By: Cynthia Adams | Photos by: Nancy Evelyn

On November 19, nearly 70 graduate alumni were guests of the Graduate School for a conversation with Dean Maureen Grasso and a private tour of “Rembrandt in America.” The exhibition tour was led by Lawrence Wheeler, director, at the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA), in Raleigh.

According to Wheeler (MA ’69; PHD ’72) this is the only East Coast venue for the Rembrandt show. Nearly 30 authentic Rembrandts were assembled for the event. The show represents the single largest exhibition ever presented in the United States. Alumni Christopher Bickers, a North Carolina-based photojournalist, photographed the event.

Members of the Graduate Education Advancement Board who joined the tour and reception included Michael Bunch, who also spoke at the North Carolina event, and Terry Hunt.

“Giving to graduate education is very much like planting a tree,” said Grasso, who discussed the goals and advancements of the Graduate School after the tour during a reception. “The contribution may seem very small, but we are investing in a better way of life for our children and our children’s children, our community, and our world.”

Wheeler was profiled in the Winter, 2007 issue of the Graduate School Magazine. The Rembrandt exhibition closed January 22, 2012.

Promoting Self-Awareness and Inculcating Excellence at the Emerging Leaders Program

The Emerging Leaders Program is an invited leadership workshop sponsored by the Graduate School. Occurring over two days during the fall break, the program was held at the Unicoi State Park in Helen, Ga. in the fall of 2011. This past program included 24 graduate students, who were selected for the session.

Presenters at the Emerging Leaders Program, or EL, included program alumni, as well experts in the field of human development, a variety of accomplished leaders, faculty and Graduate School staff.

The program was designed to reinforce innovation and leadership among graduate students, who also make friendships which cut across disciplines. This has particular value, stresses Dean Maureen Grasso.

“Participants attend sessions about professional development and leadership skills necessary for entering a workplace characterized by a diversity of people, career opportunities, and ever increasing responsibilities,” says Grasso. EL alumni are working within a variety of disciplines, she adds, and are already distinguishing themselves as exceptional leaders. Recent Emerging Leaders alumni who are also headline-makers include Praveen Kolar, a researcher and professor at N.C. State in Raleigh, and scientific researcher Vikram Dhende, who recently joined private industry.

Science, STEM and Opportunities Developed by UGA’s CIRTL

Reports in The New York Times publication “Education Life” bring STEM students under the telescope and into sharp focus. Student fatigue from the rigors of study, and a lack of imaginative engagement with students in STEM programs by the institutions, are widespread, the report suggests. (STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.) The University of Georgia imaginatively engaged faculty and researchers to help resolve this national problem, says Dean Maureen Grasso.

For nearly a decade, the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) has supported science graduate students. Now, the University of Georgia and 18 of the nation’s top universities are joining the CIRTL network efforts, in preparing science and engineering educators of the future. With support from the National Science Foundation, CIRTL assists STEM educators and researchers via classroom innovations and imaginative engagement with the wider STEM community.

A personalized program, led by Maureen Grasso, dean of the UGA Graduate School, will afford educators and researchers specifically tailored experiences. Grasso stresses that a great deal of effort is concentrated towards this end, saying “graduate students will have greater opportunity and specific engagement within their institutions in order to best prepare for science education futures.”

Future faculty will also be able to expand their involvement within the learning community depending on personal interests and professional standing.

Most career opportunities are concentrated in biotechnologies, writes NYT writer Christopher Drew. There is also growth in both the environmental and health sectors, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics.

According to CIRTL‘s website, UGA envisions a CIRTL STEM Learning Community “as a suite of opportunities available to graduate students and post docs that will provide high quality preparation in research, pedagogy, teaching-as-research, and diversity in teaching.”

Go to www.ose.uga.edu/ and www.cirtl.net/ for further reading.