Went Back to GW

I work about two blocks from the campus of George Washington University, which was convenient when I went to graduate school there. But that was more than ten years ago, and I have rarely stepped foot on that campus since, except to go to some campus eateries.

For the first time since graduation, I returned tonight for a more academic purpose. Specifically, I was invited to guest-lecture at a graduate seminar – Advanced Problems and Strategies – for the Graduate School of Political Management. The topic was labor/management relations, something I’ve become quite familiar with in my 12 years at The Funds, as I’ve been both a union officer and a manager. I also had a couple self-depricating jokes about my salary negotiation and the tension I feel in contract years from being friendly with the “wrong” side.

Dr. Lara Brown, the course professor and the GSPM program director, also invited Bret Caldwell to speak. Bret is the communications director for the Teamsters, and had some interesting stories to tell about the UPS and other Teamster activities. Between the two of us we easily went off topic and do so almost immediately. Dr. Brown had to rein us back in at times to allow us to touch on the NHL case study that the students read for the night’s class.

I had a great time and would love to do it again some time, even if I had to be a bit more structured about it. I told Dr. Brown, who is always looking to bring in alumni for various things. We’ll see.