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IN PERSON | June 9, 2025 | 9 - 10 a.m. MT | ECHA 2-190, North Campus

Description
Leadership begins with self. What kind of leader are you? Does this matter? What makes a good leader? How can you build your leadership acumen? Join us in a conversation about leadership styles, determine what are your tendencies and gain a better sense of what matters when it comes to leadership of self.

Presenter: Renee Polziehn, PhD

IN PERSON | June 9, 2025 | 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. MT | ECHA 2-190, North Campus

Description
In this session, we will discuss why EDI work is, and should, be rooted in lived experiences and positionality. Using personal and professional stories, our featured guests will discuss how they came to work in the area of EDI and share thoughts and insights about what EDI is, what EDI isn't and what it could/should be. Throughout the session, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their own lived experiences and discuss the ways these experiences have shaped, and continue to shape, their own understandings and practices.

Presenter: Jay Friesen, PhD

IN PERSON | June 9, 2025 | 1 - 2 p.m. MT | ECHA 2-190, North Campus

Description
Once you have a good handle on how you respond and interact with others and to events, you will want to add the next dimension of learning about others. How are people similar and different from you? What dynamics can come into play so that you can be successful in leading? We will examine how people learn as a tool for understanding how leadership is received by others and how this can impact team dynamics.

Presenter: Renee Polziehn, PhD

IN PERSON | June 9, 2025 | 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. MT | ECHA 2-190, North Campus

Description
You may spend a part — even a good part — of your career working in positions outside of formal leadership. But that doesn't prevent you from leading projects that are innovative and inspiring. Indeed, working on the front lines often gives you special insight into the kinds of initiatives that will benefit those you serve. In this hour-long conversation, we'll consider ways we can be creative leaders when our title doesn't include the words "manager," "supervisor" or "director." We'll discuss strategies for conceiving small projects, gaining buy-in from those above us and involving other people in developing and promoting them.

Presenter: Robert B. (Rob) Desjardins, PhD

IN PERSON | June 10, 2025 | 9 - 10 a.m. MT | ECHA 2-190, North Campus

Description
Many graduate students and postdoctoral scholars experience conflict as they move along their academic pathway. This aligns with the Myers-Briggs Company's finding that 85% of employees experience conflict in their workplaces. Lack of conflict resolution skills is cited as a major reason for this high percentage. Learning about conflict and how it can be resolved is a great step towards growing your leadership and diplomacy skills. This is an opportunity to assist you with moving from leadership of self to leadership of others.

Facilitator: Renee Polziehn, PhD

IN PERSON | June 10, 2025 | 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. MT | ECHA 2-190, North Campus

Description
At some point in time, we will encounter a situation where having a conversation can feel like you are playing snakes and ladders. Learning more about human behaviour can provide insights into how our behaviour can add or detract from moving a conversation forward (4 Horsemen). The pneumonic AIMS: attention, intention, mindset, and state is another tool that can set the stage for a better conversation. And sometimes, we need to learn a few phrases that can help us get the clarity we need. While you won't master these skills in this session, you will have some tools to be better prepared to lead conversations.

Presenters: Renee Polziehn, PhD; Andrea Spevak, Career Centre

IN PERSON | June 10, 2025 | 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. MT | ECHA 1-490, North Campus

Description
Leadership within teams has many nuances. During this fun, interactive workshop we will use LEGO to explore the facets of what makes a good team. We will explore the questions of how to create a productive team environment and how your sense-of-self contributes to this dynamic.

Presenters: Renee Polziehn, PhD; Jay Friesen, PhD; Robert B. (Rob) Desjardins, PhD

Virtual | June 11, 2025 | 9 - 10:30 a.m. MT |

Description
While we know the academic job market is discouraging, the trend for U of A doctoral and postdoctoral fellows to land a position in academia is about 30%. How are U of A candidates making themselves competitive? To shed some light on what is expected from candidates, we will hear from faculty members who have been part of hiring committees and can share some insights into what makes candidates shine.

Panel: Dr. Pierre Mertiny, Associate Dean (Undergraduate) in Engineering, Professor Mechanical Engineering, Director of the Advanced Composite Materials Engineering; Dr. Vicky Ruetalo, Chair (Modern Languages and Cultural Studies), Professor MLCS, author, former Associate Dean GPS, creator of the Graduate Student Supervisory Training program; Dr. Peter Light, Interim Chair (Pharmacology), Professor Pharmacology, Director, ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Institute, hold the Dr. Charles A. Allard Chair in Diabetes Research

Virtual | June 11, 2025 | 12 - 1 p.m. MT |

Description
You are getting ready for your job interview and have questions about start dates, wages, and more. What types of things can you negotiate? Who starts this process? Can you negotiate once you have the job? Let's test your negotiation skills!

Presenters: Renee Polziehn, PhD; Panel of Career Centre staff that could include. Andrea Spevak Internship Advisor for the Graduate Student Internship Program, Marek Komar - Career Coach, Navita Kalra - GSIP Career Advisor, Rachel Sisson Team Lead and Career Coach, and guests.

Virtual | June 11, 2025 | 2 - 3 p.m. MT |

Description
It's been 10 years since Dr. Kevin Haggerty co-published 57 Ways to Screw Up in Grad School: Perverse Professional Lessons for Graduate Students, and the messages are still relevant today. These messages are intended to help students through their programs and into their careers beyond. They range from making the most of opportunities when they are presented to you to not waiting for your supervisor or advisor to offer advice. There are many parallels between choosing a supervisor for your graduate program, deciding to work with someone as a postdoc or taking that job offer. How you learn to handle pressures as a student can translate into how you handle work pressure in other settings. If you are wondering what steps you can take during your graduate program that will help you move onto your next career step, come join the conversation with Dr. Haggerty.

Presenter: Kevin Haggerty, PhD
Dr. Kevin Haggerty is a Canada Research Chair, former Graduate Chair, and professor in the Department of Sociology at the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥. He is a ground-breaking social scientist, his research interests include policing, surveillance, and risk management. An influential criminologist and scholar, Dr. Haggerty is a Killam Research Laureate and was executive editor of the Canadian Journal of Sociology from 2007 to 2023. He has received numerous accolades for his dedication to research and teaching. In 2014, he was awarded the Faculty of Arts Graduate Teaching Award, the Faculty of Arts Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Mentorship, and the Killam Research Fellowship. In 2015, he was the recipient of the Faculty of Arts Research Award for Full Professors as well as the Killam Award for Excellence in Mentoring. Dr. Haggerty is committed to furthering research in his discipline, serving as a member of the Canadian Research Network on Terrorism, Security and Society (TSAS); the Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse (CRISM); and an executive member of the Canadian Society for Evidence-Based Policing. Dr. Haggerty is invested in his students and his larger community.

Virtual | June 12, 2025 | 9 - 10:30 a.m. MT |

Description
As graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, you have many pressures on your shoulders, including research, studies, work, and family. We all have our limits, but we don't always recognize or communicate them effectively. In this one hour workshop, you will learn about the purpose of boundaries, and why recognizing them is vital. You will also learn how to use clear and assertive communication while setting and enforcing your personal limits. Greater awareness of your personal, academic and professional boundaries may help you as you navigate your current academic program, as well as employment environments beyond your fellowships and graduation.

Presenter: Jasmine Bajwa, PhD, R. Psych Satellite Psychologist, Faculty of Engineering

Virtual | June 12, 2025 | 1 - 2:30 p.m. MT |

Description
You have a LinkedIn account, but aren't sure what messaging you should add to your profile. Maybe you are asking "Why should I even bother?" More than 90% of employers utilize LinkedIn at some stage of the hiring process. What if you could take steps now that would improve your hiring chances in the future? There are some easy actions you can take to make your profile pop out from others that may have similar qualifications to your own. Come learn how you can improve the potential of your profile and ways to utilize your account for benefits to your career.

Presenter: Christine Gertz, MEd, MLIS
Christine Gertz, is a long time Library and Information Specialist for the Career Centre at the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ with many years of creating a collection of resources that develop career awareness. She also is incredibly supportive of people transitioning to the workplace and has served as a Settlement Support Mentor for the Catholic Social Services and is currently a volunteer with the Student Volunteer Campus Community.