Qualifications
M.S. in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington (USA)
B.S. (with Distinction) in Kinesiology, Indiana University Bloomington (USA)
About Patrick
I have a diverse professional background having worked as a photographer, horse wrangler, tour guide, strength and conditioning coach, corporate program coordinator, and consultant among other professions. My work has taken me around the world, providing many unique opportunities that have led me to a career in learning and development. Collectively, these wide-ranging experiences allow me to apply the information and skills I have acquired towards facilitating transformative educational initiatives and promoting organizational excellence.
Research title
The Impacts of Voluntary Career Breaks on Career Identity
Research summary
The post-pandemic workforce is facing a multitude of challenges – both situational and existential. Simultaneously, there is a call to action for enhancing career development initiatives that will better support learning in less formal modalities and be more accessible to larger populations. I propose a solution often referenced anecdotally, but rarely academically: career breaks. Career development literature and modern societal norms perpetuate a linear progression paradigm, seldom acknowledging or appreciating the value of career breaks. These planned intermissions from professional activity are primarily associated with life-changing circumstances such as maternity leave or prolonged illness, thereby limiting their narrative to necessity rather than strategic choice. This study challenges that narrative, proposing that career breaks, instead of being perceived as undesirable interruptions, might be integral to 21st-century career development and personal growth.
Research interests
- Career development
- Student outcomes
- Enrolment and retention trends
- Co-curricular teaching methods
- Student academic support models
- Student services technologies
- Decision-making processes
- Lifelong learning and social learning
Scholarships
University of Otago International Excellence Scholarship
Honours
Excellence in Service to Students (Indiana University Bloomington), 2019
Activities and roles
International student representative for the Graduate Research Student Liaison Committee, 2023
Creator and host of podcast Scholarly Yarns where the individual journeys of PhD pursuers unravel
Featured panelist and moderator for CALT Kōrero Episode 5: Student perspectives on the shifting landscape of education
Programme Coordinator with the University of Otago Career Development Centre
Assistant Research Fellow with Student Learning Development