professional development

Honors College alum spearheads professional development program

Sarah Holland — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:11:36 +0000

Honors College alum spearheads professional development program Sarah Holland Mon, 12/09/2024 - 11:11

When preparing for college, prospective students and parents often ask about career readiness. How is the university preparing its students for the workforce? What’s the rate of job placement? Do the students succeed in their respective careers?

��AV has a strong track record of preparing students for careers. And the Honors College is working to make sure Honors students are ready to shine in a competitive job market.

Jeff Shen provides opening remarks at the roundtable. Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of University Branding

“These are incredibly motivated students. I am beyond impressed with their enthusiasm and intellect. And they’re ready. They have all the tools to succeed in the workforce, they just need the knowledge of how to find the right opportunity,” said Jeff Shen.

Shen, who graduated from what was then known as the Presidential Scholars Program in 1996 with a degree in decision sciences, is president of Red Team Consulting and a member of the Honors College Advisory Board. Last year, he came to Dean Zofia Burr with an idea for how to prepare Honors College students for their careers: a roundtable for students to meet with professionals in government contracting, supported by the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting.

“I spoke with some students during graduation,” Shen said, “and in asking them about their post-graduation plans and job opportunities, I realized that these really bright and promising students were missing some of the foundations for approaching the job market: how to network, where to look for opportunities, and so on. So I thought, there must be some way we can address that gap.”

The idea for the roundtable coincided with plans to develop the Honors College Professional Development Fellows program. As part of the program, the roundtable was one of a series of workshops that help students in the program craft their resumes, build their LinkedIn profiles, practice interviewing, and otherwise prepare for internship and career opportunities.

The first roundtable event in Spring 2024 featured 12 George Mason alumni, all of whom are major executives at government contracting companies. The first was such a success that Shen and the Honors College decided to host a second event in Fall 2024.

“In government contracting, you can be a writer, a clinical researcher, a health care professional, you can be in sales: It does not matter the background, there’s going to be a position in government contracting for that person,” Shen said. “I wanted students to see the world of possibilities in terms of what they could do with their degrees.”

Students had the opportunity to speak with each executive in small groups, gaining valuable insights and advice on how to prepare for their career.

Jessica Taylor, studying music technology with a minor in computer science, was one of the fellows in the spring. “As a music major who wants to go into software engineering, I have an untraditional background that needs to be particularly explained and presented when I’m introducing myself to potential employers,” she said. “The fellows program taught me that my variety of creative experience is actually one of the things that makes me stand out.”

Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of University Branding

“We received [the mentors’] personal emails, offering the opportunity to follow up on potential career opportunities and further discussions,” said Monica Amaya, a management information systems major with a minor in computational and data sciences. Amaya attended the roundtable in Fall 2024. “The entirety of the Professional Development Fellows program has given us valuable networking opportunities to build meaningful relationships with successful government contracting leaders in the area.”

“I learned a lot about what it takes to build a business,” said cyber security engineering student Cameron Portis. “Hearing some of the stories about how these leaders overcame difficulties and changed their plans really inspired me to keep pushing toward my goals no matter what.”

The program continues to grow. In Spring 2025, the roundtable opportunities will expand to two new fields: Health administration and leadership, organized by Inova Health System’s Loren Rufino, BS Health Services ’12, and arts/performing arts nonprofit leadership, organized by Deb Gandy. Both are members of the Honors College Advisory Board.

And for Shen, opening doors for students is only part of the mission. “This is a great way for alumni and community members to get involved with George Mason,” he said. “I’m hoping this opens the door for them as well."

Discover the Honors College's inspiring learning community

Topics

Campus News

Honors College

College of Visual and Performing Arts

College of Engineering and Computing

Costello College of Business

College of Science

professional development

Alumni

In This Story

Zofia Burr

Tech industry professionals describe “A Day in the Life”

Teresa Donnellan — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 17:56:28 +0000

Tech industry professionals describe “A Day in the Life” Teresa Donnellan Mon, 03/25/2024 - 13:56

In This Story

Shahnaz Kamberi

On March 21, 2024, Break Through Tech Mason hosted a panel of tech industry professionals titled "A Day in the Life: Tech Jobs Unveiled." Each panelist discussed their path in the tech industry, as well as the advice they would offer students just starting out.

“Yesterday, we had the privilege of diving deep into the world of tech with Jamie Bowers, site reliability engineer at Microsoft, Veeraj Modi, security analyst at Microsoft, and Cassandra Rothrauff, senior computer engineer at Booz Allen Hamilton,” said Shahnaz Kamberi, a professor of computer science and leader of Break Through Tech Mason. “Their insights illuminated the varied paths to success in the tech industry and the importance of resilience, mentorship, and teamwork along the way.”

Each speaker also shared what a typical day looks like in their current role. Then students were able to ask questions.

Break Through Tech works at the intersection of academia and industry to propel women and underrepresented communities into computing degrees and tech careers. ��AV's partnership with Break Through Tech began in 2019 and includes curriculum innovation, career access, and community building.

"A Day in the Life: Tech Jobs Unveiled" panelists Veeraj Modi, Jamie Bowers, and Cassandra Rothrauff

Kamberi noted that the speakers exemplified the fact that there is no “one-size-fits-all approach” to a career in tech. “From overcoming academic challenges to leveraging mentorship, their stories emphasized the multitude of avenues available to aspiring tech professionals,” she said. “Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just embarking on your journey, their stories serve as a beacon of inspiration for anyone aspiring to make their mark in the tech industry.”

Bowers, Modi, and Rothrauff described how their roles are dynamic to respond to the changing nature of tech. “Whether it’s troubleshooting complex systems, analyzing security threats, or designing innovative solutions, their workdays are marked by diversity and excitement,” said Kamberi.

Kamberi reflected on the main takeaways for students who attended the event, including the importance of work-life balance, learning from mistakes, and collaborating well with colleagues.

A Day in the Life panelists, Shahnaz Kamberi, and Break Through Tech Mason peer leaders

In light of the exciting nature of their industry, speakers emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. “From setting boundaries to prioritizing self-care, they emphasized that success in tech goes hand in hand with personal well-being,” said Kamberi. "The panelists candidly discussed the inevitability of making mistakes and the invaluable lessons gleaned from them. Rather than viewing failures as setbacks, they encouraged embracing them as opportunities for growth and learning,” she added.

Bowers, Modi, and Rothrauff also underscored the power of effective teamwork, noting that synergy is a driving force behind innovation and success.

“‘A Day in the Life: Tech Jobs Unveiled’ provided invaluable insights into the multifaceted world of tech, reaffirming that with passion, perseverance, and a supportive community, anything is possible in this dynamic field,” said Kamberi.

Topics

Break Through Tech

information sciences and technology

computer science

Computer science; computing; School of Computing

professional development

women in computing

Students

Tech Talent Investment Pipeline (TTIP)

TTIP

Tech Talent Investment Program

Kathy Zimmerman is the TargetX Rockstar of the Year

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 14:51:26 +0000

Kathy Zimmerman is the TargetX Rockstar of the Year Lauren Reuscher Thu, 08/17/2023 - 10:51

Kathy Zimmerman, Salesforce administrator, Office of Enrollment Management. Photo provided

��AV staff member Kathy Zimmerman was recently recognized by Liaison, the company that supports TargetX and Salesforce, for her significant contributions to the higher education community.

TargetX, a higher education customer relationship management platform, is an enterprise-wide solution that supports recruitment and enrollment efforts at Mason.

Zimmerman first joined Mason in 2006 and has worked as the Salesforce administrator in Mason’s Office of Enrollment Management since 2017. Zimmerman is a recognized member of the TargetX Rockstar Community, a group of the most advanced and collaborative TargetX users.

At a virtual ceremony attended by higher education administrators from around the globe, Zimmerman received two additional honors: 2023 Rockstar of the Year and induction into the Rockstar Hall of Fame.

“Kathy has such a long institutional memory and can operate in so many different Mason systems that her expertise is an invaluable piece of Mason’s enrollment puzzle,” said David Burge, vice president for enrollment management at Mason. “She works long and hard for students—never backing away from a challenge.”

Zimmerman recognizes the impact of professional communities of practice and values the opportunity to share knowledge with others. She is also a member of the 2023 Salesforce America Higher Education Advisory Council.

“Since starting at Mason, the number one thing I always heard in meetings was, ‘How do similar institutions handle this? How can we grow and make this flexible?’” Zimmerman said. “Working with Salesforce created an opportunity for me to make a bigger difference for Mason and schools that we work with. Watching Mason and community members succeed has really made a difference in how I approach my job and learning.”

Although public speaking is not Zimmerman’s favorite activity, she said presenting at conferences allows her to see the “lightbulb moment” for others in real time. Sharing experiences and learning from other institutions has allowed her to perform her job more effectively—and helps the higher education community at large.

“Kathy is not just knowledgeable in what she does, but generous in sharing that knowledge to help others,” said Kristi Kooyman, client success director at Liaison.

To those working in the higher education realm of TargetX users, Zimmerman’s recognition is no surprise. “Kathy Zimmerman is probably the most recognized name among our community of celebrated contributors,” said Zach Varga, vice president for client success at Liaison. “For years, she has presented at national conferences, has freely shared her experience with others through webinars hosted by Liaison, and never misses an opportunity to meet with peers from other institutions with the shared mission of exchanging knowledge and growing together.”

In This Story

David Burge, MSE

Topics

Faculty and Staff News

Office of Enrollment Management

Office of the Provost

professional development

Faculty News

Rising Health Leaders at Mason Cultivated Leadership Skills by Organizing Annual Symposium

John Brandon Cantrell — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 13:10:44 +0000

Rising Health Leaders at Mason Cultivated Leadership Skills by Organizing Annual Symposium John Brandon C… Thu, 04/07/2022 - 09:10

Mason student group hosted a successful networking event for students in the DMV area.

As president of Rising Health Care Leaders at Mason (RHLM), Akshaya Chinnathevar Ramesh’s main goal for the 2022 RHLM Spring Symposium was to help other students make connections that will benefit their future careers as health care leaders. Along the way, she also strengthened her own leadership skills. The Symposium gave students from Mason and neighboring universities opportunities to strengthen their professional relationships and learn from local professionals on critical topics affecting today’s health care industry.

Chinnathevar Ramesh, a student in the Master of Health Administration program, led the RHLM leadership team to create a successful spring event. In addition to Chinnathevar Ramesh, the RHLM leadership includes Diba Osmanzada, Karan Khushal, Veronica Desper, and Kirstyn Nero.

Chinnathevar Ramesh aspired to become the RHLM president so she could help fellow students accelerate their futures careers through additional support and networking opportunities.

“I know what it is like to struggle beginning [a new program], being confused, and not knowing where to start,” Chinnathevar Ramesh said. “That is when the RHLM Symposium helped me and gave me the needed guidance, which inspired me [to join RHLM]. I felt the need to be a part of RHLM and help students looking for career opportunities like me. I also wanted to take the organization forward by adding my strengths and values.”

To ensure a successful day of networking and professional development, RHLM members spent over five months organizing and planning the event, which involved outreach, event promotion, and partnering with the National Center of Health Education to determine the panel topics. The event reached registration capacity within three days of the registration opening.

Over 120 people attended the Symposium, which included three-panel presentations from the area’s leading experts in health management on crisis management, implicit bias, and emotional intelligence and two resume review sessions for students preparing to enter the health care field. The event also featured the announcement of two services awards, including an alumni honorarium.

In the spirit of helping others, RHLM donated the extra food from the event to local housing shelters.

For Chinnathevar Ramesh, the opportunity to lead others throughout the planning process was a new experience that strengthened her skill set as a leader.

“Empathy is something I always value and believe is a must-have of any leadership,” said Chinnathevar Ramesh. “I got to know my team and the situation around them, and I learned to be more empathetic of the happenings and other individuals.”

The experience also helped her improve skills relating to active listening, accountability, and making strategic decisions.

“I felt like I had a crash course of my strategic management course,” said Chinnathevar Ramesh. “Strategic thinking and decision-making are two skills that have gone up a level from this experience.”

Chinnathevar Ramesh plans to apply the skills she obtained throughout her involvement in the health administration program and as the RHLM president to work in strategic management and operations, with the goal of becoming a chief operating officer of a company one day.

For students interested in joining RHLM, the group encourages students from any program to get involved. “We are the most active academic organization, and if any student thinks ‘I am not sure of what to do next about my career or where to begin,’ RHLM will be their guiding light,” Chinnathevar Ramesh said.

Learn more about RHLM here.