Let's Talk Grad School Series 2026-2027!

Let's Talk Grad School Series 2026–2027!
Ready to dive deeper into what graduate school really looks like? Join us for our Let's Talk Grad School series — open conversations designed to help you prepare, connect, and thrive on your grad journey.

Each session features honest discussions with current graduate students and alumni who share tips, lessons learned, and how they've built community and balance in grad life.

Picking Your People: Choosing — and Working With — Your PhD Advisor 
OCT. 21, 2026 (Wednesday) 12:00pm  
Also to be shown in-person at Sondheim 101 to celebrate Dr. McNair’s birthday! 
How did other new grad students choose their advisors?

Panelists:

• Dr. Ricky Blissett (they/them and he/him), Associate Director, Center for Democracy and Civic Life, UMBC (UMBC alum)
• Dr. Maria Sanchez (she/her), Director of Education in Engineering, COEIT, UMBC
• Diane Stonestreet (she/her and they/them), PhD Candidate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University (UMBC McNair alum!)
• Dr. Edward Dillon (he/him), Associate Professor, Information Systems, UMBC

RECORDING :https://umbc.box.com/s/ckuzv6uc0dbd3at9okk7fdl1ivn1wubk 

 
What's Research Got To Do with It? 
NOV. 18, 2026 (Wednesday) 12:00pm 
The relevance of research in grad school! 

Panelists:

• Dr. Amy Tondreau (she/her), Associate Professor of Elementary Literacy, School of Education, UMBC
• Nyla Howell (she/her), PhD Student in Geography, Rutgers University-New Brunswick (UMBC McNair alum!)
• Dr. Ramon Goings (he/him), Professor and Director, Languages, Literature, and Culture, UMBC
• Dr. Blake Hipsley (he/him), Research Associate, Physics Department, University of Michigan (UMBC McNair alum!)

REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/36BGindeQim4HKYOgk6zNw  

 
Building Resilience in Grad School 
FEB. 3, 2027 (Wednesday) 12:00pm 
How do we steel ourselves for the challenges of graduate school? 
REGISTER:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/5TD-zRnxTqSYxEopvuwLzg 
 

The Politics of Graduate School: Navigating Relationships 
APR. 3rd 2027 (Saturday) 1:00pm 
How do we navigate the politics of the academy as a graduate student? 
REGISTER:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/SpxUnKxaRruiFZeZ3CONMQ#/registration