Professional Development Seminar
What is it? This effort is designed to provide a foundation of support, information, and guidance to our colleagues at all stages of their careers, from graduate school to university administration. Women are asked to do more on every level in academic life, yet face continuous obstacles to career development and equal compensation, and these barriers are intensified for our colleagues of color. Each of our panels addresses key facets of academic and scholarly life. It is our hope that the end result is a long lasting network that encourages advancement of women in political science.
When does it meet? Once a month during the academic year at 2pm ET. (Schedule below!)
How can I attend? The seminar will be held virtually via zoom. To attend, you'll need to "register" (for free) to get the link to the zoom. We'll have a zoom registration set up for each seminar. Video viewing will be available upon request for 30 days after the seminar (with approval of panelists). Please make your video request in the registration form below or email womeninlegislativestudies (at) gmail.com.
Seminar Coordinators: Amber Mackey (University of Virginia) and Young-Im Lee (California State University, Sacramento).
When does it meet? Once a month during the academic year at 2pm ET. (Schedule below!)
How can I attend? The seminar will be held virtually via zoom. To attend, you'll need to "register" (for free) to get the link to the zoom. We'll have a zoom registration set up for each seminar. Video viewing will be available upon request for 30 days after the seminar (with approval of panelists). Please make your video request in the registration form below or email womeninlegislativestudies (at) gmail.com.
Seminar Coordinators: Amber Mackey (University of Virginia) and Young-Im Lee (California State University, Sacramento).
Academic Year 2025-2026:
"New Book: Elect Women for a Change by Mona Lena Krook": April 10, 2pm ET/11am PT
WiLS Professional Development Seminar in April 2026 features Mona Lena Krook who recently published Elect Women For a Change (Polity, 2026). Women have made significant inroads into political life over the last 30 years. Yet many nations still lag behind. Tired of tokenism, a new global movement is on the rise, demanding the full and equal sharing of political power between women and men. Elect Women for a Change makes a clear and compelling case for why gender parity in politics matters and how it can be achieved. Drawing on research from around the world, it moves beyond counting women to focus on power and diversity, identifying the structural barriers that hold women back and the practical strategies that can move us closer to parity.
Presenter:
"Caregiving in the Academy" Friday, March 20, 2026, 2pm ET/11am PT
According to the AARP, about 48 million Americans (mostly women) provide unpaid caregiving. It may be to an aging parent, who may or may not be in the same country, children, a child or adult child with a disability, a spouse or other family member. Some of those caregivers might have their own disability or other medical or emotional needs. The panelists will offer experiential reflections on the following questions:
Please register here.
“Teaching Political Science in Turbulent Times”: January 16, 2pm ET/11am PT
We will have a discussion-based session to share strategies and experiences for navigating political polarization and difficult conversations in the classroom. There are no designated speakers. Participants are encouraged to watch the following APSA webinars beforehand, though all are welcome even without watching in advance. Please bring any teaching-related questions, advice, and tips to share with the other participants.
How can professional coaching support your growth and well-being as an academic? Join Dr. Brielle Harbin (Founder & CEO, Your Cooperative Colleague) and Dr. Analía Gómez Vidal (Founder, AGV Services LLC), as they share insights on how academic coaching can help you thrive in academia, navigate career transitions, achieve balance, and build a more sustainable career path.
Speakers:
Please join us to learn practical strategies for launching, growing, and leading high-impact academic centers, labs, and institutes.
Presenters:
Presenters:
Feeling overwhelmed by projects, deadlines, or endless files? Join us to learn strategies to manage your time, projects, and documents so you can spend more energy getting things done—not searching for them.
Presenters:
Join us for a conversation about how to win funding for your work, from large NSF awards to small APSA grants. We will discuss how to tailor your applications for grants and fellowships in the U.S. and abroad.
Presenters:
Presenters:
"New Book: Elect Women for a Change by Mona Lena Krook": April 10, 2pm ET/11am PT
WiLS Professional Development Seminar in April 2026 features Mona Lena Krook who recently published Elect Women For a Change (Polity, 2026). Women have made significant inroads into political life over the last 30 years. Yet many nations still lag behind. Tired of tokenism, a new global movement is on the rise, demanding the full and equal sharing of political power between women and men. Elect Women for a Change makes a clear and compelling case for why gender parity in politics matters and how it can be achieved. Drawing on research from around the world, it moves beyond counting women to focus on power and diversity, identifying the structural barriers that hold women back and the practical strategies that can move us closer to parity.
Presenter:
- Mona Lena Krook, Rutgers University
"Caregiving in the Academy" Friday, March 20, 2026, 2pm ET/11am PT
According to the AARP, about 48 million Americans (mostly women) provide unpaid caregiving. It may be to an aging parent, who may or may not be in the same country, children, a child or adult child with a disability, a spouse or other family member. Some of those caregivers might have their own disability or other medical or emotional needs. The panelists will offer experiential reflections on the following questions:
- How can we navigate existing systems that may not support our work as caregivers while also maintaining rigorous teaching, research and service?
- How do our gender, racial, class, sexuality or other social identities impact our experiences as caregivers – to both perform and receive care?
- How can we successfully be caregivers when we might be providing long distance care to aging family members while also caring for young children without the benefit of a local family support network?
Please register here.
“Teaching Political Science in Turbulent Times”: January 16, 2pm ET/11am PT
We will have a discussion-based session to share strategies and experiences for navigating political polarization and difficult conversations in the classroom. There are no designated speakers. Participants are encouraged to watch the following APSA webinars beforehand, though all are welcome even without watching in advance. Please bring any teaching-related questions, advice, and tips to share with the other participants.
- Facilitating Respectful Conversations in the Political Science Classroom
(https://educate.apsanet.org/engaging-the-2024-u-s-election-webinar-series) - Strategies for Teaching American Politics in Turbulent Times
(https://educate.apsanet.org/strategies-to-teach-american-politics-in-turbulent-times)
- Young-Im Lee (California State University, Sacramento)
- Amber Mackey (University of Virginia)
How can professional coaching support your growth and well-being as an academic? Join Dr. Brielle Harbin (Founder & CEO, Your Cooperative Colleague) and Dr. Analía Gómez Vidal (Founder, AGV Services LLC), as they share insights on how academic coaching can help you thrive in academia, navigate career transitions, achieve balance, and build a more sustainable career path.
Speakers:
- Analia Gomez Vidal, AGV Services LLC: https://www.agvservicesllc.com/
- Brielle Harbin, Your Cooperative Colleague LLC: https://yourcooperativecolleague.com
Please join us to learn practical strategies for launching, growing, and leading high-impact academic centers, labs, and institutes.
Presenters:
- Anna Mahoney (Executive Director of the Rockefeller Center for Public Policy; Dartmouth College)
- Laura Dean (Director of the Human Trafficking Research Lab; Millikin University)
- Stella Rouse (Director of the Hispanic Research Center; Arizona State University)
Presenters:
- Kirsten Taylor (Dean, Evans School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; Berry College)
- Elizabeth Oldmixon (Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Curriculum; James Madison University)
Feeling overwhelmed by projects, deadlines, or endless files? Join us to learn strategies to manage your time, projects, and documents so you can spend more energy getting things done—not searching for them.
Presenters:
- Shiri Noy (Denison University)
- Jennifer Piscopo (Royal Holloway University of London)
Join us for a conversation about how to win funding for your work, from large NSF awards to small APSA grants. We will discuss how to tailor your applications for grants and fellowships in the U.S. and abroad.
Presenters:
- Alice Kang (University of Nebraska - Lincoln)
- Kenicia Wright (Arizona State University)
- Young-Im Lee (California State University, Sacramento)
Presenters:
- Cecilia Josefsson (Uppsala University)
- Christina Xydias (Bucknell University)
- LaGina Gause (University of California - San Diego)
