Relational Pedagogy as Transcendence

Abstract

This essay explores relational pedagogy through a phenomenology of relational encounter, emphasizing attentive listening and sustained presence as central to human connection. Drawing on the life, writings, and mentorship of my father, Communication professor Thomas Jennings Pace, Jr., I examine his framework for “moving closer together,” a guiding approach to relational engagement that developed across his life. His philosophy of communication was realized as a praxis grounded in curiosity, attentiveness, and intersubjective openness, creating space to engage with and recognize the perspectives and experiences of those he encountered. Experiencing his distinctive approach and way of relating to others shaped my own way of being, which continues to inform how I mentor and build relationships with students. Through narrative accounts from his life and after his death, the essay traces how relational pedagogy unfolds, offering opportunities for mutual recognition and understanding to sustain our shared humanity.