2025 Region VII Grad & Grow Institute

Sidra Habal and Meghan Buckley – Montclair State University
Poppin’ Off as a Professional: Transitioning to your Grad Journey

This presentation will outline ways for students to have a positive and productive experience in their graduate positions. We will cover how to navigate workplace politics and how a professional workplace may or may not be different from an undergraduate position. A large part of this is examining the culture of the workplace and adapting to different situations that you will encounter, including a potentially more diverse student population and recognizing different supervising styles.

Saniya Myers – Montclair State University
Wait…I’m the Boss Now?

Stepping into a supervisor role especially when you’re leading former peers can feel awkward, confusing, and a little overwhelming. This session explores how to navigate that transition with confidence. You’ll walk away with practical tips for setting boundaries, handling tough conversations, and using feedback as a growth tool. Whether you’re feeling unsure or just need a boost, you’ll leave this session feeling more prepared and ready to lead with confidence.

Hayden M. Greene
Leading With My Camera

Photography has many rules and those rules have taught me a lot about leadership development. This workshop walks the participants through rules for the most common artistic expression, photography, and maps them onto leadership philosophy.

Tim Moore
Managing Up: Building Strategic Relationships for Growth

“Managing up is the skill of strategically navigating relationships with those in higher positions—bosses, project leads, and even skip-level managers. It is not about “”sucking up,”” but about positioning yourself as a thought partner and trusted advisor. In complex organizations, success depends as much on navigating relationships and power structures as it does on technical expertise. Managing up with integrity and strategy leads to career growth, higher satisfaction, and better day-to-day results.

 Many professionals struggle with managing up because traditional training focuses on technical skills, not organizational dynamics. Additionally, cultural norms may discourage questioning authority or engaging leaders as partners. To manage up effectively, key conversations are essential. Alignment conversations ensure shared priorities and definitions of success. Skip-level conversations build broader support without alienating immediate supervisors. Understanding leadership styles allows for adapting communication, while boundary setting demonstrates maturity and prevents burnout. Ownership conversations and visibility conversations help expand influence without seeming self-serving. Finally, career advancement discussions, begun early, prepare the ground for future growth.

Strategically, managing up requires asking clarifying questions, translating leadership styles into actionable steps, advocating for promotions well ahead of time, and framing contributions with a future-focused lens. Those who master these practices are better equipped to navigate complexity, demonstrate leadership, and unlock new opportunities throughout their careers.”

Melissa Ulmer & Aleeyah Oliphant-Jean
GRWM – From Ideal to Real: Managing Year 1 Expectations

Starting graduate school is more than just classes and assistantships, it’s the beginning of your professional journey. This session is designed specifically for first-year graduate students who are just beginning to navigate the complexities of a career in higher education. Together, we’ll explore the realities behind those “ideal” first-year experiences and replace myths with meaningful strategies for success. Through candid conversations and shared lived experiences, we’ll cover key topics such as managing expectations, setting boundaries, tackling tough situations, and beginning to define what work-life balance really means for you. You’ll also start thinking about your non-negotiables and begin shaping your professional narrative—because the transition starts now, not after graduation.