On February 21, PEER (Program for Excellence & Equity in Research) will be hosting a lecture in the International House, Room 100 at 3:40 p.m. The title of the lecture is “Disrupting the Face of Leadership: Challenges Posed and Lessons Learned” and will be delivered by Carolyn R. Hodges and Olga M. Welch. This presentation is designed to provide insights to graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and others embarking on their academic careers and considering options for their professional trajectory in the future. The observations shared in this lecture reflect the conversations and perspectives in a recent book by the presenters, Truth Without Tears: African American Women Deans Share Lessons in Leadership (Harvard Education Press, 2018).

The 3rd Dissertation Institute (DI) will take place June 23^rd–28^th on the University of California, San Diego campus. This institute, an interactive workshop for underrepresented (African American, Native American, Pacific Island and Hispanic American) graduate students in engineering, is funded by the National Science Foundation and hosted by Old Dominion University and Virginia Tech. The primary goal is to address issues that prolong completion times for those at the dissertation proposal preparation and dissertation completion stages of the targeted population. The application deadline is March 1^st. If you have questions, please email them to dissertationinstitute@gmail.com.

On March 4, the Graduate School, in partnerships with our academic colleges, will be hosting Discover Graduate Education, an opportunity for those who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree. You may be an undergraduate who wants to continue your training in your chosen field, you may be a UT staff member considering expanding your repertoire, or just someone looking for a new direction. The last day to register is February 15, so head over to tiny.utk.edu/discover-ut to sign up (it’s free!). Find out more about the event on the UT calendar.

The Cook Grand Challenge Honors Program is looking for a graduate teaching assistant for the 2019–2020 academic year to assist with EF 157 and EF 158. Duties include running recitation sessions, grading, and assisting with setup and cleanup of activities. This assistantship carries a tuition waiver, health insurance, and stipend. Get more information about this position and apply.

In recognition of the contributions that graduate education makes to the state of Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee issued a proclamation that February 10 through February 16, 2019 be designated as Graduate Education Week. There are over 6,000 graduate and professional students currently enrolled at UT. They are students, researchers, and teachers. Their work has impacts not only in the state of Tennessee, but across the nation, and around the world. Please join the Graduate School in observing this week and recognizing the critical role that graduate education plays in UT’s mission. Read more about the proclamation.

Nguyen Duc Diem Quynh (also known as Quynh Lam), a graduate student pursuing an MFA in Studio Art (Painting + Drawing) at the University of Tennessee, is one of 15 young and emerging artists selected for the 2019 Art Future Prize in Taiwan. Quynh was chosen for this honor from among artists in 48 countries in Asia. She was the only artist selected from Vietnam. In addition to the Art Future Prize, Quynh received the Special Jury Prize and an invitation to exhibit her work in Taipei this January. Read more about Quynh at the School of Art.