UGA Graduate School

Heads up! The deadline to register for the Dissertation Writing Retreat is June 30th.

Hosted by the Graduate School and the Willis Writing Center, this retreat provides structured writing time, resources, peer feedback, consultations, and writing support for post-candidacy doctoral students completing dissertation writing.

The retreat will take place July 13th–17th, 2026 from 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM on the UGA campus.

Registration is limited to the first 20 students and requires a letter of support from your major professor or dissertation chair confirming your eligibility and good standing.

To register, visit the Events tab in your Enrolled Student Portal in Slate or visit the link in our bio.

Last week, UGA celebrated the incredible staff members who help make our university community so special at the 2026 Spring Staff Appreciation Celebration.

From lunch and live entertainment to fun photo booth moments, we loved taking time to recognize and celebrate the hardworking staff across campus, including the amazing team here at the Graduate School. Thank you for all that you do to support our students, faculty, and community every day!

Considering a future in academia? Join the UGA Graduate School for a webinar focused on researching the academic job market and understanding what faculty opportunities look like in your field.

This workshop will help doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs explore questions like what academic positions are available in their discipline, how competitive they are as candidates, and how to best prepare for a career in academia.

Whether you’re committed to academia or still exploring different career paths, this session is a valuable step toward making informed decisions about your future.

Register here: https://institutions.beyondprof.com/webinar-research-academic-job-market/

We are looking forward to celebrating our amazing Spring 2026 graduates tomorrow! Here are some guest reminders for the big day:

CLEAR BAG POLICY
The clear bag policy is in effect for Commencement. Please follow the guidelines in the Permitted/Prohibited Items section of the Commencement webpage.

VIEWING OPTIONS
In addition to watching the ceremony in person, the Spring 2026 Graduate Commencement ceremony will be broadcast live on the Commencement homepage and streamed on YouTube with closed captions available.

For more Commencement information, visit the link in bio.

We are looking forward to celebrating our amazing Spring 2026 graduates this week! Here are some student reminders for the big day:

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
Graduate degree candidates will report to the basketball practice gym on the second floor of the Stegeman Coliseum Training Facility 1.5 hour prior to the ceremony start time. Please enter through the doors closest to the Carlton Street Parking Deck.

SEATING CHART
Graduates will be seated by degree. Seating charts are available on the UGA commencement webpage.

For more Commencement information, visit the link in our bio.

The University of Georgia Graduate School and the Office of Engagement, Leadership and Service congratulate the Spring 2026 cohort of students who completed GradLEAD.

Through GradLEAD cohort meetings and peer group engagement, these graduate students had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of leadership, strengthen their self-awareness, and develop the skills to collaborate and lead effectively across diverse contexts.

Students interested in learning more about GradLEAD can visit grad.uga.edu/. Applications will open Fall 2026 for the next Spring 2027 cohort.

From May 4th–8th, Beyond the Professoriate will host its annual PhD Career Conference, designed to help PhDs build a strong foundation for a successful nonacademic job search.

If you’re in the final year of your program, a postdoc planning your next steps, or a graduate student exploring your career options, this conference series is for you. Over the course of the week, you’ll learn what it takes to build a meaningful career beyond the professoriate.

This special event is open to doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines. Register to attend: https://institutions.beyondprof.com/webinar-career-conference-2026/

We are proud to see UGA graduate student Taylor Ann Pearson featured in We Are Georgia for her research on ticks and tick-borne diseases.

A Ph.D. candidate at the University of Georgia and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS), Pearson’s work focuses on the prevalence and diversity of ticks and tick-borne pathogens along Georgia’s coastline. From conducting field research across 15 coastal counties to leading community “Tick Talks,” she is helping raise awareness and improve public understanding of tick-related health risks.

Join us in celebrating Taylor and this well-deserved recognition. Read the full story here, https://wearegeorgia.uga.edu/story/taking-on-ticks/