Professional and Scientific Council Seminar Series
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)!
Seminar Series Participant Survey
In the past, the Professional and Scientific Council’s Seminar Series has consisted of in-person events, with an option for hybrid participation where possible. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Seminar Series pivoted to being held 100% virtually. This past year, the Seminar Series was hosted almost entirely as hybrid events, with one virtual-only event.
As we plan for the future, the Professional Development Committee is evaluating whether to continue offering in-person and hybrid events or host the Seminar Series primarily as virtual events. We would like your input on whether you are most likely to attend a Seminar Series event in person or virtually. Please complete this online survey. It will be open through June 1, 2022.
Please let us know your opinion as we plan future Seminar Series events.
2022-23 Seminar Series Events
Topic | Date | Time | Location |
Relational vs. Positional Leadership: Leadership in the Workplace Tera Lawson, Training, Development, and Outreach Coordinator in Procurement Services On August 9, 2022, at 2 p.m., you are invited to join Tera Lawson, Training, Development, and Outreach Coordinator in Procurement Services, for Relational vs. Positional Leadership: Leadership in the Workplace. During this workshop participants will explore positional and relational leadership, how you can have one without the other, and how they are not mutually exclusive. Together we will unpack leadership, discuss how leadership is enacted in our workplaces, and discover how to cultivate opportunities to enhance our relational leadership skills. Following this presentation, participants will be able to define and recognize relational and positional leadership and implement relational leadership strategies in their work and workplace. This Seminar Series event will be in Memorial Union Room 3560. Due to the interactive nature of this event, it will be in-person only and will not be recorded, so mark your calendars now. | August 9, 2022 | 2-3 p.m. | Room 3560, Memorial Union |
Mindful Eating: It Really Isn’t About the Food Stephanie Downs, Senior WorkLife and WellBeing Coordinator In July 2022, view Mindful Eating: It Really Isn’t About the Food, presented by Stephanie Downs, Senior WorkLife and WellBeing Coordinator. Are you tired of feeling out of control when it comes to your eating? Ever wonder why you eat, especially the what, when and how much? Are you ready to feel in charge and not spinning out of control? Mindful eating is about putting you in charge. It is about the flexibility and freedom to fuel yourself the way you want to. During this presentation, Stephanie will look at several patterns of eating that disrupt our ability to listen and trust our body and will explore mindful strategies that provide a skillset to move beyond fearful eating to courageous living. Participants will leave this presentation able to describe the characteristics of three eating cycles, identify their own hunger/fullness scale and personal eating rhythms, and adopt some mindful eating strategies they can incorporate immediately. This session was recorded at the 2022 Professional and Scientific Council Professional Development Conference held on February 23, 2022. The recording will be available on Learn@ISU by July 1, 2022. All Professional and Scientific Employees are invited to view it whenever works for them. Instructions for accessing this recording will be in the July issue of the Professional and Scientific Council newsletter and will be available on the Professional and Scientific Council Seminar Series website by June 24, 2022. | July 2022 | Whenever works for you! | This recording will be posted in Learn@ISU by July 1, 2022. |
2021-22 Seminar Series Events
Topic | Date | Time | Location |
Stroll Into Summer: Well-Being Wherever You Are Karen Couves, Centers for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) The Strolls for Well-being at ISU are a series of resources available to the entire campus community whether you are on campus this summer or away from Ames. Explore the benefits of this flexible program with Karen Couves (CELT) and Sue Tew-Warming (ISU WellBeing) in which mindfulness practices will be used to support the well-being of individuals and groups. Participants will leave this interactive session with practical ways to use these resources for themselves, their departments, and in their learning spaces. This event will be in-person on June 13, 2022 at 2p.m. We will meet in Memorial Union Room 3580 (formerly the Gallery Room). Weather permitting, this session will include an experiential component outdoors. To ensure we have enough printed guides for everyone who is attending, please register here by June 10, 2022 if you are interested in attending. | June 13, 2022 | 2-3 p.m. | Room 3580 (formerly the Gallery Room), Memorial Union. |
Mindful Communication Using Colors Martha Stewart, Instructional Designer for the Child Welfare Research and Training Project Today’s work environment demands collaboration and teamwork, so understanding what makes your colleagues (and you) “tick” is a helpful tool for communicating effectively. The Colors personality assessment is a great springboard for studying fundamental personality characteristics, learning what motivates us, and understanding how to work effectively with just about anyone. Plus, it’s just plain FUN! Join Martha Stewart (Instructional Designer for the Child Welfare Research and Training Project) On May 10, 2022 at 2 p.m. for a revealing look at personality and how it affects our ability to communicate! To get the most out of this session, please complete the Colors Personality Assessment beforehand. The assessment can be downloaded here. The first worksheet is a shorter (easier) assessment, while the second worksheet is a longer, more thoughtful, assessment. You can choose which assessment you want to do... or do them both and see how the two assessments compare! The third worksheet has a brief description of each Color. When you attend the session, you do not have to remember the numbers associated with all four Colors, but you should have an idea of your ranking (especially the top two), and if there's a big spread BETWEEN Colors. This event will be held in a hybrid format. You may attend in person in Room 3580 (formerly the Gallery Room), Memorial Union. Or you may attend virtually using WebEx (https://isuevents.webex.com/isuevents/j.php?MTID=mc3ab0d39e43e28ae44548fe2926b21ae). This seminar will also be posted on Learn@ISU at a later date. | May 10, 2022 | 2-3 p.m. | Room 3580 (formerly the Gallery Room), Memorial Union. The session will be livestreamed via WebEx. A recorded session will be posted in Learn@ISU after the live session. |
What Not to Name Your Files Megan O’Donnell, Data Services Librarian at the ISU Library Drowning in data? Immersed in images? Wallowing in Word documents? You’re not alone. If finding your digital things is more luck than logic then it might be time for a change. The Professional and Scientific Council invites you to join Megan O’Donnell, the Data Services Librarian at the ISU Library, on April 13 at 2 p.m. to learn how to organize and manage your data. This seminar will give a brief overview of how file and folder names affect our ability to find things, tips for establishing logical and intuitive systems, and what to never ever name your files. | April 13, 2022 | 2-3 p.m. | A recorded session will be posted in Learn@ISU after the live session. |
Navigating Student Loan Repayment as a Higher Education Professional Chad Olson, Associate Director from the Office of Student Financial Aid With the pause on federal student loan repayment set to end May 1, many ISU Professional and Scientific employees may soon have an additional expense to manage. The Professional and Scientific Council invites you to join Chad Olson, Associate Director from the Office of Student Financial Aid, and Isaac Ehlers, Financial Literacy Advisor from the Office of Student Financial Success, on March 8 at 2 p.m. to learn about the various federal student loan repayment programs and forgiveness options. Chad and Isaac will go in-depth regarding the Income-Drive repayment plans, including Income-Based, Income-Contingent, Pay-as-you-Earn, and Revised Pay-as-you-Earn, will explore the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, and will provide insight on completing the annual Employment Certification form and the Application for Forgiveness under PSLF. They also will review the Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness and the additional waiver which expires on October 31, 2022. | March 8, 2022 | 2-3 p.m. | A recorded session will be posted in Learn@ISU at a later date. |
Non-diet, Weight Inclusive Approaches to Well-being: Learn how to establish food freedom and body liberation. Alison St. Germain, ISU Student Wellness Dietitian The Professional and Scientific Council invites you to join Alison St. Germain (ISU Student Wellness Dietitian and former Associate Professor of Clinical practice at ISU in Food Science and Human Nutrition) on January 11th from 2 to 3 p.m. to discuss nutrition and health. The diet and exercise industry is now in full swing trying to get you to purchase their product or program in order to lose weight and be healthy. However, these programs are usually not realistic or sustainable, can cause harm AND just want your money. Alison will share with you sustainable ways to nourish and respect your body that promotes food freedom through Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size® principles. You will also explore some myths and truths around nutrition and health and leave the presentation with resources for further study and exploration. | January 11, 2022 | 2-3 p.m. | A recorded session will be posted in Learn@ISU at a later date. |
Growing with the Professional and Scientific Council: A Panel Discussion about Serving as a Council Member Panelists: Moderator: What does Professional and Scientific Council do? What is it like to be a council member? How can serving on council help me grow as a professional and a person? Join us for “Growing with the Professional and Scientific Council: A Panel Discussion about Serving as a Council Member” December 14, 2 p.m. This panel discussion with current and past members of Professional and Scientific Council will answer questions and explain how you can enhance your professional development while playing a role in helping your fellow employees at Iowa State. In this time of change and challenges for Iowa State University employees, you could make a difference by being part of Professional and Scientific Council. We hope you can join us for this event. | December 14, 2021 | 2-3 p.m. | A recorded session will be posted in Learn@ISU at a later date. |
Moving on from Pronouns: Building Skills for Gender Equity and Inclusion at Iowa State University Andra Castle, Assistant Director of the Margaret Sloss Center for Women and Gender Equity at ISU The Professional and Scientific Council invites you to join Andra Castle (Assistant Director of the Margaret Sloss Center for Women and Gender Equity at Iowa State University) on November 9th from 2 to 3 p.m. to discuss building skills for gender equity and inclusion at Iowa State University. In this presentation, Andra (they/them/theirs) will talk about gender in the workplace and how to develop our understanding of gender to create and sustain gender inclusivity. They will discuss in detail third person pronouns, how to navigate pronoun changes, and what pronouns teach us about gender. Finally, Andra will give action steps and reflection questions to help guide our understanding of gender equity. | November 9, 2021 | 2-3 p.m. | Learn@ISU FY22-03 |
WorkFlex: First Steps Ed Holland, UHR Director of Benefits & WorkLife The Professional and Scientific Council invites you to its Professional Development Seminar Series event on October 19th from 2 to 3 p.m. to discuss Iowa State University's WorkFlex program. In this event, Ed Holland (Director of Benefits and WorkLife) will address these general WorkFlex topics:
| October 19, 2021 | 2-3 p.m. | Learn@ISU FY22-02 |
Taking Care: Including Mindfulness in Your Day Karen Couves, Centers for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) We are all facing new challenges and working to overcome current challenges. Join Karen Couves (CELT) and Sue Tew Warming (ISU WellBeing) on September 7th from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union to explore the benefits of mindfulness. This interactive session will include practical ways to include mindfulness in your daily life and participants can expect to leave with resources to assist when challenges are presented. | September 7, 2021 | 2-3 p.m. | Learn@ISU FY22-01 |
Learning and Relearning to Handle Conflict Returning to work or having colleagues rejoin you in the work environment following over a year of separation has left many of us feeling a little strange as well as slightly unfamiliar with how to communicate and engage with our colleagues. The following Council Seminar Series Events were compiled by the Professional Development Committee as these events focus on valuable strategies for constructively dealing with conflict at work. This month, take the opportunity to view or review one of the following Council Seminar Series Events available for viewing at any time in Learn@ISU: Strategies for Addressing Interdepartmental Challenges Communicating with Your Supervisor: Developing a Healthy Work Environment Turning Conflict Inside Out Top 10 Ways to Handle Conflict | August 2021 | Whenever works for you! | Released through Learn@ISU |
Seminar Series Archive