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Fall Welcome Program

Welcome to Rackham! We are excited to kick off the year with you and share the many resources, opportunities, and communities available to graduate students.

For more information and a complete list of participating organizations, visit our Fall Welcome page.

Welcome Program

Friday, August 28, 2026, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Rackham Auditorium

  • Cole Dorman: Master of Ceremonies, Ph.D. Student in Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering
  • Mike Solomon: Dean and Vice-Provost for Academic Affairs–Graduate Studies
  • Sam Hobson, Ph.D.: Keynote Speaker, Beyond the Degree: Building a Life of Possibility in Grad School
  • The GradTONES
  • Catreen Marji: Vice President, Rackham Student Government (RSG)
  • Judy Kim: Co-President, Graduate Rackham International (GRIN)
  • Cynthia Adebayo: President, Students of Color of Rackham (SCOR)
  • Ayush Chitrakar: Coordinator, Researchers Expanding Lay-Audience Teaching and Engagement (RELATE)
  • Kirsten Elling, Ph.D.: Assistant Director, Graduate Student Career Advancement, Rackham Embedded Career Counselor
  • Anna Wagner, Ph.D.: Coordinator, Ph.D. Experiential Learning, Rackham Embedded Career Coach
  • VaNessa Thompson, Ph.D.: Academic Program Manager, Professional Development and Engagement
  • Maggie Gardner, Ph.D.: Program Lead for STEM Professional Development
  • Joseph Cialdella, Ph.D.: Assistant Director, Experiential Learning
  • Fanfare Band

Student Organizations Welcome Event

2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Rackham Building, East Lawn

Information Fair

2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Rackham Building

Stay Connected

Stay in touch with Rackham throughout the year! We offer an array of events, workshops, and programs designed specifically for graduate students. Visit our Event Calendar for more information.