Dr. Lisa McLendon said the transition to an in-person and online hybrid model has taken some getting used to even with the summer months to prepare for the fall 2020 semester. As the News and Information track chair, McLendon has seen how the stress of the pandemic, on top of 2020’s already-turbulent social and political climate, has made this semester a difficult adjustment for both students and professors. McLendon mentions that her biggest challenge this semester has been fostering relationships with her students, who are mostly freshmen, because Zoom makes it easy for students to hide, ultimately affecting their learning.
She also says that the pandemic has opened her eyes to the ignorance of American society. As a journalist, she is disappointed in the way a public health crisis has been politicized and deemed a hoax by so many who choose to ignore science. Regardless, McLendon is pleased with the J-school leadership’s proactive response to the pandemic and the J-school’s smooth transition into the school year.