2008 Women’s Career Development Conference
Saturday, March 29 • UMUC Inn and Conference Center, Adelphi, MD
SPEAKER BIOS
Keynote Speaker
Clarissa Peterson '87
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Clarissa Peterson is chief people officer (U.S.) of DLA Piper US LLP—the world’s largest law firm, with more than 9,000 employees all over the world.
An executive with more than 15 years of experience in human resources, Ms. Peterson has a proven ability to provide human resource leadership and consultation to senior executives and board members. She has served as vice president, Human
Resources, for Superior Beverages (an Anheuser-Busch distributor),
Vialog Corporation (a telecommunications company),
and Abt Associates (a public policy and social sciences
research company).
Ms. Peterson earned her Bachelor of Science degree and took
graduate courses toward the Master of General Administration
program at UMUC. She also holds the highest level of certification
from the Human Resource Certification Institute—joint Senior/Global Professional in Human Resources.
Alumni Panel Member
Wendy Adams '98
Wendy Adams is the Founder and Managing Partner of The Career Coach, a performance management and career services company serving professionals within all workforce environments. Her business celebrates its 11th year in the provision of training, career services, organizational development and talent management services to government, non-profits and Fortune 100 companies. Wendy has personally created and delivered over 400 programs targeting success strategies for both individuals and organizations. She has hosted the Secretary of Labor during a visit to Baltimore and was recognized at a presidential conference for her contribution to the national restructuring of workforce development and transition in the early 90’s. As one of the country’s first career coaches, she has directly and indirectly guided the success of over 7,000 individuals through career transitions.
She is also the creator of the CoachCompass system and co-author of The CoachCompass: Navigation Tools for Career and Life Success. As an author, columnist, educator, radio commentator, facilitator and keynote speaker, she is committed to optimizing the success strategies of others at all levels of personal and professional performance.
Alumni Panel Member
Peggy Magee '93
Peggy Magee serves as the clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland, and is responsible for maintaining the public records for Prince George’s County.
Ms. Magee served in the U.S. Air Force from 1976 to 1996 as
a communications crypto maintenance specialist—one of the
first women to enter this career field.
In 1993, while still on active duty, she received her Bachelor of Science degree with a specialization in government and politics from UMUC. In 1997, she received her Juris Doctor degree from the Catholic University of America. She also earned Public Manager’s Certification (CPM) from George Washington University in 2005.
Ms. Magee is a former steward and trustee of Jerusalem African Methodist Episcopal Church and is an active member of a number of civic and professional organizations.
Alumni Panel Member
Sudha Rajput '06
Sudha Rajput has worked at the World Bank for more than 30 years. Currently she serves with the bank’s Independent Evaluation Unit, measuring the results of the bank’s operational work against the United Nations millennium benchmarks.
Ms. Rajput has completed a Master of Science in management, with a specialization in nonprofit management, and is pursuing a Master of Business Administration, both at UMUC. A member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society, she has been nominated for the UMUC Presidential Fellow Program and intends to continue study to earn a doctorate.
Ms. Rajput serves on two nonprofit boards, edits a community newsletter, and volunteers at the local high school and the American Red Cross Call Center in Virginia.
Alumni Panel Member
Debra Young '88
Debra Young is the assistant division chief for Facilities and Special Projects Management for the U.S. Census Bureau in the Department of Commerce. She has been awarded the Vice Presidential Hammer Award for her work in reinventing and streamlining the procurement process of the Department of Commerce.
Ms. Young earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wayland Baptist University, a Master of Science in information resources management from Syracuse University, and a Master of General Administration in management information systems from UMUC, as well as a graduate certificate in Information Technology Project Management from George Washington University.
A past president of the UMUC Alumni Association, Ms. Young has been an active alumna since 1992. She is also a member of the Industry Advisory Council Partners Program.
Luncheon Speaker
Nat Alston '77
Nat Alston has more than 30 years of experience in human resources. Currently, he is the president and founder of the Horizons Group, LLC, a human capital consulting firm specializing in human resources strategic planning, talent acquisition, management development training, and IT staffing. Previously, Mr. Alston held executive positions with the State Employees Credit Union and Marriott Corporation.
With 12 other senior human resources executives, Mr. Alston founded the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources in 1998. In 2001, he served as the association’s national president and is now a member of its executive board.
Mr. Alston also serves as chair of the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Offender Employment Coordination and member of the Alumni Association executive board for UMUC, his alma mater.
Sharon R. Pinder is the president and Chief Executive Officer of The Pinder Group. She is also a Professor of Practice with the School of Undergraduate Studies at her alma mater, University of Maryland University College (UMUC).
Ms. Pinder is best known for her work as the architect of Maryland’s minority and small business reform movement. She excelled in her role as Special Secretary of the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs (OMA) and has worked at Fortune 500 corporations like General Electric (GE), Traveler's Insurance. She has also provided strategic leadership as the former president of a Baltimore-based software engineering firm and as principal of MYCOM Mid-Atlantic, a dot-com start-up. Her innovation has led to the creation of a weekly radio show, a magazine, a reality television show, as well as the creation of the Maryland’s Top100 MBE Awards Ceremony.
Ms. Pinder received her Master of Science in technology management from University of Maryland University College. She continues to serve her community through her work on the board of directors of Humanim, Inc., Maryland Works,Inc., Maryland Women’s Heritage Center, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and UMUC.
Network with colleagues and pick up the tips and tricks that will help you to succeed in your career!
- Cost: $30
- About the Event
- Speaker Bios
- Agenda
- Directions
Cosponsored by Alumni Relations, Career Services, and the School of Undergraduate Studies
