As University of Alabama at Birmingham senior Caleb Wayne Jones gets closer to graduation, he checks off a long list of things he must master before leaving school.
Several science and mathematics disciplines are near the top, says the 22-year-old aspiring doctor from Huntsville. Jones knows that resume writing and career readiness skills are crucial to his long-term goals, too, but he can check those off, he says.
“I believe I have mastered the skill of resume writing,” says Jones, a chemistry and biology double major. After working in UAB Career Services as an undergraduate, he knows how to create outstanding resumes and ace interviews. Jones wanted to share that information with fellow students, so he recently helped launch a chapter of Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society.
Founded in 1994, DEI is a career-centered student organization that is a vehicle for students to mentor each other in career and professional development. It provides scholarships, career-planning tools and opportunities for leadership, service and learning.
“This adds to the long list of outstanding organizations UAB already has,” Jones says.
| Founded in 1994, DEI is a career-centered student organization that is a vehicle for students to mentor each other in career and professional development. It provides scholarships, career-planning tools and opportunities for leadership, service and learning. |
Student members, who are usually top scholars, collaborate with their campus career services center, sharpen their career readiness skills and then serve as campus ambassadors. The students host resume critiquing sessions, career-planning workshops and other events.
“Students don’t realize the impact career services can have,” says Jones. “It’s instrumental not only in finding a job, but also in landing internships and co-op opportunities.”
Suzanne Scott-Trammell, executive director of Career and Professional Development Services at UAB, agrees.
“DEI is a win for all of us across UAB as we aim for greater student success,” she says. “Since students listen to other students more than they listen to us, they have the opportunity to develop and hone leadership abilities that also increase internal career readiness.”
When Jones put out a call for DEI members, a whopping 314 students responded. “I was impressed with the magnitude of interest,” he says.
At the recent new-member induction reception, Jones received the highest honor bestowed among new chapters, the National Leadership Award. The award has since been renamed the “Caleb Jones Chapter Leadership Award” and will be presented to outstanding chapter members.
Trammell, who is a chapter advisor, received an honorary membership, as did Tondra Fields, assistant director of career services.