Winter Workshop 2023: A Successful Professional Development Weekend

Winter Workshop 2023 was a resounding success as it brought together 42 students from Europe, North America, and South America for a weekend of professional development and networking in Daytona Beach, FL, USA.

Throughout the weekend, students had the opportunity to hear from a variety of professionals in the ceramic and glass community. These sessions covered topics such as writing, effective communication, and the importance of professional balance, all of which are essential skills for success in today’s job market.

Winter Workshop 2023 Guest Speakers:

❄️ Elizabeth Dickey, Dept. Head of Materials Science and Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University

❄️ Eva Hemmer, Associate Professor of Materials Chemistry at University of Ottawa

❄️ Jamesa Stokes, Materials Research Engineer at NASA Glenn Research Center

❄️ Tim Powers, Sr. Engineering Design Lead at Owens Corning

❄️ Charmayne Lonergan, Materials Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

❄️ Emmanuel Malliet, Technology Manager at GE Research

❄️ PLUS faculty from the University of Florida‘s Writing Program: Andrea Caloiaro, Angela Brown, & Emily Bald

Winter Workshop provided invaluable networking opportunities for student to connect with one another as well as with the professionals who lead the workshops and sessions. This gave the students a chance to learn from the experiences and insights of others and to make lasting, personal connections.

One of the highlights of Winter Workshop was an exhilarating trip to the Kennedy Space Center where students were able to learn about NASA science, technology, and engineering.

Here’s what students have to say about this year’s workshop:

“Winter workshop was an incredibly valuable experience and set the gold standard for a day long professional development workshop. Well worth the time!” — Nathan McIlwaine, Penn State University

“Listening to career paths of the speakers motivates a graduate student to come out of the workshop with reinforced determination to persist along to achieve their research and professional goals.” — Kartik Nemani, Indiana University

“It was a fantastic way to visit with old friends and meet new people. I made many connections around up and comers in ceramics. Plus, I learned several helpful tips from each of the speakers. Beyond being inspired to continue working in glass and ceramics, I thought that the individual connections with an international group of students and young professionals was excellent!” — John Bussey, Washington State University

Overall, Winter Workshop was an incredibly valuable experience for all the students who attended. They learned from professionals, connected with one another, and gained a better understanding of the importance of professional development and networking. We look forward to hosting more professional development events in the future.

If you want to help university students attend ACerS meetings and build their network and experience in the ceramic and glass community, consider making a donation to the Student Travel Fund at ceramics.org/donate.