Professional Development Initiative
Growing Outstanding Academic and Leadership Skills
The Professional Development Initiative
The Professional Development Initiative (PDI) is organized by the Graduate School and the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA), and has received support through many partnerships and colleges across campus. This initiative provides a range of programs, training opportunities, and resources to graduate and professional students that will help prepare them for academic and career success. The goal of PDI is to ensure that all graduate and professional students have the skills, knowledge, and mindsets necessary to succeed both professionally and academically.
.
We have developed a series of core competencies that are intended to guide students through their programs and help them transition into their future role in academia or industry. The following core competencies are inclusive of masters and doctoral students across disciplines and applicable to a wide range of professional settings:
- Academic and Career Development
- Communication and Collaboration
- Leadership and Professionalism
- Personal Well-being
Upcoming PDI Events
| Presentation Topic | Presenter | Event Organizer | Date(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Help for Graduate and Professional Students | Dr. Richard Toolson, Professor of Accounting | PDI | 01/30/20 | 4:30-6:30 pm |
| A Skill Worth Developing: Making Your Point in 30 Seconds | Dr. Mary Sánchez Lanier, Assistant Vice Provost | PDI | 01/31/20 | 12:00-2:00 pm |
| Data Literacy: Busting Myths of Big Data Part 1 | Dr. Nairanjana Dasgupta, Professor in Mathematics and Statistics | PDI | 02/05/20 | 11:30-1:30 pm |
| Data Literacy: Busting Myths of Big Data Part 2 | Dr. Nairanjana Dasgupta, Professor in Mathematics and Statistics | PDI | 02/12/20 | 11:30-1:30 pm |
| Understanding Civil Rights Compliance in the Workplace and in Academia | Office of Civil Rights Compliance & Investigation | PDI | 02/14/20 | 2:00-2:50 pm |
| Green Dot Training: Reducing Gender-Based Violence | Green Dot-Cougar Health Services | PDI | 02/14/20 | 3:00-4:00 pm |
| Stress Relief and Mindfulness | Dr. Cecilia Richards, Professor School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering & UREC Group Fitness Instructor | PDI, UREC | 2/18/2020 | 5:10-6:00 pm |
| From Class Projects to Programs: Developing and Using Assessments to Measure Student Progress | Dr. Donelle Posey, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychology | PDI | 02/19/20 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm |
| Writing Lock-In I | GWC Consultants available | PDI | 02/20/20 | 9:00 am-1:00 pm |
| Workshop and Panel Discussion: The Academic Job Application | Dr. Zach Heiden, Department of Chemistry | PDI | 02/24/20 | 12:00-2:30 pm |
| Implicit Bias Awareness Training | Dr. Jaime Nolan, Associate Vice President for Community, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence | PDI | 2/26/2020 | 12:00 - 2: 00 pm |
| Submitting Your Thesis and Dissertation | Daniel Vickoren and Kelly Caraher from the Graduate School, and WSU librarians Debra Spidal and Lorena O'English | PDI | 02/28/20 | 1:00-3:00 pm |
| Building A Publishing Pipeline | Dr. Erin Furtak from the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity | PDI, ADVANCE | 03/02/20 | 12:00-3:00 pm |
| Writing Workshop Series: Writing Strategies & Writer’s Block | Graduate Writing Center | PDI | 03/04/20 | 1:00-3:00 pm |
| Event and Online Networking | Dr. Isaiah Hankel (The Cheeky Scientist) | PDI | 03/06/20 | 12:00-2:00 pm |
| One-on-One Event & Online Networking with The Cheeky Scientist | Dr. Isaiah Hankel (The Cheeky Scientist) | PDI | 03/06/20 | 2:15-3:45 pm |
| Professional Headshot Photoshoot | - | PDI | 03/06/20 | 2:00-3:00 pm |
| Imposter Syndrome in Academia | Dr. Wipawee “Joy” Winuthayanon, Professor School of Molecular Biosciences | PDI | 03/09/20 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm |
| Goal Setting and Project Management (Tri-Cities Campus) | Lorena O’English, WSU Libraries | PDI | 03/11/20 | 5:10-7:00 pm |
| “Data Privacy and Security” vs. “Personal and Research Data Management” | Tom Ambrosi (Information Technology Services) & Mike Kluzik (Office of Research Assurances) | PDI | 03/12/20 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm |
| Writing Workshop Series: Reference Management Software (Tri-Cities Campus) | Lorena O’English, WSU Libraries | PDI | 03/12/20 | 12:00-2:00 pm |
| Panel Discussion: A view of Work in Non-Academic Jobs (Vancouver Campus) | Panel | PDI | 03/23/20 | 4:00-6:30 pm |
| How to Craft a Teaching Philosophy | Dr. Erika G. Offerdahl (School of Molecular Biosciences) & Dr. Steve Hines (Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology) | PDI | 03/24/20 | 1:00-3:00 pm |
| Alumni Panel Discussion: A view of Work in Non-Academic Jobs for Social Sciences | Alumni Panel | PDI | 03/27/20 | 12:00 - 2:30 pm |
| Writing Workshop Series: Reference Management Software | Lorena O’English (WSU Librarian) and Consultants from Graduate Writing Center | PDI | 03/30/20 | 1:00-3:00 pm |
| Work and Wellness Discussion Series: Outliers | Dr. Melanie-Angela Neuilly, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology | PDI, AFW | 04/06/20 | 12:00-1:00 pm |
| Panel Discussion: A view of Entrepreneurship & Patents Outside Academia | Panel | PDI, IREO | 04/07/20 | 1:00-3:30 pm |
| Writing Lock-In II | GWC Consultants available | PDI | 04/27/20 | 9:00 am-1:00 pm |
| Stress Relief and Mindfulness | Dr. Cecilia Richards, Professor School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering & UREC Group Fitness Instructor | PDI, UREC | 04/28/20 | 5:10 - 6:00 |