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GradNEXT Pitch Competition

The Graduate College is looking to innovate graduate education. Interested? We are partnering with the Center for Entrepreneurship for a Shark Tank-like event for 5 teams to propose innovative ideas to approach graduate education differently.

RSVP on GetInvolvedUC

April 9, 10 AM - 12 PM
1819 Innovation Hub, 3rd Floor Atrium

Parking is free in the 1819 parking lot for those with a valid UC parking permit. For those preferring to take a shuttle, three shuttle routes stop at the 1819 Innovation Hub: Campus Express, CCM Plaza, and Innovation District Route. Please visit UC's Live Shuttle Tracker to find your best option.

The audience participates in the competition by voting for the winning idea, which carries a $1,000 prize, in addition to funding to support the proposed idea.

We will also be providing refreshments before and after the competition.  

Event Program

View or download the 2024 GradNEXT pitch competition program (pdf file). (To view the pdf file, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free download.)

GradNEXT 2024 Competitors

TEAM 1, Graduate Level Competency Based Education – CECH  

  • Matt Huml (Associate Professor, Sport Administration, CECH) 
  • David Kelly (Educator Professor, Sport Administration, CECH) 
  • Beau Wyrick (Senior Online Marketing Manager, UC Online) 

TEAM 2, UC Everywhere: Mobile University – DAAP  

  • Claudia Rebola (Associate Dean, DAAP)
  • Lora Alberto (Program Director for Graduate Studies and Research, DAAP) 
  • Henry Levesque (PhD Student, Planning, DAAP) 
  • Pam Rezai (Asst Dir Marketing & Publications, DAAP) 
  • Szymon Nogalski (PhD Student, Planning, DAAP) 
  • Nazanin Najdmofarrah (MFA Student, Fine Arts, DAAP) 

TEAM 3, Global Voices, Local Impact – CECH, International Office, Graduate College & Graduate Student Government 

  • Stacy Jenkins (Graduate Student Success Program Manager, CECH) 
  • Tiffany Berman (PhD Student, Educational Studies, CECH GSA President) 
  • Kelly Plazibat (Program Coordinator, UC International Services)
  • Gibin Raju (PhD Student, Engineering Education, GSG President, IGSA Communications Chair) 
  • Brandilyn Worrell Pham (Program Manager, Community and Belonging, Graduate College) 

TEAM 4, BME PhD Accelerator Program – CEAS  

  • Jason Heikenfeld (Faculty, Biomedical Engineering, CEAS) 

TEAM 5, CodeinCStructor.ai – CEAS  

  • Saumick Pradhan (Master’s Student, Computer Science, CEAS) 

You can RSVP on GetInvolvedUC, but this is not required. We look forward to seeing you there!