Welcome incoming graduate students and welcome back old friends!

Please allow me to first introduce myself. My name is Khalid Y. Long, the president of the Graduate Students of Color Association. I am a returning graduate student in the department of English (Literature); previously earning a Master of Arts in Theatre Studies at Miami. While excited to be returning to Miami, I’m even more excited to be continuing to work with GSCA.
As I’ve previously stated at several of the orientating events where I’ve met many of the incoming graduate students, I’d like to reiterate our fundamental goals. GSCA functions to enhance the campus life by providing academic, political, social and cultural support.  More importantly, we provide support that facilitates academic excellence, as well as safe, enriching spaces that promote political awareness toward issues that affect graduate students of color. Overall, we endorse equality and equity in education for all students.

This year GSCA has a semester full of academically engaging and leisurely activities. Starting off we will host Dr. William Smith, Special Assistant to the President and Associate Dean for Diversity, Access, and Equity, College of Education and a faculty member in the Department of Education, Culture, and Society and Ethnic Studies Program (African American Studies division) at the University of Utah. He will be on campus as a part of the American and World Cultures lecture series. His talk, “Surviving the Academy as a Graduate Student of Color”, will be held Thursday, September 22nd at 11:15am – 12:30pm in the Great Room, MacMillan Hall. GSCA and the Graduate School will sponsor a brown bag lunch targeted at graduate students of color. Beverages and light snacks will be provided.

Also this month we will be hosting our 22nd Annual Jazz Reception. The GSCA and the Graduate school sponsors the Jazz Reception each fall.  You should receive an invitation in your academic department in the next couple of days, you must RSVP. This is a great opportunity to network, engage and relax with fellow graduate students, faculty and administrators. This year the Jazz Reception will be held Friday, September 30th at 7:00pm @ the Marcum Center. Live Music, Dancing, Evening Attire, Food, Networking, and Fun!

Our first GSCA meeting will be held Thursday, September 08, 2011, in rm. 304, McGuffey Hall. This will be an introductory meeting to allow for us to discuss the needs of GSCA members. Bring a  lunch, meet and greet, and voice your concerns regarding graduate school life and how GSCA can help!

Be on the lookout for the GSCA newsletters sent via Miami email. This newsletter keeps us updated on upcoming campus events, off-campus events, and what the students are doing. If you have anything that you would like to share through the newsletter, please send me or Valerie Robinson an email. We like to share great news, and support for things such as upcoming dissertation/thesis defense, comprehensive exams, conference presentations, interviews, school acceptance, etc.

Please feel free to contact me with questions, concerns, or to simply chat @ [log in to unmask]

Khalid Y. Long, M.A.
Dept. of English
President, GSCA
Miami University, Oxford, OH
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“Eventually it comes to you: the thing that makes you exceptional, if you are at all, is inevitably that which must also make you lonely.”

                                                                                                                               Lorraine Hansberry

"Success doesn’t come to you...you go to it"

                                                 Marva Collins