Career and Professional Development
CAREER & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Professional Wednesday Series
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Overview
This semester’s virtual series will have presentations led by Stephanie Atkins, Rodney James, and Luke Archer.
The Collaborative Way | Stephanie Atkins
Each of us brings unique experiences and expectations regarding collaboration in the workplace. Therefore, we are more likely to be ineffective, misunderstood, and distressed. We must establish a purposeful working style to foster a collaborative atmosphere. Among these is the Collaborative Way model. It is a straightforward paradigm that fosters understanding between parties and a common language, creating a strong framework for continuing coaching and education. It has demonstrated for well over 20 years that it can offer a crucial strategic advantage and fulfilling work environment.Stephanie completed a 35-year international career in the oil and gas industry, retiring as Vice President, Ethics and Compliance. During her career, Stephanie’s leadership roles were in Human Resources and Ethics and Compliance. She was based in several offices around the world: Cleveland, OH, Houston, TX, Anchorage, AK, London, England, and Baltimore, MD. Self-described as an ambassador for positive change, Stephanie currently serves as Chair of The Advisory Board for The Graduate School at Sam Houston State University and has served since its inception in April 2020. Stephanie also serves as Board Director for Lone Star Family Health Center and the National Assistance League. She has published Footlights from One Woman’s Journey.
Stephanie and husband Dwain live in New Waverly and are parents to two sons and one daughter; and grandparents to three grandsons, Gus, Karter, and Landon and one granddaughter, Sonoma.
The Financial Journey Through Life's Decision | Rodney James
It takes more than just comparing prices and balancing a checkbook. This extensive lecture will teach graduate students the fundamentals of personal finance and how to plan and accomplish financial objectives during and after graduate school and find employment to be financially healthy. It also involves the discipline to work on those skills daily and abilities like long-term vision and future planning. This presentation covers savings, debt, budgeting, economic living, financial values, and financial goals.Rodney James has been fortunate to work alongside the most wonderful colleagues in his profession over the last 16 years, as he has served in various wealth management roles. Most of that time was spent with a local independent trust company, serving first as a Strategist and then as a Lead Advisor to some of the wealthiest families in the country. In addition to his love for serving families and seeing them do well, he also enjoys investing in future leaders of his profession to help them develop a love for client families and a heart for servant leadership. His bride, Jennifer, and he recently celebrated their 2h anniversary after getting engaged in one of their favorite places, the church library.
Strategic Communication Skills | Luke Archer
Whether written or verbal, effective communication skills are vital to the graduate student's academic and professional success. This presentation will introduce strategic communication tactics supported by theory and practice.Luke Archer is an Irish writer and teacher, specializing in communication and pedagogical development, living in Lyon, France, since 1995.He is the founder of VerbalAikido.org, a conflict management training organization, and the creator and head-developer of the VA practice. Since its creation in 2009 he has written a selection of books about Verbal Aikido and has trained thousands of people around the world to develop their skills in de-escalating conflict in the workplace and in social contexts.He specializes in working in the educational and socio-medical sectors, recently bringing VA to school children from the age of 5 and up. He continues to hold a weekly VA online dojo and trains future VA practitioners and facilitators through the VA Academy. You can read about the practice both on the website www.verbalaikido.org and in his latest book “From Conflict to Conversation.”
View his full resume here.
***To network and to ask individual questions, it is best to attend the live sessions held from 12:00 – 1:00 pm Central Time (CT) via Zoom. All sessions are recorded and archived on our Career & Professional Development webpage for future viewing.***
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Spring 2024 Schedule
Register HERE!
Wednesday, February 28 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm | The Collaborative Way: Essential Practices for Success in any Career by Stephanie Atkins | More Information
Wednesday, March 20 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm| The Financial Journey through Life’s Decisions by Rodney James | More Information
View Presentation | View Handout
Wednesday, April 17 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm| Strategic Communication Skills |
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Presentation Archive
Honest Conversations | More Information
Honest Conversations
What Are You Feeding Your Body & Soul? | More Information
What Are You Feeding Your Body & Soul?
Pouring From a Full Cup | More Information
Pouring From a Full Cup
Netiquette & Etiquette | More Information
Netiquette & Etiquette
Knowing how to present oneself in different settings is key for academic and professional success. Tune in and dialogue with a veteran industry professional who will share strategies for appropriately engaging in both physical and digital spaces.
Career Moments, Milestones, & Missteps | More Information
Career Moments, Milestones, & Missteps
If I knew then what I know now... Join us to hear from industry professionals who will share their upfront and personal career experiences, most notably, their most impactful moments, milestones, and missteps.
When ‘Plan B’ Becomes ‘Plan A’ | More Information
When ‘Plan B’ Becomes ‘Plan A’
Your time at the university is focused on developing ‘Plan A.’ Then circumstances change and require you to alter your initial plan. The reality is that we all must become adept at managing change. Join Jose and Justin to learn from their experiences of managing change.
Career Moments, Milestones, & Missteps | More Information
Career Moments, Milestones, & Missteps
If I knew then what I know now... Join us to hear from industry professionals who will share their upfront and personal career experiences, most notably, their most impactful moments, milestones, and missteps.
Mock Interviews
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Overview
The Graduate School is eager to support your professional development. Join us for Virtual Mock Interviews via Zoom on Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 19 to polish and improve your skills.
The academic track will prepare you for an advanced degree, teaching appointment, or research position. The professional track will prepare you for an agency, organization, or industry career. Whether you plan to advance your education or enter your career field, having excellent interview skills will benefit your process. Interview spots are first-come, first-served, so we highly encourage you to register as soon as possible. All SHSU graduate students, regardless of program or completion track, are invited to participate.
***Each mock interview will be one hour in duration***
Please direct questions to Ryia Steps (rss036@shsu.edu) and/or Gwendolyn Murchinson (gdm022@shsu.edu).
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Interview Tracks
Academic Track:
The academic track will prepare you for an advanced degree, teaching appointment, or research position.
Professional / Industry Track:
The professional track will prepare you for an internship, agency/organization, or industry career.
- Interview Schedule
Teaching Assistant Certification Series (TACS)
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Overview
Your graduate program will be giving you excellent training in your discipline. If you plan to include teaching at some point in your career, it will also be helpful to take some training in pedagogy (the study of teaching methods and student learning). The basic premise of pedagogy training is that teaching should be understood like any other academic enterprise: evidence-based. Ideally, training will allow you to take a step back, evaluate your own preconceptions of teaching, and shape your approach in the classroom based on the best available empirical data on how students actually learn. Workshop topics will vary, but will generally show you how to: manage “challenging” students in the classroom, address cultural diversity, design a curriculum, incorporate pedagogical research into the classroom, and develop a statement of teaching philosophy.
The Graduate School hosts Teaching Assistant Certification Series (TACS) for any graduate student interested in a future career involving teaching, especially those considering becoming future faculty. This program does not involve additional formal coursework or tuition.
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Requirements
The Graduate School hosts Teaching Assistant Certification Series (TACS) for any graduate student interested in a future career involving teaching, especially those considering becoming future faculty. This program does not involve additional formal coursework or tuition.
To earn the certificate, students must complete the following within one academic year:
- Participate in at least 6 of the TACS-approved workshops; the following 4 are mandatory FERPA, Title IX, SHSU Online, and Classroom Management,
- Submit a copy of their statement of teaching philosophy by TBD, they will then receive feedback on it and must submit a revised copy electronically to thegraduateschool@shsu.edu
- Have an observation of their teaching and receive formative feedback. To schedule please contact thegraduateschool@shsu.edu
*Note that workshops are open to all students as professional development, even if not enrolled in the TACS program.
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Graduate/Undergraduate Instructor Academy (GUIA)
More information here: shsu.edu/centers/academic-success-center/GUIA/