2013 SACNAS CONFERENCE
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
STUDENT SERVICES
CAREER COACHING
GRADUATE STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
GRADNEWS
A HIGHER DEGREE OF EXCELLENCE | GRADUATE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
M AY 2 0 1 3 | N O. 2
FROM THE DEAN
CONTENTS U P DAT E : G R A D UAT E S T U D E N T I N F O R M AT I O N SYS T E M 2 0 1 3 S AC N A S N AT I O N A L C O N F E R E N C E CA R E E R C OAC H I N G A N D V E RS AT I L E P H D A S S O C I AT E D E A N : T E R RY K A H N S T U D E N T A N D D E PA R T M E N T A DVO CAT E
U P DAT E S : G S I S , CA R E E R S E RV I C E S , A N D AWA R D S
Achievements and Awards
V E RS AT I L E P H D E X PA N D S T O S T E M 2 0 1 3 G R A D UAT E S C H O O L P R O F E S S I O N A L AWA R D S 2 0 1 3 G R A D UAT E S C H O O L S T U D E N T AWA R D S
www.utexas.edu/ogs/ Comments? Email John Dalton, Assistant Dean for External Relations at jdalton@austin.utexas.edu ©2013 The University of Texas at Austin Graduate School. The information herein is subject to change.
The conclusion of the spring semester is a time for celebration and for expressing gratitude. For those students completing their graduate degrees, we celebrate your accomplishments and wish you well as you enter the workforce or continue on with your advanced studies. I encourage you to thank all of the people in your life who have sacrificed time and effort to help you along the way. I express my own gratitude to all of the members of the graduate community who have helped us experience a highly productive year. We’ve accomplished a lot over the past two semesters and could not have done it without the support of Graduate Coordinators, Graduate Advisers, members of the Graduate Assembly, and the Graduate Student Assembly, to name only a few.
Cover: Sutton Hall’s double-vaulted arcade with colorful ceiling mosaics. Photo by Wyatt McSpadden, UMCS Images Sutton Hall was designed by Cass Gilbert, who also designed Battle Hall, the architecture library on campus. Originally, Sutton Hall housed the College of Engineering, of which the department of architecture was originally part. Today it houses architecture studios, labs, and offices, including graduate admissions for the school.
In particular, I would like to acknowledge the work that has been done to advance the Graduate Student Information System (GSIS), as well as Career Services for graduate students. The GSIS project has involved every graduate program on the campus, and is already being used to help us under-
stand and improve graduate education at UT Austin. You’ll find a more complete update on these areas in the following pages. In this newsletter we highlight some of our outstanding faculty, staff and student award winners, so please join me in extending a well-deserved congratulations to each of them. Also in this newsletter, you can read about our involvement with the SACNAS Conference in October 2013. The University has signed on as a major sponsor for the conference and is making plans to host undergraduate students, from around the country, interested in graduate studies in the STEM disciplines. Congratulations to all of our graduates, and many thanks to everyone who contributed to their success!
Judith H. Langlois Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies, ad interim
U P DAT E
GSIS: Graduate Student Information System Since November 2012, when we included a brief introduction to the Graduate Student Information System (GSIS), the Graduate School can report the following updates: •
Fifty percent of all graduate programs have provided the Graduate School with information related to how they distinguish thair master’s and doctoral populations–identifying whether each student admitted was doctoral or master’s at the time of admission.
•
All programs are continuing efforts to collect placement information
•
The 7-year reports for all of the Spring review groups are available in GSIS.
•
The data for the rest of the programs is currently being updated based on the feedback listed above.
The purpose of this project is to track and compile, in one place a variety of data about graduate students, that ranges from recruitment to admissions along with financial support, degrees awarded, graduation rates, and job placement. The resulting portal application enables aggregate reporting as well as individual review of students and programs at the department, college, and institutional level. In combination with the faculty and undergraduate portal systems, the graduate portal serves to allow administrators, at all levels of the institution to more readily report on key performance indicators, such as graduation rates and time to degree. The resulting software system will better position the University to respond to the demands of the evolving higher education landscape, and will offer increased transparency and accountability.
R E C R U I T I N G T H E B E S T S T U D E N T S , T H R O U G H S C I E N C E , D I V E RS I T Y & T EC H N O L O GY
2013 SACNAS National Conference
T
he Society for Advancement of Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in Science National Conference will be hosted in San Antonio, Texas, during October 3-6, 2013. The University of Texas at Austin is proud to be a conference sponsor as a university-wide recruitment effort.
As a major sponsor of this year’s SACNAS conference UT Austin will host 100 undergraduate students on our campus who are interested in pursuing careers in the STEM disciplines. The Graduate School has partnered with the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, along with the College of Pharmacy, the Jackson School of Geosciences, the Cockrell School of Engi-
neering and the College of Natural Sciences to host interest sessions for the students and introduce them to our world-class faculty and facilities. For more information, or to get involved with the SACNAS conference, contact John Dalton at jdalton@austin.utexas.edu.
S E RV I N G G R A D UAT E S T U D E N T S I N A L L D I S C I P L I N E S
Career Coaching and Versatile PhD
A
ccording to a recent report from the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), “Master’s degree holders, even more so than doctoral recipients, work in a variety
of settings. About one-third of individuals with master’s degrees work in business and private corporations and slightly less than one-fourth work in teaching or faculty positions. photo: University Marketing and Creative Services
Those with master’s degrees also work in other sectors, such as nonprofit, community/public service, government, and research organizations.” Today more than even, career options are changing. Doctoral students might enter their graduate programs intending to secure tenure-track faculty positions, but a growing number is interested in careers outside the academy. Historically, career services at universities have focused on undergraduates, but the recent economic downturn has highlighted the need to offer more career counseling and assistance to our graduate students. The Graduate School is working with career services
Coach Appointments CA L L O R V I S I T | ( 5 1 2) 47 1-7 9 0 0 | FAC 1 8 O N L I N E | L I N KS . U T E X A S . E D U/C R Q C O T M
offices accross the campus to meet those student’s needs. V E RS AT I L E P H D | The Graduate School has subscribed to a new
CA R E E R C OAC H | In partnership with the Liberal Arts Career
web-based resource to help demystify and uncover non-academic professions and career-paths that draw on the advanced skills developed in graduate school.
Services office, the Graduate School now offers to graduate students in all disciplines:
Versatile PhD can be used anytime, from any computer, is FREE and confidential, and offers:
I N D I V I D UA L C OAC H I N G
Identify your strengths and design a strategic career path I N T E RV I E W P R E PA R AT I O N
A thriving, supportive community and network with PhDs outside the academy
Learn to effectively present your story to an employer
Examples of successful resumes and cover letters
Convert your vita to a resume
Detail-rich Panel Discussions
S O C I A L M E D I A A N D N E T WO R K I N G D E V E L O P M E N T
www.utexas.edu/ogs/research/career/
RESUME CRITIQUES
Distinguish your online presence from the competition and boost your network
G R A D UAT E S T U D E N T S E RV I C E S : T E R RY K A H N , A S S O C I AT E D E A N
Student and Department Advocate Terry Kahn came to The University of Texas at Austin in 1970 as an assistant professor of architecture in Community & Regional Planning. Since that time Dr. Kahn has served in various administrative roles in the College of Architecture including associate dean and graduate adviser. He also served as chair of the Graduate Assembly, and for the past 11 years has held the position of associate dean for Graduate Studies.
Terry Kahn, Graduate School Associate Dean; Professor in Urban Design | photo: UT Architecture
Most students arrive at Dean Kahn’s office only after their home department has exhausted all of their options and are left with little more than a giant question mark. All grievances and petitions outside the areas of grading disputes and institutional equity will funnel through Kahn’s office. Due process is paramount when dealing with such sensitive issues, and the student’s best interest is always at the forefront.
Each of the nearly 4,000 graduate degrees conferred in a given year, pass under his office’s purview. On average, Dean Kahn and his staff handle more than 100 routine grade changes and registration hiccups per week. In an effort to streamline these processes and increase efficiency, Dean Kahn is advocating for a fully electronic grade change system. Other project ideas include a restructuring of embargo policy in order to strike a better balance between protecting student work and publicizing university-funded research as quickly as possible. Dean Kahn is also an advocate for regular training sessions with graduate coordinators as a means to keep everyone up-to-date with current policy. When Dean Kahn describes his position as associate dean, he smiles and likens it to “somewhere between den mother and ER.” And when nearly 12,000 graduate students rely on him, the analogy isn’t unjustified. C. Villalobos
Versatile Ph.D. Extends to STEM T H E G R A D UAT E S C H O O L E X T E N D S S U B S C R I P T I O N T O S E RV E G R A D UAT E S T U D E N T S I N S T E M A R E A S
The Graduate School has extended the Versatile PhD subscription for one more year. A major recent highlight of this service is that now it offers support and networking to members from graduate programs in STEM areas. One of the main reasons Versatile PhD has expanded its service to STEM areas is related to academic jobs for STEM PhDs being less available. According to the 2012 NSF Science and Engineering Indicators report, interest in non-academic careers for STEM PhDs is rising.
STEM students have difficulty transitioning into non-academic–even industry careers. Industry uses different job titles. making it hard for STEM students and postdocs to identify appropriate positions. Also to consider, STEM students and postdocs have difficulty writing non-academic resumes. STEM students have been present in the Versatile PhD community from the beginning and their presence is growing.
Versatile PhD, offers a supportive network where graduate students can participate and learn about other career and job options outside the academy.
H O N O R I N G A L U M N U S , FAC U LT Y, A N D S TA F F AC C O M P L I S H M E N T S
2013 Graduate School Professional Awards Mary Wakefield: School of Nursing O U T S TA N D I N G A L U M N U S AWA R D
Alumna Mary Wakefield, has been named the Graduate School’s Outstanding Graduate Alumnus for 2013. Wakefield, who earned both her master’s (1978) and doctoral (1985) degrees from UT Austin’s School of Nursing, has built a distinguished career around the country and the world. She has worked at public and private institutions of higher education, in the political arena, and in governmental agencies.
Mary K. Wakefield, M.S.N. ‘78, Ph.D. ‘85 photo: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HRSA Above: School of Nursing students in class. credit: Brian Birzer Opposite, top to bottom: Dr. Ann Twinam; Dr. Sheldon EklandOlson; Stephanie Crouch; lab test tubes; detail of Garrison Hall credits: Department of History; Department of Sociology; María Romo de Vivar; Marsha Miller
In 1979, Wakefield began her academic appointment with the University of North Dakota College of Nursing, while expanding her clinical experiences in caring for residents in a rural nursing home setting. From 1987 to 1996 she served as legislative assistant and then chief of staff to North Dakota senators Burdick and Conrad. From 1996 to 2001 she served as director of the Center for Health Policy, Research and Ethics at George Mason University in Virginia, and worked as a consultant to the World Health Organization’s Global Programme on AIDS in Geneva, Switzerland. A fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, Wakefield was elected to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies in 2004, one of the highest honors in medicine and health. In February 2009, President Barack Obama appointed her as administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services--the first nurse to hold this position. Wakefield oversees the investment of $2.5 billion in health care infrastructure and the training of health-care professionals. This same year, Wakefield was named one of the “Top 25 Women in Health Care.” by Modern Healthcare. Dr. Alexa Stuifbergen, Dean of the School of Nursing says, “I am proud of how Dr. Wakefield has used the knowledge and preparation she gained as a graduate student at the School of Nursing to effectively provide access to health services for all Americans, including those in largely underserved populations: the elderly, the poor and residents of rural America ...Whether in the examinations room, classroom or boardroom, she has demonstrated a remarkable ability to inspire tomorrow’s nurses and health-care professionals and forge partnerships with a broad spectrum of policymakers as a means to providing a more equitable and accessible health-care system for all.”
Ann Twinam: Department of History O U T S TA N D I N G G R A D UAT E T E AC H I N G AWA R D
Ann Twinam, in the Department of History, is being recognized with the 2013 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award. Dr. Twinam teaches key foundation graduate courses in LatinAmerican history. Her contributions to the training of young historians are exemplary; she is a “...tough but deeply caring teacher, and an innovative mentor...” says Graduate Adviser, Jacqueline Jones. A prize-winning scholar, Dr. Twinam has written books and scholarly essays that enrich our understanding of the Latin America past. Dr. Twinam’s work has earned her the position as one of the foremost colonial LatinAmerican specialists today; she serves as an inspiration and model for graduate students.
Sheldon Ekland-Olson: Sociology O U T S TA N D I N G G R A D UAT E A DV I S E R AWA R D
Sheldon Ekland-Olson has served as the Graduate Adviser in the Department of Sociology since 2007, and now is recognized with the 2013 Outstanding Graduate Adviser Award. Dr. Ekland-Olson also serves as the Director of the School of Human Ecology and Department of Textiles and Apparel and consults with many programs across campus. Dr. Ekland-Olson has put policies into place to identify graduate students who are struggling, and quickly recognizing those who are achieving at a high level. “He is a master at program administration and development; graduate student mentoring; recruiting and retaining top graduate students; and building a community of integrity and goodwill.” says Christine Williams, Chair in the Department of Sociology.
Stephanie Crouch: College of Pharmacy O U T S TA N D I N G G R A D UAT E C O O R D I N AT O R AWA R D
For her distinguished service in support of the graduate adviser and other faculty in the administration of the College of Pharmacy graduate program, Stephanie Crouch is presented with the 2013 award. Stephanie has served as graduate coordinator for the College of Pharmacy since 2010. “She is uncanny in her common sense, attention to detail, and her incredible knowledge of student needs ... Stephanie Crouch is a gem.” says Carlton K. Erickson, Graduate Adviser of the College of Pharmacy. Stephanie has collaborated in developing a database that follows the graduate students’ progress, while making pieces of this information available to others in the college according to their need. Once introduced, this project should lead to more student satisfaction and maybe shorter time to graduation in some cases.
FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID
110 INNER CAMPUS DRIVE, STOP G0400
AUSTIN, TEXAS
MAIN BLDG., ROOM 101
PERMIT #391
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78712
H O N O R I N G G R A D UAT E S T U D E N T S ’ AC C O M P L I S H M E N T S
2013 Graduate School Student Awards Josh Russell: Cell and Molcular Biology O U T S TA N D I N G G R A D UAT E S T U D E N T AWA R D
photo: Marsha Miller, UT Austin
Joshua Russell, a College of Natural Sciences doctoral candidate, has won the $6,000 Michael H. Granof Outstanding Graduate Student Award at the Graduate School/ University Co-op Awards for Excellence in Graduate Education. Josh Russell, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (2010-2013), is completing his dissertation which main research is determining the neuromolecular basis for atmospheric humidity sensation in the roundworm C elegans. He works under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Pierce-Shimomura in the Section of Neurobiology. www.utexas.edu/ogs/awards/ O U T S TA N D I N G
O U T S TA N D I N G
E XC E L L E N C E I N G R A D UAT E
O U T S TA N D I N G G R A D UAT E
D I S S E R TAT I O N AWA R D
T H E S I S/ R E P O R T AWA R D
R E S E A R C H AWA R D
S T U D E N T ACA D E M I C
Nicholas Bacuez – French. Dissertation supervisor: JeanPierre Montreuil.
Russell Bush – RadioTelevision-Film. Thesis supervisor: Paul J. Raval. Mark Allen Coddington – Journalism. Thesis supervisor: Stephen Reese
Meghan Andrews – English. Supervising professor: Douglas Bruster. Rodney Kincaid – Cell and Molecular Biology. Supervising professor: Christopher Sullivan. David Scheinfeld – Educational Psychology - Counseling. Supervising professor: Aaron Rochlen.
E M P L OY E E AWA R D
Nicholas Myklebust – English. Dissertation supervisor: Thomas Cable. Jack Poulson – Computational and Applied Mathematics. Dissertation supervisor: Lexing Ying.
Carolyn Yaschur – Assistant Instructor, Journalism. Supervising faculty: Renita Coleman. Farya Phillips – Teaching Assistant, Social Work. Supervising faculty: Barbara Jones and Mary Velasquez. Abiola Oladapo – Graduate Research Assistant, Pharmacy. Supervising faculty: Jamie Barner and Marv Shepherd.