Written by Michelle Mast, Prospect Research Analyst, Clemson University 

Hi, Apra Carolinas members! My name is Michelle Mast, and I am a Prospect Research Analyst at Clemson University. I have been with Clemson University for two wonderful years so far and have been fortunate to attend the Apra PD 2023 Conference in Indianapolis and this year’s Apra PD Conference in Baltimore.

I am deeply grateful to Apra Carolinas for awarding me the Apra Carolinas Professional Development Grant. Thanks to this generous support, I was able to attend the Apra PD 2025 Conference in Baltimore, MD. With the current funding challenges facing higher education, many universities have struggled to provide opportunities for employees to participate in professional development at this scale. Being awarded this grant gave me the chance to attend in person, and I feel truly blessed for the opportunity. The conference sessions covered a wide variety of topics, each offering valuable insights that I have already begun sharing with my coworkers.

The conference opened with an inspiring keynote by Leah Marone titled “The Recovery Blueprint” which covered a topic that strongly resonated with me. She explained how people-pleasing behaviors often lead to stress, anxiety, and burnout, and shared practical self-regulation techniques to break that cycle. I have already started implementing some of her strategies and found them to be incredibly helpful. Beyond the keynote, every speaker offered something meaningful, and I was able to take away knowledge from each session I attended. In between sessions, I connected with dozens of researchers and began building professional relationships that I hope will continue to grow.

Attending the Apra PD 2025 Conference solidified my belief in the value of professional development opportunities. I left Baltimore renewed, motivated, and eager to sharpen my skills even more. Thank you again to Apra Carolinas and to the entire awarding committee for selecting me as this year’s recipient—I am sincerely appreciative of your support. I want to encourage everyone to apply for the Apra Carolinas Professional Development Grant each year and attend the Apra PD Conferences in person. It is so important to be able to learn from colleagues in the field and make connections with others who work in your field.