The Young Professional Network (YPN) is designed for ACerS members who have completed their terminal degree or are 25 years of age and up to 40 years of age.
Expand your circle through ACerS Young Professionals Network (YPN)
The American Ceramic Society’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) aims to:
- Attract and retain young professionals as members of The American Ceramic Society
- Connect young professionals with opportunities to actively contribute and take on leadership roles in the Society
- Create a technical and social network amongst young professionals within the Society
- Provide opportunities for professional development training of relevance to young professionals
- Facilitate networking between YPN members and senior leaders in the ceramics and glass communities
Join the growing YPN community
If you have completed your university career and/or are between the ages of 25-40, you are encouraged to join the ACerS Young Professionals Network (YPN).
You may join this growing community by logging in to your ACerS Personal Snapshot and marking "Young Professionals Network (YPN)" under the Interest Groups and Communities tab.
The YPN Steering Committee is calling for nominations for the 2022-2024 YPN co-chair position. If you are an ACerS member who is looking to start or continue your involvement within the Society and have clear ideas about how to further the YPN's goals, please consider submitting a nomination form by Monday, August 8, 2022.
The current members of the YPN Steering Committee and their initiatives are listed at the bottom of this page.
YPN co-chair term and time commitments
The two YPN co-chairs serve as the primary points of contact for inquiries, provide overall coordination of activities in close contact with ACerS staff, and are responsible for reporting on YPN activities to the Board on at least an annual basis.
One co-chair will be appointed to a two-year term each year by the YPN steering committee. The term begins at the ACerS Annual Meeting each year.
The time commitment is 5-10 hours per month, with monthly meetings of the YPN throughout the year. Additional work may be required depending on activities/goals of the YPN that are specific to the co-chairs.
Additional YPN co-chair commitments
One YPN co-chair sits on the Education and Professional Development Council (EPDC).
Meeting frequency: Once a quarter
One YPN co-chair sits on the Strategic Planning and Emerging Opportunities (SPEO) standing committee.
Meeting frequency: Total of three (3) times per year (once at the ACerS Annual Meeting)
The outgoing YPN co-chair acts as the chair of the Du-Co Ceramics Young Professional Award Committee.
Meeting frequency: As often as is required to make an awardee selection
YPN co-chair nominees and form
Nominee(s) must be a current ACerS member. Ideally nominee(s) will be a member of the YPN who have completed their university/student career and are 40 years of age or under.
To apply, submit a completed YPN co-chair nomination form to Yolanda Natividad by Wednesday, August 31, 2022.
Oversee the newly created YPN+1 Program.
Organize the monthly YPN Connect virtual networking events.
organize and moderate ACerS webinars on professional and personal development topics.
Create and maintain YPN events offered at ACerS conferences.
Communicate current opportunities, events, and provide updates regarding the YPN's community.
Interested in becoming involved in the YPN Steering Committee? Join us within one of the following YPN subcommittees: YPN+1, YPN Connect, YPN Webinars, YPN Programming, YPN Communications.
Volunteer(s) must be a current ACerS member. Ideally volunteer(s) will be a member of the YPN who have completed their university/student career and are 40 years of age or under.
To inquire and/or express interest, reach out to Yolanda Natividad with the name(s) of the subcommittees you are interested in joining.
YPN Connect
YPN+1 Program - NEW
Stay connected
Join us for the upcoming ACerS YPN Connect event scheduled for Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 2pm EDT / 6pm UTC.
This virtual event is open to both ACerS YPN members and non-members, so be sure to invite your colleagues and friends!
Register below - we look forward to seeing you there!
The YPN+1 Program offers the following ways that YPN members may seek to become involved in leadership roles.
- YPN Division Liaison
- YPN Symposium Co-organizers
ACerS Member Community
Join us in the Young Professionals Network group within the ACerS Member Community.
LinkedIn
Join us in the ACerS Young Professionals Network (YPN) group.
Young Professional Awards
Advance your Career
- Post your resume and search the Ceramic Career and Glass Center
- Increase your knowledge with Ceramic Materials Course offerings
- Participate in free webinars without ever having to leave the office or lab.
- Write for JACerS, ACT, IJAGS, or ACerS’ Bulletin
- Present a paper or poster at ACerS meetings
Volunteer with the YPN
- Participate in the Lunch with a Professional program
- Serve as a Student Contest Judge
- Sign up for one or both of the ACerS Mentor Programs
- Apply to be a part of the NEW YPN+1 Program
- Be a Super Member or Moderator within the new ACerS Member Community
- Join the YPN as a Steering Committee member
Invaluable Connections
“The connections that I’ve made through The American Ceramic Society have been invaluable. I highly encourage anyone to get involved with the Society.”
Geoff Brennecka, Colorado School of Mines
2021-2022 Young Professionals Network (YPN) Steering Committee
2020-2022 YPN Co-Chair
Yuxuan Gong, JELD WEN, Inc.
2021-2023 YPN Co-Chair
Ashley Hampton, Allied Mineral Products
YPN STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Mark Losego, Georgia Tech
Charmayne Lonergan, Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory
James LeBeau, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
David Poerschke, University of Minnesota
Shiv Prakash Singh, International Advanced Research Center for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI)
Vipul Kumar Sharma, Manipal University Jaipur
Kathryn Goetschius, Corning, Inc.
Usman Liaqat, National University of Sciences and Technology
Emmanuel Rowe, Middle Tennessee State University
Ângelo Cristante, Reno Refractories, Inc.
Chuancheng Duan, Kansas State University
The YPN Steering Committee is composed of members who are actively engaged in identifying and executing specific activities and tasks to further the goals of the YPN within any given year, as determined by the YPN co-chairs.
The YPN’s initiatives for 2022 include:
- YPN + 1 Initiative – launched as of January 2022!
- YPN Connect (informal networking virtual events) – created to connect YPN members across the globe for networking opportunities outside of conference events.
- YPN is actively helping to define and support the roll out of ACerS Strategic Initiatives.
- Reorganization of YPN Steering Committee in order to focus on the following topics: YPN Connect, YPN+1, YPN Communications, YPN Programming, YPN Webinars
Ongoing YPN initiatives include:
- Lunch/Network with a Professional – offered in conjunction with a variety of ACerS conferences throughout the year.
- Webinars – offered under the ACerS Professional Skills and Personal Development Webinar Series, the YPN organizes several webinar offerings throughout the year.
- Collaboration - The YPN Steering Committee strives to work with groups such as the PCSA, to co-organize programs and events, as well as to more clearly define a path from student to young professional.
- Du-Co Ceramics Young Professional Award
Become an Individual or Associate Member
If you are a recent graduate, ACerS can help you succeed by offering you a FREE Associate Membership.
By becoming an ACerS Individual or Associate Member, you’ll have access to valuable resources that will benefit you now and throughout your career.