Lessons from the Classroom: A Communication Professor Reflects on Four Decades of Student Impact

After more than four decades of teaching, mentoring and leading at the University of Louisville, John P. Ferré, Ph.D., has spent a career helping students learn how to think critically about media, history and the world around them.  

As an Endowed Professor of Communication and Executive Director of the Grawemeyer Awards, Ferré has worked with generations of students—guiding them through thoughtful discussion and the kind of intellectual curiosity that lasts long after graduation.  

Ferré teaches American Media History, Ethical Problems in Communication, and Faith and Film. The College of Arts and Sciences twice recognized him with its Distinguished Teaching Award, and the University of Louisville recognized him in 2001 with its Distinguished Teaching Professor Award. Internationally, Ferré has taught undergraduate study abroad students in London, was invited to Dublin City University School of Communications as an international scholar, has served as a member of the Ecumenical Jury at the Montréal World Film Festival, and has participated in a Faculty Development Seminar in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. 

As he prepares to retire from his role as a full-time professor on June 30, Ferré reflects on the moments that have meant the most and the lessons he hopes will continue to shape students and educators alike in this Q&A: 

Q: Looking back on your 40+ years at UofL, what moments or achievements are you most proud of in your work with students?  

Ferré: I recall a chance encounter with a media history student from years before. “I want to thank you,” Deanne said. “You taught me how to read.” Deanne was referring to the media history class she took in which we read histories of paperbacks, movies, and television. Every discussion focused on the argument and the evidence in the day’s reading. What’s the author’s point? How adequate is the evidence? Thesis and evidence. Thesis and evidence. Simple questions asked over and over hit the mark, at least with Deanne. 

Q: How has working with generations of students shaped your approach to leadership and mentorship? 

Ferré: I hope that by teaching Gen X, and then Millennial, and now Gen Z students, I have become more empathetic. To be sure, teaching is about being faithful to the latest research in the discipline, but it’s just as much about discerning what and how today’s students need to learn in order to flourish after they graduate. 

Q: Can you share a memorable story that captures your experience of supporting students and their growth? 

Ferré: Back when I was an assistant professor, one of my students came to my office and said, “I want to learn the history of advertising, and I want you to teach it to me.” How could I refuse? We created a significant reading list and met weekly for a semester to discuss book after book. I wasn’t surprised that Trina went on to earn her Ph.D. in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin. She is now a professor of marketing at Boise State University. 

Q: What advice would you give to future UofL leaders about fostering a positive and lasting impact on students? 

Ferré: Having done administrative work, I accept the importance of making every dollar count, twice if possible. But I’m equally convinced that university students learn most when they actively engage the subject in small, in-person classes with a professor. Fostering a positive and lasting impact on students requires keeping efficiency in its place.  

Q: As you retire, what do you hope your legacy at UofL will be, especially in terms of student success and engagement?  

Ferré: I’ve long thought that our students should evaluate our teaching five years after finishing the course’s final assignment. Doing so would help measure the lasting impact of our instruction. With that in mind, I hope that I will leave a legacy of relentless curiosity and wonder among the students I’ve taught. But if that’s too much to ask, then I hope that many of them remember my classes as time well enough spent. 

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Although Ferré’s time in the classroom is coming to a close, his connection to the university community will continue. After June 30, he will remain at UofL as Executive Director of the Grawemeyer Awards, continuing to celebrate bold ideas and global achievement.  

Looking back on his years with students, Ferré hopes the lessons from his classes endure—encouraging graduates to remain curious, question evidence and approach the world with a lasting sense of wonder.