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GLS eNews August 31, 2020

GLS Weekly News - August 31, 2020

Weekly Virtual Porch Sitting is back! Join us this Thursday at 5 PM via Zoom. Please note the new meeting room link: https://duke.zoom.us/j/99662930148 

GLS House remains closed until further notice. GLS staff are working remotely and may be reached via email.

In this edition:

  • Message from the Director
  • Students Represent GLS in Campus Organizations
  • Professor Publishes New Novel
  • GLS Hosts Weekly Virtual Info Sessions
  • Professional Development Workshops for Master's Students
  • Call for Submissions: Palaver
  • Upcoming Events
  • Graduate School Updates and Coronavirus Resources
  • Important Dates for GLS Students

Message from the Director

Hello GLS Community, 

I’m writing this week with two things on my mind – both related in different ways to how our lives have been changed by the ongoing pandemic. 

 1. An unexpected opportunity: online conferences! Through my own professional life, I have found that the learning, growth, and professional development that can come via connecting with others at professional conferences can be of immeasurable value – possibly as important as what you learn through your formal curriculum. I often tell people that my own education as a public historian took place mostly via annual attendance at the National Council on Public History meetings. I have also observed, however, that such learning and growth can be expensive, especially for those without institutional support. Factoring in registration, travel, and food, attending almost any conference will cost somewhere between $1000 and $2000. 

With the COVID threat ongoing, many scholarly professional organizations that normally have conferences in the fall have made the prudent choice to go online. This change is making participation in these conferences dramatically less expensive – not to mention much less disruptive in terms of time away from work. I am seeing more and more announcements for fantastic-looking conferences with registration costs running less than $150 (often much less, especially for students). For example, consider the following three conferences that I’m planning to attend:  

I am sure there are many others. I would encourage everyone – but especially students – seek out organizations related to your own work and take this chance to participate in national and international conversations around matters of interest to you.  

2. GLS recruitment: We are now beginning our recruitment for new GLS students to begin the program in spring and fall of 2021. This year, we have adjusted deadlines with the hope of making applying for our program as easy as possible, especially for working professionals who may have to make decisions on shorter timetables than students who are planning to return to graduate school full time. Our deadline for Spring ‘21 applications is October 15, 2020, and our final deadline for Fall ‘21 will be June 1, 2021. Students applying by February 15 will receive priority for scholarship support. Application details are here. 

More than ever before, we need your help to recruit our new incoming classes. With enrollments down this year due to COVID (many international students deferring), and with Duke imposing spending limits, we are not able to pay for advertising. Obviously, we also cannot hold in-person events. Thus, promotion this year will be almost completely handled through our social media platforms, emails and promotion at Duke, and word of mouth. We will hold virtual informational sessions each Friday morning at 10:00 AM Eastern Time to talk with prospective students.  

Will you help us spread the word? Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @DukeGLS, and on LinkedIn, and help us by re-sharing news of our information sessions and other links and materials that we will be posting. If you know of specific audiences (your workplace or social groups you participate in?) for whom we might do a specialized virtual information session, we would be happy to arrange that. Thanks in advance for helping us bring more great, self-motivated and eager learners to Duke GLS.  

 Warmly,

Students Represent GLS in Campus Organizations

Ismail Cidic has been selected to serve as the GLS representative on the General Assembly for the Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC). GPSC is the umbrella student government organization for Duke’s nine graduate and professional schools.

Ismail is a second-year student from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He graduated from the International University in Sarajevo (IUS) majoring in political science. During his studies at IUS, he led the University’s Student Parliament and was involved in numerous on campus and national initiatives.Ismail is a former national debate champion, and has participated in events and programs across the world, from South Korea, Malaysia and the Middle East to the EU countries and the US. His research and interest areas primarily include international relations and genocide studies.

Thea Liu serves as the vice president of graduate and professional students of Duke University Union (DUU). Thea is a second-year GLS student focusing on history with an interest in international relations in the period of the Republic of China. After graduation she plans to pursue a doctoral degree.

DUU is Duke’s largest programming and media body, housing 17 different committees. Programming ranges from large scale events like LDOC, Heatwave, and the P-Checks concert to recurring programming, like Trivia or Movie Screenings. DUU provides events and media for undergraduates, graduates, and professional students. They are entirely run and planned by the more than 200 Duke students involved in DUU. As a vice president, Thea takes care of graduate students affairs and seeks possibilities to work with GPSC.

Robin Kirk's New Novel Released

Professor Robin Kirk, who is teaching a course for GLS this fall, is celebrating the September 1 release of her novel The Hive Queen, the second book of the INDIE award-winning Bond Trilogy. Watch Professor Kirk discuss her fiction online next Tuesday, September 8, at 7 PM, hosted by Durham's Regulator Bookshop. For event info and to register for the online discussion, visit the Regulator's event page on Facebook.

GLS to Hold Weekly Virtual Info Sessions

Spread the word! Beginning this Friday, September 4, at 10 AM, GLS will hold weekly virtual information sessions via Zoom. Word of mouth continues to be one our best recruitment tools, so if you know of someone you think might be interested in the program, please send them our way.

Info sessions are a great way for prospective students to learn more about GLS and to see whether it's a good fit for them. We'll talk about the application process, curriculum, faculty, students, cost, and how Duke employees can use their tuition benefit to help finance their degree. We will make time for your questions as well. Advanced registration is required. See our website for dates and registration details.

TGS Offers Virtual Professional Development Workshops for Master's Students

Each semester, The Graduate School offers several workshops specifically designed for students in the school’s research master’s programs as part of the Professional Development Series. Master’s students are also welcome at most other events offered as part of the Professional Development Series.

Next up:

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020, 2:00 - 3:15 PM

Presenting Yourself in a Virutal Environment: A Workshop

See the full master's student workshop lineup here.

Call for Submissions

Upcoming Events

Online Resources for Graduate Students

Important Dates for GLS Students

Tuesday, August 31 - Deadline to apply for Dean's Award

Monday, September 7 - Labor Day holiday - GLS office closed, classes in session

Sunday, September 13, 2:00-5:00 PM - Master's Project planning session (required during course five)

EVERY THURSDAY :

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