Graduate Student Section (GSS)

Want to Share in the Experience?

The AAEA-GSS executive committee is planning several exciting new activities! The GSS is working in collaboration with other AAEA sections to offer you an even wider variety of activities and sessions! Do you want to share in the experience? Please check out our new website for detailed information about GSS activities, job information, useful links, contact information, and much more. We look forward to hearing from you!

Exposing Yourself to the Job Market & Establishing Your Career

The Graduate Student Section (GSS) has planned several activities that you should not miss! The GSS activities in Long Beach, CA, (23-26 July, 2006) start with an exciting reception and business meeting. On Sunday, July 23 from 4.30-6.30 PM, the GSS will hold its annual reception and drinks, food, games and prizes for all graduate students. Networking, getting to know the GSS, learning about opportunities related to jobs and job preparation are only a few of the components of this event! Feel free to join the AAEA-GSS reception, enjoy the refreshments and interact with other grad-students and professionals. Our organized symposiums this year focus on the topic Exposing Yourself to Job Market and Establishing Your Career. Below information about the organized symposiums that will follow the reception and business meeting are presented.

Case Study Competition (this year with $$$ prizes)

The GSS Case Study Competition has become a tradition at the AAEA meetings. For the past three years, the AEM Section has supported the GSS and Case Study Competition by providing complimentary tickets for the three case study finalist teams to the Industry Banquet, where they are awarded plaques for their outstanding presentations. This year, the first team will receive $300, the second team will receive $200, and the third winning team will receive $100. The Case Study Competition is coordinated by two GSS faculty advisors, Aslihan Spaulding and Mike Sykuta, who also determine the case content and arrange judges for each round. Past judges during the final round have included an executive from the company and the author of the case. Please direct any questions regarding the 2006 AAEA Case Study Competition to Aslıhan Spaulding at adspaul@ilstu.edu, phone: (309) 438-8091 or Michael Sykuta at sykutam@missouri.edu, phone: (573) 882-1738 or click here for more information.

Young Professional Teaching Academy (New Session!)

Click here for a brochure promoting the academy!

The purpose of the Academy is to acquaint graduate students and young faculty member participants with a wide range of valuable teaching techniques and resources. The organized workshop will feature curriculum of two themes that are Instructional Basics, and Course Specifics. Speakers tentatively scheduled include by A. Barkley (Kansas State Univ.), E. Jones (Texas A&M Univ.), M. Esprey (Clemson Univ.) and R. Mittelhammer (Washington State Univ.) Each participant will receive materials containing resource articles on teaching, learning and communication in applied economics! Watch the GSS website fro updates regarding the Teaching Academy, such as registration forms and travel grants. The space in the workshop is limited - so be sure to sign up early and reserve your spot! Each participant will receive a certificate from the AAEA recognizing their successful completion of the Academy-another great bonus that could be added on your CV!

Interpretation, Information Gathering, Resume, CV & Letter Writing

The purpose of this organized symposium is to provide individuals with guidelines and advice on how to create a successful job application package. Speakers tentatively scheduled include W. Tyner and O. Doering (Purdue Univ.) and J. Noel (CA Polytechnic Institute) representing academic and private sector that give advice on the writing of cover letters, resumes or curriculum vitae (CV’s), and how to obtain additional information about position. Special focus will be placed on understanding and responding to job postings.

Interviewing and Becoming a Successful Professional

This track session provides graduate students with ideas on what they can learn to prepare themselves for the job market and professional careers. Speakers tentatively scheduled include P. Garcia, (Univ. of Illinois at U-C), S. Turner (Mississippi State Univ.) and D.J. Newton (USDA) who will offer advice grad-students on topics such as academic interviewing procedure starting and pursuing a successful career; and, for those in academia, gaining tenure.

Guidelines on Writing and Submitting Journal Articles

This organized symposium will provide graduate students or young faculty with guidelines on how to write and submit journal articles. Three speakers from academia are tentatively scheduled: W. Brorsen, (Oklahoma State Univ. & Editor AJAE), J. Kinsey, (Minnesota State Univ.); and J. Loomis (Colorado State Univ.) who are experienced with writing and submitting journal articles and have also taken part in the reviewing process will provide the audience with information and strategic guidelines from his/her perspective.