A year in the spotlight: North Central faculty and staff take to the airwaves to share their expertise

While no one can deny 2020 has been a memorable year for many reasons, North Central College experts have gone above and beyond to make this a landmark year by sharing their knowledge and expertise with the masses as never before.

The College kicked off the year highlighting North Central’s recent football national championship, and the team was welcomed home by every media outlet in the Chicago area. The media momentum continued in the early months as Election season got underway. From primaries to vice presidential picks to debates and Election Night-turned-Week, the College’s political science faculty were there at every turn to break down the details and cut through the noise of what voters needed to know amid such a contentious fight for the White House.

While all of those politically charged media opportunities were taking place, North Central experts served the public, helping them better understand the COVID-19 pandemic that took the world by storm.

Throughout 2020, the College’s experts were in such high demand from multiple media outlets that at times, they became weekly regulars. Here are some of their media highlights from a year we won’t soon forget:

Dr. Carly Drake talked about the evolution of advertising amid the #MeToo era in the New York Times

Early in 2020, a KFC advertisement in Australia that infuriated women’s groups showed the power of the #MeToo movement, even as it called back to many sexist ads of the past. Fifteen years ago, the ad might have been seen as just another crass marketing pitch, but when the commercial appeared in Australia, the backlash on social media denouncing it as sexist was so vociferous, it prompted KFC to apologize.

The quick retreat underscored how the boundaries of what’s considered acceptable are changing quickly in the #MeToo era. Advertisers who for decades relied on the objectification of women to sell products are becoming increasingly wary of taking that approach, aware that many consumers will no longer tolerate abject sexism.

Dr. Carly Drake, assistant professor of marketing, shared her views on this topic with the New York Times, citing little progress has been made in advertising tactics.

Ads like the Fuddruckers ad from the early 1980s that was filled with double entendres are emblematic of a recent, Reagan Era-like “revival of conservatism on the social, political and economic levels,” said Drake.

Click here to read the full article in the New York Times.

Dr. Esen Andic-Mortan offered tips on how to improve productivity while working from home in the Naperville Sun

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, a new normal became the reality for many. In a time when the new normal means you hop onto a computer for a day’s work in sweatpants, many thought they had struck gold. However, it takes determination and grit to adapt in a less structured and casual approach while working from home.

Dr. Esen Andic-Mortan, assistant professor of management, spoke to the Naperville Sun and offered seven best practice tips for people who are working from home as companies try to quell the spread of the coronavirus in offices. 

“With 24-hour access to a computer, it’s easy to get caught up in working day and night,” said Andic-Mortan. “If it’s business as usual, try to stick with that. Try to take care of the body, soul and mind.”

Click here to read the full article in the Naperville Sun.

Faculty examined the ripple effects of COVID-19 and captured media attention across Chicagoland

As the year progressed and the pandemic continued to rage on, there were many conversations of the ripple effects the virus might have on all of us. As a result of these conversations, North Central College decided to host a free summer webinar series centered on the COVID-19 pandemic and the many ripple effects it has in our lives and throughout our communities, as well as within a broader cultural and historical context.

Faculty from 13 academic programs offered a total of 18 informative sessions in their areas of expertise, many of which included live Q&A sessions. The free webinars were open to the public and explored this important moment in world history.

Dr. Stephen Maynard Caliendo, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, discussed how important this initiative and how it was no surprise it became a summer-hit among media outlets.

“North Central College faculty have such a vast range of expertise, and the COVID-19 pandemic lends itself to examination from multiple perspectives,” said Caliendo. “What has emerged throughout this project is a rich, multi-disciplinary exploration of this important moment in world history. North Central students will be excited to see some of their favorite professors doing what they do best, and the community at large will benefit from the information and invitation for discussion. This series captures the essence of the North Central experience by combining real-world events with deeper academic exploration.”

Click here to read and watch the various media placements secured on this series.