Connected by Creativity: Serving on the Jakobsen Committee

During my time as the MASC program representative on the Graduate Student Senate, I had the unique opportunity to serve on the Jakobsen Committee for the 2024-2025 academic year. Together, we planned and hosted a premier research conference designed to showcase the diverse work of graduate students across all programs at the University of Iowa.

From Vision to Execution

Our theme, "Connected by Creativity, Driven by Discovery," set the stage for a day of interdisciplinary innovation. My role focused heavily on the logistics and "day-of" operations that keep a large-scale event running smoothly. I managed coordination with catering and rentals, and monitored the various sessions to ensure everything stayed on schedule.

Recognition and Reflection

The experience culminated at the Graduate Education Celebration, where committee members were presented with official letters of acknowledgment for our contributions. Beyond the logistical training, this role was a perfect primer for my own graduate research. Seeing how students from different fields approached their work opened my eyes to new perspectives and gave me a head start on the research methodologies I would tackle in my classes the following semester.