Conference

The GCC Conference Committee plans and executes the GCC Annual Conference, one of the primary ways that GCC members connect with and learn from one another each year. The Conference Committee works with a contract management company to manage logistics for the conference and develops a program that reflects and celebrates the organization‘s membership, innovation, research, and programmatic developments in the field of graduate-level career and professional development.

Conference Committee Chair, Joseph Barber
Executive Committee Liaison: Lauren Easterling
GCC Contact:  info@gradcareerconsortium.org

Volunteer for the 2024 Annual Conference!

Philadelphia 25-28th June, 2024

Conference theme: Love the work you do; Innovate the work you love!

The Conference committee is comprised of various subcommittees. If you are excited about partnering with other GCC members to make the 2024 conference a success, and have energy and ideas around ways we can make this conference an essential element of our collective professional development, then please consider volunteering for one of the sub-committees. You can find general details about the goals of each sub-committee, and a sense of how much of a time commitment these are, in the descriptions below. We appreciate that everyone already has full plates with the work you do at your institutions, and so value any contributions you can make. Please feel free to reach out if you have questions – barberjo@upenn.edu.   


Complete this brief survey to support the 2024 conference: https://upenn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_80tf1SLts988QMS 


The Conference Committee is comprised of 6 subcommittees:

The Sponsorship Subcommittee is responsible for securing sponsorship from external vendors and organizations to support the conference. They build on existing partnerships and cultivate new ones, and they determine various sponsorship levels and opportunities. Primary goals will be to strengthen relationships with pre-existing sponsors, and to seek out potential new sponsors. GCC members with contacts and connections in the Greater Philadelphia area are very welcome.  


Professional development opportunity for you: Having experience asking people for money is a life-long skill that will always be valued in your current or future role. The work of this sub-committee also leverages strong relationship building skills and positive client interactions. 


Size: 4+ members  

Time Commitment: Sharing monthly updates. Outreach and calls to sponsors; cultivating relationships; brainstorming ways to value sponsors during the conference; gathering sponsor information/logos; sponsor engagement during the conference. 

This subcommittee is most active: Sept-Apr 

The Member-Generated Sessions Subcommittee is responsible for organizing the submission process for GCC members' proposals to deliver platform and/or poster presentations. They are also responsible for setting evaluation criteria, creating a rubric to score member submissions, reviewing member submissions, and discussing reviews with other committee members to recommend speakers for the member-generated sessions and the poster session(s). They communicate directly with GCC members who submitted proposals to notify them of their session/poster acceptance.  


Professional development opportunity for you: This subcommittee provides an opportunity to develop effective rubrics, and create streamlined review systems for submitted presentations. There is also a possible opportunity to collaborate with the GCC Professional Development Committee to support members interested in submitting a proposal for a presentation.  


Size: 6+ members  

Time Commitment: Sharing monthly updates. Finalizing text and rubric for the call for proposals; sorting and assigning presentations for review; reviewing proposals; making decisions based on reviews; and communicating decisions to GCC members.   

This subcommittee is most active: Oct-Nov and Feb-Apr  

Co-Chair 1: Tithi Basu Mallik  

The Keynote Subcommittee is responsible for recruiting the conference keynote speakers, typically two to three professionals who speak on topics related to the conference theme, and/or to the work we do in graduate and postdoctoral career and professional development. They also serve as the liaison between the speaker and the GCC – communicating with the speaker(s), working with GCC to arrange travel to/from and accommodations at the conference, serving as their on-site contact at the conference, finding an appropriate person to introduce them to the audience at the beginning of their keynote. GCC members from the Mid-Atlantic region with knowledge of faculty or staff who are dynamic speakers from their institutions are very welcome.  


Professional development opportunity for you: There will be opportunities to reach out and talk to important and interesting people, helping them think about their topic through the lens of our vision for the conference. Relationship building is a key skill used in this work.   


Size: 3-4 members  

Time Commitment: Sharing monthly updates. Gathering suggestions for possible keynote speakers; crafting outreach messages to identify pricing; making decisions on speakers that align with program and budget; coordinating logistics; serving as day-of host.  

This subcommittee is most active: Sept-Apr, and during the conference  

Co-Chair 1: Pallavi Eswara 

Current members: Marianne Lipa 

Social Activities Subcommittee  

The Social Activities Subcommittee is responsible for organizing the official social activities featured as part of the GCC Conference, typically those held in the evenings after the day's programs end, or Friday afternoon after the conference ends. These activities include, but are not limited to, dine-arounds at local restaurants, receptions, or small-group activities based on interest. As part of the conference program, they also curate a list and map of local attractions and activities for conference attendees to pursue on their own. GCC members with current knowledge of social, cultural, and educational attractions within the Greater Philadelphia area are very welcome.  


Professional development opportunities for you: Making those with extroverted and introverted tendencies feel engaged and energized at social events and programs is a skill worth developing, and a goal worth achieving. Event planning and marketing skills can also be developed though this work. 


Size: 4-6 members  

Time Commitment: Sharing monthly updates. Creating a list of options for pre/post-conference activities; creating suggestions for reception activities; curating a list of dine-around options; working with MRG to finalize logistics; coordinating with VisitPhilly/DiscoverPHL to share regional resources. 

This subcommittee is most active: Jan-Jun  

Co-Chair 1: Dianne Hull 

The Communications and Program Subcommittee is responsible for supporting the Conference Chair in all aspects of the conference communication plan, including conference-related outreach to GCC members about conference registration and deadlines, member-generated proposal submissions and deadlines, and conference schedules. This subcommittee also helps to finalize the conference program schedule, liaises with Whova to create the app-based conference program, and compiles conference materials that support the programs (e.g., abstracts, logos, surveys, etc.).  


Professional development opportunities for you: Effective communication is a key aspect of any professional role. In this role you can practice developing engaging, professional outreach to GCC members both before and during the conference through different media and channels.


Size: 3-5 members  

Time Commitment: Sharing monthly updates. Liaising with GCC communications committee to create timely messages related to conference (e.g., call for proposals; registration); drafting conference program; populating Whova app; engaging with GCC member before/during conference. 

This subcommittee is most active: Jan-Jun  

The Pre-Conference Subcommittee is responsible for all aspects of the planning for and delivery of the day-long Pre-Conference for new professionals, held the day before the main conference begins.  


Professional development opportunities for you: In this role you will be developing engaging and interactive presentations, handouts, and interactives for 30-50 GCC members. There will be opportunities to get creative and brainstorm approaches to provide up-to-date content about the field of graduate career advising. 

Size: 6+ members  

Time Commitment: Sharing monthly updates; participating in regular meetings; developing content; finding speakers and panelists for programs; preparing materials for in-person interactives; leading and facilitating programs the day before the conference.  

This subcommittee is most active: Jan-Jun  

Co-Chair 1: Beth Olson

Note about Subcommittee Time Commitments:

Heavy: Monthly meetings in the 6-12 months prior to the conference, increasing to bi-weekly meetings in the 3-6 months prior to the conference. Estimated hours, inclusive of meetings: 8 hours monthly for the first 6-10 months, increasing to at least 8 hours weekly in the weeks prior to the conference.

Moderate: Monthly meetings in the 6-9 months prior to the conference, increasing to bi-weekly meetings in the 0-6 months prior, depending on the peak time for subcommittee responsibilities. Estimated hours, inclusive of meetings: 16 hours monthly during peak time.

Light: Monthly meetings 3-9 months prior to the conference, with possibility of more frequent meetings in the three months prior to the conference. Estimated hours, inclusive of meetings: 8-16 or fewer hours monthly, depending on peak time.