AU’s Graduate School hosts Health Sciences Graduate School Fair and Expo

The Graduate School at Augusta University welcomed prospective students to the first-ever Health Sciences Graduate School Fair and Expo, held on the Health Sciences Campus on Oct. 24. The event offered attendees a unique opportunity to explore Augusta University’s health sciences graduate programs, connect with faculty, staff and current students and experience the rigorous and engaging academic community that defines AU.

The event drew attendees from 15 institutions across the region, underscoring the growing interest in Augusta University’s graduate programs. With graduate admissions up 51% since the fall of 2022, TGS is building on this momentum through strategic outreach and events like the expo.

“The Health Sciences Graduate School Fair and Expo was created to give prospective students a comprehensive look at our graduate programs in health sciences – highlighting academic offerings, research opportunities and campus resources,” said Jennifer Sullivan, PhD, dean of The Graduate School. “I’m thrilled with the turnout for this inaugural event and deeply grateful to our campus partners for their support of graduate education, as well as to our current students for showcasing the excellence we offer at AU.”

Sullivan opened the event with a warm welcome, followed by keynote speaker David Brooks, PhD, CEO of Brooks Pharma Consulting LLC, who delivered a talk titled “Beyond the Bench: Interviewing and Leading in the Health Sciences.”

“It was a most enjoyable experience since the many faculty and students that attended were very engaged and asked interesting and thought-provoking questions,” Brooks said. “I also had the opportunity to meet with current graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who demonstrated a real commitment to their research.”

Attendees explored a variety of program offerings, participated in concurrent sessions on topics such as resume building and scientific writing and attended a poster session with current AU graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Activities were held across multiple campus locations, giving attendees the opportunity to explore the university’s many resources and spaces.

“From the very beginning of the day when attendees were getting checked in to the end of the day during campus tours, attendees and volunteers were excited to be there,” said Kirstyn Denney, a fourth-year PhD student in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and TGS Graduate Ambassador, who volunteered at the event. “I feel proud to have been a part of the first Health Sciences Graduate School Fair and Expo, as I had the opportunity to share the wonderful experiences and opportunities that I have had as a graduate student at Augusta University.”

For prospective students like Kayley Appel from Georgia Gwinnett College, the expo was an invaluable experience.

“I attended because I am strongly considering applying to Augusta University’s physician assistant program,” she said. “I got the opportunity to shake hands with the dean of the College of Allied Health Sciences, Dr. Lester Pretlow, and it was fun to learn more about the health sciences programs and talk with the student ambassadors. I left with a much better understanding of what it would be like to be a student at Augusta University and can really see myself there.”

Appel added that the event reinforced her confidence in Augusta University’s collaborative culture.

“Everyone was so welcoming, supportive and invested in helping prospective students succeed. The campus culture seemed collaborative, and the research opportunities felt both valuable and approachable. It made me feel like I was already part of the community,” she said.

Leading up to the expo, TGS attended 23 graduate and professional fairs during the fall semester to promote the event and engage with prospective students.

“This event was a fantastic demonstration of the impact of collaboration and outreach,” said Laura Gunnufsen, graduate student recruitment coordinator. “We were proud to be joined by representatives from 26 different health sciences programs, highlighting the breadth of graduate opportunities available here at AU. It was truly a collective effort.”

For both current and prospective students, the expo offered a unique opportunity to explore groundbreaking research and envision the exciting possibilities that await them in health sciences at Augusta University. The success of the Health Sciences Graduate School Fair and Expo reflects TGS’ unwavering commitment to fostering collaboration, advancing research and empowering the next generation of leaders in the health sciences.