Student Success Series

• Students must use their CSUN email to register.
• Students will also need to complete a Zoom Registration Form; our office will send the link to access the form before the scheduled workshop.
• Once the Zoom Registration form is complete, students will receive a confirmation email with the meeting instructions.

Special Note: These workshops might be recorded so it can be shared with other students.

• Tips and Tricks on how to Ace your Graduate School Interview
  Speaker: Dr. Stefanie Drew
  Date: Wednesday, February 15^th
  Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm
  Location: Via ZOOM
  Workshop Description: This workshop is aimed to help students prepare for graduate school interviews. Topics covered include preparation, interviewing strategies and possible questions that may be asked.

• Developing a Curriculum Vita
  Speaker: Dr. Scott Plunkett
  Date: Monday, February 27th
  Time: 6:00 pm-7:30 pm
  Location: Zoom
  Workshop Description: This workshop will cover content and formatting of a curriculum vita (CV) to use when applying to graduate school or a career in academia. The materials in the workshop are based on the current scientific and lay literature on CVs as well as the trends. Dr. Plunkett will provide a comprehensive handout and a CV template.
  
  
• How to Create and Present a Poster for a Professional Conference
  Speaker: Dr. Allen Lipscomb
  Date: Tuesday, February 28th
  Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm
  Location: Via Zoom
  Workshop Description: This presentation will cover (1) why conference presentations are important, (2) ethical considerations, (3) different types of conference presentations, (4) how to best present yourself at the conference during the poster session, (5) how to make the poster visually appealing, (6) different types and sections of poster sessions, (7) materials and transporting posters, (8) how to cite your poster on your resume/vita, and (9) excellent resources for poster presentations (including templates).
  
  
• Creating a Research Poster from a Designer's Perspective
  Speaker: Professor Joe Bautista
  Date: Tuesday, February 28th
  Time:  6:00pm-7:00pm
  Location: Via Zoom
  Workshop Description: This workshop will provide you with insight into poster design from a communication design perspective. Concepts of layout, grid, typography, imagery, and color will be discussed. Design resources will be provided and visual samples will be analyzed.

TO REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOPS, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

• Understanding and Negotiating your PhD Funding Package
  Speaker: Professor Heidi Schumacher
  Date:  Thursday, March 2^nd
  Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
  Location: Via Zoom
  Workshop Description: The many components of a PhD funding package can be tricky to understand.  In this workshop, we'll break down what your offer letter contains, and discuss strategy and steps for negotiating your package with your top-choice program if you choose to do so.  Please have copies of all offer letters available during the workshop.  This workshop is timed so that you will have most letters in hand, but will not yet have said yes or no to programs (since you cannot negotiate if you've already done that).
  
  
• Presenting your Research: Designing a Research Presentation
  College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS)
  Speaker: Dr. Vidya Nandikolla
  Date: Monday, March 6th
  Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm
  Location:  Via Zoom
  Workshop Description: One of the most important components of conducting research is presenting your research. When presenting research, it allows you to gather a more in-depth look into your work. Best way to overcome presentation anxiety is to carefully prepare and understand what is expected. This presentation workshop will demonstrate the best practices and what to avoid in order to create an engaging research presentation. The workshop will cover the guidelines for your research presentation.

• On Point Presentations: Using Tools of the “Elevator Pitch”
  Special Note: This workshop will not be recorded.
  Speaker: Professor Patsy Cox
  Date: Tuesday, March 7th
  Time: 12:30-1:30pm
  Location: Via Zoom
  Workshop Description: This workshop will strengthen your presentation through tools of developing what is referred to as an “Elevator Pitch”. Through editing, prioritizing and story telling you will articulate your presentation with clarity and emphasis. This is an interactive workshop and students will be required to share some aspects of their project for the exercise. 
  
  
• Presenting your Research: Designing a Research Presentation
  College of Science and Math (CSM)                                                                                        
  Speaker:  Dr. Casey terHorst
  Date: Wednesday, March 8th
  Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm
  Location:  Via Zoom
  Workshop Description: Research is a collaborative process and an important part of that work is communicating those results to others. However, communicating your research effectively can be difficult. A poorly given research presentation can be painful to listen to, but an excellent presentation can inspire others. In this workshop, we'll discuss some effective strategies for giving a talk or presenting a poster at a conference or other venues.
  
  
• Presenting your Research: Designing a Research Presentation
  College of Social and Behavioral Science (SBS)
  Speaker: Dr. Scott Plunkett
  Date: Thursday, March 9th
  Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm
  Location:  Via Zoom
  Workshop Description: TBD
  
  
• Presenting your Research: Designing a Research Presentation
  College of Health and Human Development (HHD)
  Speaker: Dr. Bobbie Emetu
  Date: Tuesday, March 14th
  Time: 12:30pm-1:30pm
  Location: Via Zoom
  Workshop Description: During this workshop, students will learn how to present their research to a professional audience. Attendees will gain a better understanding of (1) the planning phase of presenting a research project, (2) tips for creating/including tables, graphs, and other visual illustrations, and (3) communicating information that attracts attention, highlights pertinent aspects of the study, and demonstrates the big picture or how the research is impactful in a clear and concise manner.
  
  
• Presenting your Research: Designing a Research Presentation
  College of Humanities (HUM)
  Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Lee
  Date: Friday, March 17th
  Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm
  Location: Via Zoom
  Workshop Description: Presenting is not only a wonderful way to share your analyses and findings with others, but also an opportunity to receive valuable feedback on your research from a live audience. This workshop will prepare you to present your work confidently and clearly by sharing some common expectations and practices for conference presentations. It will also provide you with tools that you can use to prepare for your presentations.  

TO REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOPS, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

• Overview of the Graduate Application Process
  Speaker: Professor Heidi Schumacher
  Date: Friday, April 28^th
  Time: 11:00am-12:0pm
  Location: Via Zoom
  Workshop Description: In this workshop, we'll offer an overview of applying to graduate school.  We'll discuss the components of graduate applications, the timeline for applying, how to select schools to apply to, and where to look for information about those schools.

TO REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Please follow the links below for the presentation slides and materials from this semester's workshops:

February:

https://mycsun.box.com/s/5t79ppasw2pqdkderlz4j6hbld9zhtei

March:

https://mycsun.box.com/s/c3nmo8q23sk9qlglrh5tk2fjavofzgzw

Parent Scholar Panel
Michelle Anderson, MSW Graduate Student
Melissa Baghoumian, USU-BOD Finance Chair
Liz Belknap, Math Major/Credentialing Candidate
Date: Friday, October 7th
Time: 12:30pm-1:30 pm
Moderator: Wendy Brown or Amy Levin
Location: Via Zoom

About this workshop: Did you know that CSUN has parent-scholars? The three panelists in this workshop will explore the parent-scholar identity and how it differs from the ‘traditional’ college student. Panelists will discuss the following: their personal experiences; how campus leaders can advocate for scholarships; discuss the effects/outcomes on their dependents when parent scholars are Involved in higher learning; and the generational effects of student development and success. Attendees will learn why the parent-scholar experience is critical for furthering campus inclusion and equity efforts.
Special Note: This workshop will be recorded.

SELECT HERE TO REGISTER

Women in Academia Panel
Dr. Yarma Velazquez Vargas, Chicana/o Studies Department
Dr. Carmen Saunders-Russell, Health Science Department
Dr.Maryam Tabibzadeh, Department of Manufacturing Systems Engineering & Management
Moderator: Wendy Brown or Amy Levin
Date: Tuesday, October 11th
Time: 2:00 pm-3:00 pm
Location: Via Zoom

About this workshop: ​​This panel of three CSUN faculty will share their experiences navigating graduate school and life as a female faculty member. They will answer questions you have about work/life balance, being a woman in graduate school, and intersectional gender issues one faces as a professor.
Special Note: This workshop will be recorded.

SELECT HERE TO REGISTER

Men of Color in Academia Panel
Dr. Daniel Olmos, Department of Sociology
Dr. Allen Lipscomb, Department of Social Work
Dr. Joe Bautisa, Department of Art
Date: Monday, October 17th
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
Moderator: Wendy Brown or Amy Levin
Location: Via Zoom

About this workshop: This panel of three CSUN faculty will share their experiences navigating graduate school and life as a faculty member. They will answer questions you have about work/life balance, being a Man of color in graduate school, and intersectional gender issues one faces as a professor.
Special Note: This workshop will be recorded.

SELECT HERE TO REGISTER

Financing Your Graduate Education: The Higher Education Hustle
Speaker: Pauline Serrano
Date: Monday, November 7th
Time: 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Location: Via Zoom

About this workshop: In this workshop, former CSUN alumni and current professor will discuss the process behind obtaining the necessary funds to support yourself as you navigate higher education. Topics include how to start writing, how to seek mentorship, and how to ask for letters of recommendation.
Special Note: This workshop will be recorded.

SELECT HERE TO REGISTER