In-Person Orientation
Thank you for joining us on August 7! Check back for spring 2026 details.
New Graduate Student In-Person Orientation
Thank you for joining us for fall 2025 orientation! If you missed this orientation, please review the resources below.
New Graduate Student In-Person Orientation gives new graduate students an opportunity to learn more about faculty expectations, connect with Graduate School staff, identify resources for student success, meet other new and returning graduate students from across all disciplines, and become a part of the UofL graduate student community!
| 9:30am | Opening | Patriece Campbell-Palmer, Ed.D., Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management, Graduate School with Graduate School Staff |
| 9:50am | Deans’ Welcome | Beth Boehm, Ph.D., Dean, Graduate School, Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs, Professor of English Paul DeMarco, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Graduate School, Director, Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, Professor, Psychological and Brain Sciences |
| 10:00am | Student Success in Graduate School: Faculty Panel | Moderator: Beth Boehm, Ph.D., Dean, Graduate School, Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs, Professor of English •Frank Kelderman, Ph.D., Director of Graduate Studies, Associate Professor, English •Deborah Powers, Ed.D., Director of Graduate Studies, Education Administration and Leadership, Regional Facilitator, NISL Wallace/JCPS Foundation Grant PI •Patrica Soucy, Ph.D., Director of Graduate Studies, Associate Professor, Bioengineering |
| 11:00am | Concurrent Session Explanation | Michelle Rodems, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Student Success |
| 11:05am | Transition 1 | |
| 11:15am | Concurrent Session 1 | See Below for Sessions |
| 11:45am | Transition 2 | |
| 11:55am | Concurrent Session 2 | See Below for Sessions |
| 12:25pm | Transition 3 | |
| 12:30pm | Graduate Student Council (GSC) and Multicultural Association of Graduate Students (MAGS) Welcome | Graduate Student Council (GSC): Kyle Cook, doctoral student, Physics and Astronomy Multicultural Association of Graduate Students (MAGS): Betsy Perez de Corcho Vasquez, doctoral student, Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology |
| 12:50pm | Reminders and Wrap Up | Michelle Rodems, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Student Success |
Concurrent Sessions
SAC Multipurpose Room | W116 | W117 | W118 | W107 | |
Session 1: 11:15 – 11:45am | Success in Graduate School: Graduate Student Panel (Froedge-John w/ Chatterjee, Perez de Corcho Vasquez, Wilder) | Graduate Level Writing and Work (Writing Center)
| Understanding Graduate School Expectations and Culture (Hamilton) | Introduction to AI for Graduate Students (Cline-Douthitt, McDonald) | Practicing Wellness and Resiliency in Graduate School (Counseling Center) |
Session 2: 11:55 – 12:25pm | Success in Graduate School: Graduate Student Panel (Froedge-John w/ Chatterjee, Perez de Corcho Vasquez, Wilder) | Research Skills and Tools (Libraries) | Understanding Graduate School Expectations and Culture (Hamilton) | Managing Your Mentor (Boehm) | Career Planning NOW for LATER (Rodems) |
| 2:00pm | Opening | Patriece Campbell-Palmer, Ed.D., Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management, Graduate School with Graduate School Staff |
| 2:15pm | Deans’ Welcome | Beth Boehm, Ph.D., Dean, Graduate School, Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs, Professor of English Paul DeMarco, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Graduate School, Director, Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, Professor, Psychological and Brain Sciences |
| 2:25pm | Student Success in Graduate School | Moderator: Beth Boehm, Ph.D., Dean, Graduate School, Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs, Professor of English •Aaron Comstock, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Anthropology •Sandeep Goyal, Ph.D., Professor and Brown & Williamson Chair, Director of Graduate Studies MSBA Programs, Information Systems, Analytics & Operations •Melissa Henry, Ph.D., Interim Chair, Counseling and Personnel Services, Director of Graduate Studies, Associate Professor, Clinical Mental Health Counseling |
| 3:20pm | Concurrent Session Explanation | Michelle Rodems, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Student Success |
| 3:25pm | Transition 1 | |
| 3:35pm | Concurrent Session 1 | See Below for Sessions |
| 4:05pm | Transition 2 | |
| 4:15pm | Concurrent Session 2 | See Below for Sessions |
| 4:45pm | Transition 3 | |
| 4:50pm | Starting Well | Michelle Rodems, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Student Success |
| 5:00pm | Graduate Student Council (GSC) and Multicultural Association of Graduate Students (MAGS) Welcome | Graduate Student Council (GSC): Kyle Cook, doctoral student, Physics and Astronomy Multicultural Association of Graduate Students (MAGS): Betsy Perez de Corcho Vasquez, doctoral student, Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology |
| 5:20pm | Reminders and Wrap Up | Michelle Rodems, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Student Success |
Concurrent Sessions
SAC Multipurpose Room | W116 | W117 | W118 | W107 | Floyd Theatre | |
Session 1: 3:35 – 4:05pm | Success in Graduate School: Graduate Student Panel (Froedge-John w/ Deurell, Kiari, Nirmal) | Practicing Wellness and Resiliency in Graduate School (Counseling Center) | Career Planning for Master’s Students (Career Center) | Graduate Level Writing and Work (Writing Center)
| Making the Most of Your Time (Rodems) | Understanding Graduate School Expectations and Culture (Hamilton) |
Session 2: 4:15 – 4:45pm | Success in Graduate School: Graduate Student Panel (Froedge-John w/ Deurell, Kiari, Nirmal) |
| Career Planning for Master’s Students (Career Center) | Introduction to AI for Graduate Students (Cline-Douthitt, McDonald) | Making the Most of Your Time (Rodems) | Understanding Graduate School Expectations and Culture (Hamilton) |
Don't Forget! New Graduate Student Orientation Module
New-to-UofL graduate students should complete the standard orientation online module. UofL alumni complete the returning orientation online module.