Rubenstein School graduate students at the top of Mt. Philo

The Rubenstein Graduate Student Association (RGSA) is an association of and for graduate students of the Rubenstein School. In April of 2012, the Rubenstein School graduate student body established the RGSA to replace the previous RSENR Graduate Student Advisory Board.

All graduate students enrolled in RSENR are members of the RGSA; no dues are charged to students. The RGSA is a graduate student organization that is recognized by the UVM Graduate Student Senate (GSS). Incoming students will receive information provided by RGSA in their acceptance package and will learn about the RGSA during orientation.

RGSA Overview

The goals of the RGSA are: to promote the interests and welfare of RSENR graduate students; to serve as a commons for all RSENR graduate students to provide input on RSENR policy, curriculum, and operation; to serve as a conduit of information relevant to graduate education in RSENR and UVM; to promote an intellectual and social community of graduate education; and to sponsor opportunities for academic and professional development among its members.

View the RGSA Constitution (PDF)

From the RSENR graduate student body, five officers will be elected each spring to serve on the Executive Committee for the following academic year. The Executive Committee will hold graduate student body-wide meetings at least once per semester, and regular meetings of the Executive Committee are open to all Rubenstein School graduate students as well.

Other duties of the Executive Committee include maintaining graduate student facilities in the Aiken Center, including computers and printers.

RGSA Graduate Peer Mentorship Program

The Graduate Peer Mentorship Program seeks to pair each new graduate student (a mentee) with a seasoned graduate student (a mentor) based on research interests, social-cultural or geographic backgrounds, and other shared lived experiences. Mentorship by/with a fellow peer not only equips students with critical tips and tricks for navigating their first year of graduate school. It also fosters a richer sense of place and belonging as student scholars — both mentors and mentees — connect with at least one new face of their community! Second-semester students are welcome to mentor if they feel comfortable, or they can sign up to be a mentee themselves.

Calling all RSENR graduate students! SIGN UP to be a Graduate Peer Mentor (returning students) or Graduate Peer Mentee (incoming students) for the 2023-24 academic year!

RGSA Events

In close collaboration with the RSENR Graduate Coordinator, the RGSA Executive Committee coordinates events year-round to cultivate graduate community, inclusion, and wellness across the Rubenstein School. This service includes graduate professional development, such as seminars, workshops, and panels, as well as graduate community socials, such as weekly tea time, monthly bagel breakfasts, community field trips, potlucks, and meetups.

RGSA Calendar: 2023-2024

Please check back throughout the year as our calendar grows!

Event
Date
Time
Location
Description
Tea TimeAlternating Tuesdays and Thursdays12 - 1 p.m.RSENR Grad Lounge (Aiken 308)During this weekly social hour just for grad students, peers connect over tea, coffee, snacks, rest, and community. Meeting time selected each semester based on results of community poll. Begins in Fall 2023 on Tuesday, August 29, and continues thereafter on Thursday-Tuesday alternating days.
Welcome Back RGSA Pizza Picnic at Leddy BeachAugust 255 - 7 p.m.Leddy Beach (216 Leddy Beach Park Rd., Burlington, VT)Join new and returning graduate peers for free pizza and community!
September Bagel BreakfastSeptember 288 - 10 a.m.Aiken 311Gather with graduate students, staff, and faculty for a FREE breakfast of bagels and fruit. Stop by for nourishment en route to classes, labs, and research, or stay for the additional nourishment of graduate relationship-building and networking.
October Bagel BreakfastOctober 268 - 10 a.m.Aiken 311Gather with graduate students, staff, and faculty for a FREE breakfast of bagels and fruit. Stop by for nourishment en route to classes, labs, and research, or stay for the additional nourishment of graduate relationship-building and networking.
November Bagel BreakfastNovember 308 - 10 a.m.Aiken 311Gather with graduate students, staff, and faculty for a FREE breakfast of bagels and fruit. Stop by for nourishment en route to classes, labs, and research, or stay for the additional nourishment of graduate relationship-building and networking.
Fall 2023 SeminarTBATBATBATBA
Fall 2023 WorkshopTBATBATBATBA
Spring 2023 SeminarTBATBATBATBA
Spring 2023 WorkshopTBATBATBATBA

 

2023-2024 RGSA Officers

President
Mandy Nix
PhD Natural Resources
mnix@uvm.edu

Vice President (Aiken Chair)
Destini Acosta
MS Natural Resources
destini.acosta@uvm.edu

Treasurer
Al Freeman
PhD Natural Resources
alissa.freeman@uvm.edu

Communications Chair
Kathleen Stutzman
MS Natural Resources
kstutzma@uvm.edu

Social Chair
Abby Golitz
MS Natural Resources
aggolitz@uvm.edu

Social Chair
Marisa Immordino
MS Natural Resources
marisa.immordino@uvm.edu

RSENR Graduate Student Senator
Justin Dempsey
PhD Natural Resources
Justin.Dempsey@uvm.edu