OWHE Blog
Navigating the Quiet Nov 16 2017
I was recently in a small conversation with four or five colleagues when a big question was posed. I immediately began to think about my response, possible items that I might want to include, ways that I might phrase my thoughts, possibilities for misinterpretations, and in the midst of all of this, the questioner turned to me and suggested, “Emma, how about you go ahead and get us started.” I laughed, uncomfortably, and knew that I was just going to have jump in and go for it. To the speaker’s credit, she did graciously laugh and recognize, “You are an introvert, aren’t you? I have a knack for putting introverts on the spot.”
Since the release and success of Susan Cain’s Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, I have experienced a noticeable change and nuance in the ways that my professors, colleagues, and peers think about introversion.
10 Nifty Technology Tools for Communication, Design, Presentations, and More Oct 12 2017
I have a love-hate relationship with technology. I love it because in many ways it makes communication, collaboration, and staying organized so much easier. I hate it because choosing, learning, and using an unfamiliar technology is a huge investment of time – time that I could be spending getting my current work done. Perhaps you can relate?
Despite this, I love learning new things, so I'm always on the lookout for new tricks to help me be more productive and creative. To kick off our first OWHE Top Ten Feature, I am sharing ten technology tools that I’ve found to be helpful, time-saving, and even fun. Since most of us in education have limited budgets (or no budgets at all), I’m including only tools with good “free account” options or those already widely available. I hope you’ll find these tools useful and discover interesting ways to apply them.
Alexis’ Journey to OWHE Sep 21 2017
You can be anything you want to be when you grow up.
This phrase was told to me often, but it wasn’t always shown. While my childhood was full of support and encouragement, it was lacking in the knowledge that comes from growing up with career-minded parents or mentors. My dad bought and sold used office furniture; my mom was a preschool teacher’s aide. I loved my childhood. I have no criticism of my parents in terms of the unconditional love I was given. So is it wrong to criticize my circumstances?
Currently, I’m an academic counselor for first-generation students at Oregon State University. Like many of them, I had no career or college counseling; I had no one challenging me to develop myself beyond midterms and finals.
Diversity is not Your Business, Nor Mine, for that Matter Sep 14 2017
Premises of the following opinion: (a) we, the writer (I) and the reader(s) (you), were born to be equal (i.e., biologically homo Sapiens, regardless of the subspecies variation); (b) everything else we might identify with or be identified as is in flux; (c) things that we don’t have names for do exist.
In this spirit, I’d like to share with you my story with that which we colloquially call “diversity”.
Learning to Lead Sep 6 2017
Do you see yourself as a leader? Leadership encompasses many skills and attributes. Of course, a leader is someone with vision who makes high-level decisions. A leader is someone you can usually pick out of a crowd. It seems that their chromosomes equipped them with their leadership abilities. They are the ones with loud voices who get things done! Leadership is so much more. I have come to realize that leaders are not born. Leadership is a learned skill. You must believe in yourself and take action.
Annie's Journey to Mentorship and OWHE Leadership Aug 16 2017
My journey toward OWHE board membership can be traced all the way back to senior year of high school. As a young, driven, and often overwhelmed high school student, I found myself in the high school counselor’s office often. In the pursuit of wisdom, I sat with my counselor day after day asking questions about school, relationships, and my future. We talked about everything from boyfriends to body image and college application to career considerations. Her mentorship left me with a deep desire to share the goodness of mentorship with others. I wanted everyone to experience the incredible support I had received.
How to Succeed When You Want to Give Up Aug 8 2017
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. – Calvin Coolidge, 30th US President
My personal experience working in higher education for the last five years has led me to the conclusion that education is a powerful tool to enhance lives and improve the world. Unfortunately, our approach often belies our efforts. To reach our objectives — to impact students and share knowledge — we must be determined and persistent in our approach, and respectful and empathetic in our process.