Graduate School Preparatory Program

Mission:

Our mission in the Graduate School Preparatory Program (GSPP) is to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion by helping students from underrepresented backgrounds successfully apply to, complete, and thrive in graduate and professional programs. In the GSPP, the term “underrepresented” is broadly defined to include first-generation students; students of color -- which includes Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian, Multi-racial, and other self-identified students of color; students from low-income backgrounds; students with disabilities; students from immigrant backgrounds; LGBTQIA+ students; students in Continuing Studies; students at the intersections of these and other identities; and a broad array of other groups.

The Program uses an expanded conception of “success” that focuses on academic success as well as mental and emotional health. The Program attends to students’ needs as both scholars and human beings to help students craft and navigate personalized paths to graduate school that will allow them to build careers and lives that bring them fulfillment and joy.

 

This program is housed under three different offices on campus:

Africana Studies

Career Center

Multicultural Life

 

Program Co-Directors:

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Giancarlo Cuadra, PhD

Assistant Professor of Biology

Member of the Pre-Health Advisory Committee

Profile image of Assistant Professor of English and Africana Studies, Emanuela Kucik wearing black button-up shirt.

Emanuela Kucik, PhD

Assistant Professor of English and Africana Studies

Director of Africana Studies Program

Committee members:

By division:

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 Humanities
  Professor Sharon Albert, Senior Lecturer in Religion Studies
  Dr. Beatrice Bradley, Assistant Professor, English
  Dr. Ioanna Chatzidimitriou, Associate Professor of French
  Professor Heidi Cruz-Austin, Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance
  Dr. Elena FitzPatrick Sifford, Assistant Professor of Art History
  Dr. Kassie Hartford, Assistant Professor of Music
  Dr. Margo Hobbs, Professor and Chair of Art History, Associate Director of the Africana Studies Program
  Dr. Daniel Carrillo Jara, Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish
  Dr. Emanuela Kucik, Assistant Professor of English Literatures and Writing and Africana Studies, Director of the Africana Studies Program
  Dr. Daniel Leisawitz, Assistant Professor of Italian, Director of the Italian Studies Program
  Dr. Leticia Robles-Moreno, Assistant  Professor of Theatre
  Dr. Dawn Lonsinger, Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing
  Dr. Ethan Philbrick, Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre
  Dr. Kammie Takahashi, Associate Professor of Religion Studies, Director of Asian Studies
  Professor Frederick Wright Jones, Assistant Professor of Art
 Natural Sciences
  Dr. Kathleen Bachynski, Assistant Professor of Public Health
  Dr. Giancarlo Cuadra, Assistant Professor of Biology
  Dr. Gretchen Gotthard, Associate Professor Psychology and Neuroscience
  Dr. Amy Hark, Professor of Biology
  Dr. Matthieu de Wit, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience
  Dr. Silvia Porello, Lecturer in Chemistry
  Dr. Jorge Silveyra, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
  Dr. Jordanna Sprayberry, Professor of Biology and Neuroscience
  Professor Karen Tuerk, Lecturer in Environmental Science and Chemistry
  Dr. Leah Wilson, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience
 Social Sciences
  Dr. Jacqueline Antonovich, Assistant Professor of History
  Dr. Binta Bah - Consortium for Faculty Diversity Fellow, Visiting Assistant Professor in Education
  Dr. Benjamin Carter, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Department Chair
  Dr. Irene Chien, Assistant Professor of Media and Communication
  Dr. Mohsin Hashim, Professor of Political Science
  Professor Cathy Kim, Senior Lecturer in Education, Coordinator of Professional Programs
  Dr. Jefferson Pooley, Professor, Media & Communication
  Dr. Justin Preddie, Consortium for Faculty Diversity Fellow, Visiting Assistant Professor in Psychology
  Dr. Ranajoy Ray-Chaudhuri, Associate Professor of Economics, Director of Muhlenberg Scholars Honors Program
  Dr. Sarah Runcie, Assistant Professor of History
  Dr. Sahar Sadeghi, Assistant Professor of Sociology
  Dr. Harry Simón Salazar, Assistant Professor of Media & Communication
 Staff and Administration committee members
  Ms. Karmen Brown, Associate Director of Prevention Education
  Dr. David Donnelly, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies
  Ms. Eveily Freeman, Associate Director of the Office of Community Engagement
  Ms. Beth Halpern, Director of the Office of Community Engagement
  Ms. Rachel Hamelers, Teaching and Learning Librarian
  Ms. Tina Hertel, Library Director
  Ms. Aliya Kenyatta, Counselor and Licensed Social Worker
  Ms. Cailin Pachter, Director of Health Professions Advising
  Ms.Robin Riley-Casey, Associate Dean of Students, Director of Student Diversity Initiatives
  Ms. Dee Snow, Instructional Technology Specialist, Office of Information Technology
  Ms. Courtney Stephens, Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Housing & Residence Life
  Ms. Sara Weidner, Assistant Director of Career Coaching and Education, Career Center
  Dean Allison Williams, Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Students

Application and Related Information

The GSPP is for people at all stages of their graduate school application journeys, including those who feel that they don't know where to begin. We are here to help you through every stage of the process!

If you are interested in joining the GSPP, please review the criteria and workshop/event information below. Then, please apply using the "Apply Now!" button at the end of this section.

Criteria

The GSPP is open to students who:

  • Are sophomores; juniors; seniors; recent alumni; and/or Continuing Studies students;
  • Are interested in attending graduate programs;
  • Identify as members of underrepresented groups, as described under "Mission."

Workshop and Event Times

The GSPP is committed to helping you develop and enhance the skills you need to successfully apply to, and thrive in, Graduate and Professional schools. To fully benefit from the Program, consistent attendance at workshops and events is required. Workshops and events are scheduled for every other Wednesday from 3:30 - 4:45 pm, starting at the beginning of the semester. As such, before applying, please make sure that this Wednesday time slot fits into your schedule to ensure you are able to fully engage with the GSPP and receive all of its benefits.

Application

If you meet all of the criteria and are able to attend the workshops/events, please submit your application by May 28th, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Please make sure to read all components of the application, including the descriptions at the beginning of each section, and please don't hesitate to email Dr. Kucik or Dr. Cuadra if you have any questions about the Program or the application. We look forward to reading your application!

Apply Now!

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