Augusta University’s Graduate School hosted its inaugural Health Sciences Graduate School Fair and Expo on October 24 at the Health Sciences Campus. The event was designed to give prospective students an overview of the university’s health sciences graduate programs, allowing them to interact with faculty, staff, and current students.
According to university officials, the fair attracted attendees from 15 institutions in the region. The event comes as Augusta University has seen a 51% increase in graduate admissions since fall 2022, which school leaders attribute to strategic outreach efforts and events such as this 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.”
The day began with remarks from Sullivan followed by a keynote address from David Brooks, PhD, CEO of Brooks Pharma Consulting LLC. His talk focused on interviewing skills and leadership within health sciences careers.
“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.”
Participants had access to program information sessions covering topics like resume building and scientific writing. They also attended a poster session featuring work by current AU graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Events took place across multiple campus locations.
Kirstyn Denney, a fourth-year PhD student in Pharmacology and Toxicology who volunteered during the event, commented on its positive atmosphere: “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,” she said. “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.”
Prospective student Kayley Appel from Georgia Gwinnett College found value in attending: “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 she appreciated how welcoming everyone was: “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 this event, representatives from TGS participated in 23 other graduate fairs throughout fall semester as part of their recruitment strategy.
“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.”
Organizers say that both current students showcasing their work alongside faculty engagement helped foster connections between visitors interested in advancing their studies within health sciences fields at Augusta University.
The success of this first Health Sciences Graduate School Fair reflects The Graduate School’s ongoing focus on expanding research opportunities while preparing future professionals for careers in healthcare-related disciplines.
