Spring 2020 will shape us for years to come

On Monday, more than 5,000 graduate students completed their degrees, many of whom also took part in a first-ever virtual commencement. Whether you graduated this semester or will graduate in the future, your contributions to ASU have been critical to making this semester a success.

One thing is certain, the spring 2020 semester presented all of us with challenges we will not soon forget. As ASU President Michael Crow remarked in his speech during Monday’s virtual commencement ceremony, you have all shown “formidable resilience, adaptability and creativity in the face of adversity.”  

Whether you are returning to classes or embarking on a new career, it’s important to stay focused on maintaining your well-being in these times by building routines for healthy eating and regular exercise, staying socially connected, seeking help when you need it and practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is especially important for graduate students because you face unique stressors under normal circumstances. Be sure to read about the coping strategies for staying socially connected and engaged with your academic work that some of your fellow students found helpful.    

We can all be proud of how we are facing the COVID-19 pandemic together, persevered through the shift to online classes and continued to push our academic work forward. Our memories of this semester and our new experiences will continue to shape all of us for years to come.

Congratulations!

Alfredo J. Artiles
Dean, Graduate College