KG Spotlights

KG Spotlights - Knowledge Group Updates

Join a SoACE Knowledge Group

October 28, 2019 by 0 Comments

SoACE Knowledge Groups (KGs) offer members the opportunity to learn about and contribute to different facets that guide our profession. By joining a Knowledge Group, you have access to a specialized forum that addresses current challenges, trends, and questions you face in your work. Learn from the experiences and best practices of your colleagues, find content specific resources and tools, and network with other professionals in the field through SoACE Knowledge Groups. Each KG has it’s very own Slack Channel to continue discussion and share resources.

Below is information on each KG. SoACE Members are always welcome to join KGs by logging into your SoACE account and submitting this form.

Administration:  Directors and administrative staff who have management responsibilities including strategic planning, budgeting, staffing, research, outcomes, legal issues, etc. Chair: Tiffany Johnson from Arkansas State University tijohnson@astate.edu 

Assessment and Data Analytics:  Members who utilize various forms of data/surveys to track student/employee success, improve services and other means of assessing program effectiveness. Chair: Abdullah Abdul Kuder from Texas A&M University abdul25792@exchange.tamu.edu  

Career Advising/Counseling:  Members who counsel and advise students and alumni on various stages of career development from choosing career/major to job search strategies. Chair: Nadirah Pippen from UNC Wilmington pippenn@uncw.edu  

Employer:  Members working for employing organizations/businesses involved in college relations and recruitment. Chair: Jessenia Morales from Enterprise Holdings Jessenia.C.Morales@ehi.com 

Employer Relations:  Members working for institutions of higher education who develop and sustain employer partnerships, coordinate on campus recruitment and employer involvement, etc. Chair: Dia Buchanan from University of Mississippi dia@career.olemiss.edu 

Experiential Education:  Members who are involved in aspects of experiential education and student employment. Chair: Wesley Dickens from Ole Miss wdickens@bus.olemiss.edu 

Small Colleges and Universities: Members working for institutions of higher education who’s enrollment is less than 6500 students. Chair: Heather Wheeler from Texas A&M University heather.wheeler@tamuct.edu 

Technology:  Members who design, implement, coordinate, update, and/or facilitate technological support for programs, social media and services. Chair: Laura Kalb from Trinity University lkalb@trinity.edu 

 

Find more information on SoACE Knowledge Groups here: https://www.soace.org/knowledge-groups

KG Spotlights - Spotlights

Member Spotlight: Wesley Dickens

August 2, 2019 by 0 Comments

Wesley Dickens photo

Wesley Dickens is the Assistant Director of Experiential Education and an instructor at The University of Mississippi School of Business Administration. He earned his Master of Arts in Higher Education/Student Personnel from The University of Mississippi School of Education, and is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration from The University of Mississippi School of Business. In his role in the School of Business, Wesley coordinates the academic credit internship program and works with business students as they prepare for professional and academic opportunities. He also teaches two sections of business communication. Aside from his duties in the business school, he is an advisor to Golden Key International Honour Society and a mentor for the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy.

Wesley is also actively involved in national, regional, and state organizations. He has served as President of the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Employers, and currently serves as Chair of the Experiential Education Knowledge Group in the Southern Association of Colleges and Employers. He is passionate about student success and enjoys working with students in their career and professional development.
Wesley resides in Oxford with his wife, Janet, and two dogs, Jackson and Lady.

You can connect with Wesley on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleydickens/

How did you get into the Career Services profession?

My undergraduate degree is in K-12 Education, and I taught high school algebra for 2 years right after college.  However, I soon realized that wasn’t the right fit for me but really didn’t know which direction to go in my career.  My friends and family encouraged me to go see a career advisor, and it was during that meeting I had my “Eureka” moment.  I asked the career advisor, “How can I do what you do?”  She told me about various graduate degrees, and I knew then and there that that’s what I wanted to do.

I resigned my position at the high school and moved 300 miles away to attend the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) to pursue a MA in Higher Education.  I did not have a job lined up, but I had faith it would all work out.  And it just so happened, the week I moved to Oxford, a graduate assistantship position opened up in the Career Center.  I applied, interviewed, and was hired!  And as they say, the rest is history.  I spent 5 years as both a GA and full-time staff member in the Career Center until 2016, when I transitioned to a position coordinating the internship program for the Ole Miss Business School.

Describe your SoACE Experience. How did you get involved and how has that experience influenced you?

My mentors in Career Services encouraged professional development, so I naturally joined all the ACEs (NACE, SoACE, Mississippi (MACE)) and even held state leadership positions in MACE. When I transitioned to my role in the Ole Miss Business School, I was completely new to internships and experiential learning, and the position I was filling was brand new.  So, I was building a program from scratch and really looked for support as I embarked on this new journey.

That’s when I began to seek out additional professional development through the SoACE Knowledge Groups.  I attended the Experiential Education Knowledge Group (EEKG) meeting at the 2016 SoACE conference and was hooked.  Everyone at the meeting was so welcoming and helpful, and willing to share resources and professional guidance.

I didn’t consider myself a thought leader (still do not), but I wanted to be more involved in the KG, so I volunteered to help with programming and have been a member of the EEKG leadership team ever since.  During this time, my EEKG friends, along with other KG leaders and members, have been such a tremendous help to me professionally. They have literally served as the professional foundation to my current position and continue to inspire me to grow and think outside of my institution.

What advice do you have for new professionals who aspire to get more involved in the profession?

Don’t let lack of experience discourage you from getting involved.  You don’t have to be an expert to be a leader; all it takes is a willingness to serve. And if you are looking for a place to get more involved, the SoACE Knowledge Groups offer wonderful opportunities to connect with other members and contribute to your content area.

What is a unique fact about you?

My wife is a certified Disney enthusiast, and by default, that means I am too.  We average 3 trips to Orlando each year.  Our favorite place to stay is the Yacht and Beach Club and favorite park is Epcot.

What keeps you motivated?

The students keep me motivated.  In the midst of a hectic academic year, it can be easy to lose sight of why we are in this profession.  However, when a student is successful, and you know you played some part in it, things quickly come back into perspective.  They are the reason why I began my career in education and why I continue to work to be a better professional.

What are some of your hobbies when not working?

I love to golf (albeit poorly), attend sporting events, and travel with my wife.

Assessment & Data Analytics KG - KG Spotlights

Introducing Your New Assessment and Data Analytics (ADA) KG Chairs!

May 7, 2019 by 1 Comment
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Howdy from Aggieland!

Abdullah and I wanted to introduce ourselves to the greater SoACE community and give you a little taste of what we hope to do this year.

As your new chairs for the ADA KG we are hoping to provide you insight about how to effectively capture data in order to improve career readiness for students.

We wanted to hear from you on any ideas around Assessment and Data Analytics that you would be interested in by filling out this one question form. We also invite you to come join the conversation on Slack about any helpful tips and tricks you’ve learned about data!

We’re also planning a three-part webinar series this summer about the essentials of assessment and data and how to effectively use it to improve programming. Stay tuned for more information!

Now, a little bit about us!

Abdullah Abdul Kader received his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from India. After a brief career in the engineering industry he joined the Career Center in January 2017 in a newly created position and serves Master’s students in the College of Engineering.

Cami Hernandez Merhar is the Assistant Director of Mentoring here at Texas A&M where she is amassing a holistic view of mentoring culture at the university. The majority of her role involves strategically advising mentoring programs across campus on best practices, technology, and logistics. Prior to coming to Texas A&M, Cami lived in Seattle where she worked for various technology companies.

We’re excited to work with all of you to learn and implement assessment best practices!

Cheers,

Abdullah & Cami