Program participants will choose a 1.5-hour seminar on this registration form and benefit by:
- Gaining insights into current trends and emerging fields and roles in STEM to clarify future career possibilities.
- Mastering DEI in grant writing and job applications.
- Developing resilience and adaptability skills to navigate professional challenges.
- Learning the importance of building a personal brand and an effective professional network. Gaining practical tips on leveraging social media and professional platforms for career growth and understanding the role of mentorship in career development.
- Identifying individual career goals and transferable skills and learning how to effectively map out a strategic plan for achieving/leveraging them.
Each seminar will cover the following topics with time in between for participant questions, application, peer feedback, and discussion:
- Welcome and Introductions
- Current Landscape of STEM Careers
- Challenges Faced by URMs and International Scholars
- Building a Personal Brand and Network
- Skill Development for Diverse Career Paths
- Navigating Immigration and Work Authorization Issues
About Dr. Kantor:
In her current position as a member of the Huck Institutes' executive team, Kantor catalyzes high-risk, high-impact life sciences research, stewards the Huck seed grants portfolio and government partnerships, and serves as a key leader, contributing to Huck's overall strategic direction for 33 research centers, 10 core facilities, and 6 graduate programs. Prior to her current position, Kantor was the Vice President for Academic Affairs & Professional Development at the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation in the Washington DC metropolitan area, leading numerous successful education, outreach, research, and training initiatives at the intersection of academia, industry, and government. Her work helped build partnerships to leverage academic expertise and industry novel technologies across various disciplines through education and training and to create new pathways into geospatial, computer science, and engineering careers from K-12 to graduate school and young professionals. In addition, Kantor has 11 years of full-time work experience with majority African American communities, nine of which as a faculty (tenured, associate professor) at Claflin University, an HBCU in South Carolina. She has been recognized as a leader and pioneer in providing students and faculty with access to training, external funding, and guidance in fields not commonly chosen as career fields. Kantor served as chair-elect for the Coalition of Geospatial Organizations (COGO), received the inaugural Helen Ruth Aspaas Innovator Award from the Association of American Geographers (AAG), and was recognized with the Exemplary Teacher Award by the Ministry of Education. Kantor is an American-Romanian dual citizen, her American journey including cultural adaptation and resilience while building and growing her career from an international graduate student to today's position.