For those that were able to attend, I hope you enjoyed last month's Graduate Student Community Kick-Off Picnic! Although the weather forced us inside, it was still a fantastic event at which you connected with other graduate students and were introduced to the many University partners who contribute to enriching your time at Villanova. That event is emblematic of the unique graduate community that we are building here.

As you settle into the rhythm of the fall semester, I encourage you to explore and take advantage of the many services and extracurricular opportunities that are available to you as graduate students. The CLAS Office of Graduate Studies oversees the graduate experience in our College, and we are fortunate to have partners such as the Grad Center, the Career Center, the Office of Mission and Ministry and the Division of Student Life, to name a few, who are invested in your success. In this issue of Grad CLAS Notes, you will find an abundance of in-person and virtual events, as well as a host of student resources that will support you on your graduate journey. Each month, this newsletter highlights some of the many accomplishments of the CLAS graduate community, reminds you of important Academic Calendar dates, and shares timely events and information.

From all of us in CLAS Graduate Studies, I hope your semester is off to a great start! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or just want to stop by and say hello. We are here for you!

In her role as Program Manager for Renewable Energy at the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability, Charlotte Shade ’19 MS focuses on municipal energy conservation, efficiency and emissions reductions. Some of her responsibilities include buying renewable electricity for city buildings, mapping the potential for solar panels and analyzing energy use data. Shade’s research work and use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Villanova’s master’s program in Environmental Science helped prepare her for a career that blends her passion for sustainability with the skills to help solve complex environmental issues. READ MORE

Colin McCrossan ’23 MA began conducting independent research after he graduated from McGill University with a BA in History in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He never imagined his research on the history of slavery in southeastern Pennsylvania would lead him to Villanova University’s graduate program in History, but after being introduced to Professor Judith Giesberg, PhD, the Robert M. Birmingham Chair in the Humanities, McCrossan couldn’t pass up the opportunity to learn more about his home state’s history with slavery. He quickly found that Villanova History was the perfect place to both continue his research and prepare for a career in law. READ MORE

Bob Dylan is an American musician whose artistry has intrigued philosophers and pop-culture enthusiasts alike for decades. His themes of justice, freedom and faith resonate with individuals across generations and continents, even earning him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016.

In Bob Dylan and the Spheres of Existence, Christopher B. Barnett, DPhil, professor of Theology and Religious Studies, explores the influence of Dylan’s work through the lens of Danish Philosopher and Theologian Søren Kierkegaard. By establishing a theoretical approach to Dylan’s multifaceted compositions, the book helps readers better understand his music and its significance today. READ MORE

This confidential group creates a safe space for graduate-level students to experience stronger emotional connections with others while also working through personal issues that may be unique to being part of a graduate program at Villanova. This group will be led by Drs. Natalie Sheridan and Julia Stein and will meet at the Counseling Center every week. If interested, please email Drs. Sheridan or Stein or contact the Counseling Center for more information: 610-519-4050, Health Services Building, Room 206.

Villanova celebrates weekday Masses on campus in Corr Chapel at 12:05 p.m. and 5 p.m. A Spanish language Mass is held at 3 p.m. on Sundays. Sunday Liturgies in St. Thomas of Villanova Church are held at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. See the Catholic worship schedule.

On Wednesday, September 27 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. join Sarah Wingo, English and Theatre Librarian for a virtual workshop entitled “Using Zotero Citation Manager.” Many kinds of academic projects benefit from the use of citation management software. At this workshop, get an introduction to Zotero, a popular and easy-to-use open-source citation management tool. Topics covered will include: organizing sources for projects, importing citations, saving PDFs, formatting citations, creating bibliographies in Word and creating groups for resource sharing. Learn more and register.

Come out and say Goodbye to Summer with your fellow graduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The CLAS Graduate Student Council (GSC) is hosting this event from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 27 at the Grove (behind Alumni Hall at the firepits). Enjoy lawn games, finger foods, non-alcoholic beverages and music! While you're here, stop by and chat with your GSC representatives and let them know what events you want to see in the future. This lowkey night is a perfect way to get over the Wednesday hump right before you go to class or leave campus for the night. Please reach out to gsc@villanova.edu with any questions.

Villanova Theatre Presents Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea – Through October 1

Villanova Theatre proudly presents Julia Izumi’s Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea, this unexpected and incredibly imaginative twist on Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, is directed by Pulitzer Prize Winner and Tony Nominee, Villanova Associate Professor James Ijames and features Villanova Theatre graduate students as cast and crew. Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea is on stage through October 1 in the Court Theatre at the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts. Learn more and get tickets.

The Villanova University Career Center is hosting its second annual Graduate Student Career Center Day on Tuesday, October 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 117 Garey Hall. This full-day open house includes a tour of the Career Center, opportunities to have professional headshots taken, and a visit to the Wildcat Wardrobe. There are also three hybrid (in-person or virtual) workshops available. Register for the event through Handshake.

Join Dr. Mike Westrate and Emily McCloskey of the Grad Center virtually from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4 to learn about the premier research communication skills competition for graduate students! Villanova is hosting its annual 3MT competition on Friday, March 15. Learn about this fun competition (with cash prizes!) and how you can prepare. Register for the information session.

The Graduate Student Senate (GSS) of Villanova University is excited to invite you to the first Graduate Student Town Hall in Garey Hall Room 10A on Wednesday, October 4, at 8 p.m. This event will also be hosted on Zoom and is open to every grad and law student at Villanova. This town hall will be an introduction to the Graduate Student Senate, its purpose and vision, and there will be an open mic session so you can give direct feedback and hear from the student leaders of the GSS. Register for the Town Hall. Prior to the Town Hall, students are requested to participate in a brief survey. The purpose of the survey is to identify the challenges that graduate students face. Students are encouraged to share candid opinions.

Students involved in the Grad Student Peer Mentorship program are encouraged to attend the kick-off event on Friday, October 5 at 3 p.m. in Garey Hall Room 31. Mentors and mentees will come together and build community with one another in their peer mentorship groups over food and fun games. Register for the Kick-Off Event.

Do you know someone who may be interested in attending Villanova for graduate school? This year, CLAS Graduate Studies is hosting an in-person Fall Graduate Open House and Reception for prospective students on Tuesday, October 17 in the Connelly Center Villanova Room. Early birds can take a campus tour at 4:30, with the event starting at 6 p.m. Attendees will enjoy drinks and hors d'oeuvres as they mingle with with faculty and students from their program of interest. The Fall Open House and Reception is a great way to get a feel for what graduate student life is like at Villanova. The Office of Graduate Studies is looking for current student volunteers to attend the event. If you are interested in attending and speaking with prospective students, please complete this short form.

This on-campus, asynchronous, self-guided retreat takes place Friday to Friday, October 20-27. This retreat is meant for students, faculty and staff who are longing for space in their lives to slow down, reflect and connect with God, but who might have a hard time fitting a weekend-long retreat into their schedule. This retreat will help the participants learn to make going on retreat a part of their everyday lives by intentionally making space and time for God throughout their busy day. Kick-off and closing lunch programs are in the St Rita Community Room. Learn more and register.

On Friday, October 27 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the CLAS Office of Graduate Studies will be hosting its annual Fall Research Symposium, which highlights the research and scholarship of graduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Students will present either a 3MT-style oral presentation or a poster presentation of their research. Oral presentations will begin at 1 p.m. in the Dougherty Hall East Lounge, followed by poster presentations and reception at 3 p.m. in the Connelly Center Art Gallery. Mark your calendars to support your fellow CLAS graduate students!

Have you signed up for NOVA Alert? This system is the University’s mass notification system used for a major crisis or emergency, as well as weather-related closings and delays. NOVA Alert is your personal connection to real-time updates—instructions on where to go, what to do or what not to do, who to contact and other critical information. It is important that you check your NOVA Alert settings, or if you are not signed up, you can do so by following these simple steps: