WCTF Conference Wrap Up, CEW Spring News 09

Dr. Howard Encourages Self Motivation and Self-Sufficiency at WCTF Conference

The UM Women of Color Task Force (WCTF), a staff-focused professional development network, presented its 27th annual career conference on Friday, February 27, 2009. More than 620 people attended the event, which took place on campus.

The keynote speaker for this year’s event was Dr. Howard G. Adams, an educator and trainer who specializes in assisting educational institutions in developing the academic, personal, career and professional skills of their students and staff. During his keynote, entitled “Setting the Bar High: Aiming for Career Success and Professional Excellence,” Dr. Adams delivered a lively, inspirational address that encouraged attendees to embrace self-motivation and self-sufficiency tactics in pursuing their career and educational ambitions, but to balance that with the counsel of mentors and advocates who can provide support and access to professional development opportunities.
Dr. Adams also facilitated a workshop on the importance of mentoring as a tool for career development that included presentations by UM senior administrators Laurita Thomas, the Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resource officer; and Deborah Childs, the Chief Human Resource Officer for the UM Health System.

Based on feedback from last year’s online conference evaluations, the Task Force unveiled a revised conference format this year–workshop sessions expanded from 90 minutes to two hours; and the revival of the WCTF marketplace in the Modern Languages Building, featuring more than 20 retail vendors and nonprofit exhibitors. In addition, several new workshops were offered, including sessions on energizing the workplace by building high quality connections; understanding privilege, power and influence in group dynamics; and using your voice for effective presentations.

As part of its eco-friendly strategy, the conference planning committee provided a recyclable shopping bag as part of the conference registration packet and asked presenters to reduce the number of handouts distributed during the sessions. Several of the presentation handouts were emailed to workshop participants and will be available on a campus internet site for future access.
Conference sponsors included the Office of the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, University Human Resources, the UM Health System Human Resources Office, the Center for the Education of Women, and Borders Express-Briarwood Mall.