Early Career - Professional Development Institute (REQUIRES ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION)

We’re excited to announce a new timing for NAGAP’s Early Career Professional Development Institute! In 2026, the PDI will be held immediately before the Annual Summit - offering early career GEM professionals an energizing launch with a full day of learning and networking. The cost is $400, breakfast and lunch are included with registration.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

· 8:00am: Registration/Breakfast

· 9:00am: Welcome/Introductions

· 9:15-10:30am: Session 1: Demystifying the Graduate School Application Process: How to Launch a Weeklong “Hidden Curriculum Series” for Prospective Students, Ryan Taughrin and Duvi Kominiarek

The graduate school application process can often feel daunting especially for students who are unfamiliar with the intricacies of the admissions process. For many, the overwhelming array of documents such as securing letters of recommendation, crafting a compelling statement of purpose, or understanding what makes a writing sample can create unnecessary stress and confusion. Unfortunately, it’s easy to assume that students are familiar with these processes, but in reality, the gap in understanding is much larger than we often realize.

In this presentation, we will explore the importance of never assuming that students have a clear grasp of the basics of the graduate school application process. We will discuss how we created our Hidden Curriculum series, a comprehensive and supportive week of information sessions designed to break down each critical component of the application process, and how this series aims to empower students with the knowledge they need to approach their graduate school applications with confidence.

Through an overview of our Hidden Curriculum series, we will provide insights into the value of tackling common challenges such as securing letters of recommendation, writing a powerful statement of purpose, crafting an effective resume, understanding funding options, and mastering the logistics of the application process itself. Attendees will gain practical tools to support their own students or advisees in navigating this journey, ready to launch their own version of a Hidden Curriculum series based on their campus or unit setup.

Additionally, we will highlight the importance of an effective communication plan and bringing campus partners into the equation to maximize program effectiveness. This is crucial for students who have shown initial interest in applying but have not yet submitted their applications. Through targeted communication strategies, we can ensure that students remain engaged throughout the application process and receive the support they need to successfully complete their applications.

· 10:30-10:45am: Break

· 10:45am-12:00pm: Session 2: Diversifying your Recruitment Strategy: Integrating In-Person, Virtual, and Travel Events, Aleia McKessy

This session will review the Crown Family School's event-based recruitment strategy that helped contribute to the largest class of Masters of Arts in Social Work students in the history of the Crown Family School. We will briefly cover how and why we expanded our recruitment strategy to include different types of events, both in person, travel and virtual and how attendees can utilize that information to implement one of their own. We will discuss key considerations in creating a plan and how to evaluate events for future success. Attendees will have time to brainstorm and start creating or adapting their own events schedule with time to discuss ideas and strategy.

· 12:00-1:15pm: Lunch/Networking

·  1:15-2:30pm: Session 3: Beyond Ads: Building Your LinkedIn Presence to Drive Graduate Recruitment, Bettsy McKlaine and Melissa Paone

LinkedIn is one of the most powerful platforms for reaching prospective graduate students, but too often it’s seen only through the lens of costly advertising. What many enrollment leaders overlook is the untapped potential of building an authentic, personal presence on LinkedIn to organically grow your reach, influence, and impact. In this session, Bettsy McKlaine, Executive Director for Enrollment Management, Degree Completion & Graduate Programs and Melissa Paone, Executive Director for Marketing from Neumann University will share practical strategies for positioning yourself and by extension, your institution as a trusted voice in the graduate education space. You’ll learn how to cultivate your own professional brand on LinkedIn, create content that resonates with prospective students, and engage in ways that build both credibility and community. The session will also explore the benefits and limitations of organic strategies compared with paid LinkedIn campaigns. Participants will walk away with an understanding of how to strike the right balance: knowing when organic presence and personal authority can drive the conversation, and when paid strategies can enhance or accelerate recruitment results.

 ·  2:30-2:45pm: Break

·  2:45-4:00pm: Session 4: 6 Ideas in 6 Minutes

The concept is simple: six people present an idea in six minutes each. While it is nice to make big changes and implement sweeping improvements, that’s not what this session is about. Our six presenters are discussing quick, simple, straightforward concepts you can employ to see results in your work. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or heavy lifting to start moving the needle. We’ll show you how.

- Communication Strategies in Graduate Admissions, Michael Merriam
- A 6-Sense Reset: A Simple Self-Care Practice for Busy Professionals, Sabrina Brown
- Your First Conference Proposal: Why It Matters and How to Nail It!, Shaniece Miller
- Federal regulation changes affecting GEM, Kristen Sterba
- Creating a Grad Program Playbook: Building a Sustainable, Shareable Admissions Knowledge Hub, Mary Pascarella

· 4:00-4:15pm: Closing