New Graduate Life Fellows named

As the academic year gets under way, seven graduate students are ready to help welcome their peers to campus. They are the 2014-15 Graduate Life Fellows.

In this capacity, the students will offer guidance and promote engagement through first-hand experience, peer mentorship and graduate student events. They will work with incoming graduate students and provide opportunities for them to network across disciplines. GLFs receive an award annually for their contributions to the UNC Charlotte graduate student community.

This year’s GLFs, selected from 47 applicants, are:

• Sabrina Brown, a doctoral student in educational leadership (College of Education). Having a passion to work with college students, Brown served as a mentor and orientation leader. She plans to use her GLF experience to encourage connectivity, support academic goals and provide enriching opportunities for the graduate student community at UNC Charlotte
• Chen Fu, doctoral student, mechanical engineering (Lee College of Engineering). Fu understands the importance of keeping a balance between graduate level study and life as a graduate student. He enjoys short walks across the UNC Charlotte campus. “Trust me, taking a walk on a sunny day on campus will be one of the most beautiful things you have ever done.” His goal is to encourages all graduate students to get involved and enjoy their time at the University
• Arpit Ghosh, a master’s student in computer science (College of Computing and Informatics). Originally from India, Ghosh enjoys sharing experiences with students from different spheres of life. As a GLF, his aim is to establish the Center for Graduate Life as a “home away from home” for graduate students at UNC Charlotte
• Shannon Hosey, a master’s student, architecture (College of Arts + Architecture). Returning for a second term as a Graduate Life Fellow, Hosey also works as a research assistant in the Digital Arts Center. She is interested in growing the sense of community among graduate students and connecting students across disciplines. “I think we have a lot that we can learn from each other. In my role as a GLF, I hope that I can make it easier for us to do just that”
• Kristen Reynolds, a master’s student, English (College of Liberal Arts & Sciences). Holding two bachelor’s degrees and currently pursuing a graduate master’s and certificate, Reynolds’ research interests lean toward race and gender studies in both global and domestic settings. One of her primary goals as a GLF is to create long-lasting relationships with members of the University’s diverse graduate student populations
• Alyssa Vela, a doctoral student, health psychology (College of Liberal Arts & Sciences) Her research and clinical interests include eating disorders, health behavior changes, cultural influences and chronic pain and illness. As a GLF, Vela looks forward to helping graduate students form new social and collaborative relationships across disciplines.
• Erin Walker, a master’s student, social work (College of Health and Human Services). While attending UNC Chapel Hill for an undergraduate degree, Walker was able to help build a strong sense of community serving as a resident advisor. She plans to apply the same skills to her GLF role in supporting fellow students throughout their graduate journey

Learn more about the Center for Graduate Life and GLF programming on the Web.

Photo (front row, l-r) Reynolds, Walker and Fu (back row, l-r) Vela, Ghosh, Hosey and Brown