Events 

We continue to plan the 11th Annual PhD Project Management Doctoral Students Association conference. This year the conference will be held August 7-9, 2008 in Anaheim, CA. Our theme is “Our Second Decade: Building a Sustainable Network.”

As in past years, the conference will start with a welcome session followed by breakout sessions targeted for each cohort. As in previous years, many of the conference sessions are specifically geared to meet the needs of students as they reach specific milestones in their doctoral programs. Following the success of last year’s format, this year will include cohort four targeted for students entering the job market in the fall. .

Many of the popular sessions from last year’s agenda are back again this year. These include sessions targeting "Finding a Home as a Scholar," "Planning Your Work and Working Your Plan", and Preparing for Success: Here's the Scoop on Comps". We’ll also take the opportunity to recognize significant milestones as our members reach them with special emphasis on those who have recently passed comprehensive exams, defended dissertation proposals and of course, those who’ll join the ranks as newly minted faculty.

As a reminder, we will be accepting nominations for the Promising Young Scholar and Promising Young Educator Awards. The deadline for nominations for both awards is June 26, 2008, so you’ve got time to give it additional thought.

We also invite you to join African-American, Hispanic-American, and Native American Management faculty, as well as invited editors from various Management at The PhD Project Dinner on Saturday, August 9, at 7:30 PM. This dinner has proven to be a wonderful opportunity for doctoral students to begin networking, form mentoring relationships, and celebrate the accomplishments of our MDSA members and friends. While details are still shaping up, please see the draft conference agenda for a glimpse of what’s ahead.

All eligible students will receive a personalized email invitation by mid-May. Please read your registration information carefully. If you have not received your email invitation by April 30, please contact Anita English, acenglish@kpmg.com.

On behalf of the 2008 Steering Committee, I wish you much success in what remains of your spring semester, and I look forward to seeing you in Anaheim!

Respectfully and my best,

Ebetuel “Beto” Pallares-Venegas

University of Texas at El Paso

MDSA – President/KPMG Liaison