The Professional Development Initiative
Mission
The Professional Development Initiative (PDI) is organized by the Graduate School and Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) and has received support through many partnerships with colleges across campus. This initiative provides a range of programs, training opportunities and resources for graduate and professional students to help prepare them for academic and career success. The goal of the PDI is to ensure that all graduate and professional students gain the skills, knowledge, and mindsets necessary to succeed professionally and academically.
Announcements
New Grammarly EDU Subscription Available!
The Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) and the Professional Development Initiative (PDI) provide FREE memberships per semester to graduate and professional students to aid in their academic careers.
Core Competencies
We have developed a series of core competencies intended to guide students through their programs and help them make the transition into their future roles in academia or industry. The following core competencies apply to masters and doctoral students across disciplines and a wide range of professional settings:
- Academic Development
- Career Development
- Professional Skill Development
- Personal Growth
Upcoming PDI Events
| Presentation Topic | Speaker | Date(s) | Time | Event Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keynote Event: Congrats! You're a TA - Now What? | Paul Buckley | 09/07/2023 | 11:30am-1:00pm | Virtual |
| Keynote Event: Formatting Your Thesis or Dissertation | The Graduate School's Programs Team: Daniel Vickoren, Maria Kobets, Megan Konkle | 09/20/2023 | 11:00am-1:00pm | Virtual |
| Resources for International Students | Jennifer Gerardi | 09/26/2023 | 10:00am-12:00pm | Virtual |
| Graduate Writing 101: What Does “Graduate-Level Writing” Mean? | Amy Whitcomb, Graduate Writing Center Coordinator | 10/05/2023 | 12:00pm-2:00pm | Virtual |
| Professional Headshot Photoshoot | 10/10/2023 | 3:00pm-5:00pm | In-Person, Pullman Only | |
| Zotero Trainer | Lorena O'English | 10/18/2023 | 1:00pm-3:00pm | In-Person & Zoom |
| Reading Introductions to Write Introductions | Melanie Thongs, Graduate Writing Center Consultant | 10/24/2023 | 2:00pm-4:00pm | Virtual |
| Keynote Event: Social Learning Leadership | Jessica Perone | 11/07/2023 | 10:00am-12:00pm | In-Person & Zoom |
| Note Taking and Annotation | Lorena O'English | 11/16/2023 | 1:00pm-3:00pm | Virtual |
| Time Management for Graduate and Professional Students | Priya Panday Shukla | 02/01/2024 | 1:00pm-2:30pm | Virtual |
| Financial Literacy with Cougar Money Matters | Maja Gillespie Nancy Deringer | 02/06/2024 | 10:00am-12:00pm | Virtual |
| Keynote Event: Formatting Your Thesis or Dissertation | The Graduate School's Programs Team: Daniel Vickoren, Maria Kobets, Megan Konkle, and Lori Sweet | 02/14/2024 | 10:00am-12:00pm | Virtual |
| Finding Funding: How The Office of Research Works | Emily Brashear | 02/20/2024 | 1:00pm-3:00pm | Virtual |
| Graduate Writing Center Collaboration | GWC | 02/27/2024 | 1:00pm-3:00pm | Virtual |
| Secrets to Successful Public Speaking and Communications | Cindy Hollenbeck | 03/06/2024 | 10:00am-12:00pm | In-Person & Zoom |
| Graduate Writing Center Collaboration | GWC | 03/20/2024 | 11:00am-1:00pm | Virtual |
| Graduate Writing Center Collaboration | GWC | 03/28/2024 | 10:00am-12:00pm | Virtual |
| Association of Faculty Women Collaboration: Making Strategic Decisions for Your Academic Career | AFW | 04/02/2024 | 12:00p,-2:00pm | Virtual |
| Graduate Writing Center Collaboration | GWC | 04/11/2024 | 11:00am-1:00pm | Virtual |
| How To Network When You Hate Networking: A PDI and Physics & Astronomy Department Collaborative Event | Dr. David Giltner | 04/16/2024 | 1:00pm-3:00pm | In-Person & Zoom |
| Professional Headshots Photoshoot | TBD | TBD | In-Person, Pullman Only |