Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Development Chuck Marsh feels the journalism school was better prepared for the pandemic than other parts of the university even if its transition to virtual learning was not perfect. Marsh unexpectedly took on the role of associate dean of research and faculty development in February 2020 and said his workload has changed in part from the pandemic and in part from his new leadership position. Human interaction is what Marsh misses most, and while Zoom is the second-best option for synchronous teaching, nothing compares to face-to-face interactions with students in the classroom.
Marsh said he is grateful for his privileges that have made it easier to emotionally cope with the impacts of the pandemic, so he tries to be sensitive to the hardships that students might be facing, such as financial instability, food or housing insecurity, and illness. Amidst all the chaos caused by the pandemic, Marsh hopes students understand how much their professors want them to succeed.