7 Free Things To Do In Cincinnati: May Edition

Although campus life may be slow in the summer months, Cincinnati remains a hub of activity—festivals, yoga classes, salsa dancing, and stand-up comedy, all for zero dollars. Check out a list of fun (and free) things to do in the Queen City this May.

Student Spotlight: Maurice Adkins

Maurice Adkins is a budding historian, Yates Fellow, passionate teacher and PhD student with a keen desire to honor history through dedicating his research to the stories of black institutions and their founders.

Student Spotlight: Aparna Singh

A survivor of the 2015 Nepal earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people, WGSS graduate student and women's rights activist Aparna Singh dedicates her research to the study of female survivors and the telling of their stories.

Winter Blues: The Symptoms & The Remedy

It's normal to feel down during the winter months, but what can help? Become acquainted with UC's Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) and a winter reading list that will surely lift your spirits.

Now Enrolling: Center for English as a Second Language (CESL)

The University of Cincinnati’s Center for English as a Second Language offers both oral and written classes to currently enrolled international students wanting to improve their English language abilities. Not only do these classes prepare students in language proficiency, they provide them with the skills they need to be successful in academic and professional endeavors—building real communication confidence. What’s more, the courses are open to all international students, both graduate and undergraduate.

GATE: An Enriching UC Graduate Experience

One common problem facing many graduate students at UC is seeking out broad training and support on how to teach. GATE is a student-run organization in partnership with the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning (CET&L) that supports graduate student teaching by facilitating monthly teaching and learning workshops and offering one-on-one consultations with graduate student teachers. Learn excellent teaching methodologies, the ways in which body language and voice influence student learning, and how to facilitate diverse and inclusive teaching experiences.

Student Spotlight: Kathleen Kidder

Myth, literature, foreign language—these are the things that have always interested Kathleen Kidder. They guided her to become a student of classics, the study of Greek and Roman Antiquity (classical philology, ancient history, archaeology, and Greek prehistory). Now a PhD student studying Hellenistic poetry, Kathleen explores literary theory, its interaction with the fundamentals of truth and falsehood, and the magic of a Rohs coffee paired with a good internet meme.

Nehal Elmeligy is Making a Scene

When she was younger, Nehal Elmeligy didn’t have a word for feminism. The school books in Cairo didn’t mention anything about the concept. Now a graduate student getting her master's in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Nehal explores the complex and profound journeys of young Egyptian feminists in their pursuit of resistance and self-love.

Preparing Future Faculty Spotlight:  Abigail Richard

Abigail Richard is what you might call a math nerd, and she’s proud of it. She’s a mathematical sciences PhD candidate doing research in geometric analysis. However, her true passion is for teaching. Learn how the Preparing Future Faculty graduate certificate program helped her improve her teaching abilities (with higher teaching evaluation scores to show for it) and equipped her with new tools for engaging and motivating students.

Five Ways to Rock the Last Month of the Semester

The end of the semester can be scary for even the most experienced grad student. The weeks of November are typically marked by intimidating projects, reports and exams, which hold sway over final grades. A good outcome is very much possible, but only if we give ourselves what we need. And amid all the stress and work, it’s very easy to forget what we need. Here are some self-care reminders.

The Legends of UC
When October rolls around each fall, it’s hard not to find yourself sitting around talking about the many myths, spooky events and urban legends out there. It’s even more fun talking about legends when they are about places you pass every day! Ghosts, silly rumors and urban legends abound at UC. Have you heard of any of them?

Student Spotlight: Josue Campos
Abandoning the exact recipe of engineering for more unpredictable endeavors, Campos left his familiar Atlanta for Cincinnati to begin his DAAP journey. Fast forward to present day, the Yates Fellow is busy solving design myths and creating a consulting company based on his thesis work.

Our UC History: Fire and Friendship
Before UC was embodied as the Uptown Campus you know today, it was a singular building simply dubbed “the university building.” In 1885, the building burned down. Well, it almost burned down. We sat down with David Stradling, A&S associate dean for humanities, and discussed this strange and interesting fragment from UC's past.

Student Spotlight: Dawna Rutherford
She had no intention of entering nursing education. The plan was to travel the world, working as an obstetrical nurse. Now Dawna Rutherford is studying women's health and the long-term effects of violence and trauma, and researching the effects of bullying on nursing students in clinical settings.

Become a Better Writer with the Academic Writing Center
No matter your program, writing is a fact of graduate life. Classwork, journal and conference papers, the intimidating bulk of a thesis or dissertation: you’re constantly putting your knowledge into words. Complicated academic ideas can be hard to communicate, but you don’t have to do it alone. The tutors at the Academic Writing Center (AWC) provide free assistance to get you through even the trickiest writing tasks.

6 Restaurants to Try Before You Graduate
As much as we all love Chipotle and Panera, there is something uniquely special in appreciating and supporting the lesser known delicacies of a city; small hubs of good food and better company, often equally managed by both small business owners and genuine neighborhood hospitality. The area surrounding the University of Cincinnati is decorated with incredible cuisine and hidden gems of roadside eateries. Here are six you must try before you graduate.

Student Spotlight: Sammie Marita
Sammie Marita became acutely aware of her passion for helping students with learning disabilities when she came to UC as an undergrad. The years that followed would be occupied by embracing her passion; Marita would work countless hours with individuals with autism and behavioral disabilities in home and school settings. Now a doctoral student in the educational studies program, Marita’s dissertation focuses on the emotional aspects of being a student with learning disabilities.

Scholar@UC: The Archive You Need
The University of Cincinnati has found a way to implement the much needed preservation of research and scholarship by providing its researchers, faculty, and students (including you!) with an institutional repository. Meaning, a way to digitally archive information, essentially forever. The software is called Scholar@UC. And it’s the official institutional repository for the university.

Student Spotlight: Anwar Mhajne
Words are important. When an individual is given the language to describe themselves, and thus advocate for themselves, the individual is given power. Anwar Mhajne—Graduate School Dean’s Fellow, PhD candidate, podcast-listener, writer and feminist—was denied, for a long time, the proper language to describe herself. After completing a master’s at UC, she now is in the process of finishing her PhD in political science. Within her academic triumph, she has learned in what ways to give her words the utmost meaning.

Make Your Research Mark with ORCID
After all the hard work you put into your research, you want to make sure everyone knows you were the one who did it. ORCID provides a free, permanent, unique identifier that marks research documents as yours alone.

Student Spotlight: Stephanie Alcantar
You may think it odd two such vastly contrasting disciplines as literature and mathematics could marry inside the house of logic and academia, but this is precisely what Stephanie Alcantar—Graduate School Dean’s Fellow, PhD candidate, poet, mathematician, and sunset and coffee enthusiast—has dedicated her studies to demonstrating.

Student Spotlight: DeVonna Gatlin
Chemistry affects us all, whether we study it or not—and that’s what Devonna Gatlin wants everyone to know. She has made it her goal to spread the knowledge of chemistry—the “chemistry of life”—to all people, especially minority groups who may not be exposed to the field.

Summer Vacation for Everyone—Yes, Everyone!
Some graduate students call the warmer months “summer break.” Others call them “summer semester.” Either way, everyone deserves a vacation from the stress of the regular school year. We usually define “vacation” as a trip to somewhere far away, but you can find a mini-getaway in your own backyard (and save some money, too!). Whether it’s an adrenaline-spiking rollercoaster or a Sunday morning trip to the farmer’s market, getting out in the sun can make you more productive when it’s time to get back to work. Forget about the semantics of “summer break” vs. “summer semester”—let’s all take a “summer vacation.”

2017 Excellence in Mentoring of Doctoral Students Award: Dr. Suzanne Masterson
In the years following graduation, there are many details students forget about their time at the University of Cincinnati. They forget papers they’ve written, lectures they’ve attended, quizzes they’ve graded and books they’ve read. But they will undoubtedly remember the person that went above and beyond to guide them through their graduate education. For many business administration students, that person is Dr. Suzanne Masterson.

A New Initiative: The Professional Development Council
What does it mean to be a professional? Representatives from across the spectrum of graduate education and student services are coming together to define what this term can mean to UC graduate students. The Professional Development Council is a new initiative to coordinate the professional development efforts that prepare today’s graduate students to become tomorrow’s scholars, researchers, scientists and performers. Get a glimpse of the latest professional development initiatives currently in the works.

2017 MFA Thesis Exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center
For the soon-to-be graduates of DAAP’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program, it has all come down to this final exhibition. With their time as graduate students coming to a close, they are ready to showcase the culmination of their experiences here at UC. Get an in-depth look at their thesis work in the 2017 MFA Thesis Exhibition. Installed on the fourth floor of the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art (CAC), visitors will have the opportunity to experience works in a variety of modes and materials. The exhibit is free and open to the general public through April 20, 2017. There will be an Artist Talks event from 1-3 p.m. on April 9 where the students will discuss their work in person. Hear it here first as they talk through their thesis presentations.

From "Hair" to "Hamilton": Q&A with Michael Kennedy
We go to the theater not just to escape our own lives, but to see part of ourselves reflected on the stage. Michael Kennedy’s work explores the ties between musical theater and the world around us. A PhD candidate in musicology, Kennedy was recently selected as a 2017-18 Dean’s Fellow. His dissertation, “(Re-)Orchestrating the Music: Broadway’s Postmodern Sound from ‘Hair’ to ‘Hamilton,’” examines how Broadway’s orchestral sound has undergone considerable change since the late 1960s. Here, he discusses his favorite era of musicals, the relationship between politics and theater, Broadway’s legal issues, and his next act after graduation.

Meet the New Leaders of the Graduate Student Governance Association
As the UC graduate student government body, the Graduate Student Governance Association (GSGA) provides a united voice across program and college lines, advocating on behalf of the UC graduate student population. Meet the newly-elected officers who are ready to step up as representatives for the graduate student population: President Arunkumar Muthusamy, Vice President Jelena Vicic, Treasurer Siddharth Sridhar and Campus Ambassador Mar Gámez.

President’s Office Recognizes Outstanding Graduate Students
The Office of the President established the Presidential Medal of Graduate Student Excellence (PMGSE) this academic year to recognize graduate students who best exemplify scholarship, leadership, character, service and the ideals of UC. We are proud to announce that the 2017 recipients are:

• Kendra Leahy (A&S)
• Jessica Ross (College of Medicine) 
• Sid Thatham (CEAS, LCOB)

The Lowdown on Hooking Up
What do the social sciences and everyday college life have in common? More than you might think—just ask clinical psychology PhD candidate Eliza Weitbrecht. Her award-winning master’s thesis explores the “hook up” culture of college students. Nominated for the MAGS competition, Eliza’s research focuses on the motivations and expectations young adults associate with casual sexual encounters.

GATEways to Teaching
Have you ever wanted to learn about learning, or be taught how to teach? As a graduate student, your day-to-day life is immersed in academic culture. The further you go in your education, the more you become invested in its practices. If you want to make a difference in the teaching community, the Graduate Association for Teaching Enhancement (GATE) is the place for you.

Got a Conflict? Call the Ombuds
If you aren’t a lawyer, words like “mediation” and “negation” may be a little intimidating. But when conflicts come up, these resolution methods can help you make the best of the situation. So what do you do when you need to mediate or negotiate, but aren’t sure where to start? Call upon the Office of the University Ombuds to guide you to a successful resolution.

Meet Your IPALs
Bearcats come from all over the world. As a student at UC, your cultural experience can go far beyond the limits of Cincinnati. You may be from or have classmates from China, India and South Korea. You can go to international events around campus. And you’ve also got IPALs—International Partners and Leaders—to help you find your place in UC’s diverse community. Meet some of the IPALs as they share who they are, how they got involved, and why they love being part of this group.

Research Librarians to the Rescue: Experts to Elevate Your Research
When you’re writing papers and conducting research, it can be difficult to find exactly what you’re looking for. Wouldn’t it be great to have a subject matter expert to guide you? Wouldn’t it be even better if this expert were right here on campus? These superheroes are real, and we call them research librarians.

Fall Spooks and Sights
The air is crisp, the leaves are crunchy and the coffee is pumpkin-spiced. Telltale signs of fall are everywhere, and they may have you itching for a caramel apple or a good scare. Get your fall fix with these events happening around Cincinnati.

Discounts for Bearcats
Show your Bearcat Card to save on things you already buy or discover something new at a great deal. Here are some of the best reasons to always carry your student ID, so you can take full advantage of being a Bearcat.

Safety Resources On and Off Campus
Campus life can keep you busy day and night. Whether you’re leaving a night class, working late in the lab or studying at home, you should know about the strategies UC and the city of Cincinnati have implemented to keep you safe. Stay up-to-date on the safety resources available to you, both on and off campus.

Getting Around Cincinnati
How do you plan on navigating through Cincinnati this semester? You may be surprised at some of the options available to UC students. Whether you own a car or not, check out this list of inexpensive and eco-friendly ways to get where you need to go.

PFF Spotlight: Daniele Bologna
Daniele Bologna may have arrived at UC as an experienced business manager, but leading a classroom proved to be a new challenge for the doctoral candidate in psychology. Learn how Preparing Future Faculty helped him and other graduate students gain their footing as teachers.

Hyperloop UC Students Zoom Ahead in Global Competition
An interdisciplinary team of UC students is one of only 30 to qualify for the final round of the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition. Engineers, designers and marketers are working together to prototype the transportation system of tomorrow.

Graduate School Dean's Fellow: Alexandre Bádue
Musical theater can be much more than light entertainment. Alexandre Bádue, a doctoral candidate in the College-Conservatory of Music, researches how musical composers stretch the boundaries of storytelling through their work.

Excellence in Teaching Award: Maurice Todd
Maurice Todd, master's winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award, focuses on the basics of double bass technique to prepare his students for the high-stakes world of orchestral auditions.

Prep for Success with an Individual Development Plan
The winter break is a perfect time to think about what comes after graduate school. Learn how to make an Individual Development Plan that will help kickstart your exploration.

Excellence in Teaching Award: Megan Lamkin
Megan Lamkin, doctoral winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award, uses expertise from outside the biology classroom to blow minds, cultivate confidence and inspire professionalism.

Talking Blues with Saul Meyerson-Knox
Where does the blues come from? The African blues might sound like a good guess, but College-Conservatory of Music graduate Saul Meyerson-Knox found that its origins aren't so clear-cut. Read more about his thesis, nominated for the MAGS 2016 Distinguished Master’s Thesis Competition.

Doing Research Right: The Institutional Review Board
If you do human subjects research at UC, you'll need to deal with the Institutional Review Board. Learn how the IRB protects the rights of research participants and ensures ethical conduct throughout the research process.

Partners in Health Engage
Today's globe is interconnected not only in culture and economy, but also in health. Discover how the members of Partners in Health Engage advocate to promote equal access to healthcare in nations around the world.

Images of UC
To those outside the University of Cincinnati community, the school is defined by a handful of emblems: the name of the university itself, red and black uniforms in motion and an odd mascot that is neither a bear nor a cat. But what do you know about how these symbols came into being?