GRAD CLAS NOTES

I hope the brief time off before Easter allowed you a moment to catch your breath as we continue on our rapid pace through this semester. Spring break is usually a welcomed and deserved pause to reset and reflect before the final sprint to the finish. As with so many things this year, giving up this time off is another sacrifice we all have had to make for the safety of the Villanova and greater communities. We appreciate your commitment, resilience and empathy.

Still, the spring has given me a sense of hope, as vaccination rates increase and the warmer weather has once again blessed us with the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities. While virtual, our spring events have reaffirmed my faith that this Villanova graduate community will excel despite the challenges we face. On March 26, I had the pleasure of hosting our second annual Three Minute Thesis competition, which challenges students to present their work to a non-specialist audience. From warehouse work conditions to homelessness to artificial intelligence, our students are tackling timely topics and demonstrating their ability to distill complicated projects - an essential skill in any field they will enter. On April 10, we hosted a virtual Preview Day for admitted and prospective students. I was impressed with the enthusiasm and engagement of our incoming crop of new students, and thankful for the many staff, faculty and current students who took time out of their weekend to share the robust Villanova graduate experience. On April 22, we will once again gather virtually to celebrate the contributors, editors and peer-reviewers of our interdisciplinary journal, CONCEPT. The depth and breadth of scholarship in this year's issue is remarkable.

Once again, this issue of GRAD CLAS NOTES is filled with many opportunities to engage with the Villanova community. Please take a look to see what may fit your interest and schedule. Finally, we end the month of April with Graduate Student Appreciation Week! We hope to collect and share stories to show the greater Villanova community just how amazing you are. Showcased stories will be eligible to win great seats to a Villanova men's basketball game next season when we hope to cheer on the Wildcats in person.

Though we targeted the end of April to celebrate our fantastic graduate student community, please know that we appreciate our graduate students all year round!

- Emory Woodard, PhD, Dean of Graduate Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Please join us on Thursday, April 22 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. as we celebrate the official launch of the 2021 issue of CONCEPT, the interdisciplinary journal of graduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The ceremony will recognize this year's top submission along with all of the student editors, faculty editors, and peer reviewers. This event is co-sponsored by Falvey Memorial Library and the Graduate Studies Office. Register for the event.

Discussion Groups and Listening Circles on Coping with COVID-19 — April 13 - 16

The University Counseling Center and Office for Health Promotion are hosting a series of discussion groups and Listening Circles on coping and living during COVID-19. For more information, including dates and specific topics, please visit the Self-Caritas website.

Re-focus, Re-connect, and Re-charge: Consider Mindful Living — April 13

Join Chris Schmidt, PhD, LPC, LMFT, Associate Professor, Department of Education & Counseling and Chesy Tronchoni Bello, MS in Counseling student, on Tuesday, April 13 at 12:00 p.m. to review the idea and practice of mindfulness and seek to share why and how you might consider incorporating it into your life. We know you hear about mindfulness everywhere. You’ve likely done your own reading and you may have tried a practice or two. Instead of trying to sell you on the idea of mindful living, we’d like to put the practice of mindfulness into the context of our current society and more importantly, into the lives of graduate students. This presentation will include multiple opportunities to practice short mindfulness techniques that you can continue to use in your daily life. Learn more and register.

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Our Mental Health: Strategies for Coping with Stress and Change – April 14

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant change and loss to all of our lives. This prolonged stress has led to exhaustion, anxiety and many other symptoms that impact our day to day functioning. In this virtual discussion on Wednesday, April 14 at 12:00 p.m., hosted by Villanova Nursing, speakers will review the stress response, specifically the physiological and psychological impact of stress, and will also discuss related vulnerabilities that put us at risk, normal and abnormal reactions to stress, and when to seek help. We will review practical and evidence-based strategies that enhance our coping skills and strengthen our reserves. Webinar open to all in the VU community; cost is $10 to be donated to the Nova Nook. Learn more and register.

Summer Language Workshops – Application Deadline April 15

Apply to one of our Summer Language Workshops, which are tuition-free to graduate students in CLAS. This summer we are offering three workshops: Greek, German and Spanish. These workshops are 0 credit and will be graded S/U. Priority enrollment is for PhD students in Theology and Philosophy, followed by master’s students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Deadline to apply has been extended to April 15. Learn more and apply.

Villanova Literary Festival: Hannah Khalil – April 15

On Thursday, April 15 at 5:00 p.m. meet Palestinian-Irish writer and playwright, Hannah Khalil, who holds the Charles Heimbold Chair of Irish Studies for Spring 2021 at Villanova. Her work for stage includes A Museum in Baghdad, which opened at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre in 2019, Interference for The National Theatre of Scotland, The Scar Test for Soho Theatre and Scenes from 68* Years for the Arcola. Alongside her theatre work, Khalil has written numerous radio plays, including The Unwelcome, Last of the Pearl Fishers and The Deportation Room all for BBC Radio 4. Khalil’s first short film, The Record, won the Tommy Vine screenplay award at the Underwire film festival. It was selected at London Palestine Film Festival and Almagro Festival as well as Filmets Badalonam and was a finalist in the Tolpuddle Radial Film Festival. Register for the virtual event.

Upcoming Important Academic Calendar Dates and Deadlines

• April 18 - Spring II MPA online and HRD Last Day for Authorized Withdrawal (WX)
• April 20 - Fall 2021 Class registration opens at 9 a.m. (excluding MPA online and HRD)
• Apr. 23 - Thesis/Dissertation Due
• May 2 - Spring II MPA online and HRD Final Day of Classes
• May 3 - Final Day of Classes
• May 5 - 11 - Final Examinations
• May 13 - 15 - Commencement

• For a complete list of dates and deadlines please refer to the on-campus and online academic calendars.

The Science of Stress — April 20

Are you feeling too stressed or busy to eat? Do you notice that you eat differently when you are under stress? Nutrition and Stress are interlinked! Join Dr. Elizabeth Pantesco, Assistant Teaching Professor Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences and Jessica Pellicciotta Coordinator of Nutrition and Fitness Programs from the Office for Health Promotion, for this interactive workshop on Tuesday, April 20 at 5:00 p.m. to learn the science of stress, the impact it has on your body and why you crave certain foods under stress. They will share tips, strategies and coping skills you can incorporate into your life to help you manage your stress! Join this event on Zoom.

Graduate Student Appreciation Week — April 26 - 30

We love our graduate students! The Office of Graduate Studies will be celebrating our students with Graduate Student Appreciation week throughout the week of April 26-30! Share a story or comment (and a picture if you’d like) showing your appreciation for a fellow Grad CLAS student on Twitter or Facebook and tag our pages or use #GradCLAS for a chance for them to win a Graduate Studies Swag Bag or the grand prize of two tickets to a Villanova men’s basketball game at the Wells Fargo Center during the 2021-2022 season! Email works, too! Be on the lookout for more details next week!

Commencement — May 15

Villanova University has announced that Commencement 2021 will be conducted in person, and each graduate may have up to two guests attend select Commencement events. Events will be livestreamed for those not in attendance. The Master's and Doctoral Degree Commencement and Recognition Ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, followed by the President’s Reception for Master’s and Doctoral Degree Graduates at 4 p.m. Please visit the Commencement 2021 website for the most up-to-date information.

Career Outcomes Survey

Students who will be graduating this spring should have received an email invitation from Fr. Peter to participate in a Career Outcomes Survey from the Villanova Career Center. The data collected from this survey is important information that helps us accurately assess our graduate programs and offer a meaningful graduate experience. Please check your email for this survey or access the graduate survey here. Please note, the link will direct you to login to Handshake via your single sign-on information to validate your identity.

Handshake - The Villanova Job Resource

Handshake is Villanova’s go-to resource for jobs, internships, events, and more! This mobile career management platform intuitively connects you to relevant opportunities based on your profile, interests and search activity. Through Handshake, you can apply for positions, explore companies and connections and sign up for career fairs and workshops all in one place. Learn more about Handshake.

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