The incoming class of 2008-2009 is now settled into their classes, and we would like to welcome our new grad students to the Department. Geography graduate student orientation was held on September 25, and it was a long day! In the morning, TA roles, responsibilities, and expectations were presented by Oliver Chadwick, Chair, and Park Williams, Lead TA; employment forms were completed with Connie Padilla and Karen Barteld; Geography Access Control / Identification Application forms were completed with Karen Barteld; keys and copy codes were issued by Bernadette Weinberg and Christian Brown; safety presentation & forms were completed with Mo Lovegreen; and Computing Lab Access Cards were processed by Matthew Bowman, the Community Relations & Training Officer of the UCSB Police Department.
After a welcome lunch break, faculty and graduate introductions were made and required/recommended courses and advising information was given by Oliver Chadwick, Chair; Cassandra Engeman, from the United Automobile Workers union (which represents Teaching Assistants at UCSB) discussed the Union and membership; a grad student only meeting was held to elect representatives to faculty meetings, GSA representatives, Colloquia Committee Events Committee members, etc.; photographs were taken by Bill Norrington; and a computer orientation meeting was conducted by Mark Probert, Dylan Parenti, and Gwen Raubal. And, yes, most of the grads were glad to escape to Sharkey’s Mexican Grill at the end of the day for some well-deserved R & R!
We currently have a total of 84 current grad students, including 17 new students. UCSB Geography is internationally recognized as one of the largest and highest ranked Departments of Geography in the world. We are proud that you have chosen us. To quote Vince Lombardi, “Reach for the moon. If you miss, you’ll still be among the stars.”
Lunch break photos courtesy of Guylene Gadal
