Grad School Advisory: Recent Episodes
Dr. Sheryl Guse
Welcome to the Grad School Advisory Podcast! I am your host Dr. Sheryl Guse. I created this podcast to inspire and encourage new students starting a program or prospective students considering this journey. Every week, I will interview inspiring graduate students who have found success, fulfillment, and happiness. I hope our stories and advice will help you experience the magic of graduate school too! Episodes resume on Tuesday, October 4, 2022.
Special thanks to local artists: Dinnersetgang.band for the music and seanwilliamson.net for logo design. You rock!
Need a boost of inspiration today? Check outour latest Grad School Advisory podcast episode, Dr. Lucas Dyer reflects on his journey to completing hisdoctorate amidst many challenges. This experience has allowed him to share his talents on a broader level and add value personally and professionally. Hereminds students, that the experience of earning your doctorate will take you out of your comfort zone and it is important to remember: "This is your program,your pace, your goals, and your reasons." This episode contains valuable advice for students.
Dr. Mike Hackney shares his doctoral journey. The first year can be daunting as you adjust to the volume of work, like training to run a marathon, those first few months the efforts to train are exhausting, but capabilities improve over time with practice. Getting your research academic doctorate is pretty cool. Don’t get so overwhelmed by the process that you don’t also take the time to enjoy it.
Dr. Helena Seli reflects on her experiences as a faculty member and shares advice for students. Her message centers on trust, trust yourself, you were selected from a competitive pool to be in this program, and trust the process. When faced with writer's block, she encourages students to use the five-minute plan, get out of the gate, move forward, and take the first step. This episode contains valuable advice for students.
Stephen Blake reflects on his decision to start the program in the fall of 2020 amidst the pandemic, leading him to explore his paradoxical dissertation topic on remote employee burnout. He encourages others to find a partner in the journey to be a pacesetter, and work with them to set deadlines, and share advice. Similar to a Formula one racecar experiencing air resistance, when cars draft (line up behind the lead), they create a vacuum that results in both cars reaching higher speeds. This episode contains valuable advice for students.
This week's episode is a little different, this short episode is all about gratitude. Looking back on doctoral experiences and the past year launching the podcast with appreciation and celebration for how far we've come.
Dr. Eric Canny reflects on his journey in higher education. He encourages students to get organized early, rethink time commitments, learn APA (resistance is futile), and cultivate their rhythm of writing whether in silence or listening to Taylor Swift. You are standing on the shoulders of giants, don't forget to cite your sources. When you question if you are going to make it through or want to do this, let your passion drive you. This episode contains valuable advice for students.
Dr. Erica Silbiger shares her doctoral journey, a career change from higher education to industry, her display of strength writing her dissertation in New York City during the global pandemic, and the importance of well-being and mental health for students. An avid runner, she shares a valuable insight, "when you're running a marathon, unless you plan to win, you are always racing against yourself, always trying to improve, trying to see if you can run faster… similarly when you are in the program, you are just racing against yourself, you are just trying to prove yourself to yourself, no one else cares about your time, or about your marathon more than you do, this is you doing what you need to do, stopping at any rest stops you need to stop at, fueling the way you need to fuel, your race is yours and nobody else's." Give it time. Process what you went through, give yourself that space, and be open to opportunities. This episode has valuable advice for students.
Dr. Tony Cerella reflects on his journey through the Army, the USC program, living overseas, coaching, and transition from the Army after 22 years. He encourages others to collaborate, share the lift, be vulnerable, and intentional about building deeper more meaningful relationships. Beyond the dissertation that sits on a bookshelf, the connections endure. Pick a dissertation topic you are excited about, and don’t forget to celebrate yourself and all you have accomplished. This episode is a story of growth, transition and advice for students
Learn more about leadership development and coaching here: https://www.kaveoleadership.com/
Dr. Brent Obleton shares his journey to earn his doctorate while navigating a career change from higher education to DEI work in biotech/pharma. He encourages others, "nowhere in life did they take a chance on you, you had everything you needed, to do what you are going to do, and what you are doing, dig in", when considering a dissertation topic, research is me-search. You might be in a weird space after graduation, reflect on what brings you joy and meaning, the degree and title bring a level of respect, and also a duty to put into practice what you learned. This episode has valuable advice for students.
Dr. Lisa Bagby shares her doctoral journey. She discusses how she overcame her confidence challenge, the value of connecting with other bright minds for thought partnership, encouragement, and support, and the importance of knowing your committee and how they can help you. She stretched in ways never expected, jumped feet first into the deep end of the ocean, and didn’t look back and it was the single best education decision she made in her life.
Dr. Pablo Otaola, DEI champion, entrepreneur, and fellow USC grad shares his journey as an immigrant coming to the US from Argentina when he was ten years old, to being a CEO, with a doctorate in education, the challenges he faced, and advice for other students. He discusses the importance of timing (considering kids, family, and work), identity development, and the value of starting the program with a dissertation topic/theory in mind. He remembers the beginning of the program feeling that he was at the precipice of something really big, and he was right, the journey changed who he is and his framework to life.
His company for DEI and org development consulting: www.ThrivingCultureLLC.com & learning DEI tech company: www.MerakiDEILearning.com
Dr. Jenai Ali Emmel shares her journey to earn her doctorate as a solopreneur of a K-12 consulting practice. She was motivated by a desire to do more, make an impact, and lead real change. She reminds us that being a doctoral student is a bit like a swan, you're always working really hard, but looking very graceful. You are there to be a learner, embrace the things you don’t know and realize there is a lot more you can do to truly be excellent and it will raise your game.
Dr. Monique Bates, educator, training developer, and mental health professional working in compliance and risk management shares her doctoral journey.
Dr. Cary Ashworth, change leader, Chief People Officer, and USC doctoral graduate shares his doctoral journey.
Dr. Gretchen Jameson, change leader, Chief Learning Officer, mom, and USC doctoral grad shares her reasons for returning to school during a time when she was face to face with her own mortality. Her mindset is to go for it, push yourself, and prove that you can do it. If not now, when? This episode is an inspirational story with valuable advice for students.
Learn more about creating elegant solutions for human performance and social impact here: https://www.kacmarcikcenter.com/
In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Amit Mohindra, people analytics leader, board member, advisor, and executive coach shares how he puts his training and experience to use after graduation. He explains the importance of preparing for your doctoral journey, the benefits of knowing your dissertation topic early, and bringing your loved ones on your journey. This episode is an inspirational story of transformational change and leadership.
Learn more about the growing field of people analytics here: peopleanalyticssuccess.com
Dr. Jenn Wells, change leader, DEI champion, and USC doctoral graduate shares why she chose an EdD over a PhD and shifted her career out of higher education and into K-12. She encourages others to take a bold step forward, your degree and credential will open doors.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_jennwells/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennlwells/
Dr. Erik Hollander, change leader, business professor, and former healthcare administrator shares his journey to earn his doctorate. He reminds us as a student, you will be served a slice of humble pie, work through and persevere, reflect and improve, when you get done- doors are going to open. You just don’t know that they are there yet.
Dr. Jamie Bone, people developer, former K-12 administrator, and USC doctoral grad, shares her journey from K-12, promoted to various roles throughout the program to her current position in consulting. She delivers a unique perspective as a teacher and concurrently a learner and was inspired by the program's new awareness and tools to take on new roles and experiences while a doctoral student. She was drawn to the community of the Trojan family, network, alumni, and presence, and reminds us a student you are living it, the sense of belonging is not a pot of gold at the end of your journey, and you don't need to wait until the end to pursue a new career. She took additional classes on a 60-unit, 4-year track and entered the program with a bachelor's degree to earn her doctorate.
Dr. Linh Nguyen, leadership developer, IT professional, and recent doctoral grad, shares his journey; thirty-five years ago, he fled Vietnam to Cambodia on foot, Thailand on a boat, and finally Americas to pursue higher education. After finishing his Master's degree, he stopped school, went to work, and raised a family with his wife and three children. He was inspired to earn his doctorate when helping his firstborn son plan for his four-year degree and career. They both graduated this May 2022, and his son will start his Ph.D. this fall. This week's episode is an inspirational story with great advice for students.
Dr. Jonathan Eldridge, change leader, college administrator, and USC doctoral graduate shares how he uses his degree after graduation. He acknowledges the doctoral journey can be challenging, there is a lot of stuff (readings, papers, classes), and things happen fast; he advises on the benefits of "slowing down the game," focusing on what you are doing at the moment; the time and attention you put in correlate to the value of what you get out.
Contact: Dr. Jonathan Eldridge
Show Notes: www.gradschooladvisory.com
Dr. Tiffany Kim, Los Angeleno, former university administrator, and USC doctoral graduate, shares when she knew it was time to go back to school, challenges she faced including an unexpected health crisis at the end of her program, and advice for new and current students. This weeks episode is an inspirational story of strength and resilience.
Show Notes: www.gradschooladvisory.com
Linked In: Dr. Tiffany Kim
Dr. Abel Guzman, education executive, and USC doctoral graduate, shares his journey of resilience, and real-life experience of "crazy" events during his first year and how he was able to push through and still finish on time.
Show Notes: www.gradschooladvisory.com
Linked In: Dr. Abel Guzman
Dr. Michael Grace, healthcare administrator, and USC doctoral graduate, shares his journey of completing his degree while being CEO at three different hospitals during the pandemic. His message provides an encouraging reminder that the doctoral journey will have challenges; trust the process; it is worth it.
Show Notes: www.gradschooladvisory.com
Contact: michaelgracehcc@gmail.com
Dr. Amy King, higher education leader, Disney fan, and USC doctoral grad shares her journey from being a first-generation college student to a leader in executive education. When her son graduated from high school and went to college, she decided it was time to go back too. Before her final defense, she started a new job and relocated across the country. Her message is, "If you can dream it, you can do it!" (Walt Disney).
Linked In: Dr. Amy King
Show Notes: www.gradschooladvisory.com
Dr. Maria Silva-Palacios, author, entrepreneur, and USC doctoral graduate shares her journey from immigrating from Ecuador when she was 6 years old, the challenges she faced, and how she overcame them through hard work, being intentional, and her love of learning. Her message provides an encouraging reminder that the doctoral journey is transformative, and it's never too late to achieve your dreams.
Show notes: www.gradschooladvisory.com
LinkedIn: Dr. Maria Silva-Palacios
www.askouradvicenow.com
Dr. Colleen Leigh, former journalist, higher education administrator, and USC doctoral graduate shares her real-life experience of grief and healing, advice for other students, and the importance of support in classmates, student success advisor, chair, and professors when faced with unexpected tragedy during her doctoral journey.
Dr. David Allan-Matheson, military officer, healthcare leader and USC doctoral graduate shares the importance of enjoying learning as a passion.
Show notes: www.gradschooladvisory.com
LinkedIn: Dr. David Allan-Matheson
Dr. Robert Ramirez, change leader and USC doctoral graduate shares his journey of resilience and the importance of mindset when facing obstacles.
Show notes: www.gradschooladvisory.com
Linked In: Dr. Robert Ramirez
Dr. Tom Hurtado, higher education leader and USC doctoral graduate shares his journey and the importance of finding meaning and purpose when pursuing a doctorate.
Show Notes: www.gradschooladvisory.com
LinkedIn: Dr. Tom Hurtado
Host of the RealMD podcast, by the University of Utah School of Medicine, this podcast is a space that helps medical students find and maintain their highest purpose in medicine.
Join host Dr. Sheryl Guse as she shares her journey to going back to school for her doctorate, challenges she experienced, advice for prospective and current students and reasons for creating this podcast. Learn her three important lessons, and gain inspiration and encouragement to continue your journey.
Show notes: www.gradschooladvisory.com
Contact: SherylGuseLinkedIn
During this episode, "almost doctor" Susan Fant shares her journey to her EdD at USC, passion for entrepreneurship and the power of mindset and mindfulness when pursuing a doctorate.
Show Notes: www.gradschooladvisory.com
Contact: SusanFantLinkedIn, Co-Founder eMarketing Director
eMarketing Director helps you use your time and resources wisely when facing changes and challenges in technology. With our methods you will gain a true audience, who will support you with their time and money. Large or small businesses, non-profits, influencers, entrepreneurs, artists, we will help you amplify your content to make positive change and profit. Alongside learning, strategizing, and enacting digital and social media marketing management techniques, you will also further develop as an authentic leader who can produce positive outcomes for your organization and most importantly find balance for yourself, so you can enjoy your work and life while you reach your online marketing goals.
Sign up for your invitation at: https://www.emarketingdirector.com
Dr. Erika Page, former corporate executive, now higher education administrator and USC doctoral graduate shares encouragement and advice for prospective and current students.
Show Notes: www.gradschooladvisory.com
LinkedIn: Dr. Erika Page
Welcome to the Grad School Advisory Podcast! I am your host Dr. Sheryl Guse, I created this podcast to inspire and encourage new students starting a program or prospective students considering this journey. Every week, I will interview inspiring graduate students who have found success, fulfillment and happiness. I hope our stories and advice of being doctoral students will help you have fun and experience the magic of graduate school too!
Make sure to subscribe so you'll be the first to know when the podcast launches and when new episodes drop. And share with your friends! I'm on a mission to share encouragement and strategies that work and help you find success in your journey.
Check out more graduate student resources here: www.gradschooladvisory.com