This year the 2010 National Association for Graduate-Professional Students (NAGPS) held their Northeast Regional Conference in the beautiful city of Pittsburgh, PA. NAGPS is non-profit, student run organization which functions to represent graduate student interests on a national platform. The NAGPS mission is develop a graduate-professional student network, provide useful resources to grad students, and advocate at the national level on their behalf. This year I was elected to chair of the Employment Concerns Committee at the national conference in Lincoln, NE. I am chairing the Employment Concerns Committee which is carrying out several surveys this year to better understand graduate student stipends, benefits, and career development.

University of Pittsburgh - Tower of Knowledge

At this regional conference in Pittsburgh, we had two days of seminars, talks, and brain storming sessions co-hosted by the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon. My trip was sponsored by the Stony Brook University Graduate Student Organization and the Graduate School. Friday afternoon and evening events were help on the UPitt main campus and included a talk by comic artist and author of PhD Comics, Jorge Cham, which unfortunately I couldn’t attend. Saturday’s sessions were held on the Carnegie Mellon campus, and the weather was totally amazing. Their campus has some really nice spots, and I would highly recommend visiting it. UPitt was essentially situated directly in the center of Pittsburgh and integrated into the city itself. There were hundreds of college students walking around, as it was the last day of classes, and lounging in the grass until a brief thundershower came and chased everyone away. I left Pittsburgh back for NY on Sunday afternoon and has just enough time to see the Phipp’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Saturday night featured a wine tasting co-sponsored by both university’s graduate student associations held at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium.

Rich Fitzgerald - Allegheny County Council President delivering talk at Sunday morning “Pancakes and Politics” at U of Pitt.

Sunday morning, we were privy to a special session of “Pancakes and Politics” organized by Daniel Jimenez, President of the U of Pitt Graduate Student Association. The invited speaker was Rich Fitzgerald, President of the Allegheny Town Council. Rick spoke primarily to the benefits of natural gas extraction in the Allegheny County region around Pittsburgh, and how revenue derived from this process could be used to lower property taxes. He fielded many questions from students regarding the application of alternative energy technologies in lieu of natural gas, which he was not supportive of. Afterwords, I was able to speak with him on the side about some of the issues surrounding wind power and sustainable energy generation, which he kindly listened to. Daniel Jimenez ran for a local position for the Democratic Party in Pittsburgh this year, which was great experience. He is well known for leading the charge against the Pittsburgh “Tuition Tax”.

University of Pittsburgh Student Union

Besides all this sightseeing (I have a few more pictures to share also), we actually did cover alot of ground and do alot of work. I delivered one presentation and lead another brainstorming session. The first presentation covered recent developments and lobbying efforts of Stony Brook University staff and students regarding the proposed New York State Public Higher Education and Investment Act - PHEEIA (Governor Patterson’s Press Release). The brainstorming session I lead was on the two projects we have in development in the Employment Concerns Committee, and we focused on the first project which is nearing launch. It is a nationwide survey to determine best practices at University Career Centers.

NAGPS Employment Concerns Committee - Career Center Analysis and Survey

The conference itself was a huge success with attendees from over a dozen schools featuring many new member institutions. If you have any questions about NAGPS or would like to know more about the Employment Concerns Career Center Survey you can contact me at ecc@nagps.org.

Finally, may favorite pictures were taken on the last day at the Phipp’s Conservatory. I will end this post with some of my pictures taken hastily on Sunday morning. I was able to fit in a visit to these botanical gardens after I checked out of my hotel, but before my flight. Talk about efficiency! Enjoy!

Orchids

Plantings

The Hobbits

The Sun Room

The Cloister Garden

Phipp’s Conservatory during thunderstorm

I had the most amazing experience at Phipp’s Botanical Gardens. While I was walking there, I noticed the skies were clouding and thought to myself that thunderstorms could be brewing. In that case, I would be caught without my umbrella or rain coat since everything was packed and at the hotel. I pressed ahead anyway, and while inside the stunning glass greenhouses, it began to pour. I real torrential rain and thunderstorm! It was quite an experience walking through a greenhouse during a thunderstorm. The winds picked up and began gushing a cool breeze throughout the previously warm and humid terrariums. Rain started coming inside though the various pores in the ceiling. It was an amazing experience that will never be duplicated for me. I was lucky enough to call the hotel shuttle who picked me up and got me to the airport safe and sound! For free! thank you Holiday Inn of Pittsburgh - Five Stars!

We’ve all had our fair share of travel experience. But how many of us can claim they know how to haggle in an Egyptian street market? How about getting the cheapest flights around or picking the right gear? The site http://www.nomadicmatt.com/ is a great source for those who want to take a quick peek at some of the options out there. Even for the veteran frequent flyer, there is always something new to learn and besides, the travel blog is a great outlet for creativity! This reminds me, I need to update my own site and include some of my own recent adventures up here. Enjoy!

Wednesday, April 21th at 8PM - The Staller Center, Main Stage

Bruce Engel, Maestro

Taking Your Career Path Beyond the Zebra Path

Well, I have been extremely tardy in updating my blog. For that, I apologize. In fact, I am so late, I am posting an advertisement for an event which already happened. However, from the post I think you will still be able to read about the event and learn about the speakers, who were extremely interesting. It was a complete success - we had good attendance, the speakers gained invaluable experience, and the audience, including myself, learned alot about the career paths of these two unique Stony Brook University alumni. The talk was organized by the HERA Group at Stony Brook University. The University Career Center helped us advertise on their website, as well. Below, I’ve included the speaker’s bios and will just give a few points of advice the speakers gave out. Adam DeRosa suggested that if you are doing a PhD to find a young advisor who is trying to publish as much as possible. Luke Suroweic suggested hitting as many networking events as possible with your suit on, business cards and resume out - that is how he got his first internship. And the rest is history!

Free Coffee and Snacks!

Supported by the Career Center and GSO

View the PDF

On Thursday, February 11th I was privileged to meet NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and his birthday party and 2010 fundraiser. I was invited to the event my Jim McAsey, of CWA 1104 to speak on behalf of graduate students at Stony Brook University. The event was very crowded and filled with local politicians, their staff, regional business leaders, and organized labor union executives. Specifically, we were there to speak to the Comptroller about our experience negotiating a contract with the Research Foundation of the SUNY. He was very supportive, and I look forward to staying in touch with him and the other representatives I met that evening.

Westri Stalder, Tom DiNapoli and Matthew Engel

Bringing the Best of Brooklyn’s Independent Music Scene to Stony Brook University

21 and over

Free and Open to the Public

Doors Open: 8:30 PM

West Dakota (www.myspace.com/westdakotayeah) – 9 PM

Small Black (www.myspace.com/smallblacksounds) – 10 PM

Spinto Band (www.myspace.com/thespintoband) – 11 PM

Location: University Cafe, Stony Brook University