kcaffrey Archives

Caffrey Publishes in Journal of Educational Research and Practice

January 28, 2025 by Guest Author

Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey

Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey recently published “What’s Their Story? To Help Save the Humanities, Let’s Listen to English Majors” in the Journal of Educational Research and Practice.

Amidst declining enrollment in humanities programs nationwide, the article seeks to give voice to current English majors about their decision to enroll in a major that has been under greater scrutiny over the last several years for its perceived lack of value after graduation. The article presents recommendations for future research and how higher education leaders can work together with English majors to help share their stories and present a more accurate view of the program, its students, and its benefits for the public good.

Read the article at https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/jerap/vol15/iss1/3/.

UMW Faculty Share Knowledge and Insight on ‘With Good Reason’ Radio Program

November 13, 2024 by Guest Author

Mary Washington faculty share expertise on ‘With Good Reason,’ a national radio program that inspires thought, discovery and action through public engagement and dialogue on topics that shape our world.

Imposter syndrome, photoshopping, the complexities of foreign alliances, political humor, the magic of Disney World and shared musical experiences – these are just a few of the topics on which University of Mary Washington professors have contributed their expertise over the radio airwaves this past year.

UMW is proud to announce the continued success of its collaboration with Virginia Humanities’ With Good Reason radio program, which brings the research and insights of Virginia’s top educators to audiences across the nation. Each week, over 100,000 listeners tune in to 128 radio stations throughout Virginia, Washington, D.C., and 38 states to hear thought-provoking discussions with leading academics. Thousands more listen to the episodes through iTunes podcasts.

The partnership between UMW and Virginia Humanities helps showcase valuable work in Virginia’s higher education system. Since last summer, a dozen Mary Washington faculty members were featured on With Good Reason, either as new guests or in re-aired episodes that continue to draw audiences. Read more.

Mary Talk at University of Mary Washington to focus on communication in the workplace (Augusta Free Press)

November 4, 2024 by Christie Pugh

President’s Council on Sustainability Meetings Resume Sept. 20

September 19, 2024 by Guest Author

The President’s Council on Sustainability (PCS) will resume meetings this fall beginning on Friday, September 20th from 4-5pm in the Hurley Convergence Center, Room 111. Additional meetings will take place in the Hurley Convergence Center, Room 111 on Friday, October 25th from 3-4pm and Friday, November 22nd from 4-5pm.

PCS meetings are held each month of the fall and spring semester and are open to employees, students and the public. The council plans, discusses and helps coordinate ways to support sustainable-related activities at UMW. Please consider attending and sharing this information with other members of the UMW and Fredericksburg community. To attend virtually, click on the Zoom link.

Formed in the fall of 2009, the PCS consists of faculty, staff and students, and reports both to the executive vice president for Administration and Finance and the provost, playing a critical role in shaping administrative goals and objectives relating to campus sustainability. For more information on the council and how to become involved, visit the Office of Sustainability web page.

Caffrey Discusses Connecting Through Music on With Good Reason

September 19, 2024 by Guest Author

Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey

Last year, Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey developed and began teaching a first-year seminar entitled “You Have To Listen To This: Connecting Through Music” that studies the history of music consumption over the past 75 years, examines why we gravitate towards the music that we love, and considers the reasons why it’s important to share the music we love with others. He recently appeared on With Good Reason radio to discuss the course, how sharing the music we love can help foster empathetic listening skills, what he has learned thus far from teaching it, and, of course, share some tunes with the audience. Listen to the episode.

Caffrey Published in ‘Business and Professional Communication Quarterly’

August 8, 2024 by Guest Author

Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey

Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey’s article on empathetic leadership and communication in a post-COVID world was published online in Business and Professional Communication Quarterly last year and has now been published in the September 2024 issue (Volume 87, Issue 3). The article examines psychological safety, crisis leadership, and the need to prioritize empathetic communication in the workplace. Read the article.

Caffrey Appears on ‘Empathy Unbound’

May 2, 2024 by Guest Author

Kevin Caffrey

Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey recently appeared on Empathy Unbound with Andrew Phipps to discuss his research on empathetic communication. Empathy Unbound is a podcast that features guests from around the globe to discuss the role of empathy in our society. During the podcast, Caffrey talks about what led him to study empathetic communication, discusses physical and psychological safety in the workplace, and explains why (and how) leaders should prioritize empathetic communication among at their organizations. “Over the past couple of decades, there’s more focus on empathy than ever before. At its heart, empathy is trying to understand where the other person is coming from and be open to listening to someone else’s story and not be judgmental. Great leaders have to lead with empathy and be able to listen to their employees to understand where they’re coming from.” Listen to the episode.

Caffrey Talks Post-COVID Workplace Culture on NPR

July 6, 2023 by Guest Author

Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey

Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey was a guest on WOSU’s All Sides and spoke with host Matthew Rand of 89.7 NPR News about workplace culture and returning to the office post-COVID. The piece was titled “Will working full-time in an office become the norm again for the majority of the workforce?” Topics included the importance of employers valuing physical as well as psychological safety at work as well as the importance of cultivating a positive workplace culture that prioritizes empathetic communication and leadership. Caffrey explained that post COVID-19, “Organizations really need to assess and reflect on their workplace culture. Is it a place that their employees are going to want to return to and feel physically and psychologically safe?” Listen to the program.

In-Person President’s Council on Sustainability Meeting, Feb. 13

February 2, 2023 by Guest Author

The President’s Council on Sustainability (PCS) will resume meeting in-person after several years of meeting virtually. The next meeting will be on Monday, Feb. 13, from noon to 1 p.m., in the Colonnade Room of the Cedric Rucker University Center. However, those wishing to attend virtually will have the opportunity to do so via Zoom.

Caffrey Publishes in ‘Business and Professional Communication Quarterly’

January 19, 2023 by Guest Author

Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey

Senior Associate Registrar Kevin Caffrey recently published “Speaking to the Head and the Heart: Prioritizing Empathetic Communication in the Post-COVID Workplace” in Business and Professional Communication Quarterly. The article examines psychological safety, crisis leadership and the need to prioritize empathetic communication in a post-COVID workplace. Read the article.