Professional Development

ISU Graduate College is Your Partner in Skill Development, Scholarly Growth, and Professional Success!

    Build professional competencies valued across academia, industry, entrepreneurship, government, and in the broader workforce.

    Communication

     

    Research

     

    Teaching

     

    Career

     

    Leadership

     

    These competencies encompass knowledge, skills, and abilities that are not stand-alone or single-purpose. Rather, they are interrelated, can be pursued in a non-sequential manner, and transferable to various contexts. Cultivating professional competencies is a continuous process. Be proactive! No matter your degree or discipline, engage with the multifaceted opportunities provided through our professional development programs to excel as a student and achieve your career goals.
     

    Grad Mixer Wednesday Highlights

    We will resume our events on January 29, 2025.

    Click the features below to see scheduled Fall 2024 topics and speakers.

    September 18: International Students and Scholars Office (speaker: Elliot Uhl)

    September 25: Preparing Future Faculty Program (speaker: Karen Menzel)

    October 2: University Library Publishing and Data Sharing Resources (speakers: Abby Elder and Megan O'Donnell)

    October 9: Graduate and Professional Student Senate (speaker: Wren Bouwman)

    October 16: Graduate College Deans Meet & Greet (speakers: Dr. Michelle Soupir, Dr. Heather Greenlee, & Dr. Bill Graves)

    October 23: Nationally Competitive Awards for Graduate Students (speaker: Kelli Fitzpatrick)

    October 30: Graduate College Handbook and Workday (speaker: Natalie Robinson)

    November 6: Ombuds Office (speaker: Laura Smythe)

    November 13: Graduate Student Retention (speakers: Christine Cain and Erin Conlan)

    November 20: Graduate Career Services: How to Navigate a Job Market (speaker: Dr. Svitlana Zbarska)

    September 18: Graduates for Advancing Professional Skills (GAPS) (speaker: Dr. Shan Jiang)

    September 25: SICTR Student Innovation Center (speaker: Dr. Abram Anders)

    October 2: Competitive Awards Showcase (speaker: Alex Perruci)

    October 9: VRAC Research Center (speakers: Dr. Eliot Winer, Dr. Cody Fleming, and Dr. Evrim Baran)

    October 16: Course Design tips from Teaching Assistants in the Preparing Future Faculty program (speaker: Karen Menzel)

    October 23: Grants Hub: Finding Funding Workshop (speaker: Annalisa Brandt)

    October 30: Research Writing Tutor: An AI Tool for Graduate Research Writers (speaker: Dr. Elena Cotos)

    November 6: Coltie (speakers: Dr. Robbyn Anand and Dr. Anuj Sharma)

    November 13: Iowa Research Administration Internship Student Experience (speakers: Dr. Jane Garrity and Megan Heitmann)

    November 20: PDHub Individual Development Plan Presentations (speakers: Dr. Lily Compton, Ambar Melendez Perez, an Dr. Svitlana Zbarska)

    September 18: Digital Accessibility for Manuscripts: Are You Ready to Meet this Policy? (speaker: Jiang Shangyu)

    September 25: 3MT Information Session (speaker: Dr. Sarah Huffman)

    October 2: Lights, Camera, Action! Ready to Take Your Oral Presentations to the Next Level? (speaker: Dr. Denise Vrchota)

    October 9: Building Your Publishing Integrity Toolbox: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Academic Journal Publishing (speakers: Dr. Lily Compton, Robin Sinn, & Zach Motts)

    October 16: Research or Grant Writing Workshop 

    October 23: 3-Minute Thesis Preliminary Competition

    October 30: Thesis/Dissertation Formatting Boot Camp

    November 6: Dinner Interviews (speaker: Erik Goodale)

    November 13: AI-Facilitated Literature Review - Fundamentals (speaker: Dr. Kristin Terrill)--New Location! Agronomy Hall, room 2050

     November 20: AI-Facilitated Literature Review – Practical Applications (speaker: Dr. Kristin Terrill)--New Location! Agronomy Hall, room 2050

    many books on shelves

    Resources

    Benefit from free resources for your independent use and self-paced development.

    students at an event

    Events

    Participate in competency-focused and graduate community-building activities.