GTA Workshop Fall 2025 Schedule

Tuesday, August 19, Virginia Tech Center for the Performing Arts

8:00-8:25am  Student Check-in

8:25-8:30        Welcome and Introduction
                          Kevin Edgar, Associate Dean, Graduate School

8:30-8:45         Graduate Students and University Teaching/Learning Mission
                            Aimee Surprenant, Dean of the Graduate School

8:45-9:00        Intro to Course Canvas Site
                          Diksha Aggarwal and Minseo Lee, Graduate Teaching Assistants for GRAD 5004

9:00-9:30        Accessible Technologies
                           Mark Nichols, Senior Director, Universal Design and Accessible Technologies

9:30-9:55         Panel Discussion: Services for Students with Disabilities/ADA                                                         Raksha Sharma, ADA Accommodation and Outreach Specialist, Civil Rights

                            Compliance;  Matt Shelor, Senior Access Specialist, Services
                            for Students with Disabilities

9:55-10:10       Break

10:10 - 10:55    Graduate Student Panel Discussion
                           Graduate Students:  Erin Drolet, Megan Sweet and Joshua Thompson

10:55-11:25       Family Education Rights and Privacy (FERPA)
                           Rick Sparks, University Registrar, Office of the University Registrar

11:25-11:50        Thriving in Your Grad School Era
                          Bryan Hanson, Graduate Student Ombudsperson; TBA, Cook Counseling Center

11:50am-12:15pm     Campus Safety and Security
                                    Caroline Newell, Threat Assessment Team Coordinator, VT Police; 
                                   Andrew Marinik, Executive Director of Emergency Management, Emergency
                                   Management

12:15-12:25     GRAD 5004 Expectations and Requirements
                        Kevin Edgar, Associate Dean, Graduate School 

12:25              Lunch (to-go or eat outside)