Joseph Henry!

I‟m the Recruitment & Outreach Coordinator for the Office of Graduate Ethnic Inclusion (OGEI) at The University of Iowa and our mission is to recruit and retain graduate students from all walks of life (especially from minority and underrepresented groups) while encouraging academic curiosity and discovery. In my position as recruiter, I work with graduate programs primarily at the Masters and Ph.D level. We offer approximately 100 graduate degree programs. I advise prospective students regarding their plans for graduate school by serving as a sounding-board, providing feedback, sharing additional information, helping with relevant comparisons and often assisting with setting

up potentially helpful meetings with other university officials. Some individuals are not always clear about their interests and goals. This can often lead to an extensive discussion about academic objectives, goals, preparation, as well as a focus on the quality and or competitiveness of many of Iowa‟s graduate research programs. The goal here is ensure that potential students make the most informed decisions about graduate programs of interests. In addition, I often coordinate with Directors of Graduate Studies programs regarding competitive students, maintaining accurate information about deadlines, admission requirements, funding, including any significant program changes. OGEI will also assist (although in a limited way) with both individual and group visits to the university campus to ensure as much as possible that the experience is not only a productive one but pleasant as well. A significant percentage of my time also includes traveling beyond the campus to participate in a range of graduate fairs, and conferences. These efforts go beyond our Midwest borders and include other parts and regions of the country, ultimately serving to provide a national presence for The University of Iowa and underscoring both the range and quality of many of our graduate programs. Thus, we attend events on both the East coast and West coasts and in the South as well. In particular, we attend Ronald E. McNair conferences, the annual CIC SROP conference, and the Society for Advancing Hispanics, Chicanos, and Native Americans (SACNAS) conference. Finally, students attending both the California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education and the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students are also exposed to the academic and professional opportunities that characterize Iowa too. Connecting with community over the years has also been a rewarding way to share information and news about internships, research programs, positions, scholarships and professional opportunities associated with graduate education in Iowa City. My affiliation with the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids, in particular, over the years has afforded a wonderful opportunity for me to showcase the tremendous mix of Masters and Ph.D degree programs, many of which, are nationally ranked and represent high-energy settings where first rate research and scholarship are being produced. I rotated off the Museum Board of Directors a few years ago and have more recently served on their Juneteenth planning committee, along with the publisher of the MaGaZiNe yEtU, the President of the Cedar Rapids Branch of the N.A.A.C.P. and the Museum Director, to name a few. In addition, OGEI disseminates information regarding various deadlines, health insurance, housing, as well as provides general support and guidance for graduate student organizations, such as the Society for Black Graduate & Professional Students (BGAPS). In addition, we also sponsor the OGEI Graduate Student Ambassador Program, whose goal is to participate in diversity programming on and off campus throughout the academic year, talking about their personal journey and what inspired them to attend graduate school. I believe that education still represents one of the best and soundest investments that one can make in gaining the range of skills and foundation that could profoundly impact one‟s destiny. Serving as a bridge between The University of Iowa and the local community, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone interested in exploring their ideas, educational goals and dreams in preparation for graduate school to feel free to e-mail me at joseph-henry@uiowa.edu and or call at (319) 335-2138. Remember, making your graduate education a reality requires you to take that first step, so thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Mr. Joseph Henry – Recruitment & Outreach Coordinator, University of Iowa, Office of Graduate Ethnic Inclusion, Iowa City