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.
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Mid-Year Insurance Recap: Know Your Benefits! | Cody Tornow Beckey Meyer Kayla Hamilton Amy Chadwick | 02/08/2024 | *Event Canceled* | Virtual |
Finding Funding: How The Office of Research Works | Emily Brashear | 02/20/2024 | 1:00pm-3:00pm | Virtual |
Professional Headshots Photoshoot | Provided by PDI/GPSA and Student Affairs | 02/22/2024 | 12:00pm-2:00pm | In-Person, Pullman Only |
Writing the Conclusion for a Research Article: A Graduate Writing Center Collaboration | Melanie Thongs, GWC Consultant | 02/27/2024 | 2:00pm-4:00pm | Virtual |
Keynote Event: Formatting Your Thesis or Dissertation | The Graduate School's Programs Team: Daniel Vickoren, Maria Kobets, Megan Konkle, and Lori Sweet | *RESCHEDULED* 02/29/2024 | 10:00am-12:00pm | Virtual |
Secrets to Successful Public Speaking and Communications | Cindy Hollenbeck, MFA MA | 03/06/2024 | 10:00am-12:00pm | In-Person & Zoom |
Keeping up with Research Ideas and Sources: A Graduate Writing Center Collaboration | Henry Landis | 03/20/2024 | 10:00am-12:00pm | Virtual |
Writing Steps & Tips for a Literature Review: A Graduate Writing Center Collaboration | Haixia He & GWC Consultants | 04/02/2024 | 10:00am-11:00am | Virtual |
Association for Faculty Women Collaboration: Making Strategic Decisions for Your Academic Career | AFW | 04/09/2024 | 1:00pm-2:00pm | 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 |
Come De-Stress with Us! | Priya Panday Shukla, PDI, GPSA, and The International Center | 04/19/2024 | 2:00pm-5:00pm | In-Person, Pullman Only |