Have we piqued your interest in the IRC yet?

As the 13th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference approaches, we wanted to inform everyone of a few important details about logistics of Friday, April 12th, at the Tate Student Center on the campus of the University of Georgia.

Before we begin, please take a moment to visit the link for the IRC app: http://www.tapcanvas.com/go/UGA-GSA-IRC-app

*you'll want to bookmark that link on your mobile device for easy, repeated visits.

Within the IRC app, you will notice that we have a jam-packed schedule of interdisciplinary presentations, speakers, workshops, posters and original art installations from 9am-5pm.  In fact, you won't want to miss Dr. Tracie Costantino's keynote entitled, "Meeting in the Commons: Putting Collaboration at the Center of Interdisciplinary Research." You are welcome to stop by for a few events, but we hope that once you get there you’ll want to stay all day! Interdisciplinarity is more than just a fancy word--stop by and see how research that crosses departmental lines is contributing to ground-breaking and innovative discoveries both within universities and in our endeavors beyond the degrees we’re currently seeking.

Attendance is free for everyone, as long as you visit the registration tables outside the Reception Hall. If you are looking for potential collaborations, this conference is built for you. Show up, introduce yourself, and who knows what opportunities may reward you for your efforts?!?

Oh, and everyone likes some extra money, or in this case giftcards to the UGA bookstore. Winners for the best presentation, poster, and art exhibit will each win a $100 giftcard, so if you're presenting, invite your friends! Also, when you register for the conference, be sure to write about how you found out about the IRC, as those who recruit the most attendees will win a $50 giftcard. and.. when you're at the IRC, be sure to complete evaluation forms, because you will automatically become eligible to win a $50 giftcard.. in other words, come early, stay late, and enjoy the shows!

If you still have questions, send an email to Garrett Jaeger (GSA Vice President): This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Stop on by the Tate Center on April 12th.. we promise an unique event!

GSA + IRC

p.s. download the very cool booklet that Victoria Eudy designed for the conference here

*Voting via OASIS opens on Monday, April 7th @ 8am and closes on Friday, April 12th @ 5pm

Running for  President:

Brian O'Shea, Jaaoone Jackson, Jordan Long, Joseph Kim, & Krunal Shah

Running for Vice President:

Garrett Jaeger (incumbent) & Cawanna McMichael

Presidential Candidates:

Brian O'Shea

PhD Student in Gifted and Creative Education, Department of Educational Psychology

I believe that the Graduate Student Association exists to be a support system and an empowerment vehicle for graduate students.  I want to be an advocate for graduate students University-wide, and enable a smooth transition into graduate studies for first-years while providing support services and a sense of community for continuing members of the graduate community.  I want to foster a sense of community, and provide a sense that we are all better when we communicate with one another and provide open doors and windows into our specialties and expertise.  In essence, I believe that GSA has an infrastructure and presence capable of promoting the strongest, most well-informed community of graduate and professional students among our peer and aspirational institutions.

I believe I bring to GSA a number of traits, which fit my vision of creating communities.  In addition to being an educator, both in K-12 and as an instructor of record in the Department of Educational Psychology, I have held executive positions in both my Graduate Student Organization and in Kappa Delta Pi, the Education honor fraternity.  In addition, I believe that my ability to communicate effectively across cultural and academic divides, my experience in both the humanities and the sciences, and my desire to see my own time – as well as the time of my fellow graduate and professional students – at UGA as a time of growth as both an intellectual and an empathetic and inspired individual provides a vision which will guide the Graduate Student Association forward.”

Jaaonne Jackson

Law School Student

Involvement in GSA would be an excellent opportunity for me to broaden my UGA experience and familiarity, work collaboratively with students, administrator and other school officials outside my academic program, and engage in meaningful work concerning school-wide policies and procedures. Most importantly, being involved in the decision-making process and working to make sure that it remains reflective of the collective consensus of various interest and affinity groups is a goal of any leader and one that I hope to achieve, if elected.

I am in a great position to serve as the GSA President considering my prior experiences as a graduate student and current enrollment in UGA Law School. Given the unique perspectives gained during both educational experiences, I understand, intimately, the various challenges, needs, and concerns of both disparate populations. Additionally, I appreciate the goals of GSA in uniting, informing and collaborating with the graduate student body and believe my past leadership and liaison experiences will be useful assets to the organization.

Jordan Long

Master of Pubic Administration Student, School of Public and International Affairs

Next year GSA is scheduled to overhaul its entire constitution.  More than ever you need a logical, methodical, and systematic GSA President who champions action toward common mission.  This is what I love doing.  My goal is to lead a task force and have a constitution draft ready for student ratification vote in the fall.  With a unifying document of mission complete, I will then tackle graduate student issues head-on:  student fees; interdepartmental communication woes; assistantship availability; better resource information and media technology outlets; etc.  With a new President of the University, I cannot think of a better time to champion the causes and value of graduate students on this campus.  We know we are all awesome.  Let’s let everyone else know it too! 

Put simply, I value timely quantity and quality of work, and as your representative pledge to get things done for you.  “Vote Jordan Long and don’t vote wrong.”

Joseph Kim

Law School Student

I am interested in getting involved with GSA for the simple reason that I believe graduate/professional students need their voices heard by the university, especially as it concerns  tuition rates (including related costs, such as health, activities, and technology fees), dedicated housing options, assistantship working conditions, and allocation of resources to graduate programs. In addition, I am also a strong proponent of the inter-disciplinary method, which can be enhanced only by increasing graduate social-mixers and informal inter-disciplinary graduate student colloquiums.

I am a good fit for GSA President because I am able to represent a diverse range of interests owing to my background. This includes the following interest demographics: International, out-of-state, and non-traditional graduate students, and students from the departments of Terry, Law, Health, Technology, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Social Work. Furthermore, my diverse work and extra-curricular experience also provides me with abilities to perform event management, communicate effectively, and easily work with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. 

Krunal Shah

Law School Student

It is important for students to have a voice.  Graduate students tend to be underrepresented on campus with such a large undergraduate population. With that being said, it is my hope that I can bridge this gap between undergraduate students and graduate students and help the graduate programs as a whole develop a stronger voice.

As a Double Dawg, I have been familiar with the campus and many of the problems that face students on a day-to-day basis. A true love for Athens and the UGA helps ensure that I will help make the right decisions for all involved. And my various leadership positions on campus, such as Orientation Leader, have helped prepare me for such a role. Go Dawgs.

Vice Presidential Candidates: 

Garrett Jaeger (Incumbent)

PhD Student in Gifted and Creative Education, Department of Educational Psychology

As the current Vice-President of GSA, I would love to provide some continuity for GSA so that it can maintain and develop strategies for supporting the graduate student population at UGA. An awareness of ongoing initiatives and future directions for GSA and its advocacy for graduate students would help further momentum and gain traction for current and future needs. In addition to the role within GSA, the increasingly important role of the GSA Vice-President as Director of the annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference would be bolstered by my re-election. Traditionally, the Vice-President’s main obligation is to direct and manage the committee of graduate student volunteers in creating an outstanding IRC. My role as the current director of the IRC is a significant contribution towards next year’s conference becoming an even more prolific event, with hopes of it developing into a more regional, if not national, representation of interdisciplinary research.

As the incumbent GSA Vice-President, my experience and development in that role would be beneficial for GSA and its long-term goals. As the role requires the VP to be the director of the IRC, my qualifications as a graduate student whose research involves interdisciplinary creativity, I feel especially qualified for the position. I am also affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Innovations Initiative of the Graduate School, so their support of the conference has been, and will continue to develop into a significant contribution to UGA.  Furthermore, I feel that the needs of the graduate students at UGA is not to be taken lightly, and should be at the forefront of the actions of its representatives. My interest in continuing to represent UGA graduate students is one of support for them rather than solely towards the padding of any personal résumé.

Cawanna McMichael

Law School Student

As single mother of two and full-time law school student, I know of the particular difficulties faced by graduate students especially those who have families.  I pride myself on being a hard-worker and a person who attacks problems with a practical and realist approach in order to make real and definite change.  I also look forward to assisting the current president with the many tasks of helping to solidify the GSA organization and continue its work in becoming more effective. The three ways that I would like to assist the GSA organization are communication to all graduate departments, and implementing change within the organization and also opening a more well rounded dialogue with administration regarding ways they can meet our needs as graduate students.