This year’s cohort of seven Graduate Life Fellows (GLFs) is focused on building community among their fellow students.
“Connection and community are two of my most treasured values, and I am so excited to facilitate events and programs to help enhance my peer’s sense of each,” said Cara Blevins, a doctoral student in health psychology. She is in her fourth year of the clinical health psychology Ph.D. program.
Doctoral student Ziaul Haq Adnan echoed Blevins’ comments. “I look forward to arranging programs and supporting students in order to enhance graduate student life and education at UNC Charlotte.”
Adnan, a graduate of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, completed a master’s degree at the University of Southern Mississippi. His doctoral research is in two diverse areas – supply chain pricing and electric vehicles.
Through the Center for Graduate Life, the GLFs provide leadership-building opportunities through collaborative efforts with campus partners, including faculty, staff, graduate student organizations and various campus offices.
This fall, along with promoting local campaign efforts designed to give back to UNC Charlotte’s graduate community, the GLFs will spearhead “UNC Charlotte’s Got Your Back,” a major crowdfunding initiative that will provide Charlotte’s most at-risk elementary school children with basic educational resources. The initiative also will provide these children with exposure to real students in higher education who will their stories and offer reasons why they should never give up on their dreams.
The remaining GLFs for 2016-17 are:
Nazmiye Gizem Bakacsizlar, a doctoral student in software and information systems, who is in the second year of the program. A native of Turkey, she completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering from Yildiz Technical University and Bogazici University, before moving to Charlotte in August 2014. As a GLF, “my biggest personal goal is to take part in building a stronger communication base and increasing the awareness in societies at multiple levels.”
Callie DeWese, a master’s student in counseling, is in the second year of the program. Originally from Massachusetts, she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has worked as a graduate assistant in the University’s Center for Academic Excellence and will continue in that role this fall. She said, “I look forward to growing the graduate student community by planning meaningful events that bring together graduate students across all disciplines.”
Ben Gordon, a doctoral student in biological sciences. His research focus is with human blood pressure management. A graduate of Western Michigan University, Gordon completed a master’s degree in clinical exercise physiology from East Stroudsburg University. He said, “I am an advocate for and plan to enhance the interdisciplinary nature of the University and graduate community.”
Shayan Nazari, a doctoral student in biological sciences. A first-year Ph.D. student, Nazari complete a master’s degree in biological sciences from the University. She looks forward to working with Pinku Mukherjee in her cancer research laboratory. As evidenced by serving as the 2015-16 GPSG president, Nazari recognizes the importance of graduate student holistic development and therefore often finds ways to be engaged with her graduate community. “I am proud to be a Graduate Life Fellow to serve as a voice and as a mentor for graduate students
Patrice Williams is pursuing a Master of Social Work. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University, where was a resident advisor mentor. In that role, she programmed, mentored and connected to students by providing resources and support to the undergraduate community. “I am beyond honored to be a part of the graduate community at UNC Charlotte, and I am excited to begin staking my claim by communicating, connecting and being a resource to fellow grad students.”
UNC Charlotte was the first and remains the only institution in the UNC system to offer a dedicated program like the Graduate Life Fellows; these individuals work with the entire graduate population and specialize in supporting their fellow students from orientation to graduation.
Past GLFs have organized networking events with UNC Charlotte alumni, documentary/panel discussions on social justice issues, Habitat for Humanity builds, wellness events, seasonal corn maze trips and other activities.
Learn more about the Center for Graduate Life on the web.
Photo: 2016-17 GLFs (from left) Patrice Williams, Cara Blevins, Callie DeWese, Ben Gordon, Shayan Nazari, Ziaul Haq Adnan and Nazmiye Gizem Bacaksizler.