Professional Development

Professional development for Professional and Scientific Employees at Iowa State University has long been a priority for the Professional and Scientific Council. We believe that investing in your personal and professional growth is also an investment in the university’s success. Through the work of the Professional Development Committee and the Professional Development Conference Sub-Committee, the council hosts monthly Seminar Series events and plans an annual full-day conference. These offerings focus on topics relevant to P&S employees and are designed to support their ongoing development. The goals of these activities are to help employees build new skills, strengthen existing ones, access valuable resources, connect with others, and engage in meaningful conversations.

Connect with the Professional Development Committee at pands-pd@iastate.edu.

Each year the Professional Development committee organizes a conference designed for P&S employees. This conference is the perfect opportunity to invest in your personal growth, expand your skills, and contribute to your long-term success within the university. Whether you're looking to improve your technical capabilities, refine your soft skills, or stay ahead of workplace trends, there’s something here for you. More information about the 2026 conference will be provided in the fall.

Proposals are open for the 2026 conference, Pieces to Possibilities. The puzzle theme for this year’s event encourages us to seek where we can connect with others; to look at problems from different angles; and to not be afraid to try something new. As A. J. Jacobs writes, “Puzzles can shift our worldview. They can nudge us to adopt the puzzle mindset- a mindset of ceaseless curiosity about everything in the world, and a desire to find solutions.”

Session proposals will be accepted through Friday, November 14, 2025.

Pieces to Possibilities, the 2026 Conference, is scheduled for February 26, 2026, at the Scheman Building, in the Iowa State Center.  The puzzle theme for this year’s event encourages us to seek where we can connect with others; to look at problems from different angles; and to not be afraid to try something new. As A. J. Jacobs writes, “Puzzles can shift our worldview. They can nudge us to adopt the puzzle mindset- a mindset of ceaseless curiosity about everything in the world, and a desire to find solutions.”

Would you like to be a piece of the puzzle? We’re looking for engaging conference presentations in four areas: 

Human Interactions (networking, communication, conflict resolution, etc.)
Leadership (leading from different levels, working with groups, leadership styles, etc.)
Health and Wellness (financial planning, personal health and safety, mental health, etc.)
Professional Resources (technical tips and tricks, project management, benefits, etc.).

Selected sessions will tie into one of these four tracks and engage professional and scientific employees in personal and professional development.  

We’re also looking for suggestions of lunch-time activities. What would you like to see as options? Would your campus department like to share your resources and answer questions during the lunch break? Please let us know using the same form. Is there a department you wish you could easily ask questions to? Let us know who you’d like to see at a resource table.

Session proposals will be accepted through Friday, November 14, 2025.

Whether you are a fan of jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, or Sudoku, mark your calendars for February 26, 2026, and please plan to attend the Pieces to Possibilities Conference, because at Iowa State, all the professional and scientific staff are important pieces in the puzzle.

The Professional and Scientific Council hosts presentations, seminars, and workshops on topics of relevance to P&S employees through our Council Seminar Series. The Seminar Series events are led by our Professional Development Committee (pands-pd@iastate.edu), and announcements for upcoming events are made via the Council Newsletter. All P&S employees and guests are welcome to attend. Please join us and bring questions for the speaker(s).

You can pre-register for all events and attend virtual events in Workday Learning. If you are not familiar with Workday Learning, you can find instructions through this Knowledge Base Article.

Upcoming Seminar Series:

October 30th, 2025 - Phantom Footsteps: Haunting Histories of Iowa State with Allision Sheridan, Curator, Farm House Museum