CONGRATULATIONS!

CAFS was pleased to confer the Award for Public Service to Rebecca MacLeod with New Grocery Movement, the Undergraduate Student Paper Award to Bavan Pushpalingam, and the Graduate Student Paper Award to Margaret DeCoste.

#AskFedi
I've been at this tech thing for almost a decade now. It's had its high points, and I've met some incredible people along the way. But this current environment in the industry, especially in the job market, gives me a lot of unease.

Over the last two years, I have put out hundreds of applications for relevant roles with zero responses to sit for an interview, *NONE*. All the while, there's a dark cloud of layoffs that hovers with no clear indication of when it may strike.

I know this describes the experience of many folks on here, and I know I'm lucky to still have the gig I have at all. But still, I don't want to feel like this, so I'm working toward making a change, potentially a big one.

And I'm soliciting feedback from y'all because things feel upside down, and it helps me to get some outside perspective, especially if you've been in a similar place.

So, I'm considering returning to school for a Master's degree in environmental science and/or ecology, with the intent to work on landscape ecology or ecological restoration.

I can explain the "why" behind this later, or ask and I'll try to assemble my thoughts around it.

A little background: Back in the day, I got a Bachelor's in mass communication to work in journalism, which I did for a little bit. I also got a Master of divinity from a seminary I'm not aligned with theologically or otherwise anymore (long story) that I've ostensibly not used in any form since. My tech education started at bootcamp right after seminary, and I never looked back.

Given my professional and family constraints, I'm searching for online programs, and I've already starting comparing ones I've found. I'm not interested in pursuing a PhD at this point, so my goal is to take what I learn and go put it into use as soon as possible.

So feedback I'm looking for from the fedi:
- **Have you made a mid-career pivot?** How did it go, and what did you learn that would have been helpful to know at the outset?
- **Do you know anyone working or teaching** in environmental science or ecology fields that I could connect with?
- **Are there glaring blind spots** I'm missing? Is this crazy?

The satisfaction of feeling done with your editing (well, as done as you can be given time and perfectionist levels), and you casually check the word count.

Nothing says "don't touch another word" quite like that.

*chef's kiss*

My employer #OIST ( @oistedu.bsky.social ) is opening a special grad student application round for students currently studying at US universities.

The application period begins now and is only two weeks, but if accepted you may be able to start already in September.

Please reshare to get the word out.

https://www.oist.jp/admissions/special-application-deadline-students-accepted-or-studying-united-states

How many former classmates do you still keep in touch with?

Feel free to answer this from any level of education you wish to as long as you’re no longer a student there.

Why did I sign up to write 3 exams in 2 weeks from now? #GradSchool

my capacity to focus and #write depends HEAVILY on if I can find the right musical vibe, artist, genre, or playlist.

It's like trying to put a key into a lock,
from 20 feet away,
in the dark.
You know the general direction of where the door is, but not exactly.

BUT AHHH, the bliss when that key lands, and the door unlocks, and you are rewarded with focus, a flow of words, and coherent thoughts.

( wait.....I just described my #ADHD )

Another A in my #CS #gradschool program, I’m done with my #AI and #machinelearning certificate now with a 4.0 GPA!

Grad school isn’t easy but also it’s fun and easier than anticipated, overall.

After a Master’s it’s PhD time for me :3

I’m a fucking nerd

A little good news for your scrolly-scroll.

I just turned in my final project for #GradSchool at #PurdueGlobal. Which means I'm all done except for the shouting. I have sufficient points to #graduate with my #MSIT, however the grade lands.

I also feel like an incredible weight has been lifted off my shoulders that I've been bearing for 2 years! Wow!

"Join the APSA Committee on the Status of Graduate Students in the Profession and the APSA Committee on the Status of Disability in the Profession for a professional development workshop on navigating accommodation in graduate school."

1 pm Eastern, Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | Register Here

https://politicalsciencenow.com/navigating-accommodations-in-graduate-school-a-joint-apsa-status-committee-workshop/ #PoliticalScience #GradSchool #Disability #Ableism @academicchatter @disability

To #undergrads thinking of #gradschool abroad, I just got the reminders for #marshall #scholarship, #fulbright program, and #rhodes scholarship. If you're at #UCD you can sign up for info sessions: https://ucdavis.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qcYTGx1BQAyK3gE-_r7Cig
https://ucdavis.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_svdVABseReeAvOJ87vPLiQ
https://ucdavis.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-ako--IqTam9raxiQefnFg

Academic papers due at 4pm are criminal and shouldn’t be allowed.

At least the 45 pages of academic writing I have due in 14 days has reduced by 15 pages. *whew*

Now for:
- my final exam tomorrow *oof*
- 15 page paper due Mon
- and a 60min presentation along with my last 15 page paper due the following Monday.

what even is sleep

Well, it's the first day of grad school, so as promised, here are my first day of school photos! First term classes: Business Foundations and Strategic Human Resource Management.

We invite applications for two fully funded #PhD positions in a project on "multimodal argumentation" (https://sites.google.com/rug.nl/multimodal/home) - especially interesting for applicants with an interest in #DiscourseAnalysis, #linguistics, and/or the #philosophy of #argumentation and #language.

For more info, see https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/job-opportunities/?details=00347-02S000B82P and https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/job-opportunities/?details=00347-02S000B83P

7 Tips to Ace Your Dissertation Defense in 2025!

Your dissertation defense is your chance to showcase your research and expertise. Feeling nervous?

Here are 7 key tips to help you prepare:

https://scholarinfohub.com/how-to-prepare-for-your-dissertation-defense/

Register now! Discover #philosophy at the University of #Groningen during the Philosophy #Master's Day on 19 March.

Join us for a #hybrid event on Wednesday, 19 March. This afternoon event offers in-depth presentations of our Master’s programs, delivered in English, with ample opportunities for your questions.

Connect with student representatives from each program to get firsthand insights!

https://www.rug.nl/education/master/masterweek/programmaperfaculteit/philosophy

Join @ach TOMORROW for "Demystifying the Hidden Curriculum," a workshop & discussion led by Winnie E. Peréz Martinéz @wepm.bsky.social. 12-1pm EST, open to all—no need to be an ACH member. #gradschool #highered #digitalhumanities https://members.ach.org/civicrm/event/info/?id=30&reset=1

Scholarship app for my master's funding asked about future doctoral research. My (sleep-deprived, partially BS) answer? "Focused on the impact of geopolitical uncertainty on organizational and diversity management within multinational corporations."