Graduate Education Office Celebrates Graduate Students!
April 6-10 , 2020
Dear Graduate Students,
This coming week we are celebrating you and your many contributions to Carnegie Mellon University. I am so proud of your many accomplishments as researchers, instructors, mentors, scholars and leaders during this unprecedented time in our history. Your ability to think critically and compassionately about the needs of your fellow graduate and professional students and our local community is truly remarkable. I am grateful for your many gifts to Carnegie Mellon and look forward to your continued creativity and innovation. 
 
Jim Garrett, Provost
Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week was started in 1993 by the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students as a way to support and appreciate graduate and professional students. The week seeks to emphasize the contributions, impact and value of graduate and professional students on campuses throughout the United States. Carnegie Mellon University’s Pittsburgh campus will be celebrating the week with a variety of virtual events for graduate students.
Innovation with Impact (IWI) is an interdisciplinary poster/performance exhibition of graduate student research and projects from across the Pittsburgh campus. Although the 2020 Innovation with Impact  in-person event has been CANCELLED , we will be featuring our participants on our site and in event emails!
Surya D. Aggarwal is a PhD candidate in the Department of Biological Sciences. He has served as the President of CMU’s Graduate Student Assembly. Under his leadership, GSA partnered with university stakeholders to launch an on-campus legal consultation that is available to both graduate and undergraduate students. He was also involved with numerous other GSA initiatives including assessing mentorship climate for graduate students and providing childcare support for graduate students. Prior to that, Surya has held the position of Vice President for External Affairs for the Graduate Student Assembly. During his PhD, he has also assumed leadership at the national level by serving as the Chair of Advocacy Board and the International Student Concerns Advocate for the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students. While in that role, Surya co-led the national campaign to advocate against the provision of the federal tax bill that proposed to tax graduate student tuition waivers. He has also served on numerous university and departmental committees. Surya has completed his Master’s from the University of Edinburgh, UK and Bachelor’s from Amity University, India.
Alexis Adams is a PhD candidate in Second Language Acquisition in the Department of Modern Languages. She has taught courses in the English and Modern Language Departments at the Pittsburgh campus, as well as the Summer College Preview Program at CMU-Q. As an instructor and researcher, Alexis values reflection and strives to create an inclusive learning environment for students. In particular, she focuses on creating learning opportunities during class discussions to support students’ language and content skills. Most recently, she collaborated with the Eberly Center to design a discussion method for international students in a first-year writing and has used her research to facilitate workshops about discussion practices at university and national conferences. She was recently awarded the Dietrich College Graduate Student Teaching Award for her innovative project. Alexis also works at the Eberly Center as a Senior Graduate Teaching Fellow, where she supports other graduate student instructors through teaching observations, workshops, and teaching statement consultations. In addition, she works as an Assessment Fellow on a team that is assessing the undergraduate Gen-Ed program in Dietrich College. Previously, Alexis completed her Master of Arts in Teaching and Bachelor’s in Linguistics and Hispanic Languages and Literature at the University of Pittsburgh. She plans on defending her dissertation this spring and hopes to continue to a career in teacher education.
2020 Three Minute Thesis Championship and preliminary events have been CANCELLED. We would like to recognize the winners of Rounds 1, 2 & 3:

Round 01 Winner: Anna Kalmykov
Biomedical Engineering
“Organ-on-e-chip: Three-Dimensional Sensor for Studying Mini-Hearts and Mini-Brains”

Round 02 Winner: Jacob Ward
Engineering and Public Policy & Mechanical Engineering
“Cleaning Air but Clogging Streets?”
 
Round 03 Winner: Alyssa Lawler
Biological Sciences
“Cellular Contributions to Parkinson's Disease”
The Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week events listed below will take place virtually! Be sure to visit our page for the most current information.
Present Over Perfect: Practicing Mindfulness and Agility Amidst Change: 12:00-1:30pm
It can be difficult to stay motivated during an ever-changing global pandemic. Using mindfulness as a tool for navigating change, join us in a conversation on how to tame our inner critic and more fully engage in life, in work, and in our connections to others. *ZOOM link is provided upon registration completion.
Fitting Fitness In: 12:00-1:00pm
How do you create time for yourself and fit fitness in when it matters the most? We have some creative ideas and resources to share with you! *ZOOM link is provided upon registration completion.
Virtual Trivia: 4:30-5:00pm
FREE to play and PRIZES will be awarded! Hosted by SLICE and the Alumni Association Want more professional development opportunities, benefits, resources and ways to connect with CMU alumni? Visit Alumni Association  page for more information.
ZOOM and Meeting ID: 374-151-643
Title IX Overview: 12:00-1:30pm
This session will present information about the rights and responsibilities of employees under Title IX. We will discuss how to identify, respond to, and report instances of sex discrimination, including situations involving sexual harassment and relationship violence. The program also includes instruction in proactive steps individuals can take to prevent potentially harmful situations and provides case studies relevant to the workplace. *ZOOM link is provided upon registration completion.
This an interdisciplinary poster/performance exhibition of graduate student research and projects from across the Pittsburgh campus from all 7 colleges. We will be featuring our participants on our site and in event emails! See what your friends and colleagues have been up to this year!
Greendot Training: 11:00am-12:30pm
The Green Dot overview talk is a 1.5 hour training that introduces the basic elements of bystander intervention as well as some skill building activities to engage participants in immediate action.   *ZOOM link is provided upon registration completion.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
GSA's Wellness Challenge
The goal for the challenge is to inspire students to pay attention to their holistic wellness and to build healthy habits throughout this period of social distancing and beyond. Sign up here and start tracking your progress. More details about the challenge can be found here .

GSA is making arrangements for upcoming events on a virtual platform. Check the GSA Events Calendar for details.
Weekly Gratitude Sessions
Tuesdays, 1:30-2:00pm
Practices in gratitude can help us regulate our mood, build our resilience, and can cultivate increased happiness and satisfaction. Join us to learn some strategies on how to be more grateful throughout your day, and for a weekly opportunity to practice and to share your gratitude with our CMU community. We encourage attendees to bring a notebook and a writing utensil to the session. These are historic times; it will be nice to capture the whole-hearted moments through it all. Facilitated by Angie Lusk, program director, Student Affairs Wellness Initiatives.
EXERCISE
Campus fitness centers are closed, but they are bringing the gym to you with FREE , on-demand group X-ercise classes!
CAMPUS PARTNERS
Please know that the Graduate Education Office is OPEN and if we can help you on any topics. Please call 412-2688-7307 or email us .
 
Remember to take good care of yourself in these challenging times.
GRADUATE EDUCATION OFFICE