Graduate Calendar

This Shop Talks session is designed for doctoral students seeking tenure-track and lecturer positions at four-year colleges and universities. It covers the last part of the interview process, namely job offer negotiations. Specifically, we will discuss which factors to consider when evaluating a job offer, what questions to ask, and how to negotiate the terms you were offered. In addition, we will discuss concerns of dual career couples and international students.

This Shop Talks session is designed for doctoral students seeking tenure-track and lecturer positions at four-year colleges and universities. It covers the last part of the interview process, namely job offer negotiations. Specifically, we will discuss which factors to consider when evaluating a job offer, what questions to ask, and how to negotiate the terms you were offered. In addition, we will discuss concerns of dual career couples and international students.

Presented by: Dr. Patti Giuffre, Associate Dean, The Graduate College

When you write a thesis, dissertation, or academic journal article, you are addressing a small audience of academics in your field. However, academic writers sometimes need to speak to wider audiences with limited or no specialized knowledge, such as when writing proposals for funding, when creating outreach materials for the public, or when communicating with the media. During this session, you will gain practice with the following:

• analyzing your audience
• recognizing and avoiding jargon
• editing for simplicity and conciseness
• using examples and anecdotes
• writing with directness

When you write a thesis, dissertation, or academic journal article, you are addressing a small audience of academics in your field. However, academic writers sometimes need to speak to wider audiences with limited or no specialized knowledge, such as when writing proposals for funding, when creating outreach materials for the public, or when communicating with the media. During this session, you will gain practice with the following:

• analyzing your audience
• recognizing and avoiding jargon
• editing for simplicity and conciseness
• using examples and anecdotes
• writing with directness

Presented by: Dr. Andrea Hilkovitz, External Funding Coordinator, The Graduate College &
Dr. Brian Smith, External Funding Coordinator, The Graduate College

This virtual workshop will equip you with the communication tools you need to effectively engage with professors, peers, and advisors. Learn how to craft professional emails, navigate office hours with ease, and handle advisor relationships with confidence. We’ll also cover best practices for collaborating with classmates, ensuring you make a positive impression in all your academic interactions. Join us to sharpen your skills in professional communication and build the confidence to handle any situation that comes your way!

This virtual workshop will equip you with the communication tools you need to effectively engage with professors, peers, and advisors. Learn how to craft professional emails, navigate office hours with ease, and handle advisor relationships with confidence. We’ll also cover best practices for collaborating with classmates, ensuring you make a positive impression in all your academic interactions. Join us to sharpen your skills in professional communication and build the confidence to handle any situation that comes your way!

Presented by: Ashley Carrington, Student Development Specialist II for Retention Initiatives, The Graduate College

Feeling stuck in the cycle of perfectionism and procrastination? You are not alone. Join this interactive workshop designed for dissertation writers who want to move forward with confidence. A panel of experts from the Writing Center, Counseling Center, and a successful alum will share practical strategies to overcome perfectionism, manage stress, and keep your writing on track. Learn how to set realistic goals, maintain momentum, and silence the inner critic so you can finish strong.

After all, “perfectionism is the enemy of progress.”

Panelists:
Dr. Lauren Brentnell, Assistant Professor of Instruction in English and Associate Director of the University Writing Center
Dr. Alyssa Fernandez, Psychologists, The Counseling Center
Dr. Andrea Fernandez (Texas State alum, Ph.D. School Improvement, 2025), Area Superintendent, IDEA Public Schools
Moderator: Dr. Patti Giuffre, Associate Dean of The Graduate College

Feeling stuck in the cycle of perfectionism and procrastination? You are not alone. Join this interactive workshop designed for dissertation writers who want to move forward with confidence. A panel of experts from the Writing Center, Counseling Center, and a successful alum will share practical strategies to overcome perfectionism, manage stress, and keep your writing on track. Learn how to set realistic goals, maintain momentum, and silence the inner critic so you can finish strong.

After all, “perfectionism is the enemy of progress.”

Panelists:

Dr. Lauren Brentnell, Assistant Professor of Instruction in English and Associate Director of the University Writing Center
Dr. Alyssa Fernandez, Psychologists, The Counseling Center
Dr. Andrea Fernandez (Texas State alum, Ph.D. School Improvement, 2025), Area Superintendent, IDEA Public Schools
Moderator: Dr. Patti Giuffre, Associate Dean of The Graduate College

Comparison and perfectionism are difficult to avoid in graduate school. This webinar will not only provide information about these issues, but it will also include activities and a discussion about how to cope with perfectionistic tendencies, as well as comparing oneself to peers.

Comparison and perfectionism are difficult to avoid in graduate school. This webinar will not only provide information about these issues, but it will also include activities and a discussion about how to cope with perfectionistic tendencies, as well as comparing oneself to peers.

Presented by: Dr. Alyssa Fernandez, Psychologist, Counseling Center

Everything you ever wanted to know — or didn't realize you needed to know — about the process of submitting an IRB Application at Texas State: how, what, where, when, and why does it take so long?

We are here to help graduate students, faculty supervising thesis or dissertations, and faculty or staff researchers understand the process from A to Z so you can submit well-prepared applications that get approved on the first review.

Everything you ever wanted to know — or didn't realize you needed to know — about the process of submitting an IRB Application at Texas State: how, what, where, when, and why does it take so long?

We are here to help graduate students, faculty supervising thesis or dissertations, and faculty or staff researchers understand the process from A to Z so you can submit well-prepared applications that get approved on the first review.

Presented by: Michelle Davis, Compliance Specialist, Research, Integrity, & Compliance
Breanna Moran, Compliance Specialist, Research, Integrity, & Compliance

Are you publishing or presenting research in your discipline? Do you want to make your research more impactful? Develop an online researcher profile and make your research more discoverable by researchers globally..

Online tools such as ORCID, ResearchGate, Web of Science, and Google Scholar Citations can be useful for establishing a successful online academic profile. They can increase the impact of your research, ensure credit for your work, and streamline the publishing and grant-funding process.

In this Shop Talks session, we will show some examples of successful online researcher profiles and the impact you can make by managing your online academic environment.

Are you publishing or presenting research in your discipline? Do you want to make your research more impactful? Develop an online researcher profile and make your research more discoverable by researchers globally..

Online tools such as ORCID, ResearchGate, Web of Science, and Google Scholar Citations can be useful for establishing a successful online academic profile. They can increase the impact of your research, ensure credit for your work, and streamline the publishing and grant-funding process.

In this Shop Talks session, we will show some examples of successful online researcher profiles and the impact you can make by managing your online academic environment.

Presented by: Alexa Hight, Assistant Director of Research and Data Services, University Libraries
Xuan Zhou, Data Curation Specialist, University Libraries

What’s next after your doctorate? Join us for an informative workshop designed to demystify the world of postdoctoral positions. Whether you are curious about what postdocs actually do, how to find the right opportunity, or what makes a strong candidate—this session is for you. A panel of current postdoctoral scholars will share their experiences, offer advice, and answer your questions about transitioning from graduate school to postdoc life.

What you’ll learn:

• How to identify and apply for postdoctoral positions across disciplines. Contrary to popular belief, post doc positions are not only placed in science and engineering fields, but also in the social sciences and humanities.
• What hiring committees and principal investigators look for in postdoc candidates
• Some background about the day-to-day life, expectations, and career trajectories of postdoctoral scholars

Panelists:
Dr. Twyla Hough
Dr. Mariah Moe
Dr. Wesley Neely
Moderator: Dr. Patti Giuffre

What’s next after your doctorate? Join us for an informative workshop designed to demystify the world of postdoctoral positions. Whether you are curious about what postdocs actually do, how to find the right opportunity, or what makes a strong candidate—this session is for you. A panel of current postdoctoral scholars will share their experiences, offer advice, and answer your questions about transitioning from graduate school to postdoc life.

What you’ll learn:

• How to identify and apply for postdoctoral positions across disciplines. Contrary to popular belief, post doc positions are not only placed in science and engineering fields, but also in the social sciences and humanities.
  
• What hiring committees and principal investigators look for in postdoc candidates
  
• Some background about the day-to-day life, expectations, and career trajectories of postdoctoral scholars
  

Panelists:
Dr. Twyla Hough
Dr. Mariah Moe
Dr. Caleb Butler
Moderator: Dr. Patti Giuffre

Designed for doctoral or master’s students writing a thesis or dissertation (or planning to!), this Shop Talks session focuses on important elements and strategies for successfully submitting the thesis/dissertation. One of our Degree Audit Specialists at The Graduate College, discusses helpful resources and information, required formatting, common mistakes and what reviewers are checking for when they look over your document. We encourage you to also check out the Thesis & Dissertation Information page on The Graduate College’s website to see the resources that are covered in this session.

Designed for doctoral or master’s students writing a thesis or dissertation (or planning to!), this Shop Talks session focuses on important elements and strategies for successfully submitting the thesis/dissertation. One of our Degree Audit Specialists at The Graduate College, discusses helpful resources and information, required formatting, common mistakes and what reviewers are checking for when they look over your document. We encourage you to also check out the Thesis & Dissertation Information page on The Graduate College’s website to see the resources that are covered in this session.

Presented by: Courtney Stevens, Senior Degree Audit Specialist, The Graduate College

Learn the secrets of successful graduate students. In just one hour, you will understand advanced search queries, effective research, database tricks, and library services you never knew existed.

This workshop covers finding unique databases, identifying important articles through citation analysis, using citation management tools, exploring a topic with knowledge graphs, and locating opportunities for publishing your scholarship and building your research identity.

Learn the secrets of successful graduate students. In just one hour, you will understand advanced search queries, effective research, database tricks, and library services you never knew existed.

This workshop covers finding unique databases, identifying important articles through citation analysis, using citation management tools, exploring a topic with knowledge graphs, and locating opportunities for publishing your scholarship and building your research identity.

Presented by: Audrey Stewart, Assistant Director of Information Literacy & Information, University Libraries