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Dean Vakharia has an interdisciplinary background. An Engineering undergraduate, master’s in arts administration and Phd in Information Science. He has experience working in the corporate sector as well with non-profits.

When the opportunity to be Dean of the HC came up, he threw his hat in the ring.

On this podcast, Dean Vakharia shares his background, his vision for Pennoni Honors College, Honors Programs, Scholarships & Grants, Role of AI, Career Opportunities, and Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

• Dean Neville Vakharia’s Background
• Pennoni Honors College
• Impact of AI
• Career Opportunities

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Introducing Dean Vakharia, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel U []
• Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights []
• Background []
• Becoming the Dean []
• Vision for Honors College []
• Flagship Programs []
• Custom Design Major []
• Fostering UG Research []
• Fellowship Programs []
• Financial Aid []
• HC Applicants []
• AI Impact []
• Career Opportunities []
• Advice for High Schoolers []
• Closing Thoughts []

Our Guest: Dr. Neville Vakharia is the Dean of the Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Dean Vakharia is an Associate Professor in the Arts Administration program at the Antoinette Westphal College.

Memorable Quote: “...put the focus on you as a student, as a learner, and focus on your own growth, and that will get you where you want to go.” Dean Vakharia. 

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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After finishing High School, Dr. Cannon joined the Marine Corps as an Arabic Cryptologic Linguist. Dr. Cannon loved the process of learning a language. So, after the Marine Corps, Dr Cannon attended the University of Pittsburgh where he discovered archaeology which he combined with his love for languages. 

Dr. Cannon joins us on our podcast to talk about UG Research at Frederick Honors College, Research Infrastructure, Research Fellowships, Success stories, and Advice for High Schoolers.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Introducing Dr. Josh Cannon, University of Pittsburgh []

• Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights []

• Background []

• Why Languages? []

• Interest in Research []

• Research Infrastructure and Resources []

• Students’ Research Participation []

• Fellowships []

• Success Stories []

• Advice for High Schoolers []

Our Guest: Dr. Josh Cannon is the Director of Research at Frederick Honors College, University of Pittsburgh.

Memorable Quote: “So if you're going to spend time doing this research, you really should present, or you should try to publish, or you should try to use it as kind of a launching pad for a different research project that you do by yourself or you do with another faculty member. So we kind of work with them on how would that, what would that look like? And how do you find a professional conference that you might want to present at? Oh, you found it now. How do you write an abstract? And how do you submit it?”Dr. Cannon.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Making sense of the College News. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• College Visits and Why you should do them []

Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript.

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For Podcast Transcripts, visitalmamatters.io/podcasts.

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In the Fall semester of 2024, Dr. Cannon used the Getting Started with UG Research Workbook as a resource in a class he taught the Honors College freshmen

In this special episode, we talk to Dr Cannon and 3 students - John, Preeti and Jacob about their experience with the workbook!

On our podcast, Dr Cannon talks about using the workbook, the students describe their experiences and suggestions, and finally some advice for high schoolers.

To learn more about the Workbook, please email using the subject line ‘UGR Workbook’ [email protected].using the subject line ‘UGR Workbook’)

In particular, we discuss the following with them: 

• Dr. Cannon on Using the Workbook in a class
• Use of Podcast Stories
• Students’ Feedback on the Workbook
• Student Takeaways
• Advice for High Schoolers

Our Guests: 

• Dr. Josh Cannon, Director of Research, Frederick Honors College, University of Pittsburgh.
• 3 Current Freshmen - John Logue, Preeti Rao and Jacob Halka.

Memorable Quote: “My biggest takeaway was really just seeing that process kind of laid out [in the Workbook]. I think coming in, I feel like the biggest obstacle for me was really understanding where to go to look for research. It seems there's not like a set way to just go about doing it. ”John Logue, Freshman.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Recommended Episodes:College Experiences

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This episode is part of a series of conversations related to AI and Education.

In this Episode, Dean Harper shares a Historical Perspective on AI, An approach to Gen AI, AI related Courses, Digital Infrastructure, Policies, Faculty use, Impact on Admissions Applications, Ethics, and Future of AI in Higher Ed.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Professor Graeme Harper is the Dean of the Oakland University Honors College, Rochester, Michigan. Dean Harper received the Bachelor of Arts degrees in History, English, Economic History from the University of Sydney. He then earned his Master of Letters from the University of New England (AU), PhD in Creative Arts from University of Technology Sydney. Dean Harper also received a PhD in from the School of English and American Studies from the University of East Anglia (UK). 

Memorable Quote: “We can't assume that the students are going to be AI literate, and the faculty are not. That's a blanket assumption that we can't make. So it's actually about all of us. It's about staff as well.” Dean Harper.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript.

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I first spoke with Dean when he was a Sophomore at Whitewater.

Since then, his research experience has grown and  he has found his own research to pursue in the form of analyzing volcanic rocks from Iceland. This has not only equipped him with a number of skills, it has opened opportunities to pursue Grad School or  industry. 

Dean joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, Getting started with Research, Volcanic Rock Research, Summer Internships, Minoring in Music, Performing at Carnegie Hall, and Advice for High Schoolers.

Check Out: The College Application Workbooks for Juniors and Seniors

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Dean Wink is studying Geography with a Geology emphasis, and Minoring in Music and Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater.

Memorable Quote: “The first time I think seeing my research abstract get accepted to present at the Geological Society of America was big for me. Now this conference is kind of like the big deal for us in the geology world.” Dean Wink.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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In this series of episodes, College Counselors share their takeaways from College Alumni and Student stories featured in this Podcast.

In this episode, Paula shares her takeaways from the Podcast episode with Emily Woodland, Drexel University.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Paula Dennis is a College Counselor at Jenks High School in Oklahoma.

Memorable Quote: “...when Emily shared her own advice for students, it was even better, because a lot of times students would listen to someone that has just gone through the process, as Emily did last year.” Paula Dennis.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript.

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In High School Kalen took internationally focused courses. He loved Public Speaking and Debate and participated in a number of competitions and won the state championship in his senior year.

At 16, even though he couldn’t vote, he actively volunteered in political action organizations. 

Kalen joins us on our podcast to share his UG Experience at CU Boulder, Studio Lab, UG Research in Political Science, TEDxCU, and Advice for High Schoolers. 

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Kalen Sieja is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Memorable Quote: “And there's so many ways that you can customize your college experience to fit you, and you shouldn't be like, ashamed or scared or anything like that, to ask for help when you need it, and really make your college experience something that's going to benefit you long term, rather than just like, following the exact traditional path that's completely cookie cutter that other people follow. ” Kalen Sieja.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript.

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I last spoke to Thomas when he was a sophomore at Davidson and was pursuing an entrepreneurial venture called Portfolio Kings.

Thomas stayed entrepreneurial in the second half of his college years and co-founded MESA, a startup to provide independent musicians an administrative infrastructure and also ensure that all rights holders on music NFT get paid.

In this episode, Thomas shares his undergraduate & entrepreneurial journey at Davidson, co- founding MESA, Winning the Hub Pitch Competition, Building MESA, The Hub’s Role and What’s Next for MESA.

Check Out: The College Application Workbooks for Juniors and Seniors

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Thomas Athey graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE), and History at Davidson College. 

Memorable Quote: “...it's hard to figure out what you want, and it's also hard to not cave to sort of societal pressures of what you think you should do. And so I think you just got to stay strong in that process and trust yourself, and put the work in, right?” Thomas Athey.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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