A Note from the Associate Provost of Graduate Studies & Research

Congratulations on your nomination for Graduate Assistant of the Year! In the Graduate School, we are very proud of your accomplishments and appreciate the excellent work you perform across our campus. While I have only recently joined VSU, I quickly learned how essential graduate assistants are to the effective operation of units across our campus. In your role as graduate assistants, you all have played a critical part in supporting the mission of VSU. Graduate assistants support the delivery of quality instruction in the core curriculum through our lecture and laboratory courses. Graduate assistants also support upper-division courses that infuse the research and inquiry skills while preparing our students to succeed in their majors. Furthermore, graduate assistants help to advance the research mission of VSU as you work alongside our faculty on exciting and innovative research projects. One of the goals of a graduate assistantship is to prepare you for the next step in your career. Whether you have been a teaching assistant in a science lab, a research assistant to a faculty member, a coach with one of our sports teams, or support personnel in one of the many offices across campus, it is my hope that your experience as a graduate assistant has been transformative to your graduate education. You may find in looking over your time as a graduate assistant that you now have a conference presentation or peer-reviewed publications with a faculty mentor, or you may have taught a course with the guidance of your faculty supervisor, or you may have developed professional skills in your field from the hands-on opportunities. In reflecting on your growth in the position you have held, please know that your work has left a lasting impression on us all at VSU. Again, congratulations on your nomination for Graduate Assistant of the Year, and I wish you great success in your future academic and professional endeavors. Sincerely, Becky da Cruz Associate Provost of Graduate Studies and Research