GradNews

Congratulations December 2019 Graduates!

You've made it!  In just a few days you can take a deep breath and enjoy your well deserved graduate degree.  We are honored that you chose to learn with us and appreciate all the contributions you have made to our community.  We hope that you have enjoyed your experiences at SIUE and look forward to hearing about your future endeavors.   We hope to see you at the Commencement ceremony! 

You are now officially a part of the SIUE Alumni Association.  To learn more about your alumni benefits, visit their website. 

Save the Date: March 31st!

On Tuesday, March 31st, 2020, the Graduate School will host its annual Spring Research Symposium to to bring the campus community together to learn more about the research of current graduate students.  If you're working on a research project, plan to submit your research for a poster presentation when the Call for Submissions is sent early in the spring semester.  All students and faculty will be invited to attend! 

Career Development Center

Ever wish you could have an expert review your resume or LinkedIn profile to be sure it's the best it can be?  Hoping to connect with employers looking to hire upcoming SIUE graduates?  Overwhelmed by the thought of searching for a job as graduation approaches and wishing someone could help demystify the job search process for you? 

The SIUE Career Development Center offers all of the above services, and much more.  They are here in the Student Success Center to assist all students, including current graduate students, in their career development.  Contact them today to arrange an appointment at 618-650-3656 or at careerdevelopment@siue.edu.  

Looking for external research funding?   SIUE subscribes to GrantForward, a database to accommodate faculty and student searches for external funding sources. Users have access to over 8,000 federal opportunities and 6,000 foundation opportunities in the arts, medical sciences, education, humanities, social sciences, business, technology, physical sciences, law, and more. Saving searches makes it simple to return to and revise your search terms. In addition, researcher profiles allow one to search the extensive database for qualified collaborators.

Congratulations to all of our Fall 2019 Research Grants for Graduate Students (RGGS) awardees!   View the list of the awardees, their project titles, and more info about how you can apply for RGGS funding next semester on the RGGS website.

When it comes to building your online professional presence, building and maintaining a strong LinkedIn profile is essential! If you're new to LinkedIn or need some tips to expand your profile and maximize your networking potential, read The Ultimate Guide to LinkedIn for Students. 

Follow the SIUE Graduate School LinkedIn feed to stay connected to your graduate school community! 

Recreational & Social Organizations at SIUE

Drone Club?  Cycling Club?  Honey Bee Association?  Outdoor Adventure Club?  Campus Activities Board?
Yes, yes, and yes.  They all exist.  They're all here at SIUE. If you're looking to meet new people, have some fun, and make some memories, check out the recreational organizations on the Get Involved at SIUE website and connect!

Cultural Organizations at SIUE

There are a myriad of opportunities to connect to cultural-based organizations at SIUE.  A sampling of the cultural organizations on campus include the Black Graduate Student Association, Asian American Association, Gay-Straight Alliance, Global Ambassador Program, Hispanic Student Union, International Student Council, NAACP SIUE Chapter, Muslim Student Association, New Horizons, and Students for Global Outreach.  

Expand your horizons. Check out the cultural organizations on the Get Involved at SIUE website and connect!

Meet Patrick Ayres, PhD student in Historical Studies

Dr. Erik Alexander (left) and Patrick Ayres (right), 2019 Graduate School Awards Reception

Although Patrick completed his master's thesis to complete his MA in Historical Studies at SIUE in the spring of 2019, the accolades for his thesis began pouring in more recently.   His thesis, titled "Embattled Conservatism: Hamilton Gamble and Conservatism in Civil War Missouri" has received two major recognitions this fall.  In September, the Missouri Historical Society named Patrick as the 2019 Lewis E. Atherton Prize winner for the best master's thesis on Missouri history and biography, which marked the first time a SIUE student received the award.  Shortly thereafter, SIUE named Patrick as the winner of the 2019 Outstanding Thesis Award winner, and he was recently presented that award at the Graduate School Awards Reception held last month. 

Patrick's thesis advisor, Dr. Erik Alexander, said that "Patrick's thesis is exceptionally well researched, including far more original research than is typically expected of a history master's thesis.  He completed a substantial amount of original archival research in Missouri using private letters, manuscripts, and newspapers. Patrick's thesis also makes a significant contribution to an emerging historiographical literature on the history of conservatism in the nineteenth century as a distinct political ideology."

Patrick is furthering his pursuit of graduate education at SIUE, as he began in the co-op PhD program in Historical Studies this fall. 

Know a deserving student or alum that we should highlight in Cougar Pride?  Contact us at graduateschool@siue.edu to let us know!