and academic colleagues working in theatre everywhere. It has been an inspiring semester. I plan to keep learning and I am honored to be part of an important resource here at IU."
Tianrui Ma
"Serving as a Faculty Relations Fellow has been an especially rewarding experience. Working closely with Dr. Lisa-Marie Napoli and colleagues across the cohort, I have found the program to be exceptionally well-organized, engaging, and deeply thought-provoking. The program has provided practical insights that I can immediately apply to fostering a more inclusive and supportive faculty and staff community at the Eskenazi School and the broader campus."
Miranda Rodak
"Serving as a Faculty Fellow has deepened my conviction that belonging isn't a wellness bonus but the necessary infrastructure that makes transformative work on polarizing topics possible. This community has directly informed a framework I'm publishing for leading belonging-based faculty development that helps departments navigate AI-informed pedagogy in ways that are less threatening and more humane. I'm excited to give back by continuing to develop and share this framework within the Kelley School and across IU as our campus grapples with the complex questions AI integration into teaching and learning demands."
Molly Rosenberg
"Being a Faculty Relations Fellow has been a real highlight of my semester. What a gift to be able to fill my toolbox with practical skills in constructive communication, conflict management, and mediation, and to learn alongside such a thoughtful and brilliant group. I look forward to opportunities to share what I’ve learned as a fellow with my colleagues in the School of Public Health and across campus."
