Welcome to the UNMC fall 2025 semester. We’re excited to begin a new academic year and move forward together. The start of a new season brings opportunities and challenges, both within our campus and across the broader landscape of health sciences education.
We’ve welcomed some new faces to the UNMC Office of Graduate Studies. Jered Garrison, PhD, professor in the UNMC Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, was appointed interim assistant dean of UNMC Graduate Studies in August. Dr. Garrison has jumped right in to lead our some of mentoring and student success initiatives, including our thesis and dissertation boot camps.
Jordan Rowley, PhD, associate professor in the UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, has served as a graduate studies advisor since last winter. He will be continuing to help us streamline and automate processes. We are so lucky to have Dr. Garrison and Dr. Rowley as part of our UNMC Graduate Studies team.
This issue of Graduate Posts includes a link to our 2023-2024 annual report, which highlights accomplishments of our exceptional students, faculty and staff. We also feature recent achievements of two IGPBS PhD students; Lou Townsend shares insights from his Zoetis internship and Abigail Hall is recognized for her predoctoral American Heart Association fellowship. We also celebrate the matriculation of over 160 new graduate students, highlight service offerings in the Graduate Student Wellness Hub and spotlight our growing partnership with Streck. Be sure to check the calendar for the latest events.
This year has brought significant uncertainty regarding issues that shape the experiences of our faculty, staff and students, including research funding and opportunities for international collaboration. While these times may be unpredictable, I urge you to stay grounded and focus on what you can control: your curiosity, your discipline, your commitment to learning and your care for those around you.
Use your growth mindset to view today’s challenges as opportunities to become the best version of yourself. Remember, success is rarely linear. Give yourself time to adapt, recalibrate, learn and grow through every twist and turn. And remember, UNMC Graduate Studies is here to support you every step of the way.