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Graduate school is an important balance of gaining an academic skill set and networking within your field. Professional Development Programming with The Graduate School can help you succeed in both. 

Our programming offers professional development opportunities for students, and helps students increase their professionalism, academic advancement, communication, engagement, and success. By participating, students will be supported in developing communication, interview, stress management, and debt management skills – among other critical and timely topics.

Workshops are voluntary and relevant to all graduate students, regardless of field of study or current employment status. Registration for workshops is free for current graduate students.

The programming is co-sponsored by The Graduate School and many other departments across campus.

Winter 2026 Professional Development Opportunities

We have completed our workshops for the winter semester. Check back in August for our next round of workshops.

If you have recommendations for topics that you would like to see covered, please reach out to Trista Shumway at [email protected] in the Graduate School. 

  1. Interviewing Skills  
  2. Presentation Skills 
  3. Mentorship Panel 
  4. Professional Image 
  5. Career Fair Prep
  6. Navigating the interview and onboarding process as a non-binary or trans candidate
  7. Meditation Sessions
  8. Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness Practices
  9. Library Workshop Part 1
  10. Library Workshop Part 2 
  11. How to Connect with a Recruiter
  12. All Things Fellowships
  13. How to Start a Business
  14. LinkedIn Workshop
  15. How to utilize the GVSU Alumni network
  16. Career and Internship Search Process for International Students

Professionalism

Topics covered in the professionalism section include resources concerning interviewing skills, career planning tools, salary/benefit information, and workplace attire.

Communication

The communication section contains resources covering conflict management, employee communication, international relations, and public speaking.

Success

The success section covers material about financial planning, stress management, time/organization, and maintaining relationships.

Page last modified April 16, 2026