Happy Graduate Student Appreciation Week!
This week, we celebrate our 1,417 graduate students whose creative and scholarly contributions make CLA—and our world—a better place. Your work is important and we are so excited about how you are making a difference in the world. We’re proud of you.
Graduate-Professional Student Appreciation Week 2024
In celebration of our graduate students, we’re offering you a week of career-focused programming. We hope you can join us!
Round-table Discussion, “The New PhD in Practice”: Monday, April 1, 2024 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM | 412 Pillsbury Hall
-
We will lead off the week with a round-table discussion, “The New PhD in Practice” facilitated by the author of “The New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education," Leonard Cassuto.
Career Consultations with Mackenzie Sullivan: Tuesday, April 2, 2024 | 2:00 - 3:34 PM
- Have a quick question? Or want to start a career conversation? Sign up for a short consultation with Mackenzie Sullivan, Director of CLA Graduate Career Services.
Career Consultations with Maria Hofmann: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
- Request a 20-minute time slot with Maria Hofmann, Associate Director of Graduate Career and DEI Initiatives, to learn more about the academic job market, how to get started on your materials, or even just to learn what CLA Grad Career services are available to you.
Careers Beyond Academia: Resumes and Cover Letters: Thursday, April 4, 2024 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM
- During this Q&A session, Mackenzie Sullivan and Carolyn Vue (Senior Career Coach, CEHD), will answer questions related to jobs beyond academia, focusing on resumes and cover letters. This session is offered in partnership with The Graduate School, and all U of M Graduate Students are invited to attend. Prior to attending the workshop, participants should review Session 4 from this Canvas site, and submit questions using this form by March 31st, 2024. These pre-submitted questions will be prioritized during the Q&A session.
Internships
Find the Right Internship for You!
We'll help you find one, and we'll fund you if you need it! Take the opportunity to gain experience in a profession beyond the tenure track, reflect upon what is important to you in a career, explore how your academic training might translate into various career options, and build additional skills that will translate across sectors and jobs. Visit the Graduate Student Internship Program to learn more!
"My team was super amazing and taught me so much as an intern, as a coworker, and as a person. They are incredibly talented people with a passion for this work, and it was exciting to work with them in all aspects."
Lisette Horne
Lisette Horne interned at the UMN’s own Office of Equity and Diversity to learn how psychological research can be applied to create a safer, welcoming workplace.
Read “Applying Psychology Research to Encourage DEI Practices”
Kate Carosella applied data analytics to public health work and found a possible career path thanks to her internship at MassHealth.
Ezgi Ozcelik worked with the St. Anthony Park Community Council for her internship to collect data on a neighborhood’s use of a public park.
Linh Nguyen spent 12 weeks at Allianz during her internship and experienced the daily work of a data scientist in a corporate setting.
Biftu Adema interned at the Minnesota Justice Research Center to transfer the skills she’s learned to change the world.
Invest in Graduate Interns
Internships help our students develop the skills they need to grow and become the faces of the future. Make a gift today and show your support for the next generation!
Fellowships
Our graduate students are constantly working on game-changing projects. Check them out!
"As I take this experience with me into the future, I believe I will be able to have a positive impact on young students across the Midwest in addition to other researchers at the U."
Madelaine Walker
Madelaine Walker traveled to Western Kenya to work on a project called the Contexts of Early Miocene Hominoid Evolution.
Read “Madelaine Walker: An Investigation into Human Evolution”
Mao Lee traveled to Thailand to study gender inequality and enhance her preliminary fieldwork project.
Read “Using Ethnography to Investigate Gender Inequality in Thailand”
Nou-Chee Chang’s project explores gender and sexual identities through fan art and fandom culture.
Read “Graduate Student Nou-Chee Chang Explores How Anime Fan Art Helps Express Identity”
Issac Esposto addresses the systems that perpetuate border violence and murder of Brown, Black, and Indigenous communities during their stay in the Sonoran Desert.
Read “‘Not all is Lost’: The Violence of Colonial Architecture at the US-Mexico Border”
Selena Bernier hopes to change North American archaeology by including Indigenous perspectives after decades of their exclusion.
Read “Forging an Indigenous Narrative: Unearthing Minnesota's Copper Legacy”
Laura Pott investigates the ancestral remains of a Peruvian town called La Quebrada to understand the DNA in the African diaspora and connect the townspeople to their heritage.
Demiliza Saramosing tells the story of young adults in Kalihi, and how their lives are impacted by a myriad of historical and contemporary social, economic, and political circumstances.
Read “Youth Culture, Colonial Legacies, and Abolition & Decolonial Justice in Kalihi, Hawai’i”
Jayne Kinney studies the history of Mandan and Hidatsa women as leaders of both the past and present.
Read "The Hearts of Their Nation": Learning from Indigenous Women Leaders
Get the Career Support You Need
We have an office to support our graduate students with your careers! In addition to your department, we can provide whatever help you need, with both academic jobs and careers outside of academia. Just visit the Graduate Student Career Services and make an appointment!
In the Community
Our graduate students know how to take the skills they've learned and give back to the local community!
Amanda Dalola and Chimène Dupuis examine how TikTok and Instagram reels can be used to support language learning.
Read “TikTok brings diverse, authentic voices to language classrooms”
Lynn Casey has become an irreplaceable guide within the Xcel Energy board with her skills and intuition in branding and public reputation.
Quintard Taylor (PhD, history ‘77) is the founder of BlackPast.org. With over 10,000 pages of content, it’s the largest online encyclopedia on African American and global African history.
Read "Talking Minnesota's Black Past with Alum Quinard Taylor"
The Institute of Linguistics works to create a safe community for current and incoming Indigenous students as the program continues to grow.
Read “‘Bridge the Gap’: Linguistic Indigenous Language Revitalization and Resources”
"Our role is to figure out how to be as good a partner as we can be in the work that needs to be done."
Claire Halpert, Associate Professor and Director of the Institute of Linguistics
Adventures and Achievements of Our Alumni
Elissa Raffa (MFA ‘97, creative writing) found friends and more as an adult learner in the CLA’s MFA program in Creative and Professional Writing.
Vina Goghari’s (PhD ‘09, psychology) time in CLA inspired her to lead students towards the career they seek.
Larry Golden (BA ‘69, political science; PhD ‘74) fostered and developed his interest in law and justice thanks to his professors at CLA.
“Gospel music is about love and peace and joy and getting along with one another and that crosses all religious backgrounds, all cultural backgrounds,” says Gospel Choir Director Adrian Davis.
Patricia Marroquin Norby (PhD ‘13, American studies) becomes the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s first curator of Native American Art
Read “Patricia Marroquin Norby: an Eye for Native American Art”
"Treasure and enjoy your time in CLA. Life moves pretty quickly afterwards. Go for that cup of coffee, invite a classmate to lunch, attend your colleague's presentation. The connections you make now may be some of the most meaningful of your life and career."
Patricia Marroquin Norby
Upcoming Events
Here are some more events happening campus-wide!
Rhythm Cycle Class: Monday, April 1, 2024 | 12:00 to 1:00 PM
- We invite you to fun Rhythm Cycle Class at Recwell! Sweat it all out and relieve all your stress! This event has limited spots, so sign up soon!
Professional Headshots at St. Paul Campus: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 | 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- The headshots will take place in Borlaug 548! Slots are limited, so sign up now!
Happy Hour at Stub & Herbs: Thursday, April 4, 2024 | 6:00 to 10:00 PM
- We invite you to Happy Hour at Stub & Herbs, celebrating Graduate Student Appreciation Week!
"Disrupting Hierarchy in Education: Students and Teachers Collaborating for Social Change": Tuesday, April 9, 2024 | 9:30 to 10:30 AM
- Join co-editors and co-authors Hakim Mohandas Amani Williams, Hana Huskić, Christina Noto, and Daniel Jones as they discuss their new book! Join in via Zoom!
Taco Thursday! Lunch (with a side of networking): Thursday, April 11, 2024 | 11 AM to 1 PM at Coffman Memorial Union, Great Hall
- In recognition of the contributions that you make to the University of Minnesota, you’re invited to attend a special lunch & networking event! Celebrate with tacos and time to socialize with fellow grad and professional students at Taco Thursday, featuring catering by Trickster Tacos!
Graduate Student Commencement
This year's Master's and Doctoral Degree Student Commencement will take place on Friday, April 26, 2024! CLA and CSE master’s, doctoral, and postbaccalaureate certificate students are invited to attend.
College Resources for Graduate Students
Visit CLA’s website for graduate students to learn about collegiate funding opportunities, student support, career services, and more.
This story was edited by an undergraduate student.
Edited by Jennifer Nguyen
