From the Dean

Greetings—

I hope you are finding your way this fall and are geared up for a successful semester. By now, you may be settling into your routines, balancing the excitement of new opportunities with the demands of coursework, research, and teaching. It’s natural to feel anticipation and uncertainty as you navigate the challenges ahead, but remember that the hard work you’re putting in now will pay off. Just know that we at the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School are here to support you every step of the way.

We have been incredibly optimistic in the Fox Graduate School as we discuss our new endowment and how it will advance graduate student excellence and raise the profile of graduate education at Penn State.

Our staff have been focused on developing programming for graduate students that will be offered this fall. Our Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs is holding events that include wellness bingo and graduate admissions workshops. Our associate director for graduate student career and professional development is leading a series of workshops, called Accelerate to Industry, to help graduate students prepare for careers outside of academia. Finally, registration for our annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition is under way. 3MT is an exciting professional development opportunity specifically for graduate students, and I encourage you to participate as either a competitor or a judge. You can find information about these on our events calendar.

Earlier this month, you should have received an email about space needs for graduate students. I am eager to hear your thoughts on this topic, and I invite you to complete this survey by October 11 to share your input.

We have added many more resources for you to the new Fox Graduate School website that launched over the summer, including a graduate student resource library, and a new set of pages to help you with navigating the University’s thesis and dissertation submission process.

Now that things have begun settling for the fall, I wanted to share with you my five goals for this year. I welcome your perspectives to ensure that everything we’re doing in the Fox Graduate School truly is supporting you.

Goals for the Fox Graduate School

Establishing a Foundation for the Newly Endowed Graduate School to Maximize Naming Gift Impact

• Develop a comprehensive strategic plan and vision to guide the growth and direction of the newly endowed graduate school.
• Foster a culture of academic and research excellence through targeted investments in student-centered research initiatives.
• Cultivate a vibrant and inclusive community within the graduate school, fostering collaboration among students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Optimize infrastructure and allocate resources effectively to support the expanded capabilities and initiatives of the Fox Graduate School.
  

Cultivating Holistic Student Success

• Develop comprehensive programs that support students' career readiness and professional growth.
• Establish robust mentoring programs to support student academic and personal development.
• Offer targeted support and resources for first-generation graduate students.
• Broaden opportunities for students to explore and pursue non-academic career pathways.
• Create and facilitate internship opportunities for students to gain practical work experience.
  

Broadening Participation and Inclusion

• Increase diversity among graduate students through targeted recruitment and retention efforts.
• Foster partnerships with Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) to enhance diversity and collaboration.
• Promote interdisciplinary approaches to graduate education to address complex societal challenges.
  

Enhancing Access and Opportunity

• Ensure sufficient funding opportunities to support graduate student success and reduce financial barriers.
• Develop new pathways for graduate students to pursue graduate degrees.
• Enhance support and resources for graduate students who have an interest in international graduate education.
  

Increasing Organizational Efficiencies, Effectiveness, and Engagement

• Improve academic and administrative policies, procedures, and processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Promote collaboration and engagement across college partners and campuses to optimize organizational effectiveness.
• Implement an effective enterprise customer relationship management system to streamline communication and support services.
  

I look forward to hearing your feedback on these goals or anything else on your mind related to graduate school. Stop by one of my monthly coffee chats or email me at graddeansoffice@psu.edu to share your thoughts.