This series of professional development workshops focuses on professional skills, resources, and tools for iHARP students and early-career professionals, developed based on feedback from the External Advisory Board following All Hands 2024. The sessions are primarily in-person, with accommodations for virtual participation. Overall, sessions are carefully crafted to allow for hands-on activities and engagement of all participants.
Note: Recordings and session material linked are available for iHARP members.
May 28, 2025
Facilitator: Scott Morgan,
President of The Morgan Group, a consultant to the National Institute of Health
Elevator Pitch
During this workshop, participants were engaged in developing and crafting their elevator pitch for their specific research. Scott Morgan worked with all participants and provided them with the necessary tools to craft an elevator pitch that would allow them to articulate their research to anyone they would talk to.
June 4, 2025
Facilitator: Jill Wardell,
Director of Talent Learning & Organizational Development at UMBC
Awake and Aware: Cultivating EQ from the Inside Out
Using Mindfulness as a Catalyst for EQ
The session focuses on self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and relationship management. Participants worked together to discuss different situations from the previous week related to each topic presented and had conversations about how they could apply what they learned to those different situations. They also took time to do different meditations and discussed how they can incorporate these techniques into their day-to-day life.
June 18, 2025
Facilitator: Stephanie Will,
Assistant Director of Outreach and Mental Health Promotion at UMBC
Executive Functioning
Participants are introduced to practical tools designed to help them manage their time, prioritize tasks, and stay organized. Rather than simply presenting available resources, the session emphasizes hands-on engagement, allowing participants to actively use the tools and experience their functionality. This approach reinforces how these tools can be genuinely beneficial in supporting their academic and personal success.
June 25, 2025
Facilitator: Scott Morgan,
President of The Morgan Group, a consultant to the National Institute of Health
Presentation Skills
This session is built on the foundation laid during the Elevator Pitch session. Here, he guides participants through the process of delivering an effective 15–20 minute presentation. The goal is to equip participants with a framework they can adapt for even longer presentations in the future. After the session, participants have the opportunity to submit a slide deck to Scott for personalized feedback on content, structure, and areas for improvement.
July 9, 2025
Facilitator: Elaine MacDougall,
Lecturer in the Department of English and Director of the Writing Center at UMBC
Creative Writing
In this interactive session, participants explored the power of storytelling through three creative writing exercises. First, they worked on ‘I Am From’ poem which helped them look back at where they are coming from and think back to their journey. Then, they engaged in a sensory-based activity using a personal object from their workspace to inspire metaphor, emotion, and story. Lastly, they experimented with braided narrative, interweaving personal experience with academic content to create multidimensional writing. The session encouraged reflection on the connection between tangible inspiration and professional identity, providing tools that participants can use in talks, essays, and beyond.
July 16, 2025
Facilitator: Brianna Hughes,
STEM Reference & Instruction Librarian at UMBC
July 30, 2025
Facilitator: Dr. Rowena Winkler,
Assistant Director for Graduate Student Career Development at UMBC
July 30, 2025
Facilitator: Dr. Josephine Namayanja, Executive Director, iHARP, UMBC
July 30, 2025
Facilitator: Dr. Sudip Chakraborty, Research Assistant Professor, iHARP, UMBC
July 30, 2025
Facilitator: Dr. Ratnaksha Lele, Research Assistant Professor, iHARP, UMBC
Interview Skills
This session is divided into two parts to address different career paths. The first session will focus on mastering interview skills for industry positions. The second session will prepare participants for interviews for faculty and postdoctoral positions.
Aug 6, 2025
Facilitator: Jill Wardell,
Director of Talent Learning & Organizational Development at UMBC
Redefining Stress & Navigating Stress
This will be another interactive, conversational session focused on exploring the real-life stresses participants are currently facing. The session will guide them through practical strategies and tools, emphasizing how these can be applied to manage stress more effectively and bring greater ease to their daily lives.
Aug 20, 2025
Facilitator: Dr. Karen Chen,
Assistant Director of the Department of Information Systems at UMBC
Digital Storytelling
This session intends to introduce participants to the art and utility of digital storytelling as a powerful communication tool. Given that many of our participants are engaged in highly technical research, this session will highlight how digital storytelling can help them convey their findings in a compelling, accessible way, bridging the gap between complex data and broader audiences, including the general public and key decision-makers, without overwhelming them with technical details.