Mission Accomplished

So the last few weeks have been incredibly busy (more than usual). My regular work schedule met a short travel experience to Washington, DC (April 22-24) as part of a faculty development program for which I was recruited. It is a new and APA-sponsored 1-year long program (I began in 2012-Yep, during my PhD program). Part of this program's completion is to shadow faculty. While I have been teaching for 4 years, I decided to get involved because it was an honor for someone to recruit me (think of me) and because I always seek opportunities for advancement and growth.

I was in DC for one shadowing experience with a full-time professor who has her own business, research lab, and working on some new endeavors...everything I want to do. We instantly related and I now have a new official "unofficial mentor". I got a bonus shadowing experience with the president of our DC campus (he too is an unofficial mentor for me), which was amazing for him to open his schedule and his work to me, and share his contacts. We even had breakfast together the next day, which was the day for me to get to my second shadowing experience at Howard. Several and great opportunities have derived from my shadowing experiences to position me for endless possibilities. Working with the two of them provided tremendous support, useful and thoughtful career planning, inside information, and the full gamut of longevity in this field...something for which I am grateful this young and this early into my own career. I began teaching at 25 and have developed a plethora of skills-shadowing these (and meeting other) innovative and renowned scholars, however, has given inspiration to continue.

While there, I stayed with a colleague who also graciously served as my chauffeur and tour guide. Her hospitality was absolutely refreshing given the the long days I worked. I got to do a little touring (by car and foot), but not much since the goal was to work. We went to some restaurants, a bakery, a couple stores, a few neighborhoods, I got on the Metro train once, and of course took some pictures of landmarks. As a 'thank-you' and being the Chicago native that I am, I took Garret's popcorn (in cans) to them all as gifts. Interestingly, I almost did not make it through the airport security check with the three cans of popcorn in my carry-on luggage:). Overall, mission accomplished in DC: work & network.