By Kimi Johnson

The GSC is busily working on several initiatives in order to provide greater support to graduates both at the yearly ASTR Conference and throughout the year. These efforts include changes to the GSC Ambassador Program, the expansion of the GSC Professional Development Bibliography (originally compiled by GSC Past-President Charlotte McIvor and GSC Secretary Jenna Kubly), and a revision of the GSC’s contributions to ASTR Fundraising. We encourage you to peruse the general announcements and to find ways to participate in our efforts to provide professional resources and to connect graduates from distant programs.

New GSC President-Elect

The GSC would like to welcome David Calder as GSC President-Elect for 2011-2012. David is a candidate in the Interdisciplinary PhD in Theatre and Drama Northwestern University. He studies French street theatre companies working in former industrial spaces and their role in urban redevelopment. We offer our congratulations to David and thank you to all who voted in this year’s election.

Ambassador Program (Conference Assistance Committee)

The GSC is currently working to enhance and expand its Ambassador program to provide more support prior to and during the 2011 ASTR Conference in Montreal. Pre-conference efforts include providing information on local dining and lodging, helping graduate students find roommates for the conference, and providing new ASTR graduates with information on what to expect at the conference itself. During the conference, Ambassadors serve as walking resources, helping direct new conference attendees and explain how the conference program functions from year to year. We need your help to make this program a success for the 2011 conference in Montreal! Graduate students interested in joining the Ambassador Program should contact either This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Graduate Resources

The GSC Officers have been working to expand its bibliography of professional resources for graduate students and recent graduates. This second bibliography includes publications on everything from building your C/V to surviving the dissertation process to starting a career. Bibliography version 2.0 will be distributed digitally via the GSC list-serv in late summer and again at the 2011 ASTR GSC Meeting in Montreal.

Graduate Student Caucus Committees

While the 2011 ASTR Conference in Montreal is still several months away, we still need your help to prepare and to keep graduate resources available year-round. If you are interested in contributing to the GSCs work for graduates, please consider joining one of the following committees: The newly renamed Fundraising Committee, Graduate Student Resources Committee, Conference Assistance Committee, or Web Committee. Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to have your name added to the committee contact list.

Have a Suggestion?

The GSC welcomes suggestions from the ASTR population on what we can do to better serve graduates: What resources would you like to see in the coming months?

Where can we improve? This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

About the Author

Kimi Johnson is President of ASTR's Graduate Student Caucus and a PhD student at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She received her M.A. in Theatre Studies from Florida State University and her B.A. in Drama from Trinity University. Her research focuses on both community and individual digital performance in online role-playing spaces.