Graduate Social | Photo by Elayna Storts | The Wright State Guardian
In an effort to help new graduate students get acclimated to campus, Wright State University held a graduate student information session and social event with food, peers, professors, employers, community partners and campus leaders.
The event
On Friday, Sept. 1, new graduate students gathered at 4 p.m. in the Atlantis Room of the Student Union for an important information session, which was then followed by a social event in the Endeavor Room at 5 p.m.
Victor Schmithorst, a graduate assistant and third-year student in the psychology doctoral program, helped with planning the event. This year was the first time WSU held a social event for graduate students alongside an orientation, Schmithorst explained.
Dr. Shu Schiller, interim dean of the College of Graduate Programs & Honors Studies, and Schmithorst realized after talking with other deans around campus that students needed socialization to develop a sense of belonging in the university, which was the idea behind the event.
According to Schmithorst, the social event was for networking and mingling with other graduate students, school leaders and employers.
“In orientation, we help new graduate students to receive important information and guide them through the success path, and the social event is to bring different kinds of people together where students can network,” Schiller said.
Schiller emphasized two main focuses behind the event: how crucial it is for students to talk with peers in different majors and the importance of networking from day one.
“It was very informative. There’s a lot I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t come, and I am thankful I met a lot of people,” Amity Pennington, first-year graduate student of International and Comparative Politics, said.
One of the employers at the event was Matthew DeMasters, a United States Secret Service agent who is the resident agent in charge at the Dayton Resident Office.
Schiller plans to host more events like this one in the future to support students. For more information about the graduate program at WSU, visit the program’s website.
