{"id":44352,"date":"2026-05-19T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/?p=44352"},"modified":"2026-05-14T14:19:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T18:19:09","slug":"tartan-spotlight-david-bodary-prepares-to-retire-after-32-years-at-sinclair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2026\/05\/19\/tartan-spotlight-david-bodary-prepares-to-retire-after-32-years-at-sinclair\/","title":{"rendered":"Tartan Spotlight: David Bodary prepares to retire after 32 years at Sinclair"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After more than three decades at Sinclair College, David Bodary, Ph.D, is preparing to retire as chair of the Communication Department. This will close a career that began in 1994 and leaves behind a lasting impact on students, faculty and the college community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Bodary, the path to Sinclair was not something carefully planned or thought out. While completing graduate work at Wayne State University in Detroit, he was searching for a job somewhere between Detroit and Dayton, where his wife\u2019s family lived. A position at Sinclair happened to fall right in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thought, well, I\u2019m looking for a job anywhere between Detroit and Dayton,\u201d Bodary said. \u201cAnd this job happens to be right there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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David Bodary, chair of Sinclair’s communication department. <\/strong>CONTRIBUTED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

At the time, he said, he didn\u2019t fully understand what Sinclair would become in his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t understand at that time what a place Sinclair was,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is not your average community college.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His perspective quickly changed once he stepped into the classroom. What stood out most to him was the students, their work ethic, determination and willingness to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe students at Sinclair really valued and appreciated what we were doing,\u201d Bodary said. \u201cThey worked so hard and they were willing to learn, and so that just was perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the next 32 years, Bodary watched the Communication Department evolve<\/a>, with new faculty, expanded programs and changing approaches to teaching. But despite those changes, his focus remained steady: helping students discover their potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s what all the faculty at Sinclair love doing,\u201d he said. \u201cHelping students to become the best version of whoever they want to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I try my best to serve others, serve the department as best I can.”<\/p>DAVID BODARY<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rather than pointing to one single achievement, Bodary said the most meaningful moments of his career came from seeing students grow \u2014 especially those who didn\u2019t initially believe in themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are so many students who I see potential in, but they don\u2019t believe it,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m like, \u2018Oh, but you could.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That process \u2014 helping students recognize their abilities and build confidence \u2014 is what Bodary described as the most rewarding part of teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMan, is that fun to see the blossoming of that student\u2019s potential,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the classroom, Bodary also contributed to shaping Sinclair\u2019s culture. Early in his career, he helped develop the college\u2019s honor code along with Tom Roberts and other faculty. The code emphasizes personal accountability and integrity, rather than reporting wrongdoing by others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was always about \u2018for myself,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cAn aspirational guiding light toward what we want to be, who we want to be and upholding sort of the highest standards of academic integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he later stepped into a leadership role within the department, Bodary said his approach centered on support rather than authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been a better support person,\u201d he said. \u201cI try my best to serve others, serve the department as best I can.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That philosophy became especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when faculty and students had to quickly adapt to new challenges and fully online learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As he prepares to retire, Bodary said he has not focused heavily on defining his personal legacy. Instead, he hopes what remains is something stable and lasting for future students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to make sure that whatever we leave behind is solid and can continue,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of that effort includes his involvement with the Sinclair Foundation, where faculty and staff raise money to support scholarships, emergency funds and student resources. These initiatives, he said, reflect a larger commitment to making education accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSinclair is going to be here,\u201d Bodary said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s what I always tell students\u2026 when you\u2019re ready to come back, we\u2019ll be here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Some people think [communication] is easy. That means they don’t understand it.”<\/p>DAVID BODARY<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In addition to reflecting on his career, Bodary shared his thoughts on the future of communication \u2014 a field he believes is often misunderstood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome people think it\u2019s easy,\u201d he said. \u201cThat means they don\u2019t understand it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explained that communication is constantly evolving, especially with the rise of social media and AI, and requires critical thinking, adaptability and strong interpersonal skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you think it\u2019s easy, it\u2019s probably because you\u2019re not doing it as effectively as it could be,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As colleges across the country cut or merge communication programs, Bodary emphasized that the field is becoming more important, not less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn an AI world, they probably become more important,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to be thoughtful, skillful communicators and critical consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that communication skills are essential not just professionally, but personally as well \u2014 shaping relationships, decision-making and everyday interactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think the need for good communication skills is going away,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead, Bodary is preparing for a retirement filled with both personal and community involvement. He plans to spend more time with family \u2014 including welcoming a new grandchild \u2014 and continue volunteering in the Dayton area. He also looks forward to time at his cottage in Michigan and staying active in local organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are just so many things to look forward to,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though he is stepping away from his full-time role, Bodary said he hopes to remain connected to Sinclair in some capacity in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on his 32 years at the college, Bodary described his time at Sinclair as both meaningful and impactful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel fortunate that I was given the opportunity,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat we do here changes lives, and I\u2019m just so proud to have been a piece of that process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jacie Moore, reporter<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

See more from The Clarion:<\/p>\n\n\n