AmeriCorps Alumni Connections with Dr. Jena Pugh | City Year & VISTA

AmeriCorps Connections

1.2 Million AmeriCorps Alumni STRONG! We are a voice for national and community service. We have all served in one way or another - let's engage, learn and connect with each other! Let's Serve Life After AmeriCorps!

Listen to this podcast here - AmeriCorps Connections

Today we talk with Dr. Jena Pugh
Connect with Dr. Jena on LinkedIn (say hi and mention you’re an AmeriCorps alum!)
Dr. Jena Website (sign up for her newsletter if you’re thinking about graduate school)
Dr. Jena on Medium
Dr. Jena on Pinterest

Dr. Jena, a first-generation college student, shares her experience with City Year in Columbus, Ohio which started her career trajectory into education. She then served with Ohio Campus Compact as an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) at the start of a three-year program aimed at improving college access efforts for adults and increasing college and financial literacy for elementary and middle school students. The program was a collaboration of three VISTAs serving at a local technical college, a public university, and a private college. She went to graduate school and started a career in higher education after her two years of service.

After working at The Ohio State University for 12 years where she read thousands of applications, Dr. Jena now helps working professionals on their journey to graduate school.

AmeriCorps alumni considering graduate school or preparing their applications can follow and connect with Dr. Jena for advice on the process.

Big ideas and takeaways from our conversation:

• Dr. Jena is Ohio born-and-raised, she now calls Columbus home
• After College - at Denison University, she served with City Year Columbus OH (because just wanted to help people) -
  • Her big takeaway from City Year was: "You never know what someone is going through"
• She applied to graduate school and DIDN’T GET IN the first time! (because she had no idea how to put together a good application)
• That led her to serve with Ohio Campus Compact at technical college
• Dr. Jena's master's and doctorate (EdD) degrees are in Higher Education & Student Affairs from The Ohio State University
• She underscores the importance of data collection in education and service-based work, "If you want to ask for something you need to have data to back it up".

What do you foresee for us Alumni? What can we do!?
1. National Day of Service where AmeriCorps Alumni Volunteer in their local community

Alumni Connections

• AmeriCorps Alums LinkedIn Group -
• Join the official AmeriCorps Alumni Network with Service Year -
• AmeriCorps Opportunities
• Schools of National Service - Find an institute that will match/ honor or offer other incentives toward your Segal Education Award -
• Employers of National Service - Find employers who prioritize AmeriCorps Alumni service in their hiring -

Shout out!

Hosting and podcast consultation provided by Producer Dan Metivier of Time or Money Production. Thank you Dan! (p.s., he's an NCCC AmeriCorps Alumni)

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