Visioning Futures Beyond Summer Research
Congratulations to the over 200 students who registered for the Graduate School Mini Expo. The Graduate School Mini Expo was a huge success! We thank all who made it as speakers, attended as engaged listeners, and those who filled the days events with tabling and support. This event had 25% more registrants then previous years! Jam packed, we had to have a wait-list.
Here are some highlights. Graduate School Dean Darryl Butt’s keynote was inspiring - bringing an interactive activity to considering how the creativity to problem solve is immense when more perspective are brought together in the same room. He also invited us to reflect on what are universities and how diverse paths may lead one to graduate school.
After the keynote, students went into breakout sessions. Laura Cleave from U Career Success inspired students to consider the difference between graduate school and going into a career in industry. Then she offered insights into the breaking down of the differences between a resume and a CV, their purpose, and considering how to make oneself standout. Students received tips from Dr. Johanna Purdy (Medicine) on Interviewing Skills, as “a conversation” and an “opportunity to bring your experiences to life.” Dr. Jay Jordan (Humanities) offered insights from a writing and rhetoric master, the ins, and outs of a personal statement - from what they should include to strategies of flow. And Dr. Matthew Plooster (Graduate School) answered an important question: how to fund graduate school - from scholarships to financing your graduate school experience.
The day was filled with panels, where we are grateful our speakers on the “Graduate School Applications” panel: Dr. Bethany Buck (Science), Dr. Meghan Dovick (Professional Science & Technology) Kelsey Drewry (Medicine), Dr. Julie Gee (Nursing), and Dr. Taylor Sparks (Engineering). We also are appreciative of our student panelists who demystified graduate school with student voices: James Mineau (Mines & Earth Sciences), Anayansi Ramirez (Medicine), Beatriz Trejo (Education), Elena Yee (Health), and Dara Zwemer (Social & Behavioral Sciences). The day was filled with a ton of food for thought and we are grateful for all who collectively committed to supporting undergraduate researchers with imagining beyond summer research their careers and graduate school aspirations beyond.
Thank you to the moderators: Chief of Staff Mary Anne Berzins (Graduate School), Dr. Sarah Franklin (Medicine), Dr. Jordan Gerton (Science), and yours truly had the opportunity to offer opening remarks and moderate the graduate school application panel. Always an honor to hear from my colleagues.
If you missed a session or registered and were waitlisted, do not worry! Watch out for communications from the office later in the month - edited recordings will be made available!
This event was made possible because of the leadership of Program Manager Shelly Parker. And special outs to the following who supported the events: Sara Cody and Cade Faragher, and our student leaders Rian Liew and Ava Leonelli.
We hope to see you at the next Graduate School in summer 2027! Until then, check out what is in store for the rest of summer, and make sure, you find time to see the end-of-summer projects with summer researchers here at the U at the Undergraduate Research Symposium on July 30th in the Alumni House (8:30AM - 12PM) - open to the public!
Annie Isabel Fukushima, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies
