IMPACT OF SERVING AS A GEOFORCE TEXAS TRIP COORDINATOR ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

GeoFORCE Texas is an outreach program operated by the Jackson School of Geosciences. The program is designed to increase the number and diversity of students pursuing STEM degree programs and pursuing STEM-related careers.Students are recruited as 8^th graders in rural southwest Texas and inner-city Houston on the basis of merit. They are taken on week-long geologic field experiences for four summers during high school. The standard GeoFORCE academy staff consists of: Trip Coordinator (1), Trail Driver (1), Instructor (1), Educational Coach (1), Corporate Representative (2), Counselors (6), and Students (42).

Here identified are skills gained by serving as Trip Coordinator, and which are of relevance to potential graduate students in geology. Serving as trip coordinator has provided traditional skills like field preparedness and safety, but also nonconventional skills like curriculum development, and science communication. These opportunities for professional development were gained through attending workshops, scouting field locations, and by ultimately leading field academies. Serving as trip coordinator provided an outlet to grow constructively, but also underscored the importance of working interdisciplinarily. As trip coordinator you consider both logistical constraints and educational goals of the program. This is accomplished by working with peers outside your scope of expertise, and learning to work with and manage sizable teams of people. These skills are not unique to the geosciences, and can be appreciated in other positions and other disciplines. This perspective is aimed at helping potential graduate students identify skills they might not usually consider as practical, and empower them to apply for graduate studies.