"The Graduate Professional Development Series offers something for everyone, and just one session may help you discover or develop a new resource.”
Inspired by attending sessions in the Graduate Professional Development series, Ph.D. candidate Zitely Tzompa ignited a series of new connections resulting in a postdoc offer at the University of Sao Paulo in the INterdisciplinary CLimate INvestigation cEnter (INCLINE).
As a graduate student in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering’s Atmospheric Science Department, Tzompa sought many opportunities to gain firsthand experience in science policy making. The American Meteorological Society selected her to participate in the 2017 Summer Policy Colloquium, an intense, ten-day immersion in science policy. Tzompa is now preparing for a summer fellowship in the newly created Colorado Science and Engineering Policy Fellows Program.
Tzompa discovered a new resource while attending the Developing Your Professional Brand to Expand Career Opportunities workshop during the Spring 2018 Professional Development Series. The workshop provided an opportunity to connect with the presenter, a Career Education Manager for CSU’s Career Center, Judy Brobst. Tzompa found Brobst’s assistance with writing a letter of intention and insights into writing a strong application for a United Nations University for a Climate Fellowship extremely beneficial.
“You don’t realize how many resources you have. People are willing to help you.”
Networking also brought a postdoc position in science policy to fruition for Tzompa. Encouraged by pervious networking successes, and motived by an abundance of professional development training, Tzompa reached out to an award-winning alumna of the Atmospheric Science Department. After a bit of winding path, the networking paid off and her resume was delivered to the new INCLINE Center.
These experiences reinvigorated Tzompa’s commitment to ongoing professional development. She aims to inspire graduate students in all programs to further incorporate ongoing professional development training, such as networking, into their graduate school experience. “Networking is related to well-being and is so important. Network with the CSU family as well as outside the University.”
“We get so into our own research, we think that it is the most important. Open up yourself and acknowledge that you need further development. The Graduate Professional Development Series offers something for everyone, and just one session may help you discover or develop a new resource.”