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 21 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 Spring2024 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 Guiza, and I am your Graduate Student Association (GSA) President. The Graduate Student Association’s purpose is to support and enrich the graduate-student experience here at Hood College. Our goal and mission are to facilitate communication between graduate students and the school to create a community that advocates for ALL students, regardless of race, gender, religion and cultural background. As the president, 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 for this spring, so be sure to stay in the loop by following us on Instagram, Facebook, and X. Help us stay connected by sharing our posts and spreading the word. Email your questions to GSA@hood.edu.
Remember YOUR VOICE MATTERS, and every grad student can help our graduate community thrive whether you’re online, on-campus, a 4PLUS scholar, or pursuing your master’s, certificate or doctorate. Thank you for choosing Hood College for your graduate education and welcome home, Blazers, where #YOUBELONG! Wishing you all a great semester and 2024!
Welcome to the spring semester, everyone! For returning students, I hope winter break has left you refreshed and ready for spring term. For new grad students, I relate to the combination of excitement and anxiety you are likely experiencing before your initial semester.
My name is Autumn Smith, and I’m so happy to be Hood College’s new Graduate Student Success Coordinator. In this role, I will be available as your first line of support when you need help staying on track to complete your degree. I’m a student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, and I’m excited to work with all of you.
This semester, we will be continuing our affinity group program. with affinity nights for our Asian/Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic, and LGBTQIA+ members throughout February and March. If you believe a group is missing or would like more details, please reach out to me at GradSuccess@hood.edu. We hope these affinity groups will help foster cultural awareness and connection between peers across disciplines.
If you’re struggling with academic or interpersonal pressures, I can connect you with the College’s support resources. Never hesitate to contact me at GradSuccess@hood.edu. I look forward to meeting all of you!
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 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.
Jennifer Cooper, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC, CNE, is the current chair of the Hood College Department of Nursing and is the program director of the new M.S. in nursing at Hood College. Cooper has been at Hood since 2016. Before Hood, she earned her DNP from George Washington University in 2016, her MSN from Rush University in 2011 and her BSN from Cedarville University in 1995. Cooper's research interests include prevention and management of chronic disease in the community. Cooper is also the past-president of the Association of Public Health Nurses and currently serves as liaison to the Million Hearts® Collaboration. Locally, she serves as a board member of the Maryland Nurses Association and leads Hood Million Hearts, which aims to prevent cardiovascular disease at Hood College and in the greater Frederick community. Learn more about Prof. Cooper and the new MSN program here.
Hood's creative writing MFA program welcomes Cleyvis Natera as guest writer for June 2024 residency.
Cleyvis Natera is an award-winning novelist, essayist and critic. Her debut novel, Neruda on the Park, was awarded a Silver Medal by the International Latino Book Awards for Best First Book of Fiction in 2023. Natera received the 2024 Voices Rising Fellowship at the Vermont Studio Center. This prestigious award was established in honor of groundbreaking women writers of color such as Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Zora Neale Hurston. Her work has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, TIME, Gagosian Quarterly, The Kenyon Review, Aster(ix) and Kweli Journal. Natera has been supported through awards, fellowships and artist residencies by PEN America, Hermitage Artist Retreat, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, among others. She teaches fiction at Barnard College of Columbia University and Antioch University’s Low-Residency MFA program. Natera’s second novel, The Grand Paloma Resort, is forthcoming in 2025.
In summer 2024, Natera will serve as a guest writer for the new low-residency MFA in creative writing at Hood College.
Have you ever reflected on the way you discovered the Graduate School at Hood College? It's likely that you learned about us through the grapevine – perhaps a friend, colleague, or family member shared their experiences while exploring graduate school options. While digital ads and the internet play a crucial role in disseminating information widely, personal connections often prove to be the most impactful.
Your word of mouth is invaluable to us – quite literally! Your shared experiences with The Graduate School at Hood College could travel across the globe and reach someone in India who might not have otherwise come across the College. That's why we encourage you to share your positive encounters at Hood College with others who are exploring their graduate education options. Here are three ways you can help spread #HOODLOVE through word of mouth:
- Get featured in our Hood graduate student and alumni story blogs: We love showcasing the diverse experiences and backgrounds of our graduate students and alumni. To be featured in our graduate school blogs, which are shared on our website and social media, simply email gofurther@hood.edu.
- Refer your networks to our graduate Open House events: Inform your personal and professional networks that they can attend our regular Open House and Admission Café events, both virtual and in-person, to learn more about our graduate programs. This is an opportunity to meet program directors, admission staff, and current students. They can register for events through our website.
- Join our Social Medial Mogul Program: If you have a passion for social media and want to contribute to spreading the latest news from Hood Grad School, enlist as one of our graduate social media moguls. By sharing and retweeting our grad school social media posts, you'll help us reach a wider audience and, in return, receive a gift card as a token of appreciation. Join us in amplifying the Hood Grad School message! To sign up for the Hood graduate social media mogul program, email GoFurther@hood.edu.
Tanith Fowler Corsi is our director of graduate admission.
This past fall, we hosted our first annual 4PLUS induction ceremony honoring our new and returning 4PLUS inductees. We are #HoodProud of the accomplishments of our undergraduate students in the 4PLUS program, as they balance an accelerated course load with the various demands of being a college student. We look forward to seeing their continued success this spring!
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.
Still looking for an on-campus employment opportunity? Join us at our on-campus employment workshop on Thursday Jan. 25 at 4:00 p.m. in Whitaker, room 220. You will meet the Career Center team to navigate resources and opportunities. A panel of F-1 students will share their success story in securing on-campus employment. Email PDSO@hood.edu if you have questions.
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 here.
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 21, from 3-6 p.m. in the Whitaker Campus Center. Register through Handshake here.
The entire campus community is invited to an Iftar dinner in observance of Ramadan on March 26 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
The Graduate School is hosting our 9th Annual Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) event on Thursday, March 30 at 5:30 p.m., which is open to all current grad students and to recent grad alumni who have graduated since September 2023. This internationally recognized event features student talks in a wide array of disciplines, from the sciences and business to the humanities and education fields (and everything in between). We consistently hear from our external advisory boards that employers value the ability to relay technical information to non-technical audiences (e.g., the media, policymakers, colleagues in other depts).
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 29).
The entire campus community is invited to celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, on April 16 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
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 2023, January 2024 or May 2024. Our dedicated commencement website will be updated frequently throughout the coming spring semester, so check it regularly.
Email: GoFurther@hood.edu
Website: www.hood.edu/graduate
Location: Hood College, Graduate School, Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD, USA
Phone: (301) 696-3600
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