Leadership, Community And Values Initiative
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Lifelong Learning Makes for an Engaged Employee
Anita Wahler, Public Information Specialist with Bioengineering, discusses how lifelong learning opportunities make her feel valued and supported in her job.
“Being selected for the scholarship makes me feel supported by a broad network, which in turn inspires me to invest more of myself in my work for the UW.”
I was excited to receive a professional development scholarship from UW’s Professional Staff Organization (PSO) so that I could attend the National Association of Science Writers annual meeting. I work at the department level, so am often the only one in my unit focused on full time writing about science for the general public. But at the conference, I was surrounded by kindred spirits and like-minded professionals. I connected with several individuals, including one woman with whom I agreed to become “penpals;” we plan to exchange segments of our work with each other for professional feedback.
I'm proactive, and look for opportunities to expand my knowledge. I recently completed courses in the Technical Communications graduate program and instruction in Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and InDesign. The support I receive from my department in pursuing opportunities such as these -- in addition to attending the conference -- helps reinforce my commitment to my position here at the UW.
“Just knowing that there is an organized group that actively helps UW staff engage in lifelong learning relative to their careers gives me a good feeling about working here.”
