SPOTLIGHT ON DR. WYRICK
NOTES FROM THE DEAN
MENTORING & LEADERSHIP
HORIZONS
UPCOMING EVENTS
SPRING 2013
THE UNCG GRADUATE SCHOOL QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
BRIDGING THE GAP:
Preparing Future Leaders
F E AT U R E S T O RY
Photo courtesy of Jonathan T. Britton
A Rung on the Ladder of Success
T
Craig Morehead describes the PFL program at the 2013 kickoff event.
THE GRADUATE SCHOOLS at the University of North Carolina Greensboro
workshops and seminars; the PFL program is an expansion of this
(UNCG) and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State
effort to better prepare students for careers within academia and
University (NC A&T) have recently joined forces to create a program that
within business, industry, and the non-profit sector. Students
prepares graduate students for their post-graduation professional
completing the PFL program will have a head start in seeking a
role. Beginning in 1993, the Council of Graduate Schools* (CGS)
good position in any of these areas. Both tracks of the PFL program
pioneered programs to prepare future faculty. UNCG adopted the
contain non-credit workshops and hands-on experiences, preparing
Council’s brainchild and built upon the concept, expanding the idea of preparing future faculty with preparing future professionals. Both of these exist under the larger umbrella that is the Preparing Future Leaders (PFL) program. In 2012, the Council of Graduate Schools awarded grants to schools with programs that would prepare future faculty while integrating learning assessment into the experience. UNCG and NC A&T were awarded one of six grants by CGS. The other schools selected to receive funding for this purpose included:
PFL’S MAIN GOAL IS TO ENHANCE PLACEMENT UPON GRADUATION AND TO SEND STUDENTS OUT WITH A CLEAR SENSE OF THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE CAREER.
Cornell University, Harvard University, Indiana University, Michigan State University, and the University of California, Merced. Today’s graduates are likely to not only change jobs but also
students for their future work roles.”
change their careers in the course of a lifetime. More knowledge
Preparing Future Leaders is centered on the premise that half of
and experience can make career decisions less daunting. With this
PhD candidates stay within academia and the other half seek jobs
in mind, dean William Wiener and associate dean Laura Chesak,
outside of academia. PFL gives students a chance to experience the
both of UNCG, have been working together to make Preparing
behind-the-scenes world of a range of academic and professional
Future Leaders an influential and flexible program. According to
opportunities. In addition to participating in workshops, students
Wiener, “The Graduate School has always offered student development
will also have the opportunity to shadow either a professor or a
F E AT U R E S T O RY
professional in the field. “[PFL] is envisioned to send students out
their electronic portfolios with employers or keep their own records.
with a greater awareness of the expectations they will be facing in
They may post major papers and even video clips of presentations.
their future career, whether in the academy, in business or industry,
This software is a means of collecting, sharing, managing, and
in non-profits, or in government,” Chesak explained. PFL’s main
archiving the essential professional documents students will produce
goal is to enhance placement upon graduation and to send students
as they progress through the program. “As coordinator I am working
out with a clear sense of the expectations of the career. “That’s the
closely with both graduate schools to ensure that PFL gives gradu-
hardest thing. How is success defined in that
ate students practical opportunities for
position? How do institutional or organizational
early professionalization so that they are
cultures differ? Academic skills are vital to support success in the workplace, but graduates also need to adapt their communication strategies to interact with diverse audiences,” Chesak says. To start, participants identify a mentor
“[I] AM EXCITED TO... HELP THEIR STUDENTS GO ON TO SUCCESSFUL AND MEANINGFUL POSITIONS”
in their chosen field who will guide them
confident and prepared when it is their time to think about going on the job market. I value the role of graduate education in producing leaders in academia, the arts and professional occupations, and am excited to be able to be a part of the good work the graduate schools are doing to help their
through to their completion of the program.
students go on to successful and meaningful
This allows students to experience what daily life is like for someone
positions,” Morehead stated.
in their field. Working with NC A&T has allowed The UNCG Gradu-
The Graduate Schools at UNCG and NC A&T each hope to enroll
ate School to share resources, workshops, and professors with
twenty-five students annually in PFL. Although the first cohort has
another well-respected university, thereby creating more opportunities
been selected, enrollment materials remain available online. Chesak
for students in PFL. Of course, a graduate student’s life is already
explained that they are looking for students who wish to broaden
hectic, and UNCG kept this in mind when designing the PFL program.
their experiences during graduate school and explore their options.
Each track is meant to be completed over the course of two years,
The enrollment form includes basic questions and a section asking
and Chesak advises that it would be difficult to complete the program
for details on the student’s assistantships, internships, and goals.
more quickly. The resources and activities are designed to complement
To learn more about Preparing Future Leaders, or to apply for the
a master’s or doctoral student’s traditional workload, although the
program, please visit: http://grs.uncg.edu/pfl/
additional components have their own challenges. Students are
To read more please visit: http://www.cgsnet.org/cgs-announces-
expected to attend workshops, reflect on their own development, and
awards-support-assessment-student-learning-future-faculty
shadow a mentor. The program does not award academic credit,
(for the Sloan and Teagle Foundations Award Announcement)
but students completing the PFL will receive a notation on their
http://www.cgsnet.org/preparing-future-faculty (for the CGS Best
transcript. This will be an important distinction when applying for
Practices: Preparing Future Faculty Program).
a position because it will set these applicants apart from other job
* The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is an organization of over 500 institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada engaged in graduate edu-
seekers. Craig Morehead, a graduate assistant in The Graduate School, is in charge of managing the web-based portfolios that students will be using to track their progress within the program. Morehead is a sixth year PhD student in English at UNCG. Students may share
cation, research, and the preparation of candidates for advanced degrees. Among U.S. institutions, CGS members award 92% of the doctoral degrees and 81% of the master’s degrees. The organization’s mission is to improve and advance graduate education, which it accomplishes through advocacy in the federal policy arena, research, and the development and dissemination of best practices.
PIXELS By supporting Graduate Education you help enhance the educational experience for all graduate students at UNCG. Your gift will enable The Graduate School to offer more and better opportunities for all graduate students and to make their stay at UNCG one they will always remember. http://grs.uncg.edu/give/
Graduate School Website: grs.uncg.edu
Apply Yourself: http://grs.uncg.edu/links/apply
Graduate School Bulletin: http://grs.uncg.edu/bulletin
Horizons Online: http://grs.uncg.edu/horizons
HORIZONS
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2013
Dean: William R. Wiener, Ph.D. Associate Dean: Laura Chesak, Ph.D.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Assistant Dean: Scott Hudgins
facebook.com/uncg.grs @UNCG_GradSchool youtube.com/uncggrsvideos http://tinyurl.com/grslin gradschoolblog.uncg.edu
For Comments, Ideas, Updates: Horizons@uncg.edu
Managing Editor: Denise Sherron Graduate Assistants: Rachael Wonderlin and Katie Zimmerman Print and Web Design: Fifth Letter: www.fifth-letter.com Illustrations: Kyle Webster (BFA ‘99): www.kyletwebster.com
STUDENT PROFILE
Getting Noticed, Giving Back
A
AT THE YOUNG AGE of twenty-four,
recognized while taking a
to help improve the lives of fellow Mexican
Yuliana Rodriguez is working
class with Dr. Andrew Sup-
immigrants in the community, but she also
on her PhD in Human Devel-
ple, associate professor in
hopes to change the lives of high school and
opment and Family Studies at
Human Development and
college students. Rodriguez delivered the key-
UNCG. She already holds both
Family Studies. It was an
note address to over 300 Latino students at
a bachelor’s and master’s degree
upper level course and Rodri-
the annual Soy un Lider [I am a Leader] con-
in the same field.
guez was a hard worker, but
ference held at Guilford College in November
Born in Mexico, Rodriguez
still a little shy. She checked
2012. She spoke about her research and
came with her family to the
her email one day and had a
time at college to students from Guilford, Ala-
United States when she was
message from Supple asking
mance, and Forsyth schools. “There was this
three. Her father had a job in
if she would be interested
great moment where a couple students came up
North Carolina and worked for a number of
in doing research with another professor
and asked me questions. I remembered when
years to save money for his family’s new life
outside of his class. Learning that the re-
that had been me, and I was too scared to ask
in the Piedmont area. Although her father
search team was working to develop tools to
those questions,” she said, smiling wistfully.
spoke English, her mother did not know the
help immigrant families maintain strong
Rodriguez wants to open doors for students
language at all. Her older sisters would come
marriages and family ties, she was instantly
who may never have thought of college as an
home from school speaking English to each
interested and joined the team.
option. She is working to make information
other and Rodriguez took it all in. Later in
Rodriguez’s eyes lit up as she talked about
more readily available for these students so
kindergarten, she learned English quickly.
her research. Nearly all of the interviews that
that no one will have to tackle it alone.
She studied diligently and excelled academ-
the research team conducted were entirely in
Rodriguez’s mentor, Dr. Helms says,
ically throughout her early school years.
Spanish. Finally, she was able to use her Span-
“I’m so impressed with Yuliana’s strength,
Unfortunately, Rodriguez’s collegiate suc-
ish language skills to better the lives of others.
determination, and commitment to compas-
cess had a challenging start. As a high school
Finally, an academic institution recognized
sionately give back to the community while at
student in Winston-Salem, it was difficult for
her. Her research instructor, Dr. Heather Helms
the same time she is juggling the rigors of our
her to get information about college. After
encouraged her to
PhD program. She
attempting to contact her guidance counselor
cons ider graduate
recently presented
multiple times without success, Rodriguez felt
school.“She would
lost. This difficulty had nothing to do with
write notes to me,
Rodriguez’s grades; she graduated at the top
saying, ‘Have you
of her high school class. “I was always a quiet
thought about going
student,” she explained. “I expressed myself
to graduate school?’”
best in homework and in papers, but no one
Rodriguez said. “I
I personally want to
really encouraged me to think about college,
had never thought
thank The Graduate
or even ask me if I wanted to go. I heard teach-
about it before. She started planting those
School for all it has done to support her in
ers asking other students, but no one ever
ideas in my head...I had someone introduc-
her pursuit of a PhD—it makes me proud to
stopped to ask me about my college plans. I
ing me to something bigger than my original
be faculty here!”
realized that if I wanted to go to college, I had
undergraduate degree plan,” she explained.
Rodriguez smiles when she talks about
to find out what I needed to do for myself.”
After taking the GRE, Rodriguez applied to
graduate school, and it is easy to tell that
When choosing a college, Rodriguez
graduate schools across the country. She was
she has established deep roots here at
wanted to stay close to home. She felt
accepted everywhere she applied, but finally
UNCG. “UNCG has instilled in me a sense of
UNCG was a great fit. Fortunately, her expe-
decided to stay at UNCG. “North Carolina
responsibility to reach out to my community.
rience here quickly grew into something
kept calling to me. And the doors that [UNCG]
I have been given the gift of an education
significantly more positive than high school.
has opened up for me...well, it’s made me feel
and I now consider it my responsibility to
“I’m so happy I enrolled at UNCG because it
like I can do anything I want to do,” she said.
give back. I am so grateful to be part of an
was here that, for the first time, I experienced
Rodriguez decided to pursue her PhD in the
institution that values the power of knowledge
a teacher coming to me and talking to me
same field as she wants to teach. “I see that
as highly as the power of community.”
about my options...somebody noticed me.
you can positively influence the lives of so
Ms. Rodriguez is the recipient of the Patricia
A professor said, ‘Hey, do you want to work
many people. I also want to work in the commu-
R. Harris Scholarship, sponsored by the US
on a research project?’ Someone was actu-
nity; I want to have my feet in both worlds.”
Department of Education for 2012-13, and
ally encouraging me to speak out.”
For now, Rodriguez continues to work on
the UNCG Graduate School’s Inclusiveness
As an undergraduate, Rodriguez was
her PhD and her research projects. She hopes
Fellowship for 2011-12.
“UNCG HAS INSTILLED IN ME A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO REACH OUT TO MY COMMUNITY.”
her research at our national professional conference in Phoeni x. As Yuliana ’ s advisor and mentor,
INSIGHTS
Helping Guide the Journey
T
THIS, OUR SECOND EDITION OF
mentorship from their faculty
faculty and future professionals. A series of
Horizons, is dedicated to both
members at UNCG in helping
workshops and special experiences will give
mentoring and leadership.
them to shape their future
students a leg up on their competition when
Articles in the magazine
directions. Included with this
they apply for positions either in college
address both areas. Dr. David
theme of mentorship is an
teaching or in business, industry, or non-
Wyrick, a faculty member at
article on Craig Cashwell who
profit employment. Those who complete
UNCG and also an entrepre-
is the recipient of the UNCG
this program will receive a notation on
neur with a small business,
Graduate Mentorship Award
their transcripts and will take with them an
recounts how the mentorship
and also the recipient of
electronic portfolio that demonstrates to
from his professors helped
the Conference of Southern
their potential employers what they have
Photo courtesy of Marquette University
him to prepare for his dual
Graduate Schools Outstanding
accomplished. We hope you enjoy reading
careers. Yuliana Rodriguez, a student working
Mentorship Award. He has been a mentor
about these outstanding individuals and the
on her Ph.D. in Human Development and
to many different students throughout his
new leadership program.
Family Studies, tells a compelling story
career. In addition to these three articles,
of how her research instructor during an
there is an article on Preparing Future
undergraduate experience led her to consider
Leaders. UNCG has partnered with NC A&T
graduate study. Both individuals credit the
to develop a program to prepare both future
— Dean Bill Wiener
SELECT UPCOMING EVENTS
5/29
“Security Awareness Training Workshop” Wednesday, May 29; 1-5:00 p.m. – Forney Building, Room 112 Educating UNCG faculty and staff with respect to security best practices is essential in securing the University’s information assets.
5/24
“Practicing Powerful Interpersonal Skills for Career Advancement: Performing and Play in Professional Development” Part 1 Friday, May 24; 10 a.m.- Noon – Bryan Building, 112 HR Training Room
5/31
Part 2 Friday, May 31; 10 a.m.- Noon – Bryan Building, 112 HR Training Room Intended for all interested employees. Instructor: Dr. Omar H. Ali, Associate Professor of African Diaspora History & Politics, Director of Graduate Studies, African American Studies.
First Summer Session Final Examinations (Except for MBA and BLS)
Paying for College Workshop Tuesday, July 30; Noon-1 p.m.
Friday, June 14
Bryan Building, 112 HR Training Room
Second Summer Session Classes Begin
Summer Graduation
Thursday, June 20
Friday, August 9
Independence Day Holiday
Graduate Teaching Assistant Workshop
Classes dismissed and offices closed.
Friday, August 9; 8 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 4
School of Education Building, Room 114
Second Summer Session Final Examinations
Graduate School Information Session
Thursday, July 25
September 24, 6 p.m.; EUC Auditorium
Note: Registration required for some events. Locations vary. More information available online at grs.uncg.edu.
The Graduate School The University of North Carolina at Greensboro 241 Mossman Building 1202 Spring Garden Street Greensboro, NC 27412 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Visit us online for more exclusive online content, including an interview of faculty member Omar Ali. http://grs.uncg.edu/horizons
ALUMNI/FACULTY
Learning in Class and on the Job
A
A GRADUATE OF ELON UNIVERSITY with a BS in Exercise Science, Dr. David
his own business. As Wyrick was lining up a private investor to help
Wyrick first earned his Master of Public Health and then a PhD in
him get the company off the ground, UNCG’s Department of Public
Educational Research Measurement and Evaluation from UNCG.
Health Education opened a search for an associate professor. After
“I felt like I got a tremendous education. The rigor of both my
much internal debate, he put in an application for the faculty position,
programs was very strong,” he said of UNCG. “Probably what I value
even though he felt conflicted. “I saw them as separate things,” he
even more than the programs themselves is the mentoring from my
explained. In fact, he was so conflicted that he called the department
professors at UNCG.”
chair the weekend before the interview and asked to withdraw his
Wyrick has always been actively involved in both the community
application. “I told him that I wanted to start my own company. Still,
and university arenas. Nearing graduation, he had to
he convinced me to interview,” he said.
decide between doing a thesis or a final project.
Everything worked out better than Wyrick could
He chose to do the latter and teamed up with his
have ever anticipated. He was offered the job at
outside committee member, Dr. William B. Han-
UNCG and the university played a critical role in
sen, who owns Tanglewood Research, a private
launching his dream company, Prevention Strate-
research company in Clemmons, NC. Wyrick’s
gies, LLC. “The marriage of being a full-time faculty
research in adolescent substance abuse correlated
member and running a small research company
well with Hansen’s background, and he hired
is a dream come true,” Wyrick said. “I’m fortunate
Wyrick to work as a research associate at his
that Prevention Strategies benefits from my univer-
company. Wyrick’s first big project was to develop
sity research and my university research benefits
an adolescent drug prevention program to be
from the work I conduct at Prevention Strategies.
delivered in community settings and he realized
“You have to try to find some kind of balance.” Wyrick expressed an appreciation for UNCG’s
how much he loved this work. Although Wyrick was now working full-time, his wife, Cheryl
continued support of both his academic and entrepreneurial career.
Haworth Wyrick, encouraged him to start working on his PhD. As a
“UNC Greensboro, in my mind, is the perfect environment for an
full-time doctoral student in UNCG’s Educational Research Meth-
academic who wants to do research and teach,” he said. “UNCG attracts
odology program at the time, Cheryl thought the program would
great students that I want to work with. The consistent compliment I
complement her husband’s public health background nicely. He
get...is that they benefit from the real-world experience discussions in my
resisted for a while, but eventually took an introductory class and
class. If there wasn’t value or support from the university to engage
loved it. Wyrick had always seen himself as a part of the public
with the community, my classroom instruction wouldn’t be nearly as
health program, but Educational Research Methodology became a
effective. In my opinion, everyone benefits from my experiences beyond
viable option. “I got on the fast track for my career because I was
the academic campus.” At UNCG he has found the perfect blend.
working in this real life world, but I was also a full-time doctoral student,” he explained.
Learn more…
Upon completion of his PhD, Wyrick was faced with a big decision. With the help of his research partner, Dr. Melodie Fearnow-Kenney,
For more background information and resources on this article,
and his wife, Dr. Cheryl Wyrick, he began planning the launch of
please visit http://www.grs.uncg.edu/horizons.
3,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $0,000.00 or $0.00 per copy.