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Building a Strong Foundation for the Future with Professional Development

Written by Dr. Teresa Thompson

The new Career Services and Professional Development (CSPD) Center has launched a professional development program to provide training as recommended by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. The professional development program is a multi-year pathway and offers students the opportunity to obtain the Professional Development Certification by completing workshops that address the following competencies:

  • Emotional Intelligence training and courses (75% of all Fortune 500 companies use EI to hire and train employees)
  • Critical thinking/problem solving workshops
  • Communication skills
  • Understanding legislative relations and how it works in your professional and personal life
  • Teamwork and collaboration workshops
  • Professionalism, work ethic and resiliency workshops
  • Leadership 2.0 leading with Emotional Intelligence
  • Group emotional intelligence
  • Financial literacy

The Professional Development Certification will provide a structured, formal pathway for our students to develop skills throughout their college career that usually take businesses several years to develop in new hires. The certification will provide graduates with an edge in the hiring process and provide businesses with an employee who can contribute to the company’s goals more quickly. The W wants its students to stand out and the University also wants to build relationships with companies that have a strong desire to attract talent, not just to fill a seat!

The goal is to help students effectively articulate their additional training experiences to potential employers in a manner that compliments the excellent instruction they receive in the classroom. The W aims to create experiences where students are immersed in professional development and career readiness so they are prepared to hit the ground running in their first position.

All these programs come at cost, however, and your support is needed to provide these opportunities for students to be “Heads Above the Rest!” The University is kicking off a fundraising campaign to invite 25 friends to become Founding Donors for the CSPD Center. If you want to continue seeing The W excel, then invest in what matters most, the future graduates! Invest in their career preparation with programming that meets and exceeds national industry standards!

Become a Founding Donor of the CSPD Center for a onetime gift of $25,000, or your donation can be pledged over five years. In recognition and appreciation of your investment in our students, a plaque with your name and picture will be placed outside of the CSPD Center as a permanent reminder of the generosity of W alumni and friends. An official unveiling of the Founding Donors will be held at Homecoming 2025 during the Leading The Way program.

The W is happy to announce the first two Founding Donors of the CSPD Center, Dr. Jayne Perkins-Brown ’76 and Dr. Teresa Thompson ’81. The two shared their views on this exciting investment for W students’ futures.

Dr. Jayne Perkins-Brown

“I was fortunate to attend The W on a valedictorian scholarship and as a result, I believe so strongly in giving back. Through my work with the University Foundation Board, I have seen how private gifts to The W make it possible for others to have similar opportunities for their higher education, and I want to support programming for our future graduates to help them be competitive in any career field they choose. The W has been a breeding ground of leadership opportunities and challenges for me growing up as a student, as a professional and even now as a retiree. Through those, I have made lifelong friends to join me or support me in various initiatives, and that is why I am thrilled to be a Founding Donor for the Career Services and Professional Development Center,” said Perkins-Brown.

Dr. Teresa Thompson

“I love The W and will be forever grateful for the many opportunities my education provided me. I have spent over 40 years in higher education, and I have seen what it takes to help students be prepared for careers. I believe the new Career Services and Professional Development Center at The W, under the very capable leadership of Elise Wilson, is offering in-depth programming and training to help our students be successful and to stand out ‘Heads Above the Rest’ in job searches. There is no better way to secure and advance The W’s future than investing in what matters most, our students. I am very proud to support this great operation!”

All gift amounts help support the CSPD Center. It is easy to donate online at give.muw.edu and designate your gift for the Career Services and Professional Development Fund. You may also send a check to:
MUW Foundation-Career Services and Professional Development Fund 1100 College Street, MUW-1618 Columbus, MS 39701-5800