Graduate School Primer: Navigating Academia Workshop Series
As part of a continued orientation experience for incoming graduate and professional students, the Graduate School sponsors a special seminar series for first-year graduate and professional students. The purpose of Graduate School Primer workshops is for students to gain valuable information and skills to make a successful transition into the role of a Cornell graduate or professional student.
2023 Workshops
Understanding and Overcoming the Imposter Experience
July 25, 10-11:30 a.m.
Presenter: Jessamyn Perlus, Senior Associate Director, Cornell Career Services
Did you know that impostor feelings are normal and that most high-achieving graduate students experience these feelings at some point? Join us to better understand the impostor phenomenon; learn to recognize it and see recent research on how it can be a barrier to graduate student success. By defining it and sharing experiences, you’ll learn evidence-based tools to help combat impostor feelings.
Download the Understanding and Overcoming the Impostor Experience transcript.
Getting the Mentoring You Need and Want
July 27, 2-3:30 p.m.
Presenters: Colleen McLinn, Associate Dean for Professional Development, and Sara Xayarath Hernández, Associate Dean for Inclusion and Student and Faculty Engagement
A mentor is the most critical relationship for a graduate student. Mentoring begins with understanding what mentoring is and what you hope to get out of the relationship. Through interactive discussion and case studies, we will discuss how to establish a positive relationship and communicate effectively with your mentors.
Download the Getting the Mentoring You Need and Want transcript.
Understanding Doctoral Funding at Cornell
August 1, 10-11 a.m.
Presenter:Jason Kahabka, Associate Dean for Administration
At Cornell, almost all Ph.D. students receive funding that pays tuition and provides a living stipend through a combination of fellowships, assistantships, and external scholarships. This presentation will explain how stipends are paid, what your responsibilities are, and provides insight on how to be an active participant in your own funding plan.
Download the Understanding Doctoral Funding at Cornell transcript.
Organize Your Space to Optimize Your Academic Performance
August 1, 2-3 p.m.
Presenter:Jen Forbes, Big Red Barn Graduate and Professional Student Center Director
Do you feel a bit disorganized in your house/apartment/room/office space? Did you know this has an impact on how successful you could be academically? In this one-hour session we will explore the impacts cluttered spaces have and talk about what you can do to get on a path to better organization.
Download the Organize Your Space to Optimize Your Academic Performance transcript.
Maximize Your Every Minute
August 8, 2-3 p.m.
Presenter:Janna Lamey, Senior Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Life and Angela Yantorno, Graduate Student Life Advisor
While there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to best manage your most precious resource (TIME), time management is a skill that can be learned! Given the many demands for your time and attention to support your many identities, roles, and relationships, techniques can be learned to help you be able to intentionally decide what you should do when. Join us for an interactive discussion that reviews commonly used techniques, how to make strategic decisions that support the whole you, and how to maintain relationships when setting boundaries. In addition, share with others what you have found works best for you.
Download the Maximize Your Every Minute transcript.
The Basics of Mental Health and Well-Being
August 9, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Presenter: Janna Lamey, Senior Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Life
Make sure that you develop your mental health support plan so that you can have the energy and reserves to support your academic success. The stressors of being a graduate student are real and understanding the research for how you can best support your mental health and well-being is key to your future success. In this session, we will define mental health, learn key concepts of resilience, and emphasize the importance of sense of belonging and self-care practices. You’ll be able to connect with others in the session. University and local resources are also provided.
Download the Basics of Mental Health and Well-Being transcript.
Creating, Building, and Maintaining Social Networks
August 10, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Presenters: Jen Forbes, Big Red Barn Graduate and Professional Student Center director; Janna Lamey, senior assistant dean for graduate student life; and panel of esteemed students
Relationships that are grounded in trust, respect, and acceptance are the strongest factor in building and maintaining resilience. And, starting a new program at a new place can be challenging to create, build, and maintain social networks. So, what is a graduate student supposed to do? During this one-hour session, we’ll review the value of social networks, and more importantly, hear from graduate and professional students who have strategies and suggestions for how to build your social network right from the beginning.
Download the Creating, Building, and Maintaining Social Networks transcript.
Developing as an Instructor
August 11, 1-2 p.m.
Presenters: Colleen McLinn, Ph.D., associate dean for professional development, and Derina Samuel, Ph.D., associate director, graduate student development, Center for Teaching Innovation
Will you have teaching responsibilities this fall? Are you thinking about a faculty career track and want to develop your skills as an instructor? If your answer is “yes”, or you just want to find out more about teaching, join us to explore the many resources that are available to you at Cornell. At this session we will discuss the various teaching roles graduate students experience and identify areas you could develop to ensure a successful teaching experience.
Download the developing as an Instructor transcript.
Navigating Graduate School: The Good, the Grad, and the Ugly
August 14, 11-12 p.m.
Presenter: Josephine Martell, associate dean for academics
Come and learn about the top things that former graduate students wish they had known before they started their research degree programs. This session will share critical advice on setting achievable goals, creating mutual expectations with mentors, assembling an effective committee, research organization, the value of literature reviews, presenting and publishing, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and more. In addition to a short presentation, participants will have opportunities to break into smaller groups to reflect on, and brainstorm, how to apply the guidance in their own disciplines and unique situations.
Download the Navigating Graduate School: The Good, the Grad, and the Ugly transcript.
Exploring Career Options In and Outside Academia: Make an Action Plan for Your Future
August 14, 2-3 p.m.
Presenters: Susi Varvayanis, executive director of Careers Beyond Academia, and Christine Holmes, director of postdoctoral studies
You might be thinking it is too early to think about the end as you are starting, but in this session you will learn how important it can be to keep your options open, how you can take advantage of your time at Cornell to gain experiences that help you rule in or rule out different career sectors based on what you value and in what environments you thrive. You will leave with three things you can do that don’t take long at all that will increase your agency.