PERSONA

How would you describe your presentation persona? (or What is an effective presentation persona?)

I would characterize myself as a planner. I always have some sort of visuals to go along with my presentation and I have to practice at least a few times. I’m not one of those people who can just stand up and talk! I definitely need to plan and time myself. One of the great things about going to conferences is that you get to see many different presentation styles. I think the most effective presenters are passionate and excited about their work. That kind of attitude is contagious and gets the audience to care. I also think an effective presenter is respectful of others around them and aware of their time. When you’re placed on a panel, it’s important to be respectful of others on that panel. I do not appreciate presenters who go over their time. Practice so you know the amount of time you have! (Dr. Janine Morris, Writing)

I would describe my presentation persona as semi-formal - not too casual, but not overly stuffy.  That is my goal at least.  I try to remain relaxed (easier said than done), and I try as much as possible not to read directly from my paper but rather to present without notes.  I think it is important to make eye contact with the audience and try to inject a little humor into the presentation now and again. In history papers, interesting anecdotes or asides that may not be central to the thesis or main thrust of a presentation help, at least in my opinion, to keep the audience members engaged and the atmosphere relaxed. (Dr. David Kilroy, History)

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My “persona” has evolved.  These days I try to be as casual and as conversational as possible.  As for an effective persona, I believe that depends on the strengths and personality of the presenter.  Different strokes.... (Dr. Ben Mulvey, Philosophy)

My persona may not be effective. I am normally quite animated, even moving around some. Effective presentations are well organized always reminding the audience of the larger “so what?” implications. (Dr. Ransford Edwards, Political Science)

Swag - confidence. Know your stuff! (Prof. Kandy Lopez, Art + Design)

I think each individual has to figure out their own strengths and then be comfortable with their own persona. There is no one size fits all model for presenters – some will be more comfortable talking without notes, while others will want copious notes to follow and stay on track. (Dr. G. Nelson Bass III, Political Science)

An effective presentation persona is someone who interacts with the audience, maintains good eye contact, and speaks at a steady pace (not too fast nor too slow., A presenter should avoid “reading” their paper /presentation word for word. It’s important to add additional information as needed.   (Dr. Yvette Fuentes, Modern Languages)

I hope my presentation persona is an effective one!  For me, effective presenters have a friendly demeanor, relaxed body language, speaking clearly at a pace that is readily absorbed by listeners (not too slow or fast), and is confident in knowledge of the topic. (Dr. Marlisa Santos, Literature & Film)

In life sciences, powerpoint slide presentations are the norm. I try to have less text on presentation slides. Usually, an outline of the points that I will be covering on each slide. I use more images and graphs because I believe the audience will stay engaged better if they have something to look at. I try to keep my speech clear so that non-specialists can follow along too. I usually try to include humor, but not too much because it would be distracting. I set up my research presentations as a story, with a moral or message that I am building towards. (Dr. J. Matt Hoch, Life Sciences)

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For me, I’ve found that a balance between the formal and the conversational is ideal. When reading a paper, try to stress key ideas and phrases with the appropriate intonation as if you are presenting your points to a friend or colleague, speaking at a natural rhythm that the audience can follow. If you stumble over your words – and this happens to everyone – take a moment and correct or restate. Don’t be afraid to pause or take a sip of water during your presentation. (Dr. Yair Solan, Literature & Film)

I tend to get very excited, kind of loud, and use a lot of hand gestures. It's a goal of mine to now tone things back a bit because it can be a bit overwhelming or distracting if the energy-level is too high, but bringing energy to the presentation can, I think, help to wake people up and get them to engage with your ideas. (Dr. Jeremy Weissman, Philosophy)

My presentation persona is controlled anxiety! I know I will have some anxiety, so I try to channel that energy into an engaged reading of my paper. I make sure to make eye contact with my audience often and remind myself that I’m an expert on my topic. Although this might sound like a small thing, I also try to have an outfit that I find comfortable and professional so I feel I’m ready to present and not having any discomfort. For example, I wore new shoes for a conference once but never will again after I got a blister on day 1 of a 3 day conference! (Dr. Katy Doll, History)

My presentation persona is fun, relaxed, and passionate about my work. (Dr. Amanda Furiasse, Religious Studies)

Write down the script in a “spoken” language, and go off script 2-3 times. All the “going off script” moments need to be prepared as well. (Dr. Teng Li, History & Legal Studies)