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.
Through this initiative, 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 Development
Research/scholarship; Effective teaching strategies; Critical thinking and problem solving; Transferable skills; Academic job strategy
Career Development
Critical thinking and problem solving, Resumes and Transferable skills, Professional competitiveness, Career strategy, Interviewing and Negotiating
Communication and Collaboration
Effective communication; Mentoring relationships; Interpersonal understanding; Team-building; Networking; Conflict management
Leadership and Professionalism
Goal and milestone planning; Professional ethics; Leadership styles; Problem solving strategies and solutions; Evaluation and feedback; Applicable presentation skills
Personal Well-being
Financial planning; Mindfulness and mental health; Relationship management; Physical wellbeing
PDI Events
Please click on the following link for a full list of PDI events:
Let us help you reach your goals
| Presentation Topic | Presenter | Event Organizer | Date(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Submitting Your Thesis and Dissertation | Daniel Vickoren, Programs and Graduations Supervisor, and WSU librarians Debra Spidal and Talea Anderson | PDI | 2/27/19 | 12:00-2:00 pm |
| Human Subject Research and Institutional Review Board Workshop | IRB Office | PDI | 3/4/19 | 10:00 am-12:00 pm |
| Stress Relief and Mindfulness | Dr. Cecilia Richards, Professor School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering | PDI | 3/6/19 | 1:00-3:00 pm |
| Work and Wellness Discussion Series: Braving the Wilderness | AFW faculty presenter | PDI and AFW | 3/19/19 | 12:00-1:00 pm |
| How a University Works | Provost Dan Bernardo | PDI | 3/20/19 | 1:00-3:00 pm |
| Writing Workshop Series: Writer's Block and Writing Strategies | Elitza Kotzeva | PDI | 3/25/19 | 1:00-3:00 pm |
| Writing Lock In | GWC Consultants available | PDI | 4/1/19 | 9:00 am-1:00 pm |
| Panel Discussion: Balance of Work, Life, and Family | Dr. Carmen R. Lugo–Lugo, Dr. Mary K. Bloodsworth-Lugo, Dr. Joanna Kelley, and Dr. Omar Cornejo | PDI | 4/5/19 | 3:30-5:00 pm |
Presenter Spotlight
Lorena O’English
Tenured Faculty, Holland/Terrell Libraries
Lorena came to librarianship after a stint working for the nonprofit election information organization Project Vote Smart, which made her value the importance of access to information. Oddly enough, she went into librarianship after being on a Foley Institute panel in 1996, and realizing what she really wanted to do! She has been a librarian at WSU since 2000 as a social sciences librarian, just recently adding government information to her portfolio. She very much values her partnership with the GPSA Professiona Development Initiative – working with graduate students in PDI workshops over the last three years has brought her professional and personal joy.
PDI Presentations:
- Writing Workshop Series
- Goal Setting and Project Management
- Critical Reading Strategies
- Reference Management Software
- Submitting Your Thesis and Dissertation
- Writers Block and Writing Strategies
- Literature Reviews