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I - ASE North America Research & Ideas Workshop (2018 -present)
When I joined my PhD program in 2018, I initiated informal, recurring meetings among ASE students and alumni in North America. The workshop was designed to be casual in format but serious in purpose: a consistent space to present research-in-progress and improve work through constructive, supportive discussion.
Over time, the workshop became a practical “ideas and polishing” platform where participants could:
test research questions early,
sharpen identification strategies and measurement choices,
improve academic writing and presentation clarity,
and build confidence through repeated practice and feedback.
Just as importantly, these meetings created community. Graduate school and early-career transitions can be isolating—especially across distance—so the workshop also served as a space for peer mentoring, collaboration, and community bonding.
Impact to date
Since its launch, the ASE North America Research & Ideas Workshop has generated 20+ research presentations, along with additional discussions that strengthened professional ties and long-term community cohesion. For documentation and long-term preservation, I created a digital archive (a YouTube channel) called ASE PhDs & Professionals Presentations. Because presenters decide whether their session is recorded, not every presentation was recorded.
To extend access beyond live sessions and preserve the learning generated by the group, the channel hosts selected recordings so participants (and others who could not attend) can revisit talks, learn from feedback conversations, and benefit from the community’s collective investment in research development. Of the 14 recorded sessions, most are kept private at the presenters’ request, and only three videos are currently public.
II - ASE Alumni Network (Academic Affairs Lead) — governance and institution-building (work in progress)
In parallel, I have contributed to building the ASE alumni network. This effort is a work in progress, and we continue working to strengthen participation and programming. In my experience, alumni communities are built gradually through consistent communication, clear roles, and meaningful opportunities for members to engage—not overnight.
My contribution has focused on laying an institutional foundation that supports continuity and credibility over time.
Institution-building through governance documents
I wrote early drafts of the alumni association’s Statuts (Bylaws) and Règlement Intérieur (Internal Regulations / Policies & Procedures). These governance documents matter because bylaws typically outline an organization’s internal structure and operating rules—balancing flexibility with clarity—so the community can function consistently as leadership evolves.
Academic Affairs leadership
I was elected to serve as Academic Affairs Lead (Responsable des Affaires Académiques), a role I continue to hold. In this capacity, my focus is to strengthen the academic dimension of alumni engagement by supporting initiatives such as:
academic mentoring for students and early-career alumni,
scholarly exchange and research visibility,
guidance on graduate applications and research careers,
and pathways for collaboration and peer support across cohorts.
Even where the alumni network has not yet reached the level of engagement we collectively aspire to, I consider this work important and worth sustaining: strong alumni communities are built through steady institution-building, transparent governance, and repeated opportunities for members to contribute.
Looking ahead
I see both initiatives as living platforms. Going forward, my goal is to continue expanding opportunities for ASE students and alumni to connect through regular research exchanges, structured mentorship, and practical professional development support.