The mission of the GSC is to promote, serve, and empower the UMKC graduate student community by addressing their scholarly, social, and professional growth needs. We want to make the graduate experience here at UMKC the best it can for everyone.
The UMKC Graduate Student Council (GSC) was formed in 2015 with the aim of providing an opportunity for graduate students to interact and support each other in their academic research endeavors. The GSC organizes a variety of social and academic programs throughout the year to promote the scholarly, social, and professional growth needs of our students.
Discover our past and upcoming council meetings, social events, seminars, workshops, and other activities. All events are kept on our RooGroups site, so join us as a member to receive communications and updates, as well as being able to RSVP.
Summary of the Community of Scholars 2023 Research Conference
The Graduate Student Council proudly recaps the Community of Scholars 2023 Research Conference, held on November 13th at the Atterbury Student Success Center. Organized in partnership with the School of Graduate Studies, this event showcased the essence of interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
Dr. Stephen Dilks, Interim Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, adeptly spearheaded this year's event. His significant role in securing funding was crucial for our success. We extend special thanks to Dr. Mohan Kumar Gajendran, conference co-chair from the GSC and the Graduate Research Development Committee, for his comprehensive review of the submissions.
The conference highlighted diverse research presentations from fields including Physics, Biology, Engineering, Economics, and Computer Science, among others. With approximately 50 submissions, it created a vibrant atmosphere of intellectual exchange through podium presentations, engaging workshops, poster sessions, and the Three-Minute Thesis competition. Guest speakers Dr. Marcus Meade and Dr. Linwood Tauheed delivered thought-provoking talks on writing in the AI era and the art of interdisciplinary research, respectively, stimulating enriching discussions.
Acknowledgements go to Michelle Heiman from the School of Graduate Studies for her substantial role in organizing the conference. Kiel Corkran, President of the GSC, was instrumental in planning the conference and hosting the awards ceremony, a central highlight of the event. Additionally, Ravi Chandra Thota, Event Director of the GSC, was key to the conference's smooth execution.
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the judges and volunteers whose dedication and hard work significantly contributed to the success of the conference. Their efforts in managing various aspects of the event were invaluable.
The networking opportunities and collaborative sessions proved extremely beneficial, leading to meaningful dialogues and potential future collaborations. Positive feedback from attendees reflected the conference's success in promoting scholarly dialogue and collaboration.
Looking ahead to the Community of Scholars 2024 Research Conference, we are excited to welcome an even larger group of scholars. Our goal is to build on this year's achievements and continue providing a platform for showcasing diverse research and fostering a scholarly community. For more information about the 2024 conference or other future events, please contact the Graduate Student Council.
In conclusion, the success of the Community of Scholars 2023 Research Conference stands as a testament to the dynamic spirit of academic collaboration. Our deepest gratitude goes to all contributors, judges, volunteers, and participants, and we look forward to furthering our journey of knowledge and innovation in the coming years.
JUDGES
Fatima Abukunna, Carolyn Barber, Scott Curtis, Stephen Dilks, Kalyan Durbhakula, Michelle Heiman, Nancy Hoover, Helene Houston-Reed, Chi Lee, Debra Leiter, Zhongjin Li, Hillary McGraw, Marcus Meade, Amirfarhang Mehdizadeh, Jeffrey Price, Paul Rulis, John Sawatzky, Dan Scott, Steve Simon, Jelly Soffers, and Maria Spletter.
VOLUNTEERS
Allu, Chaitanya Swaroop Kumar; Dhiddi, Vamsi Krishna; Kasula, Jagan; Kim, Hyuna; Murtaza Sara, Sarawat; Okonkwo, Tobechukwu; Ortiz, Henry; Upadhyayula, Anuraag; Yeramaddu, Likhitha.
Upcoming Events for Fall 2024
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The GSC was established to serve and empower the graduate student community of UMKC. Comprised of a five-person elected cabinet and a 15-member executive committee, our council members come from diverse disciplines.
Cabinet members:
SGA Senators are Duke Deatherage and Justin Wu.
GSC Committee Goals and Outcomes - created November 2024
Our initiatives showcase our ongoing projects and programs. Our projects span a variety of areas, aiming to promote and stimulate the highest academic and research endeavors.
Graduate Programs Representative Committee
Faculty-Student Relations Committee
Building Graduate Community Committee
Career Development and Opportunity Committee
Graduate Data Committee
Mental Health Committee
Look here for helpful links to various kinds of resources for graduate students.
Resource guides:
Learn how you can become a council member, volunteer for events, or participate in council activities.
The Council is always looking for assistance from fellow graduate students in serving on the executive board, cabinet, and committees. These individuals are charged with event planning and initiatives to improve the student experience.
We are also consistently looking for feedback! Please send us feedback on your UMKC experience. A Council representative will get back with you as soon as possible.
Open opportunities to serve on the Graduate Student Council - reach out to us at gradstudentcouncil@umkc.edu if interested:
Reach out to us!