Krannert Doctoral Student Association (KDSA) Update

By Bart Sharp, KDSA President

Bart Sharp

Surviving the rigors of a PhD program calls for intelligence, perseverance, and more than a little help from our friends. It is the mission of the Krannert Doctoral Student Association (KDSA) to make the process more productive and enjoyable for students not only by helping them deal with important issues affecting their teaching or research, but also by offering them opportunities to refresh the mind and body. We have made excellent strides over the past few months towards fulfilling that mission.

On the research front, KDSA has worked closely with Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research Diane Denis, Director of Doctoral Programs and Research Jack Barron, and Assistant Director of Administration for Doctoral Programs Kelly Felty to eliminate certain restrictions on the funding available for travel. This benefits students in their ability to gain visibility for and receive feedback on their research, and benefits the school by raising the profile of Krannert and the excellent work being done in its doctoral program.

2007–08 KDSA Officers

Back row, from left: Amanda Thompson, vice president, finance; Roman Sheremeta, vice president, research; Baldur Rensch, Purdue Graduate Student Government (PGSG) senator, economics; Sean Coary, vice president, student relations. Front row, from left: Bart Sharp, president; Subhasish Modak Chowdhury, assistant vice president, research; Becky Bull, assistant vice president, teaching; Brian Maeng, PGSG senator, management. Not pictured: Sirsha Chatterjee, assistant vice president, student relations; Dan Nguyen, vice president, teaching; Hongfei Tang, Webmaster; Won Jun Kwak, PGSG senator, OBHR.

During the spring and fall 2007 semesters, KDSA officer Dan Nguyen has continued to push for wider use of his innovative peer instructor feedback program. The program is designed to match new graduate student instructors with more experienced peers to help them improve their teaching approach without the apprehension of being evaluated by faculty members. We are proud of this effort to raise the bar on teaching expectations and look forward to expanding participation.

Socially, KDSA continues to offer a range of activities that cater to a broad range of interests. Besides our Welcome Back reception and orientation lunch for new PhD students, fall 2007 saw our first annual KDSA Wiffle Ball Challenge held during the weekend before classes started. With participation from faculty, staff, and students, it was a great chance for getting to know one another in a fun atmosphere.

We feel it is also important to recognize how fortunate we are by giving back to those less fortunate. To that end we continue to sponsor tri-annual blood drives with the Indiana Blood Center. Thanks to generous student and faculty benefactors, we’ve maximized donor turnout at the last two drives by offering raffle prizes. In addition, KDSA officer Sirsha Chatterjee is involving doctoral students with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program by matching disadvantaged youth with older friends and mentors.

I would be happy to hear suggestions for other programs where we could profitably apply our time and talents, and look forward to the continued support of Krannert’s administration, faculty, staff, and alumni.

For more information on the Krannert Doctoral Student Association, visit www.krannert.purdue.edu/clubs/kdsa or contact Bart Sharp at sharpb@purdue.edu.