Throughout the academic year, CCWT hosts visiting scholar-practitioner active in the areas of career advising, labor market issues, and work-based learning in order to cultivate dialogue on these issues for students, staff and the broader community. In scheduling speakers for the Seminar Series, the Center aims to bring renowned scholars and respected practitioners to their insights on research findings and policy developments that impact student employability and their career development.
2024 Fall Seminar Series
We’re currently scheduling the fall line-up! Check back soon for more information!
2023 Spring Seminars & Other Previous Events
Congress in Black & White: How racism shapes legislative work & careers with Dr. James R. Jones
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Description: Dr. Jones is a leading expert on congressional staff diversity, and this conversation with CCWT Co-Director Matthew Hora, Dr. Jones will talk about his research on congressional internships and implications for college students seeking careers in Washington, D.C.
A conversation with Dr. Heather Fischer and Dr. Martin Storksdieck on assessing skills in postsecondary courses
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Description: CCWT’s Dr. Matthew Hora talks to Dr. Heather Fischer and Dr. Martin Storksdieck from Oregon State University’s STEM Research Center about their research into skills assessment in postsecondary education. They discuss the challenges of data collection, accurately defining learning outcomes, and designing courses that teach students skills that facilitate the college-workforce transition.
Measurement issues with concept of career readiness: Insights from CCR4T study with Dr. Allison Lombardi
Monday, February 6, 2023
Description: Dr. Matthew Hora talks to Dr. Allison Lombardi about her focus on college and career readiness (CCR) and higher education experiences of students with disabilities, her measurement study, College and Career Readiness for Transition (CCR4T), and workshops she has developed and facilitated for college faculty focused on inclusive teaching and universally designed instruction.
Dr Adrianna Kezar – Organizational change in higher education: Implications for career readiness initiatives
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Description: Dr. Matthew Hora talks to Dr. Adrianna Kezar from USC’s Pullias Center for Higher Education about how organizational change, campus culture, and the political landscape may impact career readiness initiatives. They share audience questions to discuss timely issues, such as centralized versus decentralized structures and the tools and resources available thanks to research being done at both CCWT and the Pullias Center as well as many other innovative labs.
2022 Events
Examining the postsecondary education pathways and successes for former gang members: A qualitative analysis
Monday, September 19, 2022, 12pm CST (US)
Event Recording: https://youtu.be/TZZpGzY32eM
Dr. Adrian H. Huerta is an Assistant Professor of Education in the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. His research focuses on boys and young men of color, college access and equity, and gang associated youth.
This study draws from two-part qualitative interviews with former gang members who earned four-year and advanced degrees. Findings center on the precollege experiences, motivations to enroll in college, and processes of becoming a collegian.
CCWT Reading Group Discussion
Friday, April 29th, 1pm-2pm CST.
The Center for Research on College Workforce Transitions conducts a book reading discussion group on topics related to education research and the philosophy of education for staff and graduate students at UW-Madison. For the Spring 2022 group, we will be reading a collection of essays and political-economic analysis by disability activist and journalist Marta Russell, titled Capitalism and disability (2019, Haymarket Books). Please click on the link below to register for the discussion, which is scheduled for April 29th, 1-2pm CST.
The event will be moderated by Matthew Wolfgram.
Familia/Family as Counterspace for Students of Color in Postsecondary STEM Contexts: A Conversation with Dr. Blanca Rincón
Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 12pm CST
Event Recording
Dr. Blanca Rincón discusses what can be learned from taking an asset-based approach to the study of broadening participation in STEM.
Transformational learning through high school internships: A discussion of best practices
Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 11am CST
Event Recording
Join the leadership and educators from Big Picture Learning for a discussion of best practices for supporting transformational learning through high school internships.
Social and Motivational Interventions to Broadening Participation in STEM
Tuesday, March 1st from 11am to 12pm CST
Special Guest: Dr. 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.