Take 5: Career Coaching
In our monthly Take 5 column, International Educator poses a thought-provoking prompt to five members of the NAFSA community. These international educators, who represent a diverse range of voices and perspectives, respond with their insights, recommendations, and personal reflections on the myriad themes and questions that are facing the field. To celebrate the NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference & Expo, this month's edition of Take 5 features five members of the NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference Committee.
What's the best piece of career advice you've received?
Susan Lochner Atkinson, University of Wisconsin-Madison: Celebrate the wins—big and small. Create a kudos file in your email inbox where you save positive messages [you've] received so you can go back to them to remind you why you do what you do. Write up your wins for the week to acknowledge the big and small things you've done. Take time to thank colleagues in your office, on campus, and around the world for what they do to support students.
Aleks Morawski, Scholaro Inc.: In credential evaluation, trust your expertise. There is no one textbook, database, or resource that will tell you the right answer. We, the practitioners, decide the answers. Do your research, and don't be afraid to make judgment calls. When you learn more information, adjust [your actions] accordingly, and don't make the same mistakes again.
Travis Pentz, University of California-San Francisco: The best career advice I've received is simply to say yes. There are so many opportunities to get involved in the field: volunteering
