Scholar from New Zealand finds community and career development in the Future Faculty Diversity Program

At 8 a.m. on a cool Monday in October, 30 scholars — some alums of Virginia Tech, others from as far away as New Zealand — met in the Hyatt Place-Blacksburg Hotel Ballroom for the 14th Future Faculty Diversity Program (FFDP).

The scholars sipped coffee made with bottled water, a consequence of Hurricane Helene, and exchanged ideas and jokes over round tables and matching brown portfolios. The buzz filled the room with buoyant anticipation for the day’s activities.

“It was a relief when I got the congratulations email,” said Ken Rocker, a participant sponsored by the School of Communication. He was encouraged to apply to the Future Faculty Diversity Program by one of his undergraduate mentors. “We’ve kind of talked today [about how] it’s who you know and finding the way in through, you know, your network, right?”

Rocker is a doctoral candidate in the School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand. His dissertation focuses on leadership in historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), particularly examining the perceptions of faculty, staff, and students regarding structural issues and senior leadership.

“As a former HBCU student myself, I wanted to do something that was relevant [for my dissertation], something that I could talk about 10 years from now and be proud of and still do research in,” Rocker said. "Ultimately, I wanted to do something where I could give direction to leaders or people who are in administration at HBCUs.”

Although currently studying more than 8,500 miles away, Rocker has regional roots: Originally from North Carolina, he received both his bachelor's degree and MBA from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in Greensboro.

“I live in Wellington, where there’s not a lot of people like me. To have these faculty and administrators come in and say, ‘Hey, this is where I come from, this is what Virginia Tech has done for me’ – I would say that’s been the biggest impact on me [so far],” Rocker said.

Of 160 applicants, Rocker and 29 other scholars were selected for the Future Faculty Diversity Program. The program connects doctoral candidates, postdoctoral staff, and early career faculty with open faculty opportunities across disciplines at Virginia Tech. While job offers aren’t guaranteed, each year provides unique offerings and invites the best of the applicant pool who align with those open positions to participate in workshops, networking sessions, and departmental interviews and presentations.

The professional development sessions are hosted by current Virginia Tech faculty about topics such as time management, how to negotiate contracts, and ways to secure funding for research early in their careers. Erica Cooper, assistant provost for faculty diversity, coordinates the program out of the Office for Inclusion and Diversity.

“The FFDP facilitates comprehensive faculty development while elevating experienced and innovative researchers to the awareness of hiring committees at Virginia Tech,” Cooper said. “As we enter our 15th cycle of the program in 2025, we are reflecting on the impact we have made so far and the impact we have yet to make.”

Since 2020, nearly 40 new faculty have accepted offers to work at Virginia Tech after participating in the Future Faculty Diversity Program. Three former scholars were recently awarded Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowships to continue their research at Virginia Tech.

“I knew I was going to get some good development, talk to some leaders of the university, get a chance to break away from New Zealand — and hopefully get a job offer,” Rocker said. “Even if I don’t come out with a job offer, it’s a great opportunity to come meet other people that are in the same position as me, and I couldn’t be more thankful.

“I grew up a Virginia Tech fan … so it’s actually crazy to be here and see [for myself] that Virginia Tech does value diversity and inclusion.”

More information about the next cycle of the FFDP will be released on the Office for Inclusion and Diversity Instagram in late fall.