PEL Tampa campus hosts TBJL career transition workshop on August 31

Eckerd College's Tampa campus will be hosting a career transition workshop on August 31 for people considering making some kind of career change. PEL Executive Director Amanda Hagood said the invitation grew from a conversation between the executive director of TampaBay-Job-Links (TBJL), a non-profit organization that provides low-cost career counseling, and Kathy McDonald, PEL's director of admission and recruitment.

"We both serve on the board of Encore Tampa Bay, another non-profit organization whose slogan is "Connecting Boomers to their 'encore' careers,'" McDonald explained. "Eckerd's Tampa campus space is mostly available to such groups during the day, so we offered to host a TBJL event."

Whether someone needs help getting started, are thinking about changing careers, or are returning to work, "Switching Gears: A Roadmap for Career Transition" is designed to kick-start career transitions into high gear.

Led by Robyn Winters, M.A., a career strategist with TampaBay-Job-Links, this full-day comprehensive, interactive program can help attendees maximize the skills, values, and interests they already have and identify the next steps to take to get where they want to be.

Among the topics covered are:

• Developing a customized “roadmap” for successful career transition
• Ensure that résumés and LinkedIn profiles are dynamic and engaging to the reader
• Navigate the career transition process using state-of-the-art tools and strategies
• Increase networking and interviewing proficiencies

Attendees should bring their résumés and, if available, cover letters and/or business/networking cards. Lunch is on-your-own. The host site has a refrigerator and microwave, and various eateries are within walking distance.

For more information or to register, call (813) 344-0200 or email nikki@tbjl.org.

Note: This workshop is exclusively under the auspices of TampaBay-Job-Links and is their sole responsibility, although located at Eckerd College.

Paved road to MBA for Eckerd people through Nova Southeastern University agreement

Left: (l-r) Professor Naveen Malhotra with NOVA Southeastern University representatives Michael Abraham and Les Ross and PEL Executive Director Amanda Hagood on Eckerd College's South Beach this past April.

by Anne W. Anderson

Photos courtesy of Amanda Hagood

Eckerd people -- including recent graduates, alumni, and employees -- will find the road to an MBA much smoother, thanks to a recently signed articulation agreement between Eckerd College and Nova Southeastern University (NSU).

Initiated by Professor Naveen Malhotra several months ago, the agreement means Eckerd people with a 3.2 undergraduate GPA and who meet other requirements are automatically accepted into the MBA program without having to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and receive a $6,200 tuition award (applied over the duration of the degree program). Applicants do not necessarily have to have an undergraduate business degree.

"Many students put off pursuing a graduate degree because they are hesitant about taking the GRE or, in this case, the GMAT," Malhotra said. "This agreement removes a perceived barrier."

Nova Assistant Directors Les Ross and Michael Abraham gave an information session at Eckerd on April 28 to about a dozen attendees from PEL, the Office of Advancement, the Center for Innovating Learning, and Admissions. Ross and Abraham presented information about Nova's MBA program through the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship and about other graduate programs Nova offers. Following the session, Malhotra and PEL Executive Director Amanda Hagood gave the visitors a tour of the Eckerd campus and shared lunch with them in Café Bon Appétit.

On June 27, Malhotra and Hagood paid a return visit to Nova's Tampa Campus, where they joined Abraham, Ross, and Racquel Khuri, NSU's Tampa campus director, for lunch and a tour. They learned more about some of Nova Tampa's unique offerings, including their M.S. in Cardiovascular Sonography and their Anesthesiologist Assistant program.

Right: On a visit to Nova Southeastern University's Tampa campus, Hagood tries her hand at scanning a computer generated "heart" housed inside a mannequin, under the watchful eye of NSU's Samuel Yoders, EDS, RVT, and Program Director of Cardiovascular Sonography.

Other Eckerd articulation agreements

Eckerd College has several other articulation agreements, Malhotra noted. Since 2004, business students from Hillsborough Community College, who have earned a two-year degree, have been able to transfer smoothly into Eckerd's bachelor's degree program. 

"Part of the articulation agreement with HCC is that PEL accepts HCC general education courses as equivalent to PEL general education courses," Malhotra explained. "With the addition of the Nova agreement, we now have a way for students to come into PEL, complete their bachelor's degree here, and then move on to graduate work."

Malhotra also said the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee MBA programs accept an Eckerd bachelor's in business areas as equivalent to one from an AACSB accredited college, programs which usually are required to have a separate college of business. 

As of May 23, 2016, eligible students completing majors in other areas who are interested in attending law school also can articulate into programs at Stetson University and receive $15,000 or more in scholarship funds.

While seldom applicable to PEL students, Eckerd also has an agreement with Florida State University's Law School that makes Eckerd students who fulfill a series of requirements "eligible for priority review for early admission" into FSU's law program. 

"Such agreements indicate the high regard in which Eckerd College's academic programs, including PEL, are held," said PEL Associate Dean of Faculty Margret Skaftadottir. 

Anne W. Anderson is PEL's director of blended and online learning 

and is co-editor of The PEL Connector.

Advising sessions; Honors program; Financial lit class pays you; Service learning info & MORE!

Meet professors, think inside/outside your major -- goodies, too!

It's time to start thinking about Fall terms -- check out the information below!

Advising Sessions July 19, July 26

All PEL students are invited to attend one of the two advising sessions being held later this month.

Led by PEL Associate Dean of Faculty Margret Skaftadottir, discipline coordinators Professors Anne Geroux (Human Development), Catherine Griggs (American Studies, Humanities), Naveen Malhotra (Business Management, Management), and James Welch (Organizational Studies) will discuss the courses offered in their disciplines, new courses and other developments, and course sequencing.

PEL Academic Advisors Monica Roberts, Patti Cooksey, and Alaina Tackitt will be on hand to help students consider options that fit with their degree plans.

When and Where:

• Tampa: Tuesday, July 19 at 5:30pm / Parking and the building entrance at the Tampa campus (1300 N. Westshore Blvd.) is from the rear of the building.
• St. Petersburg: Tuesday, July 26 at 5:30pm / Room FT 210

Not sure you should attend? Consider one student's experience last year:

Teresa Stewart '17 (Human Development) was in class at the Tampa campus the evening the advising session was offered. She hadn't planned to attend, but her professor, who was teaching the class, was one of the presenters and needed to leave the class for a short time.

Stewart, who also is taking enough literature and composition courses to prepare her to teach middle school English, said she gained a broader perspective of all that PEL offers.

"All of the disciplines were presented." Stewart said, "which allowed me to have a better understanding of other opportunities outside my discipline."

Additionally, Stewart said she spoke with other PEL students who shared about different courses they had taken, which she found helpful.

"It was enlightening," Stewart said. "Plus it was a great opportunity to get to know more professors and fellow students, which can be beneficial for networking purposes."

Best of all, Stewart said she was able to confirm her classes for the year and was able to see exactly what was still needed to complete her degree. Stewart suggested students planning to attend this year review their personal degree plan before attending to get a sense of what they still need to take. But even without that advance preparation, Steward said she benefited from the sessions.

"I was very glad I attended," Stewart said, "although I had not planned to attend."

Honors program students attended a conference this past Spring.

Honors Program

Do you enjoy challenging coursework, in-depth projects, and scholarly discussion? Consider applying to the PEL Honors program. For more information, click here.

Financial Literacy Class Pays You!

Whatever your major, Professor Naveen Malhotra invites you to register for MN273S Life, Career and Personal Financial Planning during Fall 1. During the first four weeks, students meet in the classroom and learn how to develop a personal financial plan. For the remaining four weeks, students teach the concepts to teenagers in the community through church groups, clubs, and other non-profit agencies. A $500 tuition stipend and teaching materials, both of which are funded through private donors, are provided. Prerequisite: Instructor approval. Interested students should contact Professor Malhotra at malhotnk@eckerd.edu.

Reflective Service Learning website

Reflective service learning takes many forms.

Reflective Service Learning (RSL) has always been part of the Eckerd program, although it may not always have been called that. For many years RSL was a primary focus of the senior capstone course, Quest for Meaning. Now, however, Eckerd is broadening the focus to help students understand how service applies across disciplines.

Students who began their Eckerd PEL experience prior to August 2015 still will complete the RSL requirement through Quest for Meaning, although they also may choose to take some of the other RSL-inclusive courses. Newer students who began in August 2015 or later will experience RSL across their program.

Both groups of PEL students will find more information on the new Reflective Service Learning website at https://sites.google.com/a/eckerd.edu/pel-reflective-service-learning/home.

Please note: Course information pages are still being developed and, as with all websites, content may change from time to time. Before registering for courses, check with your Academic Advisor to be sure courses fit your degree plan.

More! 

Did you catch the article about the new Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset course? Watch for more new courses coming this year! 

One quick reminder for Fall 1: Monday, September 5, may be Labor Day for the rest of the world, but Eckerd College offices, including PEL offices, are open and classes go on as scheduled. 

PEL Porch Party Slide Show: Alumni Ambassadors welcome new alumni from the Class of 2016

(l-r) Alumni Dovev Weaver, Sr. '16, Patti Cooksey '97, who also is PEL's director of general education, Ari Georgiou '16, Kristy McAdams '16, Patricia Brown '94, guest Angie Guzman, Tami Toms '16, Nancy Bebout '16, Frank Terrell '98, April Barkley16, Cal Brown '16, PEL Alumni Coordinator Donna Littell '75, Gail Goss '07, Chrissy Jackson '16, Eckerd College Director of Alumni Engagement Jessica Fugate, Ron Hyatt '97, PEL Executive Director Amanda Hagood, and Professor Naveen Malhotra attended the PEL Porch Party to welcome new alumni.  

Images courtesy of ASPEC member Jacquie Calnan.

Despite the threat of heavy storms, more than twenty PEL people and guests gathered at Lewis House on Saturday, June 11, to welcome members of the Class of 2016 into the ranks of the Alumni Ambassadors. PEL Alumni Coordinator Donna Littell  and Eckerd College Director of Alumni Engagement Jessica Fugate greeted the group, PEL Executive Director Amanda Hagood explained some of the benefits and goals of the PEL Alumni Ambassadors, and all enjoyed relaxing on the waterfront porch.

Alumni attending spanned 40 years, beginning with Donna Littell '75, who majored in Education. Donna went on to become a teacher and then a school administrator at various Pinellas County elementary and middle schools before coming to PEL in 1992 as an LLV instructor and degree planner.

Patricia Brown '94 (Creative Writing), Patti Cooksey '97 (American Studies), Ron Hyatt '97 (Management), and Frank Terrell '98 (American Studies) represented the 1990s.

Gail Goss '07 (Human Development), Chris Stafford '08 (Management), and Regina Knight '10 (Human Development) represented graduates of the first decade of the 21st century. 

Class of 2016 alumni attending were April Barkley (American Studies), Nancy BeBout (Concentration in Organizational Studies), Cal Brown (Visual Arts), Ari Georgiou (Business Management), Chrissy Jackson (Organizational Studies), Kristy McAdams (Human Development), Tami Toms (Humanities), and Dovev Weaver, Sr. (Humanities).

Note: An academic class includes all graduates from June of one year through May of the following year. For instance, students who graduated in August or December 2015 and in January or May 2016 are all considered part of the Class of 2016.

PEL Alumni Ambassadors: The Year in Review

From attending a Rays game in September 2015 to catching some rays at the PEL Porch Party in June 2016, Alumni Ambassadors spread the good news of Eckerd College's PEL in a number of ways this year:

 
PEL Alumni Social & Tampa Bay Rays Game: In September, 2015, a group of PEL Alumni Ambassadors gathered first at Ferg's Sports Bar and Grill then moved to the Trop to watch the Tampa Bay Rays play the Baltimore Orioles. A portion of the proceeds benefited the PEL Annual Scholarship Fund.

Sallie House Fun Day volunteers gather for a group photo.

Sallie House Fun Day: In November 2015, PEL Alumni Ambassadors organized a fun day for 48 children and eight staff members from the St. Petersburg Salvation Army's Sallie House and Children’s Village, two crisis shelters serving local children.

A group of 30 volunteers, including PEL and residential students, alumni, staff, and faculty, hosted an array of activities for the young visitors, who played field games, read stories, created brightly colored sand pictures, learned about marine animals in touch tanks provided by the Galbraith Marine Science Lab, and ate lunch in the dining hall. Many of the children saw what a college is for the first time, and volunteers commented on the joy of working in an inter-generational and cross-campus event.

Writers in Paradise Pre-Party: In January 2016, PEL Alumni Ambassadors sponsored an event for about 30 PEL alumni who had majored, minored, or completed a concentration in creative writing or literature.

The group gathered before the opening night of Writers in Paradise, an internationally recognized writing conference hosted by Eckerd College, to share writing news and accomplishments and to hear St. Petersburg Poet Laureate and Eckerd PEL Professor Helen Wallace speak.

PEL Alumni Reception at Eckerd College Reunion Weekend:  In March 2016, PEL Alumni Ambassadors helped organize the PEL Alumni Reception held at Lewis House as part of the Eckerd College Reunion Weekend.




 

Quest for Meaning Classes: In May 2016, Alumni Ambassadors spoke to PEL students in  the Quest for Meaning courses, most of whom would be graduating that month or in August, about life after PEL and about becoming an Alumni Ambassador themselves.




Throughout the year, PEL Alumni Ambassadors have:

Akin-tunde Akintewe '15 (Visual Arts) shares his PEL story.

• Spoken on panels and in classes about their work and life experiences

• Shared their PEL stories on video and in print to help Eckerd PEL publicize the program 

• Worked with ASPEC and other committees at Eckerd on community projects and initiatives

• Met to consider ways to provide Eckerd PEL alumni with networking opportunities and other resources

PEL Porch Party: June 2016, PEL Alumni Ambassadors helped organize a gathering at Lewis House on the main campus to welcome newly graduated students from the Class of 2016 into the ranks of PEL Alumni.

PEL Porch Party in June 2016

Want to become involved as a PEL Alumni Ambassador? Contact Donna Littell at litteldj@eckerd edu or visit the alumni page at https://www.eckerd.edu/pel/alumni/

Alumni College: Ready to get back to class? Our Alumni College program offers PEL courses to Eckerd College alumni at a reduced rate of $300 per class (for most classes).

Alumni College is a great way to add a major or a minor to your degree, pursue professional development credits at a reasonable cost, or take individual classes just for fun. You will also be helping others because when you enroll, a portion of your tuition is a scholarship donation (and a charitable tax deduction).
Learn more about this great opportunity for professional development or personal fulfillment.

Keeping up with PEL people: Student, alumni & faculty/staff news

 

Student News

Matt DiPalma '17 (Humanities) has had a new book released. German Military Travel Papers of the Second World War (Schiffer, 2016) is, according to the publisher's website, "a unique and thorough compendium of original paperwork carried by the soldiers themselves, [which] documents the forms required for German soldiers to travel, go home on leave, or visit the spoils of occupation." Over the last 20 years, Matt has developed an extensive collection of historical documents and has two other books in the works. Matt also did the graphic design work in formatting the book.

Mary Anderson, Kathy McDonald, and Christel Dykes '18 at Tech Data

Christel Dykes '18 (Business Management), a manager at Tech Data,  also leads an employee resource group, the Ladies of Tech Data, whose mission is to grow women in leadership roles. Dykes recently collaborated with Kathy McDonald, PEL's director of admissions and recruitment, and Mary Anderson, career specialist with Eckerd College's Career Services, to bring the Three Paths to Career Success workshop to the group. Kathy and Mary shared the model and a career-planning guide with almost 35 women and men who attended the brown bag lunch event. 

Christine Kokoruda '18 (Organizational Studies) attended the Eckerd College Career & Internship Fair in April where she applied for a position as Business Development Representative at Inside Out , which has recently opened a location in downtown St. Petersburg. Christine was hired shortly after and is enthusiastic in her new role.

Alumni News

Connie Boyle '98 (Human Development), who subsequently earned an M.A.Counselor Education from the University of South Florida, is the school counselor for St. Petersburg Collegiate High School, a dual-enrollment, public charter school on the main campus of St. Petersburg College. Connie recently attended the Florida C.A.N. Summit in Orlando where she met Kathy McDonald, PEL's director of admission and recruitment, and Anne Anderson, PEL's director of blended and online learning.



Heidi Tilney Kramer '09 (Humanities), who subsequently earned an M.A. in American Studies (2010) and another in Women's and Gender Studies (2013) at the University of South Florida, has just released her new book Media Monsters: Militarism, Violence, and Cruelty in Children's Culture, in which she analyzes and categorizes U.S. children's films. Most recently, she was a graduate student and instructor at the University of South Florida, Tampa, in the department of Women's and Gender Studies. She gives presentations in classrooms, at bookstores, and at National Women's Studies Association conferences.

Ron Turner '13 (American Studies), who subsequently earned a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Missouri-Columbia, has become the new Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections, running unopposed for the office. Turner has been Chief of Staff in the Elections office since 2011.

Remembering . . . Carol Benge '01 (Management & Health Care Concentration) and Lucy Williams McKay '00 (Management) whose recent deaths we mourn and whose lives we celebrate.

Note: An alumni class includes all students who graduated between June of one year and May of the next year. For example, students who graduated in August 2015 are part of the Class of 2016. 

What's new with you? Share your good news two ways:

• Share your personal and professional updates by emailing us at pelsuccess@eckerd.edu. We reserve the right to format announcements to fit style and other considerations. 
• Share Instagram Photos via live update on the Eckerd Alumni Engagement page by including the #EckerdNotes hashtag. 

 

PEL Associate Dean of Faculty Margret Skaftadottir with Pam Buchanan.

 

Faculty/Staff News

Pam Buchanan, assistant to the Associate Dean of Faculty for PEL, Margret Skaftadottir, was recognized recently for 15 years of service to Eckerd College. 

Sandra Hollander helps robe a graduate.

Sandra Hollander '11 (Human Development), assistant to the Assistant Registrar for PEL, was recognized recently for 10 years of service to Eckerd College.




Congratulations to both of you, and thank you for keeping PEL running smoothly!


Remembering . . . Betty Bruce Zandi '69 (Literature), who was part of Eckerd College and the PEL program for more than 30 years. Her family sent this:

Betty Bruce Zandi passed away on July 9, 2016 in Saint Petersburg, FL. Betty was a loving wife to Vahid John Zandi for 34 wonderful years. Betty was a devoted mother to Amanda Atkinson, Emily Rubin and Sarah Kaye and proud grandmother to Catharine. Raised in Mount Sterling, KY, Betty was the daughter of John T. "Red" and Elizabeth Petro. Betty was in the sixth graduating class from Florida Presbyterian (Eckerd College) with a B.A. in Literature. She completed her Masters at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. Betty returned to Eckerd College where she taught ELS classes and was an adjunct faculty, writing consultant, and student advisor in the PEL for over 30 years. The family asks that you celebrate her life by remembering her generosity, humanity and sense of humor.

#PELStories Photo Contest Results!

Katie Brew '18 shows off her acceptance letter.

We asked and we received -- photos, that is!

A number of PEL students, alumni, and employees entered our first-ever Photo Contest, which was held in May. Rules were posted on Facebook (see Notes tab) and entries were submitted via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter using the #PELStories hashtag.

Goodies were awarded to the first several participants. We include a few of the images here, but you can see all -- plus a video -- by searching #PELStories.

Dovev Weaver, Sr., '16 points to a new horizon.

Katie Brew '18 (Organizational Studies) sent an image of the beginning of her PEL journey. Dovev Weaver, Sr., '16 (Humanities) sent an image suggesting a new journey commencing with his PEL graduation.


Some images are abstract, some are funny, some are poignant. All are part of the ongoing PEL story.


Want to add to the collection? Feel free to tag your PEL images with #PELStories. If you add another tag, #EckerdNotes, your photo will be posted live to the Eckerd College Alumni page (scroll down, then scroll over each image to read the accompanying post).

Bettianne Ford '91 (Business Management) sent this found picture (in peeling paint) and reflected on her PEL story with the comment "Finding art in the ordinary."

What's that? You haven't liked the PEL Facebook page yet? Check it out at https://www.facebook.com/pel.eckerdcollege/ and invite your friends to like it, too!