Description:
We will emphasize a practical, hands-on skill-building orientation through readings, discussions, and the sharing of ideas. On-line presentations will be supplemented by exercises involving introspection, self-analysis/evaluation and practical applications of the lessons learned. The key to success in this course will be involvement with the on-line threaded discussions and a willingness to explore opportunities within our "safe" learning community that may have seemed out of reach previously.

Course Outline:
Session 1: Provide an overview of competencies gained through previous employment, literature on transitioning, and introductory exercises that will have participants reflecting on their unplanned journey for life.

Session 2: Provide a series of resistance removal techniques as outlined in Barbara Sher's book: I could do anything If I only knew what it was.

Session 3: After identifying what's holding you back, participants will begin the process of setting goals and action steps for moving forward. The end product will be outlining a professional plan and getting feedback from other classmates.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Create a list of the competencies they've gained in their past experiences
• Understand how to begin moving forward, by sharpening our goals
• Create a cooperative and supportive learning community
• Learn about some of the resources available for moving forward
• Develop a better understanding of their internal thinking process
• Learn and implement techniques for improving their personal competencies

Instructor Bios:
Dr. Tom Ellett received his Ph.D. from Fordham University in Education, Leadership, Administration and Policy program. He is the President of Thomas Ellett & Partners, Inc. a firm dedicated to personal life coaching, consulting, and providing professional development sessions for organizations.

While not working within the business, his "daytime" job is as the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs at New York University. Dr. Ellett's current responsibilities include: creation of the living / learning communities, oversight for the Faculty Affiliates (40) and Faculty in Residence (15) programs, oversight for the research and assessment office, residence life, residential judicial system, class advisory boards, and various learning initiatives within student affairs. His previous higher education positions have been at Syracuse University, Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and Utica College.

During his career, Dr. Ellett has spoken as a keynote, invited speaker and external reviewer at a number of institutions. Some of the schools/organizations he has been hired as a consultant/speaker include: College of Staten Island, Stockton State College, DePaul University, Montclair State University, State University of New York system, St. Joseph's University, UMass-Amherst, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Wesleyan University, LaRoche College, St. Francis College, University of Scranton, MACUHO, NEACUHO, and NACURH, Inc.. He is currently the project director of a $50,000 grant from the Association of College and University Housing Officers - International studying the crisis in recruiting and retaining entry-level staff in student affairs and served as the Eastern District representative for ACUHO-I and also as President of MACUHO. He was also co-founder of the Regional Entry Level Institute for the NEACUHO and ACUHO regions in 1998 which still occurs annually.

John Kazlauskas has been a Community Development Educator at New York University since July 2003. He received his undergraduate degree in English and Sociology from the University of Massachusetts: Amherst and holds both an MA in Communications and an MFA in Dramatic Writing from New York University. During his time at NYU he co-created FYRE Fights AIDS, a weeklong programming series focused on education and outreach related to HIV/AIDS, which was nationally named Best Educational Program by NRHH in March 2007. At NYU he has been recognized with the Unviersity's Give-A-Violet award as well as the Department of Residential Education's Hallmark Award for Community. Additionally, the NYU Chapter of NRHH named him Advisor of Year in 2006.

Outside of NYU, John has directed and produced SPEAK UP!, an educational documentary aimed at improving the lives of LGBT students, which is nationally available to high schools and colleges through the Media Education Foundation. In addition, he worked as a Production Assistant on the Academy Award-winning documentary Bowling for Columbine and is featured on the film's DVD commentary. He has also done archival research for the documentary The Business of Being Born and has been a freelance joke writer for Saturday Night Live.

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