The College of Education’s donor-funded Professional Development Program is helping graduate students like Abbie Sanders take important steps toward their future careers.
Now in its second year, the Professional Development Program has supported forty‑two students with more than $36,000 in travel grants so they can share their work at national conferences, build professional networks, and strengthen their pathways into the workforce. These opportunities help students represent the College of Education on a national stage at a time when presenting research is often expected, yet funding for travel is not guaranteed.
One of these students is Abbie Sanders, a doctoral candidate in Prevention Science (PhD class of 2026).
This year, Abbie traveled to the annual meeting of the American Psychology Law Society to present her paper titled Social Networks and Parents' Early Reentry Outcomes. Her work explores how social connections influence parents’ experiences as they return to their communities after incarceration, a topic that carries significant policy and equity implications.
Sanders shared that receiving professional development funds made a meaningful difference in her ability to participate, stating, “This opportunity was invaluable as I complete my time at the University of Oregon, and those funds significantly alleviated the financial burden of attending the conference.”
Abbie's advisor, Jean Kjellstrand, PhD, notes that resources for conference travel and professional development are extremely limited, even though students are expected to present their work at national meetings as part of their academic progression. “Graduate students are asked to share their research at national conferences as part of their training, yet they often do not receive the financial support needed to attend. Funding for professional development ensures our students can participate fully in the field, expand their networks, and meet the expectations of their programs without taking on additional financial stress.”
As Abbie’s experience shows, donor investment in professional development is opening doors for students to build confidence, contribute to their fields, and transition more successfully into their careers.
The College of Education donor-funded Professional Development Program is financial assistance for in-person conferences, virtual conferences, and supplemental coursework are available for COE master's and doctoral students. Funding is competitive and limited. Approval by program directors or faculty is required.
A number of competitive scholarship, award, and funding opportunities are provided in an effort to offer students support in pursuing their degrees and professional futures by removing as many barriers to those goals as possible. If you have questions about funding opportunities at the COE, please contact Andrea Olson at coescholarships@uoregon.edu.