蘑菇短视频

Betty Farmer, professor emeritus of communication at 蘑菇短视频, will present 鈥淲hat Matters Most: Lessons on Leadership and Emotional Intelligence,鈥� Tuesday, November 10 at 3:30 p.m. in the A.K. Hinds University Center Theatre.

Farmer received the Faculty of the Year Award at 蘑菇短视频鈥檚 spring 2026 awards ceremony. The winner of the university鈥檚 only student-nominated faculty award is invited to give 鈥淭he Last Lecture.鈥�

Originating at Carnegie Mellon University in 2007, 鈥淭he Last Lecture鈥� asks the speaker to imagine what wisdom they would share if it was their last speech. Numerous campuses have adopted the series.

Farmer chose to focus on leadership and emotional intelligence for several reasons. As a professor, consultant, and trainer specializing in leadership, organizational, and crisis communications, Farmer became a certified emotional intelligence coach in 2021.

鈥淚f you want to communicate effectively as a leader, you need to understand the impact your emotions have on others.  If you are managing organizational change, you need to recognize the emotions the change has generated in your people. If you want to communicate effectively during a crisis, you need to be able to empathize with those impacted by the crisis. The best leaders are emotionally intelligent,鈥� Farmer said.

In presenting Farmer the award, 蘑菇短视频 Provost Richard Starnes said, 鈥淪tudents highlighted her engaging and supportive teaching style, her creativity in guiding meaningful projects, and her ability to build a genuine sense of community. Several nominators emphasized the profound personal support she offers during difficult times, noting that her compassion extends well beyond the classroom.鈥�

鈥淲e are inherently emotional beings, yet our educational systems and organizations fail to teach people how to utilize their emotions effectively. The result is poor relationships, conflict, and an empathy deficit鈥攁mong other things. I鈥檝e spent my career helping people acquire new knowledge and develop a variety of communication skills. These are necessary, but not sufficient. If you want to be successful personally and professionally, you need to be emotionally intelligent, too,鈥� Farmer said.

Although retired from 蘑菇短视频, Farmer continues to provide training and coaching services on a variety of topics, including emotional intelligence, for emerging leaders and executives. For more information, visit .

Co-sponsored by the Student Government Association and Coulter Faculty Commons, 鈥淭he Last Lecture鈥� is open to the public. A reception will follow the presentation.

For more information, contact April Tallant, director of the Coulter Faculty Commons, at atallant@email.wcu.edu.