Prepare them to apply for graduate school and reach their career goals.

Engaging, expert workshops for your Alumni, AmeriCorps Members, Employee Resource Groups and Young Professionals.

Dr. Jena

From speaking at national conventions to teaching college courses for 10 years, I share insight and action steps with groups ready to achieve their goals.

I’d love to speak to your organization on the topics below or serve as a subject matter expert to create something together to meet your needs.

Workshop Topics

Working professionals often consider going back to school to level up their credentials and sharpen transferable skills. Whether diving deeper into their industry or pivoting to a new career, this workshop provides what they need to know before pursuing their next degree.
In this 60-minute workshop, I cover:
• What graduate school is
• Types of graduate degrees plus career opportunities for those with advanced degrees
• The best time to go to graduate school
• Overview of the application process - including writing tips for personal statements
Attendees will get a clear idea of what type of advanced degrees to research for their career goals, approximate timing on when they might pursue a master’s degree or doctorate, and generate ideas for their personal statement when they’re ready to apply.
After the decision to apply to graduate school comes the hard part: creating an admissions-worthy application. From researching programs to requesting letters of recommendation and writing an exceptional personal statement, the application process can be daunting.
In this 60-minute workshop, I cover:
• Researching graduate programs that fit personal and professional needs
• How to strategize the application timeline
• The elements of a strong application
• Managing emotions while applying
• Helpful tips for a successful application
Attendees will learn how to create a timeline for their individual application process, a plan for requesting strong letters of recommendation, ideas for a personal statement that will impress admissions committees, and methods for handling emotions during the application experience.
Applying to graduate school is hard, and writing a personal statement can be nerve-wracking. After reading 3,000+ application essays since 2010, I developed a framework to help applicants understand what to write about, and how to write in a way that excites reviewers who have read everything.
In this 60-minute workshop I cover:
• Graduate application essays 101
• Knowing your audience
• The 3POPS Framework for stellar personal statements
• Essay outlines, writing timelines and tips for editing
Attendees will learn what to include, what to leave out, how to tailor their statements for specific programs, and gain confidence in what they submit as part of their graduate school applications.
Working full or part-time while going back to school is possible - and a lot to balance. As someone who worked full-time while in a full-time doctoral program for working professionals, I can speak to the challenges and triumphs of the experience. This workshop will benefit anyone considering working while in school, and those currently balancing both looking for tools to succeed.
In this 60-minute workshop, I discuss:
• Time management
• Relationship management
• Increasing efficiency at work and in school
• Avoiding burnout
Attendees will identify ways to maximize their current time constraints, consider how to prioritize their most important relationships, and determine opportunities to "fill their own cup" to ensure they have the emotional and mental energy to succeed personally and professionally.

Lets connect!

Take their word for it:

I went into this workshop curious about how to articulate my story and interest in my chosen programs. Dr. Jena's 3POPS structure and breakdown of the different essays I might encounter provided me with a plan of execution on how to do just that: be myself, highlight my strengths, and still be professional.

Keihmahney C.
Dr. Jena's perspective on what makes writing compelling in the eyes of a reviewer helped me to view my own stories and writing through that lens. I definitely feel more confident now in my ability to write authentically in a way that appeals to admissions and showcases my strengths. Her tips on how to turn your journey into a powerful personal statement made me feel inspired to get back to writing and editing my work. Thank you Dr. Jena!!!

Jillian H.
Hearing about what admissions committees look for in an essay was insightful. It improved my understanding of what I should consider when drafting my statement. Overall, the tips that Dr. Jena shared made me feel more confident in my ability to navigate the writing and application process.

Guadalupe C.