As part of our commitment to graduate students in and out of the classroom, we partner with the Career Center to offer a series of career resources each spring, which are open to all graduate students (based on your field). All of these grad-focused events are in preparation for our large, culminating career fair on March 23 from 3-6 p.m., which will feature 100+ local and national employers across a variety of disciplines and industries. In addition, we will have our usual alumni career panels, which are always a big hit. Scroll down to Upcoming Events for a list of panels, grad-focused resume and interview workshops and more!
Welcome to all of our new graduate students this semester! I hope you’ll visit and peruse the online modules your faculty and the graduate-school team have created to support you. From cultural awareness to financing your degree and planning your course progression, we have compiled a one-stop shop to prepare you for success in your first semester as a graduate student.
The site is unique to your entering spring cohort of graduate students, and it will serve as a resource for you again and again during your time at the College. Periodically, we will add new modules that mirror your degree progress—preparing you for that internship, capstone/thesis/dissertation experience, and career change or advancement. Click here for the link, which will take you to your Blackboard login screen. Once you’re logged in, simply click on the New Graduate Student Orientation Spring2023 course site, then click on the “START HERE” video in the center of your screen.
Here’s to a successful first semester!
Welcome to Hood College! We are thrilled to have you with us this semester. My name is Gabby Güiza, and I am your Graduate Student Association (GSA) president. I am an international student from Colombia and look forward to working with our diverse graduate-student body. The Graduate Student Association was created to support and enrich the graduate student experience at Hood College. The goal and mission of GSA is to facilitate communication between graduate students and the College and to create a community that advocates for ALL students, regardless of race, gender, religion and cultural background.
I am here to help you have a great experience outside of the classroom during your time at Hood. Your GSA has several events planned this spring, so be sure to stay in the loop by following us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Help us stay connected with everyone by sharing our posts and spreading the word. Email your questions to GSA@hood.edu.
Remember YOUR VOICE MATTERS, and every grad student, whether you’re online or on-campus, or pursuing your master’s, certificate or doctoral, can help our graduate community thrive. Thank you for choosing Hood College for your graduate education and welcome home, Blazers, where #YOUBELONG! Wishing you all a great semester and year.
I hope you all had a restful, invigorating winter break and are excited to return to (or start) your classes this spring! Campus has been so quiet in the evenings without our graduate students. The Graduate School office is constantly brainstorming ways we can promote diversity, equity and inclusion, both within our graduate programs and our programming. An initiative we are so excited to launch is the beginning of our affinity group nights!
The purpose of our affinity groups is to continue raising cultural awareness on Hood’s campus and promote community amongst our students. To begin, we will be hosting affinity night’s the first week of February for our Asian/Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic and LGBTQIA+ members. If you identify with one or more of the following groups, we invite you to attend. If you believe a group is missing and feel an affinity night should be hosted, please reach out to our graduate student success coordinator, Jazzmyn Proctor.
We hope this will be a great opportunity for graduate students to foster community with their peers across disciplines. Please keep an eye on your email as more information will be made available regarding these events. Have a wonderful semester and please do not hesitate to reach out if you need support.
GradCare: Resources for Health, Wellness and Success
GradCare is intended to be an all-encompassing resource to connect graduate students with services and resources to help them be healthy at Hood. We are constantly updating the site with resources and services located on-campus and in the community, so check back often!
Campus Cupboard: Addressing Hunger at Hood
Campus Cupboard aims to provide non-perishable food staples and hygiene items to students with temporary or long-term need via a confidential system. If you are currently experiencing food insecurity or are struggling to afford groceries or basic toiletry items, simply fill our our interest form or email our secure mailbox at campuscupboard@hood.edu to receive additional information on requesting/receiving this support.
Private Lactation Room Available On-Campus
The private lactation room is located on the first floor of the J. Henry Apple Resource Building in room 8B. The room accommodates one person at a time and is available on a first come, first serve basis. Individuals should bring their own personal equipment, including membranes, clean tubing, breast shields and collection bottles. For more information, contact Amanda Dymek at rzepkowski@hood.edu or 301-696-3439.
Marisel Torres-Crespo, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Hood College and program director of the curriculum and instruction master’s program. This year, Torres-Crespo became the chair of the Chief Officers of the Online Learning Council in Maryland, a council of regional educators that focuses on common issues and solutions in online education. Learn more here.
Sneha Soni, M.S.’20, is a recent graduate of our master’s in cybersecurity program and was an international student from India. Currently, Sneha works as a cybersecurity analyst for the TCW Group based in Los Angeles, California. Learn more about Sneha’s experience in Hood College’s cybersecurity program and her experiences navigating graduate school as an international student.
Doctoral alumna Ja’Bette Lozupone was nominated by the magazine Diverse: Issues In Higher Education as an Emerging Scholar, Inspiring the Future in January 2023. Dr. Lozupone has achieved many milestones during and after her time at Hood College. Ja’Bette is a triple Blazer (recipient of a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate from Hood) and the first Latina to earn a doctorate at Hood. She received a 40 Under 40 award from the American Association for Women in Community Colleges. Previously, Lozupone created the Achieving the Promise Academy (ATPA), which provided one-on-one coaching and embedded classroom support to nearly 5,000 underserved students. She is currently leading the Aspen Post Secondary Success for Parents Initiative at Montgomery College. Recently, Lozupone launched her new business, Wishful Doing.
“If you’re thinking about pursuing a doctoral degree at Hood College, I would say to go for it. It’s a transformative experience that will change your life for the better. Like they say, diamonds are formed under pressure, and it doesn’t happen overnight.” -Ja'Bette Lozupone, DOL’20
Tanith Fowler Corsi is our director of graduate admission, and she has a special message for you below.
Do you remember how you found out about The Graduate School at Hood College? Chances are you heard about us from a friend, colleague or family member when researching graduate schools. Often, the most effective form of sharing information is via word of mouth! Digital ads and the internet are instrumental in spreading information on a broad scale, but people turn to their own networks to gain personal insights and recommendations time and again.
That is why your word of mouth means the world to us—literally! Your shared experience with The Graduate School at Hood College can make its way around the world and reach someone in India who may have not heard of the College. So, we call on you to share your positive experience at Hood College with others researching their graduate options.
Here are three ways you can help share #HOODLOVE via word of mouth:
- Get featured in our Hood graduate student and alumni story blogs. We love to highlight the breadth of diverse experiences and backgrounds of our graduate students and alumni, so let us feature you in our graduate school blogs, which are posted on our graduate website and social media outlets. To be featured, email gofurther@hood.edu.
- Refer your networks to our graduate open house events. Let your personal and professional networks know that they can attend our regular Open House and Admission Café events (both virtual and in-person) to learn more about our graduate programs and meet program directors, admission staff and current students. They can register for our events here.
- Become part of our New Applicant Mentor Program. More details below!
Remember what makes Hood unique. We are small, affordable, diverse, career-focuses, flexible and provide personalized attention. Share the #HOODLOVE!
Have more ideas or questions? Contact Tanith Fowler Corsi, director of graduate admission, at GoFurther@hood.edu.
If you are proud of your graduate program and like to help people, we have a fun program for you where you can also win rewards. We invite you to join our newly formed applicant mentor network to help prospective graduate students learn about the Hood community. Applicant mentors can earn rewards and win gift cards for virtually mentoring a prospective graduate student who is applying to your program. For more information about this new opportunity, email GoFurther@hood.edu.
This spring semester, current undergraduate students majoring in sustainability studies can take advantage of our new 4PLUS dual degree pathway in sustainable nutrition.
The sustainability studies/sustainable nutrition program is designed for interested students looking to study the relationship between natural resources, the environment, food systems and nutritional health. Students with 3.5 GPA or above and in good disciplinary standing are eligible to apply.
4PLUS is an accelerated, dual-degree program that allows undergraduate students to begin graduate coursework as early as their junior year. Eligible students can earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in as little as five years. The 4PLUS program includes the following master’s degrees:
· Business Administration (MBA)
· Clinical Mental Health or School Counseling
Current undergraduate students and recent alumni also receive special benefits for applying to the Graduate School through our ALTY (Alumni of the Last Three Years) scholarship program. Benefits include waiving the application fee, no cost to your last three graduate credits and an expedited admission process. Interested students should contact our 4PLUS liaison Nick Masucci ’17 at 4PLUS@hood.edu for more information.
The entire campus community is invited to celebrate Holi, the festival of colors, on March 22 at 4 p.m. on the Whitaker Campus Center Patio. You will enjoy traditional food, music, dance and festivities! Partake in the optional Holi practice of chalk throwing. For more information, please email our director of international student services, Amani Al-Dajane, MBA’20, at al-dajane@hood.edu
Are you looking for an internship, CPT or that next career opportunity? The Hood College Career Center is hosting the Spring Career Fair for all disciplines on Wednesday, March 23, from 3-6 p.m. in the Whitaker Campus Center. Register through Handshake here.
Interested in learning more about Hood’s 4PLUS program? This accelerated dual-degree program allows undergraduate students to begin graduate coursework as early as their junior year. Eligible students can earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in as little as five years. All undergraduate students (first year through senior) are welcome to attend one of the below virtual events. We encourage all prospective graduate students (at Hood and beyond) to attend one of the below virtual events, so spread the word! To learn more, register for one now:
Learn more about this event on the national site or on Hood’s 3MT site. Here is a brief snapshot of the event as well. If you have completed a capstone, advanced project, thesis, portfolio, ceramics show, internship, etc., this is a great opportunity for you. You not only gain practice in a valuable skill, but there are three cash prizes for the winner and people’s choice awards. We have external judges from research and education to business leaders, who will decide the winning talk. The People’s Choice Awards will be determined by audience vote. It’s a great event to attend and cast your vote, even if you do not want to compete!
Ready to win? Simply click here to submit your abstract for consideration (DUE MARCH 17).
The entire campus community is invited to an Iftar dinner in observance of Ramadan on April 11 at 7 p.m. Join us for a delicious meal and learn more about the Muslim tradition of Ramadan from a Muslim imam (chaplain). For more information, please email our director of international student services, Amani Al-Dajane, MBA’20, at al-dajane@hood.edu
May 4: Virtual Admission Cafe
In the final weeks of the semester, we know that stress is at an all-time high for our graduate students. During this period, we have a tradition where Hood faculty/staff show you their support, dubbed Grad Student Appreciation Week (GSAW). We will have a table set up in the lobby of all the major buildings before classes in the evening (and doctoral classes during lunch on Saturday) as well as virtual Zoom-byes. Stay tuned for more information as the semester draws to a close!
Mark your calendar if you graduated September 2021, January 2022 or May 2022. Our dedicated commencement website will be updated frequently throughout the coming spring semester, so bookmark the page now: https://www.hood.edu/campus-events/commencement
About The Graduate School
Email: GoFurther@hood.edu
Website: www.hood.edu/graduate
Location: Hood College, Graduate School, Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD, USA
Phone: (301) 696-3600
Facebook: facebook.com/HoodGradSchool
Twitter: @HoodGradSchool
