You know the feeling: school’s out for the summer and you can’t wait to sleep in, hang out with your friends, and completely forget about school until September. But while it’s tempting not to crack open a book or review any of your lessons from the past school year, taking such a long break can lead to forgetting much of what you have learned. As a result, you may go into the next school year with lower knowledge levels than when you left. Here are some ways to prevent brain drain and stay sharp over summer break.
 
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Jordyn Cates’ journey toward a career in clinical psychology has been a process of unraveling her family’s past to reconnect with her Indigenous roots. A member of the Okanagan Indian Band, she’s come to realize that her decision to study nearby at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus (UBCO) was partly driven by this desire to reconnect.

“Fun.” That’s the word Dr. Caleb Hickman uses to describe his job. As a supervisory biologist for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, he oversees nearly 37 projects in the Qualla Boundary, a 57,000-acre forested region of western North Carolina that is within the tribe’s ancient home. 

Tenacious, dedicated, determined — those characteristics begin to describe Dr. George Blue Spruce. He is the first Native American dentist, an AISES elder, and for eight decades a relentless advocate for dental education and services for and by Indigenous people. Now 92, Dr. Blue Spruce has no intention of retiring. He currently serves as the assistant dean for American Indian Affairs for A.T. Still University–Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. 

Working on water resource and environmental issues, often in support of Native communities, is at the heart of what drives Dr. Lani Tsinnajinnie, Diné. Now an assistant professor in the Department of Community and Regional Planning at the University of New Mexico (UNM), she grew up in the remote community of Na’Neelzhiin, N.M., where she saw firsthand the need for clean drinking water for rural residents. “Although the house I grew up in had running water, nearly half the households in Na’Neelzhiin did not,” she says.

AISES National Conference graduate research award winner, PhD candidate, and aspiring professor, Stephanann Costello is quickly becoming a global expert in a fatal disease. “I’m part of an interdisciplinary team studying a rare neurodegenerative disease called Familial dysautonomia. This disease is inherited, so these patients start exhibiting symptoms when they are infants. There is no known cure, and most therapies only target symptoms,” Costello explains.

Travel of any kind can bring both excitement and anxiety. But professional and leisure travel are different, and it’s important to follow business travel etiquette when representing your organization. Keep these tips in mind when preparing for your next business trip. 

Choosing the right college can be a daunting task. Size, location, and available resources are all factors that need to be considered by prospective students and their families. Taking time to tour a college campus is the best way to get a sense of what it’s like to be a student there. Here are some tips to make the most of your college visits. 

Among the changes brought about by COVID-19 is the virtual interview, and it looks like it’s here to stay. As more jobs become remote, companies can cast a wider net to attract talent. Thanks to technologies like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, employers and candidates can easily connect and meet virtually — proving both time effective and fiscally responsible for both parties. While it may be convenient, a virtual interview does come with challenges. Here are some tips to help you make a good impression on your next virtual interview. 
 

Thanks in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic, the past few years have brought new challenges for both employers and employees. Companies and individuals were forced to quickly adapt to remote and hybrid work schedules. Because they no longer needed to be in an office, many people chose to move away from major cities in favor of calmer, more affordable locales. Finally, inflation and rising interest rates have impacted people’s sense of financial security, which has prompted unexpected employment decisions. All of these factors play a role in current hiring trends.