The Second Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium will be held on Wednesday, April 1 at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. All current graduate students as well as December 2008 graduate are invited to participate.  Students’ research, scholarship, and creative achievements will be showcased and judged by professionals fields.

Schedule
Creative Performances: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Keynote Address: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Poster Presentations: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Keynote Address
“Preparing Scholars: From the Academy to the Real World”
Cosponsored by the Graduate College and the College of Humanities and Fine Arts.
Dr. Semenza, Associate Professor of English and Director of English Graduate Studies at the University of Connecticut, is the author of “Graduate Student for the Twenty-First Century: How to Build an Academic Career in the Humanities” (Palmgrave Macmillan, 2005)

Registration is due February 27.
See the symposium website for more information and the registration form
www.grad.uni.edu/symposium

Contact Katherine Brown, Graduate Assistant, at kabrown@uni.edu with questions.

Dreaming About Summer Already?

Don't just dream, start planning and share your plans with your fellow graduate students! Whether you're taking classes, graduating, just relaxing, travelling, researching, experimenting, or starting a career, send in your summer plans to The Graffito for a special feature in the next issue.

E-mail a short description of your summer plans (photos are welcome too) to Katherine Brown, Graduate Assistant / Graffito Designer & Editor, at kabrown@uni.edu. Deadline for submissions is April 10.

Graduate College Shirts Available at UBS

A limited number of long-sleeve UNI Graduate College shirts are available at University Book & Supply (UBS). Buy yours before they're gone!

	Watch for flyers around campus with more details on all of these Graduate Student Social Network (GSSN) events. Please contact us if transportation is a concern. We welcome ideas, comments, and suggestions for future events. RSVPs are encouraged, but not required.
Join us on Facebook! The Graduate Student Social Network group can be found at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2201705304. (You must join the UNI Network before joining the group.) Contact Ken Nesbett, Graduate Assistant, at knesbett@uni.edu, with questions or to sign up.

UNI Museum Tour & Scavenger Hunt
“Death Perception: The Science of Forensic Anthropology”

Saturday, March 7 - 1:30 to 3:30 pm 3219 Hudson Road, Cedar Falls Free admission and refreshments Bring family and friends! Participate in a “CSI” Style Scavenger Hunt

UNI Museum

Graduate Student Appreciation Week

Sunday, March 29 to Friday, April 3

• Events include Cantus at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, the Second Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium, a UNI Panthers Baseball Game, and more.
• Watch for flyers and information later in the semester!

Relay for Life

Friday, April 17 to Saturday, April 18
UNI Dome

• The American Cancer Society’s event offers everyone an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer.
• Join or donate to the UNI Graduate College Team by clicking here.
• For additional information contact, Brock Holman, Graduate Assistant, at bholman@uni.edu

Minority Graduate Student Association (MGSA)

Organization: Minority Graduate Student Association (MGSA) Purpose: Offer a support system for racial and ethnic minority students. MGSA facilitates programs which help strengthen the community among graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Programs are also designed to support the continued academic, social, and professional growth of minority graduate students at UNI.

MGSA members at "A Classy Affair"

Next Meeting: Bi-weekly meetings are held on Sundays at 3:00 pm in the Center for Multicultural Education. Events: MGSA will continue with Reading Buddies at Price Lab School (last semester members volunteered every other week in a first grade classroom). Past activities have included “A Classy Affair: Talent Show & Poetry Slam” (co-sponsored with Delta Sigma Theta), volunteering with the Salvation Army’s “Children’s Voices” program, the Minority Student Leadership Dinner, and hosting a Minority Mentoring Program. Membership: Contact the organization at unimgsa@gmail.com for more information and to get involved.

Annual College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Student Research Conference

Saturday, April 18
Schindler Education Center
Keynote Speaker: Carol Gilligan

Open to all graduate and undergraduate students. Theoretical and empirical research work is welcome. Awards will be announced for best undergraduate and graduate presentations.

Early registration is strongly encouraged due to high turnout!
For more information, please visit the website at www.psych.uni.edu/conference

The CSBS houses departments such as sociology, psychology, geography, history, anthropology, gender studies, criminology, and political science. The conference provides the opportunity for students to present their research, exchange ideas, learn about different disciplines, and network. Seminars, lectures, and panel discussions are also organized relating to current research, graduate education, and future possibilities and job prospects in the social sciences.

Monday, March 2

Atul Mitra, Department of Management
“Gender and Personality Differences in Perceptions of Changes in Pay Levels”

Monday, April 6

Presentation of the Outstanding Graduate Research Paper on gender. Presentation by the award’s recipient.

All CROW Forums are at noon in the Center for Multicultural Education (CME) Room 109A. Women’s & Gender Studies Program sponsors the Current Research on Women Forum Series. Faculty, staff, students and members of the wider community are invited to gather for informal presentation and discussion.

In This Issue

Sarah Benedict Nominated for Work with Bats

Biology MA student Sarah Benedict was nominated for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Outstanding Individual Volunteer Award for her work with bats. After working on the project for three summers, Benedict continued as a volunteer when funding for the project was cut. Read more on the News Page.

Sarah Benedict

Educator / Graduate Student Receives Multicultural Teaching Award

Amber Boyd teaches Talented and Gifted students while working on an Advanced Studies Certificate in the Principalship Urban Education Network program at UNI. She was honored in November with a 2008 Multicultural Teaching Award. Learn more on the News Page.

Amber Boyd

Graduate Student and Faculty Conduct Workshop

Dr. Leigh Zeitz, Curriculum & Instruction, and Lois Lindell, doctoral student in Curriculum & Instruction, conducted a professional development workshop at the Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT) International Conference in November. Learn more on the News Page.

UNI's representation at the AECT conference

Clarence Lobdell III Receives Errol B. Davis Alliant Energy Award

Clarence Lobdell III, Masters of Accounting student and student body vice president, recently won the Errol B. Davis Alliant Energy Award. Learn more on the News Page.

Clarence Lobdell III

The Spring 2009 Professional Development Series

All of these events are held at the Innovative Teaching & Technology Center (ITTC) Room 136. Each presentation will be filmed and posted on the Graduate College Website at a later date for those who are unable to attend.

Attendees of a Professional Development Workshop on February 2, 2009

More information on the Writing Workshops can be found here.
More information on The Essential Toolkit can be found here.

Contact Ken Nesbett, Graduate Assistant, at knesbett@uni.edu with questions or to sign up.

Writing Workshop I: The Focused Graduate Student

Tuesday, February 10 - 4:00– 5:00 pm

Inventory your research interests and longterm goals. Take charge of your coursework and your faculty contacts.
Presented by Deanne Gute, PhD, Writing Center Coordinator

The Essential Toolkit Monday, February 16 - 3:00-4:00 pm Essential services and resources especially for graduate students. Presented by Chris Neuhaus, Rod Library Instruction Coordinator

Chris Neuhaus prepares for his February 2 workshop with Jason Vetter's assistance

Writing Workshop II: The Productive Graduate Student

Monday, February 16 - 4:00-5:00 pm

Master the conventions of the literature review, thesis/dissertation proposal, and the abstract.
Presented by Deanne Gute, PhD, Writing Center Coordinator

Writing Workshop III: The Eloquent Graduate Student

Thursday, February 19 - 4:00-5:00 pm

Experience hands-on practice with editing and proofreading strategies.
Presented by Deanne Gute, PhD, Writing Center Coordinator

Michael Girsch

Michael Girsch, a 2006 graduate of UNI's Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs program now works at Arizona State as Program Coordinator in the Study Abroad Office Learn more about his career path and time at UNI on the Where are they now? page.

Mike Girsch

Spotlighting UNI's Fulbright Scholars

Visit the International Student Profile Page to learn more about two of UNI's Fulbright Scholars.

Hue Duong Trong A Communication Studies MA student, Hue Duong Trong is a Fulbright scholar from Vietnam. He has worked with international non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies. Learn more on the International Student Profile Page.

Hue Duong Trong

Ahlam Al-Selwi A TESOL MA student, Ahlam Al-Selwi is a Fulbright scholar from Yemen. She has taught English for over four years. This fall she participated in a conference in Abu Dhabi. Learn more on the International Student Profile Page.

Ahlam Al-Selwi

The Graffito is a publication of the University of Northern Iowa Graduate College.

Contact Katherine Brown, Designer and Editor, with questions, comments, and submissions at kabrown@uni.edu.