When the longstanding legacy of COM Week came to a close in April 2023, the School of Communication was forced to pivot and reimagine what professional development would look like for the future. Inspired by student feedback, invested alums, and faculty input, the Career COM-petency program was born—and is now ready to celebrate its one-year anniversary.
“The success of this program is beyond impressive,” said Dr. Aimee Miller-Ott, interim director of the School of Communication. “Julie Navickas and her team have worked incredibly hard to make this program impactful and lay a strong foundation for the future.”
The Career COM-petency program is a series of professional development workshops, tasks, and opportunities designed to elevate student success. Program participants do not just become marketable job candidates with a skillset in communication; graduates of this program embody professionalism—creating alumni employers covet. During the academic year, each month is themed around a core value.
Creativity and innovation
On September 13, 2023, the Career COM-petency program kicked off with Victoria Padilla, M.S. ’21, communication director of ROE #17. Padilla introduced participants to the online design tool, Canva. From stunning graphics and flyers to video editing tips and more, students walked away with new knowledge and best practices for visual communication.
“It was such an honor to be asked to return to the School of Communication in this capacity,” said Padilla. “Not only was it fun to be back in Fell Hall and see old friends but getting to be the first alum to lead a Career COM-petency workshop was such a privilege.”
Leadership
After a great inaugural session, October celebrated the core value of leadership. Alicia Bettes ’94, Chris Saksa ’16, and Matt Tumbleson ’04 returned to campus to participate in the “Share Your Success” leadership panel—and also accept their honored alum awards during the week of Homecoming festivities.
“It was a highlight of my life to have the opportunity to come back to Illinois State and be honored in that way,” said Tumbleson, vice president of basketball communications for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. “And it was a fantastic experience sitting on the leadership panel with Alicia and Chris. I wish I had a program like this when I was a student here.”
Communication
In November, the Career COM-petency program welcomed Julie Navickas ‘07, M.S. ‘10 ‘18, director of student success and recruitment in the School of Communication. Navickas is an accomplished romance author with Inkspell Publishing and shared her writing advice. From understanding how to “show, and not tell” to learning how to avoid passive voice, attendees engaged in active practice.
“I attended this workshop with Julie and realized quickly that there were so many easy ways to improve my writing,” said Denise Thomas, senior business manager in the School of Communication. “I actually read differently now, too. When I see the word, “was” I cringe and think about how I could reword the sentence actively!”
Digital media
The fall 2023 semester concluded with Derek Story ’99, M.S. ’09, director of HR systems, training, and communication at Illinois State University. Story discussed the importance of personal branding and shared best practices for building a strong LinkedIn profile. With his background in professional recruiting and human resources, the knowledge he imparted resonated with several student attendees.
“I made changes to my LinkedIn profile right away,” said Kathryn Kopija, senior communication studies major and COMSET intern. “Derek’s advice on personal branding has really made me think strategically about how I can make an impression on a future employer before even interviewing.”
Equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility
Angell Howard, MSW, associate director of professional development and staff recognition at Illinois State University joined the Career COM-petency program in January 2024 and discussed the role microaggressions play in the workplace. Through a rich discourse, participants learned about the different forms microaggressions take, how they manifest, and how to best address them.
“This session was really eye-opening for me,” said Abbie Paul ’90, M.S. ’19, academic advisor in the School of Communication. “I always want to get better and be better. Listening to Angell made me pause and think about human interactions in a new way.”
Technology
In February, the Career COM-petency program welcomed Paige Honegger ’19, a user experience designer with a passion for accessibility. Without a single seat left in the room, Honegger shared her career path to the tech industry and encouraged student participants to think outside the box when it comes to their career.
“It was such a pleasure to be invited back to campus,” said Honegger. “I didn’t expect that many students would want to hear from me, so I was blown away by the full room! I hope my advice helped. Be bold, Redbirds!”
Professionalism
On March 1, author Eric Hoss joined the Career COM-petency program to discuss successful interview skills and strong resumes. Through an engaging discussion with practical takeaways, Hoss shared with students how to remove doubt and walk into an interview ready to impress.
“Eric’s advice was really useful,” said Camron Terry, senior communication studies major and COMSET intern. “He offered great insight that helped me build a stronger resume. I definitely feel more confident now getting ready to apply for jobs.”
Civic engagement
The final Career COM-petency workshop will take place on April 1, 2024. The Center for Civic Engagement will host a deliberative dialogue on the changing world of work: what should we ask of higher education?
It’s been a tremendous pilot year with room to grow and new opportunities to pursue.
“The new program is off to a great start,” said Tom Lamonica, director of field experiences in the School of Communication. “Julie Navickas and her team of interns are promoting the new events at a high level. I can see the number of events growing to two or three per month, and alumni participation in those events rising steadily. I know our alums are hungry for that.”
Over 130 students have elected to participate. This number increases weekly as interest grows and the program gains a strong reputation. As the inaugural year wraps up, the School of Communication anticipates seeing 10 to 15 seniors complete the program. These students will be recognized at the Awards and Scholarship luncheon on April 11, 2024. In recognition of their commitment to professional development, each student will receive a custom “Career Ready” graduation stole and a certification of completion endorsed by Dr. Aimee Miller-Ott.
“The Career COM-petency team is doing an amazing job with their selection of speakers,” said Denice Masters, a participant in the program and administrative aide in the College of Arts and Sciences. “Each time I attend a workshop, I walk away with valuable information and ideas. I highly recommend this program for all COM majors. The take-a-ways are worth the time and effort.”
Whitney Dukeman, program participant and accountant in the Comptroller’s Business Office shares the same sentiment.
“The monthly workshops are a fantastic way for undergraduates to network and connect with the School of Communication on a more personal level. I have attended every workshop so far and have learned something new each time. I highly recommend the Career-COM-petency program to anyone looking to enhance and develop new skills. No matter what field you are pursuing, this program can help you level up and prepare for a successful and fulfilling career.”
The Career COM-petency program will return in the 2024-25 academic year. As word spreads and students discover the value of this opportunity, it won’t be long before the School of Communication is known for its commitment to professional development, matched only by the legacy COM Week left behind.
“We are blessed to have committed, skilled, and outstanding alumni who are more than happy to work with and help our students develop their professional skills,” added Miller-Ott. “I can’t wait to see where this program goes in the future as we continue to build it.”
For those wishing to support and contribute to this program in the future, please contact Julie Navickas, director of student success and recruitment in the School of Communication at janavic@IllinoisState.edu.
