What is it like being a woman in STEM? Listen in as Juanita Dawson (MS, Information Systems & Technology, ’05) shares her journey of going from the only woman in her math and sciences classes to becoming the director of cybersecurity and compliance at Raytheon Technologies.

What happens when you combine history with technology? Matthew MacArthur (MA, History, ’97) combined his enthusiasm for the past with digital media to get his dream job. As the director of digital experience at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian, listen in for tips on taking inspiration from other fields to expand your job opportunities. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode title.

How do you make the most out of your graduate experience? Listen in as Stewart Donaldson, distinguished university professor and executive director of Claremont Evaluation Center, gives tips on thriving in graduate school and gaining lifetime connections. Discover how Donaldson––along with professors Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Jeanne Nakamura––developed the first research-focused PhD and MA programs in positive psychology. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and...

Rather than focus on a single field, Eve Oishi took a transdisciplinary approach to designing her college path, letting all of her interests guide her. Share her course to becoming the chair of Cultural Studies at CGU. Gain tips on how to make the most of your college experience. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode title.

What do you want to do? Who do you want to be? What is your purpose? Zack Bodner (MA, Philosophy of Religion and Theology, ’98), CEO of the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, tells us his remarkable journey in attempting to answer those questions for himself. Listen in as he talks about making a difference and not ruling out any possibilities that led to him interning for American social and political activist, Tom Hadden, before becoming a writer and discovering the “meaning of life.”...

How does one go from barely passing high school to having a six-figure job in the mortgage industry to working at Fortune 500 companies like Google, Gallop, and Deloitte? Listen to this episode as Kevin Campbell (MA, Organizational Psychology, ’15) shares his story and gives tips on what he learned from each company. Stay until the end to hear how he eventually founded Lifted Leadership, which helps inspire others to find their own path. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at...

CGU Director of Preparing Future Faculty Shamini Dias (PhD, Education, ’13) gives tips on engaging and leading people using each individual’s unique skillset. Enjoy hearing her path to becoming, as she calls it, “a teaching artist.” Dias uses her theatre experience to blend pedagogy methods and innovate and engage students in new ways. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode title.

How do you go from wanting to be a large-animal veterinarian to eventually becoming the Dean of the School of Educational Studies at Claremont Graduate University? Find out as DeLacy Ganley shares her remarkable journey and her work in educational reform. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode title.

What’s it like to work for Apple, a pioneer of innovation? Saori Casey (MBA, ‘95), is Apple’s vice president of corporate financial planning and shares her stories from working at the tech giant and offers advice on the skillsets you need to get in at Apple. Gain tips from Casey’s 30 years of experience in the finance and tech fields! For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode title.

Not every professor’s path leads directly to teaching. Lori Anne Ferrell shares a remarkable saga of a single mom and nurse, turned distinguished humanities professor and ultimately the dean of CGU’s School of Arts & Humanities. Listen for an inspiring story of how your current situation does not have to dictate your future. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode title.

Do you know when to say ‘yes’ to opportunities? Do you know when to say ‘no’ and enjoy the moment? Angel B. Pérez (PhD, Education, ’15) is the CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. In this episode, Pérez offers tips on when to say ‘yes,’ when to say ‘no,’ and how to make your name known. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode title.

You need to hear this: Her biggest tip is how to make yourself irreplaceable. Alumna and current PhD student in history Kerri Dean-Bridges (MA, History, ’15) is the DIY project manager at the Smithsonian Institution—her dream job. They create remote exhibitions easily installed in any location. Listen and learn. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode title.

Aragna Ker (MFA, ‘04), adaptive design manager at United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties, describes how he found his purpose in creating and building adaptive tools for people who have disabilities. Get inspired in listening to the journey of how Ker is making a difference in the world. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode title.

As senior people science consultant at LinkedIn’s Glint Inc., Ia Ko (PhD, Organizational Behavior, ‘11) describes what it was like to have been a CGU international student and talks about her passion for helping people succeed in the workplace. Listen in as Ko offers insightful tips on how to translate academic theory into real practice. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode title.  

Vivian Nguyen (MA, Organization Behavior & Evaluation, ’14), manager of talent operations & analytics for events promoter LiveNation, describes the steps she took in pursuing her dream career. Switching her path from pharmacy to psychology, and fighting the parental expectations that often face young Asian Americans, Nguyen leaned into her authentic self in landing her dream job.

Gar-Wei Lee (MPH, Applied Epidemiology & Biostatistics, ’14), epidemiologist for the California Department of Public Health, describes her year-long process of interviews and rejections. When the outcome seemed dire, Lee took her setbacks as a way to learn, improve, and gain the skills she needed to land her CDPH job. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode title.

Iliana Perez (MA, Economics, ’15; PhD, Education Policy, Evaluation & Reform, ’18), is the director of research and entrepreneurship at Immigrants Rising, a nonprofit organization through which undocumented young people can get an education, pursue careers, and build a brighter future for themselves and their community. Perez, born in Hidalgo, Mexico, immigrated with her family at the age of eight. She navigated the educational system as an undocumented student for 18 years until she...

Maren Dollwet Waggoner (PhD, Organizational Behavior, ’13), senior director of human resources at Walmart, talks with “How’d You Get That Job” and examines what it was like growing up in Germany and Poland, immigrating to the U.S., and earning her PhD in just three-and-a-half years. Draw from her experience as she explains how she worked her way up the corporate ladder. Gain insightful tips on being a self-starter, thriving as a student—international or domestic, and seizing new...

Interested in learning how to get a job at a major tech company like Microsoft? Join us as we chat with Aleina Wachtel, program manager II at Microsoft. In this episode, Aleina shares how she excelled during her interview with a highly competitive company. Listen as she shares specific tips on how she negotiated her offer to get over $75,000 in additional benefits by simply asking a few easy questions. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode...

Have you ever dreamed of being a rockstar? Are you curious about what it takes to make it as a musician? Join us as we chat with Ian Fowles, guitarist of The Aquabats! about his unique and interesting career path and how he has managed to make a living doing what he loves since joining The Aquabats! in 2006. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode title.

Want to work at a museum? Learn the ins and outs of the museum world in our interview with Victoria Gerard, the Vice President of Collections and Special Exhibitions at the Bowers Museum. For a transcript of this episode, email cgupodcasts at gmail.com and include the episode title.

Join us as we pull back the curtain and get a behind-the-scenes look at the unique, transdisciplinary, and inspiring careers of our CGU alumni. Our first episode is an interview with John Erickson, director of public affairs at Planned Parenthood.