Graduate School Newsletter - November 2024
Join us on Giving Tuesday—a global day of generosity on December 3, 2024! It’s a chance to give back to the causes you care about and make a positive impact in your community.
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of grad students!
Graduate Student Spotlight
Sierra Blachford, a dedicated student originally from Centralia, Missouri, is set to receive her master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in December of 2024. She proudly earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri and has been a resident of Lake Preston, South Dakota since 2013.
It was only natural for Blachford to pursue a master’s in interdisciplinary studies after being inspired by a former lecturer from her undergraduate studies. Blachford took a food and wine writing class from Nina Mukerjee Furstenau, a lecturer, author, journalist, and editor, and stated that her “writing and teaching inspired me”. Through the class she was able to explore “identity, culture, sustainability, and much more”, not just reading, writing, and discussing. After taking this class, Blachford decided to follow Furstenau’s career path by aspiring to “land with one foot in the classroom and one foot in the entrepreneurial space”. She first focused on her writing, while still aspiring to incorporate teaching later in her career.
While keeping “Nina’s unconventional path to teaching in the back of my mind” Blachford said, she focused on writing and published content for various platforms, including social media, press releases, websites, radio ads and many other places. After concentrating on writing, she decided it was time to “return to school and get serious about teaching or to just adjust my plan and stick with marketing”. Upon deciding to go back to school, Blachford chose to continue her studies at SDSU.
The Interdisciplinary Studies program at SDSU allowed Blachford to have the flexibility of taking classes within two departments “with extremely similar content across different genres” said Blachford. The classes that she took in her program gave her “the opportunity to learn multiple teaching styles and how to structure a variety of class types” she shared. Blachford was able to take courses both online and in-person in Mass Communication and English. While participating in these courses she states “I learned from over a half a dozen professors and experienced many different learning formats” that ultimately “boosted my confidence” when she started teaching English 101 courses.
Blachford’s ability to find someone “whose lifestyle and work inspired and challenged” her was an integral part to her studies. Through the low points she was able to have direction and a boost of confidence because she had inspiration behind her. Blachford shares that she “kept coming back to this idea of being an adjunct lecturer and entrepreneur” that was undoubtedly inspired by her previous lecturer.
After graduation, Blachford will be a part-time instructor in the English Department here at SDSU. She also has decided that she would like to reach out to her previous lecturer, Nina, and let her know how she inspired Blachford’s decision to apply to SDSU’s graduate school.
Awards and Scholarships
- Joseph F. Nelson Graduate Scholarship
- Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award
- The Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award was established by the Graduate Council in 2010 to honor faculty members who have truly shown excellence in mentoring graduate students. The award honors faculty for efforts in supporting, encouraging and promoting their graduate students' research, education, professional and personal development and career plans. Nominate a faculty member for this award. Deadline: Dec. 1, 2024.
- SDSU Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award
Congratulations to Rajesh Sarker, Haile Kruid, and Kaden Eisenbraun!
Enrolled SDSU students living in South Dakota
The SDSU Student Health Clinic and Counseling Services is dedicated to student mental health and well-being and offers short-term, solution-focused counseling services within a stepped-care approach. Students requesting long-term counseling will be referred off-campus and financially responsible for any costs incurred.
Access to mental health resources at no charge includes:
Daily mental health screenings
Screenings occur Monday-Friday from 8:30-11 a.m. and 12:30-3 p.m. in the Counseling Center within the Miller Wellness Center. Walk in or call the Clinic at 605-688-4157 to request a screening via Zoom.
Uwill telemental health
Ideal for students who want to connect with a counselor during the evenings and weekends. Students receive up to 3 appointments with a Uwill counselor.
Uwill is Private. Secure. Confidential.
To schedule teletherapy:
- Create a profile with Uwill.
- Choose a therapist based on your preferences, including availability, issue, gender, language and ethnicity.
- Choose a time that fits your schedule with day, night and weekend availability.
Avel eCare
Avel eCare provides crisis intervention and de-escalation services for students with acute mental health needs. An SDSU UPD officer will assist the student in connecting with a mental health professional via Avel eCare.
Enrolled SDSU students living outside of South Dakota
The SDSU Student Health Clinic and Counseling Services is dedicated to student mental health and well-being and offers short-term, solution-focused counseling services within a stepped-care approach. Students requesting long-term counseling will be referred off-campus and financially responsible for any costs incurred.
Access to mental health resources at no charge includes:
Uwill telemental health
Students will connect with a counselor in their state. Appointments may be scheduled at any time during the week, including evenings and weekends. Students receive up to three appointments with a Uwill counselor.
To schedule teletherapy:
- Create a profile with Uwill.
- Choose a therapist based on your preferences, including availability, issue, gender, language and ethnicity.
- Choose a time that fits your schedule with day, night and weekend availability.
Nov. 8, Friday - Last day to drop a course
Nov. 11, Monday - Veterans’ Day Holiday
Nov. 27-Dec. 1, Wednesday – Sunday - Thanksgiving Recess
Nov. 28 - Thanksgiving
