A Professional Development Program for St. John’s Graduate Students
Build the Skills That Set You Apart
Ready to stand out in today’s competitive job market?
The Professional Foundations Digital Badge Program is a free, self-paced, fully online professional development experience designed to help graduate students strengthen the skills employers value most. Through evidence-based assessments, reflection, coaching, and practical career-readiness activities, participants build employer-valued competencies such as: Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Professional Identity, Project Management, Team Management, Professional Presence, Relational Intelligence, Presentation Skills & AI Proficiency.
In just six hours over the course of the semester, you’ll earn a verified digital badge through Credly that recognizes your commitment to professional growth and showcases your skills to employers and your professional network. You may earn multiple Professional Foundations badges over time; however, enrolling in only one badge program per semester is permitted.
Enrollment for Fall 2026 opens on Wednesday, August 19.
“This course has given me practical tools I can use right away and a clearer sense of direction as I continue to grow professionally.”
-Spring 2026 Professional Foundations Participant
Professional Presence – build trust-based relationships where others seek my input, collaboration, and guidance. Help others succeed by creating space for their ideas, growth, and ownership, even when under pressure. Aligns actions and decisions with the values of an organization, positively shaping the culture and environment.
Emotional Intelligence (EI) – primarily about understanding and managing your own emotions and recognizing emotions in others. It includes self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills, and it helps you navigate situations with emotional insight. EI is often inward-focused—how emotions affect you and how you respond to them.
Communication – communicate ideas clearly and confidently, tailoring messages to connect with diverse audiences. Speak and write with purpose, ensuring communication aligns with goals and values. Listen actively and respond thoughtfully, creating space for dialogue and mutual understanding. Adapts communication style to influence, inform, or inspire, depending on the context and audience.
Project Management – define clear goals, timelines, and deliverables to ensure alignment and forward momentum throughout the project. Prioritize tasks effectively, balancing short-term demands with long-term objectives while managing limited resources. Anticipate potential obstacles and adjust plans proactively to stay on track and maintain progress. Track outcomes and communicate updates regularly to stakeholders, ensuring transparency and shared accountability.
Team Management (Applies to Supervisory Roles only) – build trust and accountability by setting clear expectations, following through on commitments, and encouraging open communication. Delegate tasks strategically, recognizing strengths and creating opportunities for growth. Foster a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and team members feel supported, heard, and motivated to contribute.
Professional Identity – demonstrate strengths and expertise by aligning contributions with goals. Build authentic relationships through respectful, consistent engagement. Communicate transparently and follow through to earn trust and credibility. Show cultural awareness and align brand with perception of brand by others.
Presentation Skills – deliver clear, confident messages reflecting expertise and audience awareness. Articulate key points with clarity, using visuals, tone, and body language to enhance engagement. Adapt communication style to connect with diverse stakeholders, reinforcing professionalism and credibility. Use presentations to influence, inform, and build trust.
Relational Intelligence (RI) – emphasizes the quality and dynamics of your relationships over time. It’s not just about recognizing or managing emotions, but also about intentionally building trust, influencing others, collaborating across differences, holding boundaries, and repairing relationships when conflicts arise. RI is outward- and relationship-focused—how you interact effectively with others in complex, high-stakes, or long-term relational contexts.
AI Proficiency – the ability to apply AI thoughtfully within one’s field of study or profession, recognizing how AI reshapes industry practices, research methods, and career pathways. It includes staying current with AI trends relevant to the discipline and adapting one’s skill set accordingly.
The Spring 2026 pilot cohort demonstrated measurable growth in just one semester.
- 80% of students improved in their selected professional competency
- 4.65 / 5 average for Overall Program Value
- 4.74 / 5 average rating on the Professional Growth Plan & Reflection experience
- 92.4% of students reported the time commitment was “just right”
- Nearly half of participants enrolled voluntarily, demonstrating strong student interest
The Result: meaningful professional growth, high student satisfaction, and a flexible learning experience that fit alongside graduate-level coursework.
Meet Your Instructor
You’ll receive direct guidance from Elisa Zervos, Director of Career & Professional Development for Graduate and Online Programs.
Elisa is an ICF PCC-certified Professional Development Coach who works with high-potential professionals across industries and globally. Based on coaching models implemented globally, the program is tailored to each student’s individual professional development goals, with Elisa providing personalized feedback that helps translate learning into real workplace impact.
Learn by doing. Learn from others. Learn through resources.
Elisa employs a hands-on 3-2-1 Coaching Model that fosters career growth through action-oriented learning, guidance from others, and the strategic use of professional resources.
Through self-assessments, guided activities, reflection, and a coach approach, you will:
- Build confidence in your professional communication and presence
- Strengthen leadership and workplace competencies
- Create a personalized Professional Growth Plan focused on real-world application
- Earn a verified digital badge that you can showcase to employers
- Gain clarity around your next steps—academically and professionally
Everything is designed to help you apply what you learn immediately in your job, internship, or future role.
“This course has given me practical tools I can use right away and a clearer sense of direction as I continue to grow professionally.”
“This program strengthened my professionalism by enhancing my communication, presentation abilities, and workplace confidence. It also expanded my network and provided valuable opportunities to connect with peers and industry professionals.”
“This was an amazing course! I learned a lot about myself, things I thought I knew, but in reality, it was just the surface! I wish this course were mandatory, as it would truly help a lot of students learn professional tools!!
“The growth plan assignment allowed me to create a practical plan for improving my project management skills through specific actions, such as learning from supervisors and industry leaders and leveraging online resources.”
“It allowed me to reflect on how well positioned I am in today’s job market and identify changes that would better prepare me for the professional world.”
“The Brand Tool assignment was the most beneficial, where we picked qualities that we think we have and let people who know us also give their perspective.”
“It focused on real-world career development rather than just classroom exercises. The structure encouraged accountability by having us track and report how we were improving over time.”
“I particularly appreciated the practical emphasis on communication, trust-building, and real-world application rather than purely theoretical learning.”
“This program was genuinely valuable. The questions were thoughtfully designed to push me to reflect not just on my professional goals but also on the type of person I am and how that shapes how I work and communicate. That kind of self-awareness is something that does not always get addressed in a graduate program, and having a structured space to think through it was really useful.“
“The program was simple yet sophisticated.”
Enrollment for Fall 2026 will open on Wednesday, August 19. Check back here for details on how to enroll, and keep an eye on your email inbox for reminders and instructions.