Graduate Student Development Institute

How to make a compelling scholarly argument

Whether in term papers, conference talks, articles, theses, dissertations, or books, the scholarly argument is a cornerstone of good academic writing. But what makes an argument compelling? How does this vary across subdisciplines, audiences, and modalities? In this institute, Associate Deans Ken McAllister and Chantelle Warner are joined by Assistant Professor Anastasia Gordienko (Russian and Slavic Studies) to lead a discussion of how they approach these questions in their own work. We will also talk through examples from humanities scholarship to gain a sense of what works and why. This event is intended for graduate students at all levels. 

Friday, February 28, 2025
1:00 - 2:30
Modern Languages 345c or Zoom

Presenters:

• Anastasia Gordienko | Assistant Professor, Russian and Slavic Studies
• Chantelle Warner | Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Humanities
• Ken McAllister | Associate Dean of Research and Program Innovation, College of Humanities

Open Educational Resources: What they are, where to find them, and how to make them

Open educational resources (OER)—i.e., teaching, learning, and research materials that individuals are free to use, share, and modify for their own purposes—have been promoted within higher education to increase information access, scholarly collaboration, and innovation in practice and research. In this session, CERCLL Director Beatrice Dupuy and Associate Director Kate Mackay, along with Associate Dean Chantelle Warner, will give an overview of what OERs are, how they may be relevant to your teaching and research, and where humanities OERs are published. They will also share examples from CERCLL projects to show how OERs are created and adapted in the professional work of university educators and scholars. This event is intended for graduate students at all levels.

Friday, April 11, 2025
1:00 - 2:30
Modern Languages 345c or Zoom

Presenters:

• Beatrice Dupuy | Director, Center for Educational Resources in Culture, Language and Literacy
• Kate Mackay | Associate Director, Center for Educational Resources in Culture, Language and Literacy
• Chantelle Warner | Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Humanities

How to Prepare, Write, and Defend a Dissertation Proposal and Dissertation

In this 2-hour session, the facilitators will share very practical tips on how to approach the dissertation process from proposal through defense. We’ll go over the basic components of each step (diss proposal, proposal defense, diss writing, and diss defense), discuss the purpose of each step, and tricks for completing each step so that each is truly helpful to your progress in your program and career. This session is intended for students who are ABD or nearly so (i.e., the comprehensive exams have been passed), though MA and PhD students at early phases of study and who are dissertation-curious are also quite welcome.

Friday, October 18, 2024
1:00 - 2:30
Modern Languages 345c or Zoom

Presenters:

• Chantelle Warner | Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Humanities
• Ken McAllister | Associate Dean of Research and Program Innovation, College of Humanities

Making the Most of Your Conference Presentations

Presenting at conferences is a key way for graduate students to share their research, expand their scholarly networks, and gain professional experiences that will benefit them in academic and non-academic careers alike. This session will cover these key topics:

• Writing compelling conference proposals
• Prepare presentations for different academic contexts
• Make the most of your time at and beyond the podium.

This session is designed for graduate students at all levels of study.

Friday, December 6, 2024
1:00 - 2:30
Modern Languages 345c or Zoom

Presenters:

• Chantelle Warner | Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Humanities
• Ken McAllister | Associate Dean of Research and Program Innovation, College of Humanities

Finding Jobs Outside the Academy

This 90-minute session will outline a general process to follow if you are considering a career outside the academy, as well as important tips about pragmatic topics such as how to find appropriate jobs for your degree, preparing cover letters and resumés, and navigating US visa issues and job interviews.

Friday, March 15, 2024
12:00 - 1:30
Modern Languages 345c or Zoom

Presenters:

• Frank Whitehead | Graduate Services Coordinator, SILLC
• Chantelle Warner | Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Humanities
• Ken McAllister | Associate Dean of Research and Program Innovation, College of Humanities

Introduction to the Academic Job Market

This general overall of the academic job search will help you learn about the essential components of your search dossier, offer tips and tricks to help you keep your search on track and as minimally stressful as possible, and suggest ways to help you perform at your best during first-round and campus interviews.

Friday, April 5, 2024
12:00 - 1:30
Modern Languages 345c or Zoom

Presenters:

• Chantelle Warner | Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Humanities
• Ken McAllister | Associate Dean of Research and Program Innovation, College of Humanities

Professional Networking for Joy and Profit (Without Feeling Slimy, and Even if You're an Introvert)

The stereotype of the glad-handing self-promoter has done a great disservice to the important role of networking in the academy. Join us for an illuminating discussion about why networking is a fundamental skill for graduate students, academics, and professionals in the humanities, as well as a practical mini-workshop on how to improve your networking game.

Friday, April 12, 2024
12:00 - 1:30
Modern Languages 345c or Zoom

Presenters:

• Nadia W-Charles | Assistant Professor, Africana Studies
• Judd Ruggill | Department Head, Public and Applied Humanities
• Chantelle Warner | Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Humanities
• Ken McAllister | Associate Dean of Research and Program Innovation, College of Humanities