Upcoming Events
Graduate Symposium
MCHENRY LIBRARY
MAY 19, 1PM
All graduate student are invited to present their graduate work in one of various media: academic poster, brief talk with or without slideshow, or alternative media, such as video game sample or video clip. Campus and community judges determine an overall best presentation and the best presentations in each academic division. Free and open to the public.
Past Events
Grad Slam Public Speaking Preparation
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Jan 23, 11AM or 2PM
CLOSEDLearn techniques to warm up, deal with nerves, craft your talk, and deliver an engaging oration for any audience. These interactive workshops will take you through Bri’s trademarked W.A.V.E.® methods to get you ready to connect with an audience and keep them engaged...
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Jan 27, 11AM
CLOSEDProfessional websites can boost your reputation and aid your networking and job search. UCSC provides free access to WordPress (with several design templates) to faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students. Get design tips from Teresa and get started using WordPress to make a blog or static website to showcase your graduate work!
Grad Slam Public Speaking Preparation
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Feb 8, 10AM or 2PM
CLOSED
This brief workshop provides an overview of strategies and best practices for public speaking, including managing anxiety, key delivery techniques, and composition tips for crafting clearer and more focused speeches, with an emphasis on the parameters of the Grad Slam’s short presentations. PLUS: IF YOU HAVE PREPARED YOUR GRAD SLAM TALK AND AN OPTIONAL SLIDE, YOU MAY PRACTICE YOUR PRESENTATON FOR FEEDBACK FROM CATHERINE CARLSTROEM IN EITHER WORKSHOP!
Grad Slam Past Champions Panel to Prepare
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS and ZOOM
Feb 9, 2PM
CLOSEDThis panel discussion features past UCSC Grad Slam Champions John Felts (2017), Tori Klein (2020), and Amanda Quirk (2022). They’re ready to discuss and answer questions about how they prepared their winning talks!
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Feb 14, 12PM
CLOSEDSometimes we can be our severest writing critics and biggest hindrances to writing success. Learn about the VOCES Graduate Student Writing Center (for graduate students only) and how to overcome psychological barriers and start writing!
KUUMBWA JAZZ CENTER, SANTA CRUZ, AND LIVE-STREAMED
March 4, 7PM
Nine graduate student finalists representing the Physical and Biological Sciences, Baskin Engineering, Social Sciences, and the Arts will vie for over $5,000 in cash prizes and the chance to represent UC Santa Cruz at the UC system-wide Grad Slam on May 5 in San Francisco. Free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
2022 Past Events
Proactive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Oct 6, 11:30AM
Core Competencies: 
How do you proactively promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in your role as a graduate student, a researcher, a teaching assistant, a peer and undergraduate mentor? Learn active steps you can take in every role to promote a just and welcoming environment at UCSC in every space.
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Oct 11, 11:30AM
Core Competencies: 
Applications for academic positions require a CV, and some alternative-academic employers also require them. Learn how a CV differs from a resume, about hybrid CV-resumes, what goes on a CV...
Developing Your Digital Reputation
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Oct 13, 11:30AM
Core Competencies:
Your digital reputation refers to your presence on the internet, on social media platforms and on personal and worksite websites. Learn tips on how to distinguish yourself from the crowd and create a lasting impression in an evolving digital communications landscape.
Conducting an Informational Interview with Lorato Anderson
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Oct 19, 11:30AM
Core Competencies:
An information interview is one that you conduct with someone working in a field for an institution or company that you want to consider working in and for. How do you conduct...
Crafting the Contributions to Diversity Statement with Judith Estrada, Ph. D.
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Oct 20, 11:30AM
Core Competencies:
Institutions of higher learning increasingly require faculty applicants to submit a statement of contributions to diversity. Learn what belongs in this statement and how to...
Preparing the Teaching Statement and Portfolio with Kendra Dority, Ph.D.
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Oct 25, 11AM
Core Competencies:
Gain tools and tips for effectively writing a teaching statement, a common document in faculty hiring and review processes and an opportunity to reflect on how your teaching...
Disrupting Imposter Phenomenon from the Inside Out with Silvia Austerlic
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Oct 26, 11:30AM
Have you ever felt imposter phenomenon? Learn how to cultivate a growth mindset to disrupt it and move toward empowering ways of learning.
Psychology of Writing with Andrea Seeger
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Oct 27, 11:40AM
Core Competencies:
Sometimes we can be our severest writing critics and biggest hindrances to writing success. Learn about the VOCES Graduate Student Writing Center (for graduate students only)...
Interviewing and Negotiating the Job Offer with Veronica Heiskell, Ph.D.
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Nov 2, 11AM
Core Competencies:
Learn interviewing strategies to land the job offer. Then learn how to negotiate the best salary and benefits package when you receive the job offer. This class offers...
WordPress Website Design with Jason Chafin
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Nov 3, 11:30AM
Core Competencies: 
Professional websites can boost your reputation and aid your networking and job search. UCSC provides free access to WordPress (with several design templates) to faculty,...
Slide Design Workshop with Sonya Newlyn
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Nov 9, 11:30AM
Core Competencies:
Have you ever inflicted a boring slide presentation on an audience? Learn tips and techniques for using slides the way they should be used, as visual aids to your spoken-word...
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Nov 10, 11:30AM
A vexing problem for academics is burnout: the experience of exhaustion, cynicism, and ineffectiveness that results from stretching across the gap between the ideals of your...
Listening, Mentoring, Coaching, Advising with Andrea Cohen
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Nov 15, 11:30AM
Core Competencies: 
Listening to understand represents an equally important half of effective oral communication to the other half, delivery of the communication by spoken word. Listening well...
Conflict Resolution with Nancy Heischman
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Nov 16, 11:30AM
Core Competencies:
Learn practical methods of navigating conflict to successful conclusions. The workshop also covers how to speak up and address bias in the workplace.
California Community Colleges Panel Discussion
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Nov 17, 11:30AM
Core Competencies:
Learn how to apply to and what it’s like to work for a California community college by talking to director of the CCC Registry, Beth Au, moderator of the panel, and UCSC...
Academic Publishing with Martha Stuit and Erich van Rijn
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Nov 22, 11:30AM
Core Competencies:
How do you choose a reputable academic journal to publish in? What are your copyrights? What is open access? Where do you find academic publishing support at UCSC beyond your...
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Nov 29, 11:30AM
Core Competencies:
Mindfulness is a particular way of paying attention. It is the mental faculty of purposefully bringing attention to one’s present moment experience. Practicing mindfulness can...
Maintaining Work-Life Balance with Angel Dominguez
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Nov 30, 11:30AM
Core Competencies:
Join Angel Dominguez for an interactive workshop and discussion of what it means to cultivate a healthy work-life balance. The discussion will cover the importance of setting...
Public Speaking with Bri McWhorter
GRADUATE STUDENT COMMONS
Dec 1, 11AM
Core Competencies:
Learn techniques to warm up, deal with nerves, craft your talk, and deliver an engaging oration for any audience. This interactive workshop will take you through Bri’s...
