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 and Career Development
Research/scholarship; Effective teaching strategies; Critical thinking and problem solving; Transferable skills; Academic job strategy; Professional competitiveness; Career strategy 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 Wellbeing
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writing Workshop Series: Goal Setting and Project Management | GPWC and WSU Libraries | PDI | 9/20/17 | 1:30-3:30 |
| Women in Film, Literature, and the Arts Discussion Series: Literature Discussion, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead | TBA, AFW Faculty | PDI and Association of Faculty Women | 9/26/17 | 12:00-1:00 |
| The Cheeky Scientist Series: Resume and Transferable Skills | Dr. Isaiah Hankel | PDI | 9/27/17 | 1:00-3:00 |
| Writing Workshop Series: Submitting Your Thesis and Dissertation | WSU Libraries and the Graduate School | PDI | 10/6/17 | 12:00-3:00 |
| Time Management Workshop | Health and Wellness Services | Health and Wellness Services | 10/9/17 | 4:10-5:00 |
| Leadership Workshop Series: Courageous Conversations: Building Agency and Transforming Your Life- Once Conversation at a Time | Tidal Leadership | PDI | 10/11/17 | 10:00-2:00 |
| Writing Workshop Series: Critical Reading Strategies | GPWC and WSU Libraries | PDI | 10/13/17 | 1:30-3:30 |
| Learning to thrive, not just survive: Developing resiliency in grad school- Vancouver Campus | Tidal Leadership, Dr. Denise Host | PDI | 10/13/17 | TBA |
| Learning to thrive, not just survive: Developing resiliency in grad school- Spokane Campus | Tidal Leadership, Caitlin Bletscher | PDI | 10/13/17 | TBA |
| Learning to thrive, not just survive: Developing resiliency in grad school- Tricities Campus | Tidal Leadership, Anna Whitehall | PDI | 10/13/17 | TBA |
| Financial Literacy Series: Budgets | Office of the Dean of Students, SALT | PDI | 10/16/17 | 12:00-2:00 |
| Women in Film, Literature, and the Arts Discussion Series: Arts Discussion, Contemporary Women Printmakers Exhibit | TBA, AFW Faculty | PDI and Association of Faculty Women | 10/17/17 | 12:00-1:00 |
| Time Management Workshop | Health and Wellness Services | Health and Wellness Services | 10/17/17 | 3:10-4:00 |
| Time Management Workshop | Health and Wellness Services | Health and Wellness Services | 10/18/17 | 4:10-5:00 |
| Building a Publishing Pipeline | Dr. Erin Furtak from the Center for Faculty Development and Diversity | PDI and ADVANCE | 10/27/17 | 9:00-4:00 |
| The Academic Job Application | Dr. Zach Heiden, Department of Chemistry | PDI | 11/2/17 | 12:00-2:00 |
| Navigating Health Care for Graduate Students | Sara Wynne, WSU Health and Wellness | PDI | 11/6/17 | 10:00-12:00 |
| Parts of a Paper Series: Abstracts | Graduate and Professional Writing Center, Elitza Kotzeva | PDI | 11/7/17 | 11:00-3:00 (two workshops back to back) |
| Women in Film, Literature, and the Arts Discussion Series: Film Discussion, Hidden Figures | TBA, AFW Faculty | PDI and Association of Faculty Women | 11/9/17 | 12:00-1:00 |
| Financial Literacy Series: Saving and Investing | Office of the Dean of Students | PDI | 11/14/17 | 11:00-1:00 |
| Stress Relief and Mindfulness Workshop | Victoria Braun from WSU Health and Wellness | PDI | 11/16/17 | 2:00-4:00 |
| Parts of a Paper Series: Introductions | Graduate and Professional Writing Center, Elitza Kotzeva | PDI | 11/28/17 | 11:00-3:00 (two workshops back to back) |
| Writing Lock In | PDI | PDI | 11/30/17 | 1:00-4:00 |
| The Cheeky Scientist Series: Networking and Referrals | Dr. Isaiah Hankel | PDI | 12/2/17 | 10:00-12:00 |
| Human Subject Research and Institutional Review Board Workshop | TBA, Institutional Review Board | PDI | 1/17/18 | 10:00-12:00 |
| Financial Literacy Series: Taxes | Office of the Dean of Students, SALT | PDI | 1/22/18 | 12:00-2:00 |
| Women in Film, Literature, and the Arts Discussion Series: Literature Discussion, Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher | TBA, AFW Faculty | PDI and Association of Faculty Women | 1/23/18 | 12:00-1:00 |
| Parts of a Paper Series: Methods and Results | Graduate and Professional Writing Center, Elitza Kotzeva | PDI | 1/30/18 | 11:00-3:00 |
| Communication and Presence: Finding your Natural Voice in a Professional Environment | Mary Trotter, Clinical Assistant Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences | PDI | 2/1/18 | 1:00-3:00 |
| Data Literacy: Busting Myths of Big Data | Dr. Nairanjana Dasgupta, Professor in Mathematics and Statistics | PDI | 2/6/18 | 1:00-5:00 |
| Writing Workshop Series: Writer's Block and Writing Strategies | GPWC and WSU Libraries | PDI | 2/9/18 | 1:30-3:00 |
| Women in Film, Literature, and the Arts Discussion Series: Film Discussion, Wild | TBA, AFW Faculty | PDI | 2/15/18 | 12:00-1:00 |
| Financial Literacy Series: Credit and Debt | Office of the Dean of Students, SALT | PDI | 2/20/18 | 12:00-2:00 |
| Leadership Workshop Series: Understanding the Tides of Transition | Tidal Leadership | PDI | 2/21/18 | 10:00-2:00 |
| Parts of a Paper Series: Discussion and Conclusion | Graduate and Professional Writing Center, Elitza Kotzeva | PDI | 2/27/18 | 11:00-3:00 (two workshops back to back) |
| The Cheeky Scientist Series: Linked In Presence | Dr. Isaiah Hankel | PDI | 3/3/18 | 10:00-12:00 |
| Writing Workshop Series: Submitting Your Thesis and Dissertation | WSU Libraries and the Graduate School | PDI | 3/7/18 | 12:00-3:00 |
| Women in Film, Literature, and the Arts Discussion Series: Literature Discussion, Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women who Want to Speak up, Create and Lead by Tara Mohr | TBA, AFW Faculty | PDI and Association of Faculty Women | 3/20/18 | 12:00-1:00 |
| Writing Workshop Series: Literature Reviews | WSU Libraries | PDI | 3/23/18 | 1:30-3:30 |
| Financial Literacy Series: Loan Repayment | Office of the Dean of Students, SALT | PDI | 3/29/18 | 12:00-2:00 |
| Writing Lock In | PDI | PDI | 4/10/18 | 1:00-4:00 |
| Women in Film, Literature, and the Arts Discussion Series: Literature Discussion, Silent Sky (Play; 6 performances: Mar 30 &31, April 6 & 7) | TBA, AFW Faculty | PDI and Association of Faculty Women | 4/12/18 | 12:00-1:00 |
| The Cheeky Scientist Series: Interviewing and Negotiating | Dr. Isaiah Hankel | PDI | 4/14/18 | 10:00-12:00 |
| Writing Workshop Series: Reference Management Software | GPWC and WSU Libraries | PDI | 4/20/18 | 1:30-3:30 |
| Dialogue about Democratic Engagement | Center for Civic Engagement | PDI | 4/25/18 | 12:00-1:30 |