Kraft, 2023
In 13 years on campus, Kraft has worked in several different roles, all with the primary goal of supporting graduate students. My motto has been, ‘I’m here for the students, my job is for the students,’” she said. “If I’m not doing a good job for the students, then why am I here?” Kraft now works as a program co-ordinator in the Jane and Ron Centre for SoTL, where she leads graduate student recruitment and works closely with graduate students to enhance student experiences. Her years of experience with various areas of graduate studies has equipped Kraft with the knowledge to provide outstanding support for the centre.
Mason, 2022
Susan Mason, makes grad students' lives easier by supporting the work of the staff and faculty in individual academic units. “My role in the process is to ensure institutional technicalities are a help and not a hindrance to the education and progress of students,” explains Susan. In this role, she serves [retired Spring 2023] as a wealth of information and institutional knowledge and is known by her colleagues as a problem-solver capable of consistently balancing complex policies and procedures with the well-being and success of each student.
Nemeth, 2022
Linda Nemeth, “As the Graduate Programs Coordinator for our department, I have contact with students right from the time they originally contact a supervisor for a graduate position on through to defense,” explained Linda, “While I can’t help with the research side of their program, I do whatever I can to make the other aspects of their program run smoothly, eliminating what stress I can from their academic lives.” From scheduling thesis advisory committee meetings to updating students on their program progress to simply providing a listening ear and friendly smile, Linda is a champion of helping grad students feel supported and welcome at USask.