Valerie Goss' blog

It’s true, we have rock stars in our midst!  Yesterday was a great success for the Memorial Hospital sponsored event, the Nanotechnology Plunge!  Several faculty (aka rock stars) were highlighted for their accomplishments in the field.  They graced the red carpet (seriously, there was a red carpet!) amid flashing lights (yes, seriously, there was a display with flashing lights!), and paparazzi were circling (true too) :)  I recognized three stars; Peter Burns, Joan Brennecke, and Alan Seabaugh!  We were told that the stars arrived via limo, and that a few were fashionably late

At NDeRC everyone is a star!  A few of the lesser known stars were penciled into the yesterdays extravaganza.  Becky, Michael, and I were highlighted in Lynda Rose’s presentation!  Tom and Pat were there working triple duty – networking and building contacts, helping out with instrument demos, and serving as transport saviors for all of the equipment and scopes!

Not only were light bulbs going off in the room (we were in the banquet room in McKenna Hall), but light bulbs were flashing in my head.  I begin to truly understand our initiatives and how they relate to community  goals.  Leaders in business were eager to hear about how they can invest and take interest in the growing nanotechnology business sector.  A huge emphasis was placed upon teacher and student involvement.  I thought to myself that everyone in our cohort should have the chance to be elbow to elbow with leaders at ND and the community!  The more others know who we are and what we do, the closer the relationship will grow.

pics will be posted soon!

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I attended the Compact on Teaching and Mentoring Institute with over 1200 minority doctoral students, advisers, mentors.  An article about the event was written in the Chronicle of Higher Education.  In attendance were 80 newly minted minority Ph.D.s  During the awards ceremony, each one had 60 seconds to share with the ABDs words of encourgement, as well as deliver thank yous.  Truly, most exceeded the time limit, but the scholars in Tampa were on TEN in 2010, so the time flew by!   The crowds were roaring, and we had a lot of fun!  One of my favorite speeches by Dr. Daniel Jean is shown here on You Tube. 

Also, I have a picture of me holding one of the signs, while things were being dismanteled on the final day of the institute (pic with Ryan Shelby, Ph.D Canditate in mechanical engineering at Berkely). 

My understanding about the nuances of the post doc process has expanded greatly.  Learning about types of teaching post docs have opened up new avenues for me to explore.  I was offered a few visits to check out potential teaching options.  I met two grad students with whom I will probably have life long contacts - one is pursing a Ph.D. in education leadership and the other in economics. 

The funniest thing happened is that I met a woman who is also named Valerie Goss!  She is a doctoral student at the University of New Orleans.  And, can you believe it, we are related!

I hope that I am invited to this event next year! 

http://chronicle.com/article/A-Supportive-Nudge-for/125212/

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