NPSMA Board

Elizabeth Friedman, director of professional master’s programs for the College of Science and Letters, presented in two sessions at the National Professional Science Master’s Association’s (NPSMA) 3rd National Conference, November 7-9 in Denver, Colorado. Friedman was a founding member of the NPSMA (2005-2007) and served six years on the board in various positions including president (2010).

Friedman’s first session, titled “International Educational Opportunities,” focused on the preparedness of international students for the rigors of graduate education in the United States. She and co-speakers from Buffalo State and Rutgers discussed challenges these students face as revealed in a recent national survey of PSM program directors. Friedman’s second session, “Best Practices in PSM Development,” included examples of best practices in program development, including samples of industry capstone projects, faculty incentives, and effective administrative leadership. Panelists included speakers from the University of Massachusetts system, the University of Toledo, and North Carolina State University.

The NPSMA serves the nation’s PSM stakeholders including representatives of academe, business, industry, government and other STEM focused organizations through its advocacy efforts, workshops, and national conferences. To learn more about professional master’s degree programs at IIT, visit the College of Science and Letters professional master’s website.