My Summer 2014 Academic and Professionalization Seminars at USC

Summer 2014 | Los Angeles, CA – This summer will be another great lineup of cutting edge academic and professional programming that I’ll be delivering for the University of Southern California’s Graduate School, Office of Diversity Outreach and Professional Development. The programming offered for the 2013-2014 academic school year was a great success, so I look forward to continuing to provide a number of services and consulting individually and through my company, J. S. Bullock & Associates, LLC.

Programs I have helped to create for their Office over the years range primarily in academic and professional development, diversity in graduate education, and general graduate professionalization among doctoral students. Students across all USC departments and disciplines are welcome to participate. This summer, I’ll be providing seminars for Academic and Professional Programming, Publication Workshops, and a Diversity Seminar Series for doctoral students.

HERE IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE 2014 SUMMER LINEUP OF PROGRAMS FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST.

APD PROFESSIONALIZATION SERIES

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

The following workshops will be among a set of hands-on sessions that will help guide and instruct students on academic professionalization strategies during and after their doctoral studies. Through mini-lectures, guest speakers, and independent assignments, students will apply acquired knowledge and skills from the workshops to create and/or revise existing competitive materials needed for their academic development by the end of the institute. Additionally, each workshop will have “instructional labs” to develop academic and scholarly skills necessary for successful articulation of research and preparation for advanced doctoral study.

COURSE TOPICS & ACTIVITIES COVERED

Session 1  |  Tuesday, June 3  |  2:00-4:00PM

Session Topic: “Tune Up Your Curriculum Vitae and Professional Bio: Strategies to Effectively Describe and Frame Past Experiences, Create and Maximize New Opportunities, and Help Build and Maintain Your (Inter)National Academic & Professional Presence”

Overview: In this workshop, students will learn the critical elements of constructing a complete and competitive curriculum vitae and bio for their academic and professional development. Students will learn how to integrate their past, current, and future activities on their CV and bio through ongoing revisions and updates during their doctoral studies. We will also discuss how to identify existing opportunities and create new ones to build one’s expertise here and abroad.

Session 2  |  Tuesday, June 10  |  12:30PM-2:30PM

Session Topic: Demystifying the Doctoral Student Experience: Making the Most of Your Time, Coursework, Qualifying Exams, Dissertation Prospectus, & Other Doctoral Student Experiences (What’s Expected, Written, Unexpected, Unwritten)

Overview: In this session, students will be instructed on how to make the best use of their time during their doctoral programs in order to successfully prepare and complete requirements leading up to ABD status and graduation. Special focus will be directed toward demystifying many of the common questions, struggles, concerns, and hurdles students often confront when preparing for coursework, examinations, and dissertation writing and development.

Session 3  |  Tuesday, July 8  |  3:00PM-5:00PM

Session Topic | Part 1: “Establishing Your (Inter)National Presence: Attending Conferences, Presenting Papers, Serving on Panels, Collaborating and Networking”

Session Topic | Part 2: “Developing Professional (Powerpoint) Presentations that Effectively Communicate Your Academic Research and Expertise”

Overview: In this workshop, students will learn how to identify and establish potential key academic and professional resources, relationships, and programs that may assist them in their scholarly development. Emphasis will be placed upon both domestic and international opportunities to collaborate and network. Particular attention will focus on effectively transferring their research and writing into an oral conference presentation through the use of Powerpoint techniques and other scholarly platforms.

Session 4  |  Tuesday, July 29  |  2:00PM-4:00PM

Session Topic: “From Websites to Social Media: Why and How to Create Your Academic and Professional “Web” Presence While in the Doctoral Program to Improve Your Networking Skills”

Overview: In this session, we will discuss the pros, cons, and overall best practices on creating an online presence regarding one’s academic and professional activities. Emphasis will be placed on utilizing existing university resources, along with, other services to display your past, current, and future work (i.e., research, activities, publications, etc.). Students will learn how to make the best use of these and other social media outlets or professional activities to network during their doctoral studies.  

Session 5  |  Tuesday, August 12  |  3:00PM-5:00PM 

Session Topic: “Within and Beyond Academia: Weighing, Creating, and Maximizing Alternative Opportunities During and After the PhD Program”

Overview: In this workshop, we will discuss preparing for the academic job market, with a special consideration and discussion on alternative employment opportunities within and outside of educational institutions. We will discuss how to leverage one’s transferrable skills to be applied to postdoctoral appointments, governmental agencies, non-profits, and other entities of interest to the audience. we will discuss systematic strategies, methods, and skills to employ in order to establish one’s academic and professional network during and after their graduate studies. There will be special emphasis on how to search for and to create opportunities to expand one’s reach domestically and internationally through research, collaboration, and networking.

PUBLICATION WRITING SEMINAR

SEMINAR DESCRIPTION

This course will be an applied series of seminars that will teach students how to revise a previous paper from a course, conference, etc. into a publishable piece of work to be submitted at the end of the 10-weeks. Students will be taught the various strategies scholars may use to revise a former writing project. Through mini-lectures, group work, and independent assignments, students will apply knowledge and skills to develop, edit, and submit a journal article on or near the end of the series. Additionally, the workshop will have “instructional labs” to develop academic and scholarly skills necessary for successful articulation of research and preparation for advanced doctoral study.

SEMINAR TOPICS & ACTIVITIES COVERED

Session 1  |  Tuesday, June 17  |  12:30PM-2:30PM 

Overview: In this session, we will cover the seminar series requirements and determine which piece of work each participant will attempt to turn into a manuscript for publication by the end of the summer. Students will finetune the major arguments in their selected works, develop a writing timeline, and discuss writing strategies to successfully complete their manuscripts.                                                                                                                                      Part A  |  So What?: Choosing a Manageable Piece of Existing Work to Turn Into a Publication, Determining the “So What?” & Creating/Adhering to a Timeline

Part B  |  Successful “Summer” Writing: Location, Location, Location & Getting Rid of Distractions to Maintain Focus

Session 2  |  Tuesday, June 24  |  12:30PM-2:30PM 

Overview: In this session, we will discuss methods and strategies in determining the publication(s) and audience(s) best suited for your intended publication. We will review common submission and formatting guidelines for the leading journals in the humanities, social, behavioral and economic sciences. Finally, we will cover ways to organize your article to shape it into a manuscript for publication.

Part A  |  Who’s Your Audience?: Finding the “Best Fit” Publication for Your Manuscript and Understanding Manuscript Formatting and Submission Guidelines

Part B  |  Pulling It Together: (Re)Organizing Your Article and Finetuning the Details 

Session 3  |  Tuesday, July 15  |  12:30PM-2:30PM 

Overview: In this session, we will discuss sections of your manuscript that may still need to be developed and/or improved, including gathering additional resources, finetuning arguments, improving methodological sections, etc. We will utilize this session to learn to efficiently factcheck citations and references used within your manuscript to ensure utmost accuracy.

Part A  |  Halfway Mark Check-In: Gathering and Pulling Together the Last and Missing Pieces of Your Article

Part B  |  Being Exhaustive, Not Exhausted: Ensuring Your Sources, Citations, and References Are Integrated, Exhaustive and Accurate

Session 4  |  Tuesday, July 22  |  12:30PM-2:30PM

Overview: In this session, we will discuss logistical elements of publishing your manuscript and will cover past and upcoming opportunities in both domestic and international publications across disciplines. We will cover the benefits of why/when to send editor queries, and whether it may/may not be necessary to formulate one for your current/future manuscripts.

Part A  |  Internationalizing Your Research: Domestic versus International Publications

Part B  |  To Query or Not to Query?: How to Formulate and Submit a Soft Query to an Editor

Session 5  |  Tuesday, August 5 |  3:00PM-5:00PM 

Overview: In this session, we will discuss the iterative process and how to determine when to finally submit your manuscript for publication. We will also cover the common steps that take place after a manuscript has been submitted, for both rejections and acceptances. You will have the opportunity among your peers to raise any last concerns or questions you are still having regarding your manuscript at this session.

Part A  |  When to Stop and Submit?: From the Iterative Process to Finally Submitting Your Manuscript

Part B  |  You Submitted It, Now What?: Understanding the Process After Submitting Your Manuscript

DIVERSITY EDGE WORKSHOP SERIES

SERIES DESCRIPTION

The following workshops are part of a special series of sessions to provide support and guidance for doctoral students of color and from underrepresented backgrounds, and to instruct students on academic professionalization strategies during and after their doctoral studies. Through mini-lectures, guest speakers, and independent assignments, students will apply acquired knowledge and skills from the course to create and/or revise existing competitive materials needed for their academic development by the end of the summer. Additionally, the workshop will have “instructional labs” to develop academic and scholarly skills necessary for successful articulation of research and preparation for advanced doctoral study.

WORKSHOP TOPICS & ACTIVITIES COVERED

Session 1  |  Tuesday, June 10  |  4:30-6:30PM

Session Topic:  “Work Smarter, Not Harder: Ways to Create and Not Wait For Opportunities To Broaden Your Academic and Professional Experiences as Doctoral Students of Color and Underrepresented Backgrounds – Here and Abroad”

Overview: In this session, we will begin with an overview on the program opportunities, funding resources, and community building initiatives sponsored by the USC Graduate School, Diversity Outreach & Academic Preparation Programs. Students will then be introduced to other tangible opportunities that may help them to broaden their academic and professional experiences during their doctoral studies. A special emphasis will be placed on both domestic and international activities for which they may consider applying.

Session 2  |  Tuesday, July 15  |  4:30-6:30PM 

Session Topic: “Time Management and De-stress Workshop 101: Tangible Strategies and Activities to Improve Your Mental and Physical Well-Being and Remain Optimistic while Pursuing Your Doctoral Studies”

Overview: In this session, students will be able to discuss in a supportive environment among their peers any questions, issues, or concerns they may be experiencing during their doctoral program. We will discuss and share strategies to alleviate and improve the health and well-being of their experiences, including activities and topics on time management, accountability, strategic planning, bettering advising relationships, etc. Resources will be provided to ensure students are aware of personnel and facilities that they can turn to when needed.

Session 3  |  Tuesday, July 29  |  4:30-6:30PM

Session Topic: “A Panel Session with Current Graduate Students and Alumni: Valuable Experiences, Distinct Trajectories, and Critical Lessons Learned to Help You Craft An Effective Plan of Action for Your Doctoral Student Process”

Overview: This session will consist of a panel of current doctoral level graduate students and alumni who will share their valuable experiences, distinct trajectories, and any critical lessons learned during and/or after they completed their doctoral studies. The panel will be held in a supportive environment to allow students to ask critical questions to help them navigate their current and forthcoming years in their programs.

Session 4  |  Tuesday, August 12  | 5:00-7:00PM

Session Activity: End of Summer Institute Diversity Networking Dinner (Details To Be Announced)

CLICK HERE for the 2013 Summer Institute Schedule