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Graduate School Newsletter
September 08, 2023
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Hello Misty ,
Welcome to the second newsletter of the 2023-24 school year. The weather is starting to turn and the school year is off and moving! Be sure you scroll through the entire Newsletter to see the many offerings for the fall semester and the other resources we've collected here for you.
Here's to a great year! #GoGradStudentPack
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Welcome to CSU Pueblo, Dr. Dobson! Dr. Dobson, an associate professor of biochemistry in the Department of Chemistry, is celebrating the beginning of her second year at CSU Pueblo. Although new to Pueblo, she’s not new to higher education: before her time with us, Dr. Dobson held faculty appointments at Truman State University and St. Could State University. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Describing herself as a protein chemist, Dr. Dobson says biochemistry is important because it is “a broad area” and in the learning of the discipline, students learn how to “university.” Students learn transferable skills that they can take to other scientific contexts.
Dr. Dobson was drawn to CSU Pueblo because she wanted to work with first generation students; because of her lived experiences, she feels she can connect with them. Dr. Dobson also has family in the San Luis Valley and Southern Colorado offered employment opportunities for her and her spouse.
Outside of her lab and classroom, Dr. Dobson enjoys exploring the area; she’s also a hockey fan. She has four cats who live with her and her spouse.
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Welcome to CSU Pueblo, Dr. Sam Gockel! Dr. Gockel, an assistant professor of organic chemistry in the Department of Chemistry, is also celebrating the beginning of his second year at CSU Pueblo. He graduated with a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2019 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2022. He joined the pack at CSU Pueblo in the fall of 2022.
Dr. Gockel believes that learning organic chemistry provides students an opportunity to engage in complex thinking — the very kind of thinking that is integral to our everyday lives. Indeed, the higher-order thinking required in organic chemistry can be overwhelming (as it often is in our everyday lives). Thus, to prepare students, Dr. Gockel teaches them how to take highly complex scenarios and to break them down into solvable, manageable pieces. His goal for his students is to master this kind of thinking, as it will prepare them for bright futures regardless of what career path they pursue.
He chose to come to CSU Pueblo because of his own experiences as an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota–Morris, a small liberal arts college located in rural Minnesota. Dr. Gockel was positively shaped by the small student-to-professor ratio at his alma mater and saw this same quality at CSU Pueblo. Being a member of the CSU Pueblo community allows him to get to know his students; he feels here he gets to “make a difference in the lives of students" and that his “heart feels at home in a place like [CSU Pueblo].”
Outside his lab and classroom, Dr. Gockel enjoys being in nature, backpacking, and mountaineering; he is also a photographer.
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Welcome to CSU Pueblo, Dr. Wallace! Dr. Wallace is from Seattle, where he was born and raised. He graduated from Oregon State University with a Ph.D. in Chemistry. Dr. Wallace was a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Shock Physics and the University of Alberta. Dr. Wallace is an assistant professor of inorganic chemistry.
Inorganic chemistry is an important field and is very interdisciplinary. As a broad and growing field, it concerns the properties and behaviors of inorganic compounds (e.g., metals, minerals, organometallic compounds). Dr. Wallace’s research focuses on developing novel luminescent materials with enhanced efficiency, stability, and tunable properties for novel applications.
Dr. Wallace was attracted to CSU Pueblo because it reminded him of Central Washington University, where he completed his B.S. and M.S. degrees. His goal for his teaching is to educate his students and help them find their passion.
Outside of his lab and classroom, Dr. Wallace loves to spend time with his wife and daughter exploring Colorado, spending time outdoors hiking and backpacking.
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Professional Opportunities | |
Graduate School Book Club Series | |
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Join a graduate student book club as we explore the hidden curriculum of graduate school. Decode the unwritten rules, discuss strategies for success, and navigate academia's nuances in a candid, safe, and engaging atmosphere.
BOOKS WILL BE PROVIDED.
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This book offers Latinx students a roadmap for succeeding in advanced-degree programs. Covering everything from navigating unwritten rules to building relationships and post-graduate career planning, the book provides essential insights and resources, catering to the unique experience of Latinx graduate students.
This book club is offered on campus on the following days from 5-6pm:
Sept 20th; Oct 11th; Nov 1st; Dec 6th.
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Grad School Presents:
Maintaining Healthy Eating Habits: Feeding your Body while Feeding your Mind
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Work during the day?
Courses at night?
Family to feed in between?
Run out of creative ways to eat healthy with all your responsibilities?
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This workshop, co-hosted by the CSU Pueblo's Wolfpack Wellness Center, will focus on the busy lives of graduate students and how to maintain healthy eating habits while meeting the demands of graduate school.
Sept 12th: 4-5pm on Zoom
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Grad School Presents:
Mastering your Elevator Pitch
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Looking for a job? Prepare and practice your "elevator pitch" -- a brief (think 20 seconds) way of introducing yourself, getting across a key point or two, and making a connection with someone.
Co-hosted with Career Service Center
Sept 14th: 2:30-3:30pm
Aspen 003 OR Zoom
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Industry Night
The Career Center is hosting an Industry Night event where students have the opportunity to speak with employers in the Construction Management and Civil Engineering field.
Attend the event and:
- Connect with industry leaders
- Discover internships and job opportunities
- Receive resume feedback
- Gain industry insights
- Elevate your career prospects
See the flyer for details ---> .
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Spotlight on a Campus Service | |
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The PACK Pantry
We understand that pursuing higher education can sometimes come with financial challenges. We're excited to introduce you to a valuable resource right here on the CSU Pueblo campus: the PACK Pantry.
The PACK Pantry is here to help you during times of financial hardship. Whether you're a student, faculty, or staff member, if you're facing food challenges, the Pack Pantry is here for you. Thanks to a partnership with the Care and Share Food Bank of Southern Colorado and the generosity of donors, the Pack Pantry offers nourishing food and personal hygiene items.
How Does It Work?
Bring your CSU Pueblo ID for verification to the Pantry. The Pantry is in the Occhiato Student Center, room 104. Your privacy and dignity are respected at all times.
For questions or concerns, please reach out to Dr. Victoria Obregon at Victoria.obregon@csupueblo.edu
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Spotlight on Community Resources | |
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Looking for food, hygiene, and clothing resources in Pueblo?
Our local community is here to provide access to essential resources.
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Sunny Side Market
1230 E. 8th St., Pueblo, CO 81001
Hours:
Tuesdays 3-6pm
Wednesday 3-6pm (senior shopping)
Thursday 10am -2pm
Saturday 10am-2pm
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RMSER
Community drive-through food distribution
2717 West St. Pueblo, Co 81003
2nd Thursday of every month at 12:00pm *First come first serve basis*
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Pueblo Cooperative
Care Center
Food pantry, hygiene products and clothing closet
326 West 8th St. Pueblo, CO 81003
Hours:
Monday-Thursday 9 am-12 pm
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Hispanic Serving Institutions Week: Hecho en CSU Pueblo!
Check out the flyer for the list of events.
Lunch or light hor d'oeuvres included.
Register at:
pueblolibrary.org.
For detailed information contact Chris Beltran, Director of HSI Initiatives, at christopher.beltran@csupueblo.edu
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Fall Calendar
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September 15th - Deadline for Fall Graduation Contracts
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October 13th - Mid-Fall Break (no classes)
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October 15th - Fall A courses end
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October 16th - Registration for Spring '24 (Graduate Students)
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October 16th - Fall B courses begin
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November 20th-24th - Fall Break
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Scholarship and Grant Opportunities | |
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Higher Education Grant
A career development grant open to any registered NSHSS Educator, that works with high school students in an academic capacity both in the US and internationally.
MSW, MEd/EdD, and MBA students are encouraged to apply.
One time Award of $2,500
Must register for free as an NSHSS educator and may begin applying for an NSHSS grant.
Deadline: October 1, 2023, by 11:59 PM EST
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NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program
The National Academy of Education (NAEd)/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program aims to strengthen research on education and learning by supporting early career scholars from a wide range of fields. Each year, the program funds a small group of outstanding advanced doctoral candidates so that they can devote themselves full-time to the completion of their dissertation.
Candidates must be in a doctoral degree program at a graduate institution within the U.S. The fellowship is not intended to finance data collection or the completion of doctoral coursework but rather to support the final analysis of the research topic and the writing of the dissertation.
Award: $27,500 stipend, and two professional development retreats.
Deadline: October 5, 2023, by 5pm EST
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Graduate Research Fellowship Program
The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees.
The GRFP provides three years of support over a five-year fellowship period for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. $37,000 stipend and $16,000 cost of education allowance to the graduate degree-granting institution of higher education for each Fellow
Deadline varies by degree:
October 16, 2023, by 5:00 PM local time (life sciences)
October 17, 2023, by 5:00 PM local time (Social Science, STEM Education)
October 19, 2023, by 5:00 PM local time (Engineering)
October 20, 2023, by 5:00 PM local time (Chemistry)
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Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans program honors the contributions of immigrants and children of immigrants to the United States.
All CSU Pueblo graduate students are encouraged to apply.
Must be enrolled full time in an eligible, accredited, professional, or graduate degree program at a US university for the full 2024-25 academic year. Must not have begun the third year of the program. Each Fellow receives up to $90,000 in financial support over two years.
Deadline: October 26, 2023, by 2:00PM EDT
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Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program
Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program is a full-time, hands-on training and educational program that provides early career individuals with the opportunity to spend 12 weeks at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, DC learning about science and technology policy and the role that scientists and engineers play in advising the nation.
STEM degrees are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: October 16, 2023
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Maximize Your Savings:
The New Federal SAVE Program
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Meet the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, revolutionizing student loan repayment:
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Lower Monthly Payments: Reduce your monthly payments with an increased income exemption.
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Interest Elimination: Say goodbye to interest after making scheduled payments.
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Spousal Income Exclusion: No more cosigning for married borrowers filing separately.
Wondering how to apply for the SAVE Plan and if your loans are eligible?
Here is what you need to know:
When to Apply:
- The updated Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan application is available now, offering the SAVE Plan option.
- If you're already on the REPAYE Plan or recently applied, you'll automatically switch to the SAVE Plan—no need to reapply.
How to Apply:
- Use the IDR application to apply for the SAVE Plan.
- Select the option for your loan servicer to place you on the lowest monthly payment plan (usually SAVE).
Already on an IDR Plan?
- Check if you're on the REPAYE Plan by logging into StudentAid.gov.
- If you're on REPAYE, you'll switch to the SAVE Plan automatically later this summer.
- If you're on a different plan, you can now enroll in the SAVE Plan.
- Create a StudentAid.gov account if you don't have one.
Eligible Loans:
- Eligible loans include Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans for grad students, and more.
- Some loans may need consolidation into a Direct Consolidation Loan to be eligible.
Fresh Start Initiative:
- If your loans are in default, explore the Fresh Start initiative.
- Easily get your loans back in good standing.
- Enroll in an affordable repayment plan like the SAVE Plan with payments as low as $0/month.
Stay tuned for more benefits in July 2024. Get the full scoop at StudentAid.gov!
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The August 25th Newsletter is here. | |
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