CCWT - The Center for Research on College to Workforce Transitions

A Discussion with Sarah Dryden-Peterson on Her Research and on the Civic Education of Refugees
2021-03-30 15:00 (America/Chicago)
Tuesday, March 30, 2021, 3p.m. CST (US)
Part of the Spring 2021 Webinar Series: Supporting Higher Education and Career Success for Refugees in Wisconsin w/CCWT Associate Researcher Dr. Matthew Wolfgram
Webinar Series flyer (PDF)
Watch a recording of this webinar

From College to Career: How Liberal Arts Graduates Use Skills while Practical Arts Graduates Push Paper
2021-04-14 11:00
Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 11a.m. CST (US)
In this webinar, CCWT Director Matthew Hora interviewed Dr. Corey Pech, a postdoctoral researcher in Sociology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Pech discussed his book project tentatively titled From College to Career. The book shows, that in fact, most Business and Engineering graduates move seamlessly into jobs that provide good pay but usually involve mundane office work. On the other hand, many English and Communications majors struggle to enter the labor market, and in their post-graduation jobs their skills (while being used) are not treated as valuable. Dr. Pech argues that these disparities arise from differential opportunities to internships that are only available to some majors and that the shift in higher education from promoting the general liberal arts to the more specific practical disciplines is a misguided practice.
Corey Moss-Pech is a National Science Foundation Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Sociology at the University of Michigan. His research examines the intersection between work and education, and how experiences in, and attitudes toward, both work and school shape labor market and gender inequality.
Webinar flyer (PDF)
Watch a recording of this webinar

Girls of Color and PAR: Investigating Sex Education in Chicago Public Schools with the Womxn that Fight Research Team, Chicago, IL
2021-04-26 16:30
Monday, April 26, 2021, 4:30p.m. CST (US)
Part of the Spring 2021 Webinar Series: Participatory Action Research in Practice
Webinar flyer (PDF)
Watch a recording of this webinar

A Discussion with Karin Brown on Challenges in the Recognition of Refugees’ Educational Credentials
2021-04-27 15:00
Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 3p.m. CST (US)
Part of the Spring 2021 Webinar Series: Supporting Higher Education and Career Success for Refugees in Wisconsin w/CCWT Associate Researcher Dr. Matthew Wolfgram
This webinar series brings together educators, refugee resettlement service providers, college students with refugee background, scholars, employers, and community members to learn about the barriers and supports that impact the college and career success of Wisconsin residents of refugee background. The webinars will feature engagement with scholars and practitioners who support higher education for refugees, and the concluding webinar will be a panel discussion with college students with refugee background. After the completion of each webinar, everyone is invited to stay and discuss policy and advocacy to support higher education for immigrants of refugee background in Wisconsin.
Webinar Series flyer (PDF)
Watch a recording of this webinar | View Presentation slides (PDF)

Participatory Research as Autoformación (Self-Education) and Consciousness Raising with Andrea Dyrness, University of Colorado Boulder
2021-05-10 16:30
Monday, May 10, 2021, 4:30p.m. CST (US)
Part of the Spring 2021 Webinar Series: Participatory Action Research in Practice
Webinar Series flyer (PDF)
For a link to the webinar, please e-mail CCWT at ccwt@wisc.edu

Panel discussion: College Students with Refugee Backgrounds Discuss Experiences with College and Careers
2021-05-25 15:00
Tuesday, May 25, 2021, 3p.m. CST (US)
Part of the Spring 2021 Webinar Series: Supporting Higher Education and Career Success for Refugees in Wisconsin w/CCWT Associate Researcher Dr. Matthew Wolfgram
This webinar series brings together educators, refugee resettlement service providers, college students with refugee background, scholars, employers, and community members to learn about the barriers and supports that impact the college and career success of Wisconsin residents of refugee background. The webinars will feature engagement with scholars and practitioners who support higher education for refugees, and the concluding webinar will be a panel discussion with college students with refugee background. After the completion of each webinar, everyone is invited to stay and discuss policy and advocacy to support higher education for immigrants of refugee background in Wisconsin.
Webinar Series flyer (PDF)
Watch a recording of this webinar

Grant Writing Workshop for Graduate Students
2021-09-30 13:00 - 14:00
Grantwriting for Grad Students/Early Career Researchers in Higher Ed
Sep 30, 2021 01:00 PM
Watch a recording of this webinar

Social and Motivational Interventions to Broadening Participation in STEM
2022-03-01 11:00 - 12:00
Tuesday, March 1st from 11am to 12pm CST
Special Guest: Dr. Paul Hernandez, Texas A&M University
It is widely recognized that the U.S. needs to attract, retain, and adequately prepare a larger and more diverse Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce to accelerate innovation and discovery, maintain global competitiveness, and expand economic prosperity. Intensive undergraduate research experiences (UREs), as well as mentoring and role modeling programs, are recognized as part of the solution for attracting and retaining more diverse and talented college students into STEM degrees. However, methodological limitations in the extant research have posed a replicability challenge for multifaceted programs and less is known about the underlying process linking activities and professional relationships to positive outcomes. Dr. Hernandez will discuss his program of research aimed at illuminating the impact and processes linking activities to broader participation in STEM careers.
Webinar flyer (PDF)

Dr. Trevor McCray: A Deep Dive into HBCU Graduates Career Development Experience
2024-01-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
As we continue to push for the recognition and advancement of our renowned Historically Black Colleges and Universities, it’s imperative that we shed light on how career development is derived for HBCU students. In this webinar, Dr. McCray will share what he’s learned through a small pilot study about HBCU graduates’ career development experiences, key elements of career development at HBCUs, and considerations for potential HBCU career center advancements.
Register Here

Kaila Bingen: Empowering Students to Prioritize Their Safety in Experiential Learning
2024-02-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Thousands of students engage in experiential learning every year, yet institutions vary in how they prepare students for these experiences. In this webinar, you will reflect on how your institution prepares students for experiential learning and evaluate what resources are available to staff, faculty, and students related to sexual harassment and microaggressions. Participants will gain understanding of their liability and responsibilities related to student safety by previewing a brand new, fully virtual, highly engaging training titled, “Safety and Empowerment for Experiential Learning: Professional Behavior and Appropriate Boundaries.” Developed by University of Wisconsin-Parkside in partnership with Universities of Wisconsin and Dynamic Training Resources, this training will improve equity for students engaged in experiential learning and equips students with the knowledge and tools to advocate for their own and others’ safety and wellbeing in professional spaces.
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Land Grant Institutions & the Opportunity of Post-Graduate Studies
2024-03-11 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Land grant institutions are a pivotal piece to the opportunity for higher learning in America. In this webinar, we will look at the past, present, and future landscape of post-graduate opportunities at land grant institutions in three states; Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. The history and difference between 1862 and 1890 Morrill Act land grant institutions will be discussed as well as how internships, scholarships, and the end of affirmative action play a role in continued education.
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Ericka Wills - empowHER: A Mentoring Program for Women in the Wisconsin Building Trades
2024-03-13 12:30 - 13:30 | Zoom
This webinar introduces empowHER Wisconsin Women in the Building Trades, which was established in 2019 to normalize the role of, support, and retain women in the construction industry and recruit more women into union construction careers. The presenter will discuss the scholarship regarding mentoring as a key component of achieving this vision, discuss the collaborative process of designing and launching this empowHER mentoring program, and offer an activity to demonstrate the unique issues women in this industry face.

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Dr. Taewon Kim: Racialized Poverty Among College Students
2024-04-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Researchers and career counselors have become increasingly interested in understanding college students’ experiences of poverty and identifying the role of paid internship opportunities in poverty experiences based on structural, cultural, and historical dynamics. Drawing from data from CCWT, Dr. Kim will explain multidimensional poverty and display different structures and natures of poverty that college students experience across racial identities. She will also explain if first-generation college students are more vulnerable to racialized poverty and if paid internship opportunities would alleviate poverty experiences and provide reflection questions and future directions highlighting ways to support invisible student groups with intersecting identities.
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Anderson Lee - DeafTEC Ready: Unlocking Potential Among Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Students
2024-04-26 12:30 - 13:30 | Zoom
For the deaf and hard-of-hearing, getting considered for employment opportunities is a longstanding challenge. In the tech industry, their participation is even less so. What accounts for their under-representation? How can employers seeking tech talent be engaged? Which approaches work better than others? Session attendees, especially career services professionals and any employers present, will learn about CompTIA’s partnership with the Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf to certify and place deaf and hard-of-hearing students into paid training-related roles. Obstacles, setbacks, and successes will be shared, and as approaches continue to be developed as well as tried, session attendees will also be invited to share their experiences in a collegial and open setting.
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Dr. Ran Liu & Dr. Mindi Thompson - Not All Internships are Created Equal
2024-05-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
In this webinar, Dr. Ran Liu and Dr. Mindi Thompson delve into the critical disparities characterizing college students’ internship experiences and outcomes, focusing on differences in supervision quality, student satisfaction, paid vs. unpaid internships, and their impacts on career outcomes. Synthesizing findings from CCWT’s college internship study, data from the National Survey of College Internships (NSCI), and other literature, we discuss how these disparities also vary according to students’ socio-demographic backgrounds. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the prevalence of internship disparities and actionable insights on strategies to promote equitable internship experiences for all students.
Register Here

Dr. Jodi Vandenberg-Daves - Confronting Perfectionism and Imposter Syndrome
2024-09-18 11:30 - 12:30 | Zoom
Stop the cycle of continuous self-doubt and “auditioning” at work and learn to embrace and activate talent.
In this interactive webinar, Jodi will help participants put these challenges in perspective and develop proactive strategies and mindsets to move past them. She will lead a discussion about:

How gender and other systems intersect with perfectionism and imposter syndrome, and how these challenges can keep you stuc
How to identify workplace triggers and develop a growth mindset.
Developing self-awareness and learning habits of self-reflection and self-regulation to let go of perfectionism.
Identifying anti-perfectionism strategies like delegation, help-seeking, mutual empowerment team building, identifying and leveraging key strengths, and practicing self-compassion.

Dr. Mica Estrada - Transforming Leadership Through Kindness & Community
2024-10-16 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
We have many opportunities to change patterns of exclusion and inclusion in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM). With this in mind, Dr. Estrada will describe findings from her research program in which she has longitudinally tracked and examined what types of mentorship, training experiences, and supports that result in students integrating into their professional fields and persisting in STEM career pathways. Her research focuses on the experiences of persons historically excluded because of ethnicity and race. Further, she will offer practical exercises that educators and institutions can use to increase kindness cues that affirm social inclusion in our daily lives.

Lydia Odegard - Promoting Language Skills in Career Development
2024-11-05 12:30 - 13:30
Language abilities are an incredible asset for job seekers – regardless of their career interest!
In this webinar, University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Lydia Odegard, Language Directions Specialist at the Language Institute, will discuss how she coaches students to help them learn how to “wow” employers by communicating skills they’ve learned through language study and by creating a personal brand that highlights their language skills and international experiences.

WEBINAR: Work Based Learning: Paving the Way for Career Success through a General Education Course
2025-01-29 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Wed | Jan 29, 2025 @ 12 – 1 pm CT
Work Based Learning: Paving the Way for Career Success through a General Education Course
Dr. Mita Banerjee & Kaila Bingen
Register HERE
When structural barriers prevent students from participating in internships, institutions of higher education can offer alternative solutions to ensure equitable opportunities for all learners. This session will explore the conception, implementation, and continuous evaluation of a new experiential learning course that meets general education requirements. Utilizing a mixed-method design, presenters will share early positive outcomes from the UWP 294: Work-Based Learning course demonstrating how students develop crucial career readiness skills that enhance their future professional prospects. Utilizing a course model based on NACE career readiness competencies and best practices in experiential learning, participants will learn how students’ current work experiences scaffolded with relevant coursework can serve as a viable alternative to internships.

WEBINAR: Confronting Perfectionism & Imposter Syndrome
2025-02-04 12:30 - 13:30 | Zoom
Tue | Feb 4, 2025 @ 12:30 – 1:30 pm CT
Confronting Perfectionism & Imposter Syndrome
Dr. Jodi Vandenberg-Daves
Register HERE
Stop the cycle of continuous self-doubt and “auditioning” at work and learn to embrace and activate talent.
In this interactive webinar, Jodi will help participants put these challenges in perspective and develop proactive strategies and mindsets to move past them. She will lead a discussion about:

How gender and other systems intersect with perfectionism and imposter syndrome, and how these challenges can keep you stuck.
How to identify workplace triggers and develop a growth mindset.
Developing self-awareness and learning habits of self-reflection and self-regulation to let go of perfectionism.
Identifying anti-perfectionism strategies like delegation, help-seeking, mutual empowerment team building, identifying and leveraging key strengths, and practicing self-compassion.

WEBINAR: Thomas Le - Associations Between Discrimination & First-Generation College Students’ Belonging and Academic Well-Being
2025-03-11 13:30 - 14:30 | Zoom
Tue | Mar 11, 2025 @ 1:30 – 2:30 pm CT
Associations Between Discrimination & First-Generation College Students’ Belonging and Academic Well-Being
Thomas Le
Register HERE
Dr. Thomas Le will outline a research study that examined discrimination’s association with academic well-being among first-generation college students during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. This talk will review the role of social belonging and university attachment and provide strategies to support the wellbeing of first-generation college students as they navigate college environments.

WEBINAR: Artificial Intelligence, Real-World Experience: How Experiential Learning Creates Opportunities for All Students to be Prepared for the Future of Work
2025-03-17 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Mon | Mar 17, 2025 @ 1:00 – 2:00 pm CT
Artificial Intelligence, Real-World Experience: How Experiential Learning Creates Opportunities for All Students to be Prepared for the Future of Work
Marquise McGriff
Register HERE
In today’s rapidly evolving job market, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various industries is undeniable. This session will explore how the University of Florida (UF) has successfully piloted experiential learning initiatives to prepare students from all majors for the AI-integrated workforce. These initiatives ensure that all students have the opportunity to develop needed AI competencies, allowing even those not focused on STEM fields and those who don’t know how to code to engage meaningfully with AI. Participants will gain insights into UF’s comprehensive approach to integrating AI across the curriculum to prepare students for the future of work, which includes research-based scholar programs, professional immersion activities, and creative immersive experiences. By connecting students with real-world AI applications, UF ensures that all graduates are well-equipped to meet the evolving demands of industry. Participants will learn about the different experiential learning opportunities piloted at UF that integrate AI into the curriculum; explore how UF’s AI Scholars Program has enabled students from all backgrounds to engage deeply with AI through research, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills; explore how UF’s AI Career Treks offer students in-person and first-hand experience with AI in real-world work settings, enhancing their practical knowledge and employability regardless of their major; discover how UF’s AI Days allow students to engage in hackathons, pitch competitions, and generative AI competitions, encouraging innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, even for those without a coding background; and have a toolkit of actionable ideas and best practices, inspired by UF’s pilot programs, to create AI-engaged experiential learning opportunities at their institutions, ensuring that all students are prepared for the future workforce.

WEBINAR: Dr. Mindi Thompson - Designing Meaningful and Evidence-Based College Internships
2025-04-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Designing Meaningful and Evidence-Based College Internships
Mindi Thompson
Register HERE
In this webinar, CCWT’s Executive Director Dr. Mindi Thompson will share what CCWT and other scholars working in the college internship space have learned from students about college internships and elements that contribute to positive internship experiences. Mindi will summarize research findings, share students’ perspectives, and highlight evidence to support best practices. She will share information about how we used this evidence to develop and launch CCWT’s inaugural internship program. Participants will gain a better understanding of current knowledge and learn strategies to design meaningful internship opportunities for all students.

Student Voices, Stronger Internships: New Internship Resources & the Interns Who are Helping Refine Them
2026-03-11 13:15 - 14:15 | Zoom
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 @ 1:15 – 2:15 pm CST
Student Voices, Stronger Internships: New Internship Resources & the Interns Who are Helping Refine Them
Presenters: Dr. Mindi Thompson and Missy Clemens with CCWT interns Nadia Choi & Suchita Hothur
Register: bit.ly/3O2CfJg
Join us to explore new CCWT resources in development, featuring insights from our student interns!
