Today's Update: Monday, April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

Dear Student Life team,

This week, colleges and universities across the country are coming together to celebrate Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, and I’m proud to add my voice on behalf of Student Life. 

Graduate and professional students play an essential role on campus. They are scholars, practitioners, mentors and leaders who contribute every day to teaching, research, engagement and service at Ohio State. Balancing academic rigor with professional and personal commitments is no small task, and their dedication strengthens our university in countless ways. 

I want to extend special High Fives to our Student Life Graduate Teaching Associates (GTAs). We have 65 GTAs in Student Life this year, serving our departments, contributing their talent and expertise to programs and services that directly support students. Quite simply, they are integral to how we do our work.  

Our graduate associates bring together what they’re learning in the classroom with hands-on experience in Student Life. Through that blend of theory and practice, they help us deliver exceptional support to Buckeye students while also preparing for impactful careers ahead. We learn just as much from them as they learn from us. 

As a division, we are fortunate to partner with programs like Higher Education and Student Affairs and many other academic areas across the university. The diverse perspectives and experiences our graduate and professional students bring make our work stronger and our community better. 

I encourage you this week to take a moment to recognize the graduate and professional students in your area. A quick note of thanks (even sending kudos via our https://kind.osu.edu/ website), a conversation over coffee or a simple acknowledgment can go a long way.  

I am Scarlet and Grateful for the many ways graduate and professional students help all Ohio State students engage, learn and thrive. Thank you for joining me in celebrating them this week. 

 Melissa S. Shivers, PhD  
Senior Vice President for Student Life   
The Ohio State University