University of Memphis Graduate School

Summer is often viewed as a break in the academic calendar, but for many graduate students, it can be the most vulnerable time of the year.

In a powerful and personal reflection, Dr. Deborah Tollefsen, Vice Provost & Dean of the University of Memphis Graduate School, shares her own experience navigating graduate school while facing financial uncertainty, housing instability, and the challenge of simply making it to the next semester. Her story raises an important question for higher education: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿?

The latest Graduate School blog explores how institutions can better support students through year-round engagement, emergency funding, writing communities, and meaningful connections that help students persist to graduation.

While you're there, you'll also find:
🎓 Information about New Graduate Student Orientation
💙 Ways to support the next generation of graduate leaders through the "Empower Tomorrow's Leaders Today" campaign
✍️ Resources like our Dissertation Writers Retreat
📍 Fun Memphis events and opportunities to help graduate students connect with their new community

Graduate student success doesn't happen by accident—it happens when we intentionally build systems of support that recognize the realities of students' lives.

Read the latest Graduate School blog and join the conversation.
https://apply.memphis.edu/go?cmd=message&id=918b3026-18cc-49e8-b021-4f66c0765c5c

Your thesis or dissertation deserves dedicated time, expert support, and a community that's cheering you on. 📚✍️

Join the FREE Summer 2026 Dissertation Writers Retreat, hosted by the UofM Graduate School, University Libraries, and Writing and Communication Services (WCS) at CASA.

Whether you're drafting your first chapter or preparing for final submission, you'll gain:
✔️ Dedicated writing time
✔️ Research and literature review strategies
✔️ Burnout and wellness tips
✔️ Dissertation formatting guidance
✔️ Peer feedback and collaboration
✔️ Connections with faculty, campus experts, and fellow graduate students

Choose the option that works best for you:
💻 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁: July 21
📍𝗜𝗻-𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁: July 22–23 | McWherter Library

Take a step toward your graduate goals and invest in your writing success. Register today! 🎓

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘: https://www.memphis.edu/libraries/about/dwr.php

Make this summer count. ☀️📚

Summer classes at the University of Memphis are a great way to stay on track, get ahead, or create more flexibility in your degree plan. With online, hybrid, and in-person options available, you can build a schedule that works for you while continuing to make progress toward your goals.

Don’t wait! Register for summer courses and invest in your future at UofM. 💙

🔗Learn more here:
https://www.memphis.edu/summer_classes/

One of the best parts of being a student at the University of Memphis? Real-world experience that makes an impact.

Dr. Boller’s marketing students recently developed and pitched a Graduate School brand story to our team, giving them the opportunity to work on a real client project, present their ideas professionally, and gain hands-on experience beyond the classroom.

Even better? Every student in the group is continuing their journey at UofM by enrolling in graduate school! We’re so proud of the creativity, professionalism, and thoughtful work they brought to the table. They did an awesome job, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.

And shoutout to the iconic Dr. Boller for creating opportunities like this for students. Faculty members like him are what make the UofM experience so meaningful — connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences that prepare students for what’s next.

🎓 It’s Commencement Weekend at the University of Memphis!

This weekend, we proudly celebrate the incredible graduate students earning their master’s, specialist, doctoral degrees, and graduate certificates. Your dedication, resilience, research, leadership, and hard work have brought you to this moment, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate alongside you. 🐅💙

As our graduates prepare to cross the stage at the 𝗙𝗲𝗱𝗘𝘅𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 tomorrow, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟵𝘁𝗵. We invite the UofM community, family, and friends to attend or watch the live stream on the UofM Commencement Office's YouTube channel which is available to watch after the ceremony.

We’re also highlighting and honoring our graduates in our latest 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 which is now live and linked below!!

Congratulations, Class of 2026. Your next chapter starts now! 🎉

Blog: https://apply.memphis.edu/go?cmd=message&id=7694c6d9-7dfa-4514-8fdd-f0e4f64f56b7

Commencement Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com//streams

Real conversations. Meaningful connections. Lasting impact.

Right here on campus, within our University of Memphis community, moments like these reflect our commitment to showing up for our current and future graduate students and even our UofM staff.

We love sharing opportunities, answering questions, and building relationships that support every step of the graduate journey at the University of Memphis.

Grad Student Appreciation Month may be coming to a close, but we’re ending it on a high note 🎉

Join us for Grad Student Connect & Exam Prep Care Packages on Tuesday, April 28 | 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM at UofM Alumni Lawn 3 (in partnership with Pepsi).

Stop by to grab your exam prep package, refuel, and connect with fellow graduate students before finals kick into high gear.

It’s been an incredible month filled with events celebrating YOU, let’s wrap it up together. We can’t wait to see you there!

🔗RSVP here: https://apply.memphis.edu/register/examprep

Graduate Student Appreciation Month continues… and we’re shining a light on the work that defines it. 🎓

From posters to presentations, UofM graduate students filled the UC Ballroom with research, innovation and impact during the 38th Annual Student Research Forum.

This is more than a showcase — it’s a glimpse into the innovation, passion and impact happening every day at UofM.

𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝗿𝗲. 🎓💻

We’re continuing our series highlighting the moments, mentors and experiences that shape the graduate journey at the University of Memphis, this time with 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸, 𝗮 𝗨𝗼𝗳𝗠 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 (𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁) 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲.

For Andrew, learning online didn’t mean sacrificing quality. Under the instruction of 𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝗯𝘂 𝗠𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝘂, his Environmental Health course became a defining academic experience: rigorous, engaging and deeply impactful. It challenged him to grow, pushed him beyond complacency and reaffirmed that he made the right choice in pursuing graduate study at UofM.

This is what 𝗨𝗼𝗳𝗠 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 does at its best: delivering high-quality, flexible education that meets students where they are. With 20+ years of experience in online learning and 100+ degree programs, UofM Global allows students to balance life, career and education while still receiving the same level of excellence and support from dedicated faculty.

In programs like the 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, students gain real-world experience through fieldwork, community partnerships and research opportunities that prepare them to lead in areas like public health policy, community health and beyond.

At UofM, excellence isn’t limited by location; it’s defined by faculty who are committed to helping students succeed, wherever they are.

Follow along as we continue to highlight how UofM faculty inspire, mentor and transform graduate students.