2021 THEME: “Ghost work:” The Unseen Contributions of Graduate and Professional Students to Institutions of Higher Education 

Partnerships: National Association of Graduate/Professional Students (NAGPS) & Ohio University’s Graduate Student Senate (GSS) 

The University of Kentucky (UK) Graduate Student Congress (GSC) is a member of the Midwestern Region of the National Association of Graduate/Professional Students (NAGPS). In partnership with the Ohio University (OU) Graduate Student Senate (GSS), the GSC will be virtually co-hosting the 2020 – 2021 NAGPS Midwestern Regional Conference. The purpose of the NAGPS Midwestern Regional Conference is to provide graduate and professional students in the Midwestern region of the United States, along with their affiliate Graduate/Professional Student Organizations (GPSOs), the opportunity to meet and interact one another, while also learning about and discussing important topics related to graduate and professional student education. The annual NAGPS Midwestern Region Membership Meeting is scheduled in conjunction with the NAGPS Midwestern Regional Conference.  

The theme of the 2021 NAGPS Midwestern Regional Conference – “Ghost Work”: The Unseen Contributions of Graduate and Professional Students to Institutions of Higher Education – was selected because, across the country, graduate and professional students frequently conduct research, teach undergraduates, secure grant funding, offer support services, and help maintain the prestige of institutions of higher education. However, the duties and responsibilities expected of most graduate assistantships are way above and beyond the 20-hours-per-week stated in their assistantship contract, if they even get one; and graduate and professional students are not usually awarded or commended for the extra time and effort they must put in to get this work done, in addition to completing their coursework. Graduate assistantship stipends are also unreasonably low and force many graduate and professional students below the poverty line for several years, as their stipend barely covers housing and food costs, let alone the other professional costs associated with graduate school. What’s more, many graduate and professional students are systematically discouraged from seeking additional or outside employment, even if it is to meet basic needs, so they can maintain “progress toward degree.” 

The purpose of this year’s conference is to give a voice to those graduate and professional students whose hard work and dedication often goes unnoticed and underappreciated. Attendees will get to hear directly from current graduate and professional students across the Midwestern region of the country about their experiences at institutions of higher education and the “ghost work” they do that needs to be recognized. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage with the two authors of the recently published and acclaimed book, “The New PhD” – Dr. Leonard Cassuto and Dr. Robert Weisbuch – about some of the issues plaguing graduate education (e.g., advising, teaching, the degree itself) and how we can all work together to reform and reimagine graduate education for the 21st century.  

Monday, April 5, 2021 

5:00 p.m. EST / 4:00 p.m. CST 

Welcome Session & Networking Hour 

In the first half of this session, the Presidents and Vice Presidents of the two co-host organizations – UK and OU – will welcome attendees to the conference and introduce their respective organizations. In the second half of this session, all attendees and presenters will have the opportunity to casually network with each other in a series of short breakout rooms. 

UK Presenter(s): 

• Katherine Counts, GSC President 
• Lauren Fann, GSC Vice President 

OU Presenter(s): 

• Kaelyn, GSS President  
• Amal Shimir, GSS Vice President & NAGPS International Student Concerns Chair 

Moderator(s): 

• Amanda Slone, GSC Chief of Staff & Operations 

6:30 p.m. EST / 5:30 p.m. CST 

Panel of International Graduate and Professional Students 

In this panel session, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with a panel of international graduate and professional students from across the Midwestern region and from a variety of academic disciplines. Most of this session will consist of live Q&A. 

Moderator(s): 

• Amal Shimir, GSS Vice President & NAGPS International Student Concerns Chair 

Panelists:  

• Marzieh Moradi, University of Louisville 
• Joseph Gbandi, Ohio University 
• Nishita Meshram, Ohio State University
• Tarannum Shaila Zaman, University of Kentucky 
• Melissa Molho, University of Kentucky 
• Kia Markussen, University of Kentucky
• Cheng “Sara” Qian, University of Kentucky

Tuesday, April 6, 2021 

5:00 p.m. EST / 4:00 p.m. CST 

The Unseen Contributions of Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) 

In this session, attendees will hear directly from two graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) about all the unseen work that goes in to teaching undergraduates, such as course preparation, lesson planning, emailing, grading, and the like. There will be some time set aside toward the end of the session for live Q&A.  

UK Presenter: 

• Samantha Malone, Ph.D. Student in Experimental Psychology

OU Presenter: 

• Quang Ly, Ph.D. Candidate in English 

Moderator: 

• Amanda Slone, GSC Chief of Staff & Operations 

6:30 p.m. EST / 5:30 p.m. CST 

Keynote Presentation, Part I 

"Graduate School for Graduate Students" 

Leonard Cassuto and Robert Weisbuch, authors of the new book, The New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education, will give a two-part keynote address on Tuesday and Wednesday.  You are invited to attend both parts, or either one.  The authors will present a vision--and an agenda--for student-centered graduate education.  They will focus on advising, teacher training, and degree requirements (including the doctoral dissertation) – and they'll explain why student-centered graduate school is so difficult to achieve--and so important for students, faculty, and the nation. 

Keynote Presenter(s):  

• Dr. Leonard Cassuto 
• Dr. Robert Weisbuch 

Moderator(s): 

• Katherine Counts, GSC President 
• Amal Shimir, GSS Vice President & NAGPS International Student Concerns Chair 

Wednesday, April 7, 2021 

9:00 a.m. EST / 8:00 a.m. CST 

Annual NAGPS Midwestern Region Membership Meeting 

2020 – 2021 Midwestern Regional Board: 

• Regional Director: Hoang Luu (Ohio University) 
• Assistant Regional Director: VACANT 
• Director of Communications: Heather Cowherd (University of Kentucky) 
• Director of Legislative Affairs: Brett Fredericksen (Ohio University) 
• Social Justice Concerns Chair: Matthew Screnock (Western Michigan) 
• International Student Concerns Chair: Amal Shimir (Ohio University) 
• Director of Outreach: VACANT 
• Director of Employment Concerns: VACANT 

Tentative Agenda: 

9:00 a.m.  – Welcome & Attendance 

9:05 a.m. – Presentation on Fiscal Responsibility & Financial Ethics* 

9:15 a.m. – Discuss Midwestern Regional Budget* 

9:30 a.m. – Director & Chair Reports 

9:40 a.m. – Midwestern Regional Board Elections* 

9:50 a.m. – Open Discussion (Any proposed bylaw resolutions?) 

10:00 a.m. – Adjourn 

5:00 p.m. EST / 4:00 p.m. EST 

The Unseen Contributions of Research Assistants (RAs) 

In this session, attendees will hear directly from two research assistants (RAs) about all the unseen work that goes in to conducting research for another primary investigator (PI), such as doing bench work, writing lab reports, conducting data analysis, compiling literature reviews, and the like. There will be some time set aside toward the end of the session for live Q&A. 

UK Presenter: 

• Kathryn Grubb, Ph.D. Student in Entomology

OU Presenter: 

• Nicholas Whitticar, Ph.D. Student in Biology

Moderator:  

• Lauren Fann, GSC Vice President 

6:30 p.m. EST / 5:30 p.m. CST 

Keynote Presentation, Part II 

"Graduate School for Graduate Students" 

Leonard Cassuto and Robert Weisbuch, authors of the new book, The New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education, will give a two-part keynote address on Tuesday and Wednesday.  You are invited to attend both parts, or either one.  The authors will present a vision--and an agenda--for student-centered graduate education.  They will focus on advising, teacher training, and degree requirements (including the doctoral dissertation) – and they'll explain why student-centered graduate school is so difficult to achieve--and so important for students, faculty, and the nation.

Presenter(s):  

• Dr. Leonard Cassuto
• Dr. Robert Weisbuch

Moderator(s):  

• Hoang Luu, NAGPS Midwestern Regional Director 
• Brett Frederickson, NAGPS Director of Legislative Affairs 

Thursday, April 8, 2021 

5:00 p.m. EST / 4: 00 p.m. CST 

The Unseen Contributions of Biomedical & Professional Students  

In this session, attendees will hear directly from two biomedical and professional students about all the unseen work that goes into conducting biomedical research or interning for a professional organization, while also completing your coursework. There will be some time set aside toward the end of the session for live Q&A. 

UK Presenter: 

• Alex Early, Ph.D. Student in Neurobiology

OU Presenter: 

• Alex Fischbach, M.S. Student in Biological Chemistry

Moderator: 

6:30 p.m. EST/ 5:30 p.m. CST 

"Working While Learning” Presentations & Closing Remarks 

In the first half of this session, attendees will hear directly from two graduate and professional students who are also working full-time while pursuing their graduate degree. In the first quarter of this session, there will be some time set aside for live Q&A. In the last quarter of this session, the Presidents of the two co-host organizations – UK and OU – will provide a few closing remarks and acknowledge the individuals who helped make this conference successful. 

UK Presenter(s):  

• Beth Austin

OU Presenter(s):  

• Salome Aluso, Ph.D. Student in Higher Education & Student Affairs 

Moderator(s): 

• Katherine Counts, GSC President 
• Amal Shimir, GSS Vice President & NAGPS International Student Concerns Chair