Highlights from UCLA Conference for PhD grads

My alma mater hosted a conference for PhD grads, hoping to prepare us for the after-life.  Dr. Peter S. Fiske wowed the crowd with his take on Effective Communication.  Here are the highlights:

• 90% of success is just showing up.  10% is sitting in the front row.  So do you show up as a Starfleet Officer or Beeker (yes, the muppet that always explodes at the end of the sketch)?

• Society has invested in PhD grads with hopes that we will move the forefront of knowledge. This means rigorous scholarship and the ability to be a persuasive and articulate communicator. In short, to be an inspirational leader.

• We err in thinking that most people make decisions based on logic and analysis. Decisions are based on instinct, emotions, subconscious, trust, likeability, authority.

• In order to establish trust when presenting to an audience, try the following:  1) Slow down, speak clearly (connotes confidence and assurance), use silence strategically, pace the delivery of information. 2) Pay attention to your Energy. 3) Use confident body posture and gestures. 4) Make comfortable eye contact (think confident and kind eyes). 5) Read the audience's feelings. 6) Pay attention to attire and be well-dressed.

• In order to be heard, you have to connect.  It is short-sighted to believe that science should speak for itself.  Our human impulse to trust and believe requires warmth, confidence, and engagement with skill, honesty and integrity (KILLER COMBINATION).

• Non-verbal communication skills are critical:  eye contact & facial expressions, voice, words and language, gestures & movement, body language and posture, energy, attire and accessories (such as business cards). Practice! Take an improv class.

• Firm handshake (hand holding stimulates comfort) and good eye contact (make a mental note of the color of their eyes).  

• We are dramatically influenced by non-verbal communication.

• Fake it and you'll make it.  "The play's the thing. Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king." Shakespeare

• Telling stories is powerful Jedi magic.  We are wired for stories.  Storytelling is effective because audience has a vicarious experience.  We put ourselves in the story.  Stories invite the listener to be in the narrative.  Stories disarm a listener's urge to get to the ending.  

• Prepare and deliver great stories about yourself. Use the formula, STAR, to write your stories. ST: situation or task, A: action, R: result.

• You don't get what you want in life by asking once.  Shy, passive, self-doubt, not very persistent, and lack initiative.  If you doubt yourself, then why shouldn't I agree with you?

• Doctoral studies march you to the precipice of human knowledge and ask you to make the next step.  You are experienced in dealing with uncertainty and limited resources with drive and creativity. 

• Peter interviewed successful PhDs in non-academic careers and asked, "Of the many skills you developed while in graduate school, which ones are the most valuable to you now?"
• Finding one's own path and taking initiative with little assistance
• Ability to work in a high-stress environment
• Independence
• Maturity
• Computer skills
• Circumventing the rules
• Learning to seek out problems and solutions
• Ability to persuade
• Ability to create
• Ability to work productively with difficult people
• (and his favorite): Ability and courage to start something even if you don't know yet

Framing

"Framing" refers to how messages are encoded with meaning so that they can be efficiently interpreted in relationship to existing beliefs or ideas. 

Dean Gilliam, UCLA

More to come after his workshop: Leadership Communications Workshop: Framing the Message.

My Dissertation Abstract

Guided by the theory of inhibition and confrontation, this dissertation examines the relationship between stressful life events, family communication and PTSD development among diverse (46.9% Latina/o, 18.4% Armenian, 18.4% White, and 16.3% other) west coast public school adolescents (n=98) referred for counseling in schools.

Secondary analysis of a cross-­sectional survey was conducted and revealed that all adolescents in this sample endorsed at least one stressful event in their lifetime with an average of 7 lifetime events, including illness, death, and indirect and direct violence exposure.

Exactly half of the sample reported PTSD symptoms in the clinical range with re-experiencing and arousal symptoms the most commonly endorsed.

Adolescents reported both open and problem family communication with higher open family communication scale scores than problem family communication.

Bivariate relationships showed that:

• open family communication was negatively associated to PTSD symptom severity, 
• the number of lifetime stressful events and problem family communication was positively associated to PTSD symptom severity
• integrated family storytelling style was negatively associated to avoidance symptoms. 

However, in the full regression model only the number of life events and problem family communication appeared to have an independent effect on PTSD symptom severity scores.

Testing for potential moderation effects of family communication found no interaction terms significant in this sample.

Implications and directions for future research are discussed, including the importance of reducing problem family communication in order for the protective effects of open family communication to flourish and the potential benefits of PTSD screening in schools.

Dissertation Dedication

This dissertation is dedicated to:  

• My mother, Maria Irene Acuña Cardona, from Chihuahua, Mexico, who taught me the value of frank communication.
• My daughter, Paolina Irene Acuña-González, for trusting my efforts to engage her in open communication and making breakfast so I could write.
• All my family and friends for their love and faith in me.
• All my mentors and students for their guidance and support.
• All urban adolescents and their families for their struggle and heart.
¡Ajúa, we did it, and thank you, Yesus!

PhD Status

I am official.  

Passed dissertation defense. Check.

Revisions completed and approved. Check.

Dissertation uploaded on ProQuest in proper UCLA formatting. Check.

Committee members signed off on my dissertation and revisions. Check.

Dissertation filed before interim deadline of January 5. Check.

Now I can say it without any reservations, I am Dr. Alejandra Acuña.  Hello, world.

Latinos! Latinos! Latinos!

"Currently in the United States, there are 47.8 million Latinos/as (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). 

Latino/as are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, and by the year 2050, it is estimated that approximately one out of every four people in the United States will be Latino/a (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010).

By sheer numbers alone, the Latino/a population should be a focus as both recipients and providers of psychological services. 

However, in addition to the numerical imperative, U.S. Latino/as disproportionately face issues such as poverty, mental and physical health challenges, high dropout rates from school, and persistent racism and discrimination."

Chavez-Korell, S., Delgado-Romero, E.A, & Illes, R. (2012). The National Latina/o

Psychological Association: Like a Phoenix Rising. The Counseling Psychologist

40(5), 675-684.

Getting it done.

I used to write weekly blog posts.  Now I don't even post monthly.  I am juggling so much.  My writing has focused on dissertation revisions.  Yesterday, I got the thumbs up from my advisor:

Alex, 

I reviewed your revised dissertation and I'm prepared to sign off on it.  Your revision represents a major revision in line with the suggestions of the committee.  It is now much improved, more cohesive and focused.  I recognize that this was a lot of work. Very nice job. Congratulations.

I have been waiting for this day my whole life.  It is here and I celebrate.  

Thank you, Yesus, and family & friends.

I love you mom.