Dean Grasso:
Although I was accepted into graduate programs at both Harvard and Duke, I chose to come to the University of Georgia for two reasons. First, Steve Hubbell, a renowned tropical ecologist, had recently moved to UGA from Princeton. I was familiar with Dr. Hubbell’s research and was interested in working with him. In addition, I was offered a University of Georgia Presidential Graduate Fellowship.

I have been able to spend several months each year conducting field research at my study site in Panama. I have also been able to attend several workshops and short courses at other institutions.

In my first year at UGA, I received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Fellowship…Last year, I also applied for and was awarded a $10,000 research grant from the Center for Tropical Forest Science. At least two other Presidential Fellows have also received NSF Fellowships, and many others have received outside grants. Students that initially decide to come to UGA because of the Presidential Fellowship are often able to secure additional funding and actually end up bringing money into the University.

Liza Comita
PhD Student, Department of Plant Biology

Dean Grasso:
I have just received my letter informing me that I have been awarded the dissertation completion assistantship for the coming year. THANK YOU!

It could not have come at a better time as this week I was informed that, due to diminishing faculty grants, it was uncertain whether my department could support me to complete my doctorate.

The Graduate School has been wonderful in helping me with conference attendance and research. Thank you again.

Julie Askew

Dear Dr. Grasso:
Though I am but one of many graduate students at UGA, having completed the first year of my doctoral program, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for all that the UGA Graduate School does for its students. The free seminars, generous assistantship, and breadth of resources have helped make my experience here an entirely positive one. While it was difficult for me to choose UGA over other competitive programs because it is geographically located far from my home area, I have no regrets.

Dan Smith
PhD Student and Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Public Administration and Policy

To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to thank the University of Georgia for providing me with the Presidential Fellowship and express what the fellowship has meant to me. I was teaching high school in North Carolina when I decided I wanted to return for a PhD I had always done well in school, and I went into teaching because I decided it was a way to improve the lives of urban teenagers.

In the future, I hope to contribute research and leadership in the area of urban science education to improve the chances of success for our nation’s neediest students.

Jodi Wheeler-Toppen

LET US HEAR FROM YOU!

Though formally established in 1910, the Graduate School at the University of Georgia has produced scholars of renown since the 1800s.  Today the Graduate School offers more than 130 master’s degree programs, 20 specialist degree programs and almost 100 doctoral programs. The sheer range of UGA scholars makes for a fascinating mix on campus and creates a “virtual” community of scholars now working around the world.

The Graduate School Magazine is our effort to unite you with your fellow colleagues and alumni, to bring your stories, research and scholarship to light.   This inaugural issue is underwritten in part thanks to a generous contribution from the President’s Venture Fund. 

Please share with us your story ideas, anecdotes and letters.  We will make every effort to safeguard and return any photographs sent to us.

In the next issue (Spring, 2006),  we will introduce you to UGA graduate scholars whose work ranges from bee studies to ecology and lessening our individual “footprints” on the earth with the “slow food” culinary movement.  You’ll discover fascinating fellow graduates who have extended the reach of their scholarship to prison populations.  You’ll also read about a nontraditional “generational” graduate who changed careers in her fifties and returned to college.

We’d like to know more about your work as well – so let us hear from you!

Please send correspondence to:
Editor, Graduate School Magazine
c/o Office of the Dean
UGA Graduate School, Room 515
Boyd Graduate Studies Research Center
Athens, Georgia  30602-7401