JMU The Graduate School Inclusive Excellence

Student Spotlight: Celebrating - Roneka Samalenge!

Roneka is originally from Norfolk, Virginia. As an undergraduate she was a diversity educator with Deep Impact (Check out this throw back from her undergraduate graduation) ! Later while completing her graduate work at JMU she studied the effect of race on prison reentry and business opportunities for previously incarcerated individuals. Roneka will continue her career as a Business Consultant for Rockville Economic Development Inc. (REDi) and Maryland Women's Business Center, a minority research center for the SBA. To celebrate her many accomplishments Roneka will be taking a trip to Jamaica (She's also a travel agent!)

When thinking about advice she would offer to new and prospective students James Madison University she writes, "Make it your own. I believe, especially as a minority student at JMU, it can be easy to think that JMU is not for you. Don't believe that. Take up space here and walk into rooms your conscience (or people) may say you do not belong in. Your presence and your voice is powerful and don't you ever forget that. You belong here and wherever else you feel led."

We are so glad you chose JMU Roneka, here's to all that is to come! . The Graduate School, James Madison University

Congratulations to all of our Master’s and PhD students graduating tomorrow! We have loved having you here, and cannot wait to see what you will accomplish in the future. Remember – once a Duke, always a Duke!

Our final is Hannah Greer-Young. Hannah is from Marysville, Ohio and earned a Bachelors of Music in Education from Bowling Green University.

Hannah is currently conducting research on sexual misconduct in U.S. band programs for my thesis. Hannah remarks, “This is a crisis in the field of music education that deserves more attention and I hope that my research leads to lasting change.” She has also launched the JMU Middle School Lab Band, a free and community-based enrichment program for middle school band students in the Shenandoah Valley!

She will spend the summer working with the Irish Institute of Music and Song in Dublin, Ireland as a part of the Study Abroad program.

Her favorite part of JMU is the support she receives from the music education faculty of JMU, as they are deeply invested in her growth and are incredibly inspirational. Her advice to new students is to “seek out people in your program who challenge you and bring out the best in you”

A fun fact about Hannah is that she loves to race sail boats!

We are excited to see all the amazing things you’ll do at JMU, Hannah!

Yesterday, May 8th, was National Student Nurse Day! As a part of Nurses Week, we want to congratulate our student nurses for their hard work and dedication. Nursing is an incredibly challenging discipline to study in college, whether as an undergraduate or graduate student. We are so grateful that you chose JMU, and you have our full support throughout your educational journey!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day to all of our amazing professors and TA’s in the graduate school! You ensure that everyone has access to a quality graduate-level education, and we are so grateful for you. Be sure to show your teachers your appreciation by getting them a gift or a thank-you card.

For our next , we have Keresa Murray! Keresa is native to West Jefferson, Ohio and previously studied at Miami University before attending JMU as a graduate student. She is a hall director for Short Hall and a student in the College Student Personnel Administration Program.

This summer, she will be Working as a Resident Director in the Office of Housing and Residence Life at Ohio University.

Her favorite part about JMU is the school spirit that exists at this school and the beautiful scenery that surrounds campus.

Her advice for new students is “to get involved where you can and make those connections to really feel like you have a sense of community while you’re here and people to reach out to when you leave JMU”

A fun fact about Keresa is that she can solve a Rubik’s cube!

We are excited to have you, Keresa!

May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. This month, we urge you to learn more about AAPI culture and uplift your AAPI neighbors. We are grateful for a diverse community of graduate students that includes, welcomes, and embraces AAPI students.

The coming month of May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM). We are excited to join the numerous communities nationwide in celebrating the rich and diverse American Jewish experience.

For our first , we have Bela Starinchak! Bela is from Alexandria, VA and studied at Ohio Wesleyan University before attending JMU for Graduate School. She is a second year Biology M.S. student in the Griscom Lab.

She conducted a socioecological study of tree carbon and beef production trade-offs in cattle pastures in the Shenandoah Valley here in Virginia, and in the Pedasi region of Panama. Her favorite part of her research was interviewing landowners and hearing how passionate they were about their farms.

This summer, she will be working as a biological inventory and monitoring technician for the National Park Service in Haleakalā National Park in Hawai'i.

Her favorite part about JMU is the close knit community, within the university and within Harrisonburg.

We are excited you’re here, Bela! Swipe through to see some of the cool things Bela is doing at JMU.

There is always sunshine after rain, Dukes – sometimes, even a rainbow. We are entering the last few weeks of the semester as May approaches. Push through and finish strong!

Congratulations to our AIM Developmental Grant recipient, Doruntina Maliqi. Doruntina is studying Communication and Advocacy and is focused on youth activism in her home country, Kosovo. She is particularly interested in youth activism in online and public spaces. She intends to use the AIM grant to begin conducting her research this summer. We are so excited to see your research, Doruntina!

Congratulations to our honorable mention recipient for the AIM Developmental Grant , Faith Frost! Faith is a second year PhD candidate in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program. She studies the social communication skills of autistic individuals through a strengths-based and neurodiversity-affirming lens. She is currently studying how autistic adults interpret indirect requests, and hopes to expand her research to be used by teachers, employers, and others who are consistently in contact with adults who are autistic. She intends to use the AIM Grant to expand her research and finish her project. We can’t wait to see the development of your research, Faith!

Tomorrow is Earth day, a day that serves as a reminder to do your part in keeping our environment clean. Some simple things we can do is start a compost, turn off the lights when you leave the room, and conserve water by turning off the tap when you wash your hands or brush your teeth. These small acts can lead to a huge impact on the heath of the Earth. How will you celebrate Earth day?

Blessed Eid! Today marks Eid al-Fitr, otherwise known as The Festival of the Sweets or the Festival of The Breaking of the Fast. It is celebrated by Muslims worldwide as the end of Ramadan, the month-long fast that Muslims partake in. Across the globe, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr by meeting with family, dressing in their best clothes, giving gifts and giving to charity. Eid Mubarak to all who celebrate!

Today is the Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activity. Congratulations to all of our incredibly talented graduate students, and we are so excited to see where your research takes you! Swipe to see some of the awesome scholarship our awesome graduate students have worked on.

The final installment of Graduate School FAQs features a question from yesterday’s Graduate School 101 session, “Build the Career You Want, Today”. We met with Alyssa Hawley of to discuss what the Career Center offers, starting your career, and how to use job board websites to your advantage. One of the questions grad students had yesterday is echoed here; “How can JMU Graduate School help me get a job after graduation?”. There are so many great resources and Graduate School at JMU can help you secure an amazing internship, job, or acceptance into your dream PhD program! Swipe to check out some shots from yesterday’s event.

Wednesday, April 19th is the annual Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities. Graduate students from many disciplines will present their cutting-edge scholastic research and brilliant creative projects. Be sure to join us for this thrilling event, taking place from 9am to 6pm in the Hall of Presidents (the third floor of D-Hall). Come by to support your colleagues and admire graduate student scholarship and creative endeavors!

Today is National Grilled cheese day! One of America’s favorite comfort foods, you can make this at home or stop by local restaurants like Grilled Cheese Mania or Jack Brown’s for a specialty grilled cheese sandwich. How do you like your grilled cheese? Comment your variations of this classic!

This coming Monday, April 17th is our final Graduate School 101 event of the spring, located in Holland Yates Hall, Room 4010. This session will be focused on building the career you want, which is perfect for graduating Dukes and first year graduate students heading into the summer. Click this link to sign up: https://jmu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_77e8tGMZFqWmF4G

This week’s JMU Grad School FAQ draws from last week’s Grad School 101 Session. We met virtually with the Graduate School Dean Dr. Linda M. Thomas and SCOM professor Dr. Melissa Aleman and discussed the mentor/mentee relationship. One of the questions asked by attendees was, “How do you seek out mentors and form relationships with faculty?”. Don’s miss the last Grad School 101 session of the semester on April 17! Click the link in our bio to sign up.

Do you have a question about graduate school at JMU? DM us or comment below and your question may be featured!

It’s National Burrito day! Everyone knows of the classic Chipotle Burrito, but did you know about the many restaurants in the Harrisonburg area that serve fantastic burritos? Places like El Charro, La morena, and Magnolia’s serve authentic and flavorful Mexican-inspired dishes – including burritos. Where is your favorite local spot to get a burrito? Tag them in the comments!

Congratulations to the brilliant Dr. Joi Merritt for receiving the 2023 Provost Distinguished Career Award for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion! Your unwavering commitment to making academia a more inclusive and welcoming space is truly inspiring. Thank you for paving the way for a more equitable future.

Happy Passover! Passover is the Jewish celebration of when God freed the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt, an event that takes place in both the Jewish Torah and the Biblical Old Testament. This holiday is often celebrated for eight days and incorporates traditions, family, and remembrance of Jewish history, social justice and freedom. To all those who celebrate, we hope you enjoy this time with friends and family!

We are featuring the second installment of our new series, JMU Graduate School FAQ's! Each week, we will post the answer to a common question from current and prospective JMU grad students. This week answers the question, "Are there opportunities for funding?".

Do you have a question about The Graduate School at JMU? Let us know in the comments below, and your question could be featured!

Links: jmu.edu/grad/prospective/scholarships
www.joblink.jmu.edu

Join us as we attend the Serenity Center's event on April 4th!

Registration Link: https://questionpro.com/t/AXjyoZxcTO

Serenity Center, The Union's only relaxation space + empowerment hub is celebrating it's opening next Tuesday, April 4th 5-8pm! You can learn more about the center & jam out in a music improv activity with local bands First Breath, Sierra & Dane, and SOGIE's Leah Kane!
As the sun sets over campus in full view with our floor-to-ceiling windows, Sierra & Dane will perform live for us.

Serenity offers a safe sanctuary to retreat, relax, & regenerate with cushions, pillows, blankets, and an inspiring aesthetic filled with plants, sunlight, student art-work, & tools to engage in self-exploration practices. There are weekly Wonder Workshops, such as guided movement meditations and deep relaxation offerings.

Bring any instruments, your vocals, or quite simply your curiosity!
Food & some instruments will be provided 🙂

March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility, a day to uplift the transgender community. Transgender people have always been here and will always be here, and deserve validation each day.

Mark your calendars! This coming Monday, April 3rd, is session 4 of Graduate School 101 via Zoom. Click the link below to reserve your spot!

https://jmu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3DWkdVtLoP1Iox8

Today kicks off our new series, JMU Graduate School FAQ's! Each week, we will post the answer to a common question from current and prospective JMU grad students. This week answers the question, "Do all Master's programs require a thesis to graduate?". Do you have a question about The Graduate School at JMU? Let us know in the comments below, and your question could be featured!

March is Women's History Month, the perfect occasion to reflect on and honor the courageous women in our lives. Check out these images to see some trailblazing JMU alums! Do you know an inspiring woman? Tag her below!

Ramadan Kareem! For Muslims, Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, and when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset (no food or water!). During this time of year, Muslims also prioritize good deeds, religion, prayer, reading the Quran and relationships with God. To all who celebrate, Happy Ramadan!