Ten doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers from the University of Georgia have been selected to attend the Southeastern Conference Emerging Scholars Career Preparation Workshop. The workshop is a key component of a broader Emerging Scholars Program for Future Faculty envisioned by the SEC Provosts.
“Supporting the career development of promising doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers helps create a pipeline of diverse and talented faculty members,” said S. Jack Hu, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “The University of Georgia is proud to partner with our colleagues in the Southeastern Conference on this important endeavor.”
The Career Preparation Workshop is designed to provide professional development and networking opportunities for current doctoral students and postdoctoral associates, particularly top scholars from historically underrepresented groups.
The inaugural Emerging Scholars Career Preparation Workshop will take place virtually on September 29 and 30 and will be hosted by Louisiana State University. It will include small-group discussions, presentations on topics such as teaching portfolio development, and opportunities to meet with SEC university representatives to learn about each university and its vacant faculty positions. The objective is to retain outstanding candidates within the SEC by providing mentorship and encouraging students and postdocs to seek out employment at conference schools. The SEC anticipates making this an annual event.
More than 35 UGA students and postdocs were nominated for the workshop. Participants were selected based on exceptional research and/or teaching skills.
“It is important for doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows who are interested in careers as faculty members to understand how best to prepare for these roles,” said Ron Walcott, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School. “In addition to being a wonderful opportunity for participants to network with SEC university administrators, this workshop will also help participants develop important skills for applying for faculty positions and successfully navigating the initial stages of their tenure-track careers.”
This year’s participants and academic units are:
- Chanara Andrews-Bickers, English
- Sha’Mira Covington, Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors
- Vincente (Kenyi) Saito-Diaz, PhD, postdoctoral associate, Center for Molecular Medicine
- Shantesica Gilliam, Health Promotion and Behavior
- Marcus Hill, Computer Science
- Elle Johnson, Communication Studies
- Megan Lee, School of Social Work
- Luisa Gomez Londono, PhD, postdoctoral associate, Plant Pathology
- Jason Terry, Physics and Astronomy
- Sarah Wiegand, Communication Sciences and Special Education
The Provosts of the SEC institutions are sponsors of the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program, the SEC Faculty Achievement Awards, and the SEC Faculty Travel Program, among other Conference activities. Since 2011, the SEC has supported the teaching, research, and service mission of its members through these and other programs.
For more information on SEC-Emerging Scholars Career Preparation Workshop, see the links below:
