Today's Update: Monday, April 4

April 4, 2022

Dear Student Life team,

 

This is Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week.  

It was started in 1993 by the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students as a way to honor their contributions and impact on college campuses. I am proud to add my voice to those saluting them. 

I recorded a video with my best wishes for our grad/prof students. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-Ki2kq8Ce8

Our own Dean Danny Glassman will be in the lobby of the Graduate School tomorrow (Tuesday, April 5) morning for Donuts with the Deans for grad/prof students to take a break and meet university leaders. I’m planning to stop by, too.

I want to especially express my gratitude to our Student Life Graduate Teaching and Research Associates, known as GAs. We are fortunate to have 57 GAs this year working across Student Life, and it’s no exaggeration to say they are each integral to our operations. 

Our GAs combine the lessons they learn in the classroom with the skills they obtain working in a real-world environment, setting them, and us, up for success for years to come. 

The majority of our GAs come from the Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) program as part of our 70+-year partnership with the Student Personnel Association. I also want to acknowledge our GAs who bring in expertise from across the university. This year, we have representation from programs in Social Work, Sports Management, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Psychology and others. These diverse experiences and perspectives serve to strengthen our work and support of Ohio State students. 

This week, I hope you take a moment to stop and appreciate the graduate and professional students in your life. Write them a note, take them for coffee or simply say thank you. We could not do what we do in Student Life without the contributions of our graduate and professional students. We learn from our GAs as much as they learn from us, and we should all be Scarlet and Grateful for the many ways they help the Ohio State community thrive.  

 

Melissa S. Shivers, PhD 

Senior Vice President for Student Life 
The Ohio State University