On a Mission: Dean Rodney Priestley strives to build a Princeton for graduate students to thrive.

GRADUATE SCHOOL DEAN RODNEY

PRIESTLEY STRIVES

TO BUILD A PLACE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS TO EXPLORE, THRIVE AND BELONG

FRIENDS,

Graduate school is pivotal in many people’s lives. It certainly was for me. The support and mentorship I received as a graduate student have enabled nearly all of my professional accomplishments, inspired me to work with graduate students throughout my career and shaped my vision for graduate education at Princeton

During my first year as dean, I’ve talked with graduate students and Graduate School alums on Princeton’s campus and in places from Chicago to Paris to the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya. Thank you for the insights and experiences you’ve shared. I am inspired by the meaningful ties that exist within the Princeton Graduate School community.

In 2025, the Graduate School will mark its 125th anniversary, a milestone we approach with excitement and a sense of responsibility. We look forward to recognizing the pioneering work done by graduate alumni of this great University. We also know that it is a time of opportunity in graduate education. If Princeton is to maintain its distinction among global universities and its ability to serve the nation and the world, we must continue to attract those with the most potential from all backgrounds and prepare graduate students to address the complex challenges of the 21st century and beyond.

Last year, we defined our vision for the Princeton Graduate School as “A place to explore. A place to thrive. A place to belong.” We believe that by partnering with the entire campus community in providing academic, personal and professional support, we are creating a community for bold and courageous thought leaders and scholars of all backgrounds in the service of all nations.

In my previous roles as vice dean for innovation and as director of graduate studies in chemical and biological engineering, I have seen how graduate students are central to campus culture and Princeton’s research and teaching mission, and how vital graduate alumni engagement is to graduate education I hope you will join our efforts to support and celebrate graduate students as they make meaningful contributions to all fields in ways that expand knowledge, accelerate discovery and serve humanity.

Rodney D. Priestley Dean of the Graduate School

Dean Priestley and the recipients of the 2023 Porter Ogden

Jacobus Fellowship: Lila Rodgers, Mira Nencheva, Benny Kleinman and Jason Molesky

Photo by Tori Repp/ Fotobuddy

BUILDING CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY

Since becoming dean of the Graduate School in June 2022, Rodney Priestley has traveled three continents to meet with academic partners and strengthen the bond between graduate alumni and the University.

Rodney Priestley joined Princeton graduate students, leaders from Kenyan universities and the African Wildlife Foundation for a visit to the Mpala Research Centre in January In addition to touring the wildlife reserve, they participated in a panel discussion on graduate education and innovation and discussed ideas for future collaboration between their institutions

In March, Priestley visited Paris to celebrate 100 years of partnership between the Graduate School and École Normale Supérieure and to co-sign a new agreement to extend the relationship It was a homecoming of sorts for Priestley, who was a post-doctoral fellow at the École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles in Paris in 2008-09.

GRADFUTURES CREATES CAREER PATHS

Established by the Graduate School in fall of 2019, GradFUTURES® serves as Princeton’s professional development hub for empowering graduate student futures through a broad spectrum of skills training, mentorship, bespoke paid experiential opportunities and interdisciplinary learning programs Forging connections among and between graduate alumni and graduate students is a central priority so students can hone highly-transferable skills, build a professional network and explore pathways within and beyond the academy Scan to get involved with GradFUTURES.

Before the all-alumni gathering in Chicago in March, Priestley gave remarks at a special reception for graduate alumni at the Field Museum of Natural History, where he was introduced by Karthick Ramakrishnan *02, president of the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni The next day, he dined with local Graduate School alumni leaders to thank them for their service to the University

F O R G E B O N D S

Photo by Grace Penn

Photo by Frédéric Albert for ENS-PSL

Photo by John Reilly Photography

“It’s time to redefine success for Ph.Ds.

In this moment of great transformation around careers and graduate education, GradFUTURES is providing graduate students with the skills, opportunities and mentors they need to diversify their professional prospects.”

Ann Kirschner *78

A CONVERSATION BETWEEN LEADERS

On May 24, Rodney Priestley, dean of the Princeton Graduate School, was interviewed by Michael Schill ’80, president of Northwestern University. It was a noteworthy moment for both: Priestley is a Northwestern graduate alumnus completing his first year as dean, and Schill is a Princeton alumnus in his first year as president. Excerpts from the conversation have been edited.

Schill: As a distinguished faculty member at Princeton doing great research in polymeric and hybrid systems, what made you want to go into administration?

Priestley: I still recall when I arrived at Princeton as a faculty member, walking into an empty lab, being joined by my graduate students and postdocs, and realizing that we had an opportunity to build something amazing together. Both of my administrative roles as dean, and previously as inaugural vice dean for innovation have been motivated by my experience mentoring graduate students Being dean offers an opportunity to pay it forward from a time in my life as a Northwestern graduate student that holds significant importance to me and that helped launch my career.

As you mentioned, you were the first vice dean for innovation at Princeton. What do you see as the most significant opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship at a university that also proudly embraces its liberal arts identity? I got a fabulous liberal arts education at Princeton.

There isn’t a single major challenge we face in society that will be met only by technology the humanities and social sciences help us define the questions and problems that we need to solve So, we have been deliberate in ensuring that the natural sciences and engineering are integrated with the humanities

and social sciences as we build out innovation and entrepreneurship

Graduate students drive much of the University’s research and innovation they’re often the first authors on publications and co-authors on patents. I think it’s important to train graduate students to take risks, and entrepreneurship is a mindset to take calculated risks knowing they may lead to failure

You can’t read higher education news without hearing about challenges in the humanities, in terms of enrollment and post-graduation jobs. How are you seeing this play out at the Graduate School?

Professional development has been a central focus in the Graduate School over the past

several years with the launch of our GradFUTURES program. We want to give our students a competitive advantage in the jobs market by providing them with the skills beyond research and teaching that they need to be successful in both academic and nonacademic careers Alumni can be very important mentors

When one takes on a new leadership role as we have both done, it is often a time for setting a strategic vision. Plus, Princeton is approaching its 125th anniversary of graduate education a milestone. What strategic priorities have you identified for Princeton’s Graduate School?

This is a great time for reflection about graduate education at Princeton Through historic campus development, the University is investing in world-class academic and research facilities that will support scholars far into the future We want students to come to Princeton because they can explore the best, most innovative programs in the country So, in collaboration with faculty, we ’ re developing new graduate programs, such as biophysics, bioengineering, and quantum science and engineering It is also important that students in all disciplines have opportunities and resources to explore at the highest level

Increasing experiential learning opportunities and ensuring that we have a diverse population of graduate students on campus are priorities I have long focused on as vice dean for innovation, as director of graduate studies in my department, and now as dean of the graduate school

We have remarkable people and resources

At the Graduate School, we want to continue to be creative and innovative so we stay in the forefront, pushing the boundaries of what an institution can do

DEAN PRIESTLEY: WORDS

TO LEAD BY

The role of a leader is to define reality and inspire hope.

This is Rodney Priestley’s leadership mantra based on the axiom of American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault in the aftermath of 9/11

“It’s a simple concept that’s hard to execute because defining reality requires bringing people together and building common ground,” Priestley said. “And that won’t work unless you are genuine, transparent and honest.”

The phrase, and the following quotes, reflect Priestley’s personal leadership philosophy:

the most

individuals from as many segments of society as possible is the

By encouraging more scholars from underrepresented backgrounds, Princeton creates a welcoming community of scholars for all.

Creating a values-driven culture through collaborative work between students and leaders of graduate education helps Princeton identify, attract and develop brilliant scholars

“Empathy. Courage. Humility. These are the three words I try to live by as a leader.”

“Extending opportunities to

promising

right thing to do.”

“Values should be set by what we do and by collaboratively working with students.”

CREATING OPPORTUNITY

As the Graduate School nears its 125th anniversary, it enters a period of transformational growth on the Princeton campus and around the world. New construction projects are helping shape and enhance the Graduate School community, and signature initiatives are making graduate study and research at Princeton more accessible to a greater number of scholars.

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL SUPPORTS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE COHORTS OF STUDENTS IN ITS HISTORY

If American colleges and universities aspire to have faculties that reflect a diversity of backgrounds and experiences, it is essential that graduate schools proactively seek and cultivate a wide variety of students who can become the academic leaders of the future. At Princeton’s Graduate School, the Access, Diversity, and Inclusion (ADI) team has launched several signature access and inclusion initiatives to help diversify the academic pipeline

• Funding: The Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Initiative funds students for a year of study at Princeton and includes an offer of regular admission to the sponsoring doctoral program the following year

• Support: The Graduate Scholars Program (GSP) provides first-year graduate students

and pre-doctoral students from underrepresented backgrounds with academic, social and community support during their initial graduate school experience

• Success Strategies: The Graduate School recently hosted the second annual Inclusive Academy Symposium and BADI (Best of Access, Diversity, and Inclusion) Awards, which focused on supporting graduate students and post-doctoral scholars from underrepresented backgrounds on a variety of topics related to success in the academy and the job market

The efforts have made an impact Last August, the Graduate School welcomed 743 first-year students representing 55 different countries Twenty-two percent of them are from historically underrepresented racial or ethnic groups and 27 percent are from first-generation/low-income backgrounds

Graduate student diversity fellows and Sarah Mullins (center), a member of the Graduate School’s ADI team, enjoy the 2023 Inclusive Academy Symposium and BADI Awards.

Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy

NEW GRADUATE HOUSING SET TO BLOOM IN MEADOWS

Princeton currently offers subsidized University housing for 70 percent of regularly-enrolled graduate students, but new graduate housing currently under construction will allow the University to offer subsidized on-campus housing to every graduate student who chooses it

When Meadows Graduate Housing opens on the other side of Lake Carnegie in 2024, more than 600 graduate students will live in three separate but integrated buildings that expand graduate housing options while creating a new and distinctive extension of the existing campus

The University is preserving the natural, pastoral setting of the area while also creating eco-friendly facilities that will help Princeton reach carbon-neutral goals by 2046. The buildings will use a geo-exchange heating and cooling system and innovative Passive House energy conservation standards to keep costs and energy use low.

The Meadows Neighborhood plans also include a 600-car parking garage, athletic facilities, and world-class scientific facilities that will generate exciting opportunities for academic partnerships with nonprofit, corporate and government organizations. In the very near future, the Meadows Neighborhood promises to be one of the most unique and dynamic intellectual communities on any college campus.

PRINCETON SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES GRADUATE STIPENDS

Princeton continues to demonstrate its commitment to creating a Graduate School where all students can thrive by increasing the stipend rates by 25% in 2022 and 5% in 2023.

The robust stipends, which are among the highest in the country, are just part of the many benefits available to graduate students. Princeton guarantees funding to cover tuition and fees for degree-seeking Ph.D. candidates every year they are actively enrolled in their doctoral programs and offers several family-focused initiatives, including paid time off for new parents.

E X P A N D A C C E S S

GET INVOLVED WITH THE APGA

The Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni is ramping up regional in-person and virtual events, big and small, to bring the graduate alumni community together in new ways and offer additional opportunities for lifelong learning and Princeton engagement There are multiple ways to participate in the APGA:

• Follow the APGA on LinkedIn to find out about upcoming events.

• Use #PrincetonStar across social media to post and boost news about outstanding graduate alumni

• Share important life updates through Class Notes: pawnotes@princeton.edu

• Sign up to volunteer and share your talents

#PRINCETONSTAR CELEBRATES STAR POWER

Princeton would not be Princeton without the achievements of its graduate alumni The #PrincetonStar hashtag was created to celebrate the asterisk denoting graduate alumni status as an indication that “this person is a star ” Use it on social media to highlight the achievements of Graduate School alumni and build pride and belonging.

Scan to learn how to get involved

Top: Dean Rodney Priestley and Wendell Collins receive honorary APGA jackets from Angelina Sylvain *16, APGA vice president; and Karthick Ramakrishnan *02, president of the APGA

Left: Raghuveer Vinukollu *11, Graduate Alumni Annual Giving co-chair; Karthick Ramakrishnan *02; and Angelina Sylvain *16 at APGA Reunions tent