Behind the scenes of your thesis or dissertation: Meet the Graduate College format advisors

There comes a point in every graduate student’s journey when the research is complete, the analysis is finished and the defense is in sight. 

Then reality sets in: The margins have to be exact. The abstract has specific requirements. Style must be adhered to precisely and correctly.

Formatting can feel like the final obstacle between you and graduation. The Graduate College is here to offer support to make sure you can overcome and finish strong.

More than margins

At first glance, formatting might seem solely technical. But in reality, it’s the final polish on years of scholarship. The document you submit for format approval must be complete, defense-ready and will be published with the ASU KEEP Library and ProQuest, a database and search tool that can inform future research. That means:

• Selecting the right style guide in consultation with your chair
• Writing an abstract that meets guidelines
• Ensuring consistency, grammar, punctuation and structure throughout
   

Who needs to know the format team?

Short answer: Every master’s and doctoral student completing a thesis or dissertation.

Longer answer: you, especially if:

• You’re unsure how to interpret a guideline
• You’re wondering whether your abstract meets requirements
• You’ve used the ASU Format Wizard, but still have questions
• You have a “unique situation” (spoiler: you’re not alone)
• You’re defending this semester and want peace of mind
   

What kind of resources are there?

The ASU Format Wizard is required for all students whose documents go through Graduate College format review. It builds a Word or LaTeX template with margins, spacing and pagination already in place (a major head start). 

There’s also a manual, checklists for students and chairs/co-chairs, and even an AI chat bot called Dr. Format to aid you on the journey.

Before you get started, you can self-enroll in How to Prepare for Format Review and Your Defense online training on Canvas. It’s a self-paced course that visually walks you through the steps. Plus, you can refer back to it as many times as you need.

But when questions arise (and they will), real humans are ready to help.

Your format advising team

Riley Braase, (pictured center) Graduate Format and Senior Curriculum Advisor, brings both administrative expertise and artistic sensibility to the role. A clarinetist and music instructor who also leads development initiatives for the Oh My Ears New Music Festival, Riley understands the rhythm of big projects and the discipline required to bring them to completion.

Kelsey Maes, (pictured top right) Format and Curriculum Advisor, earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in oboe from ASU in 2024 and since then, teaches applied oboe and music history, along with serving the International Double Reed Society (IDRS) in various roles, regularly presenting at IDRS conferences, and publishing journal articles in The Double Reed. 

Kelsey treated her research paper like a PhD dissertation, so she knows firsthand what it feels like to prepare a large document with many moving parts, including but not limited to an IRB approved study and statistical analysis, for defense. 

Darshil Shah, (pictured top left) pursuing his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University and currently in the last semester of his degree and getting graduate in May 2026, where he focused on power systems and the operation of modern electric grids. 

During his graduate studies, he worked on several research and technical projects that required organizing large reports, analyzing data and presenting complex ideas in a clear and structured way. Through this experience, he understands the challenges of managing and completing large academic documents. Darshil enjoys breaking down complex problems into simple pieces and often approaches technical challenges like solving a puzzle.

Why is this such a big deal?

Your final document joins decades of scholarship produced by Sun Devils across disciplines. It reflects your work, your program, your committee and the broader academic community across the world.

In short, formatting is about preparing your research for long-term preservation, global visibility and scholarly impact. Once approved, your thesis or dissertation moves from a student document to a permanent contribution to the scholarly record.

Ways to get support

Attend format advising office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2 to 4 p.m. The Student Engagement Space offers desk bays, external monitors and even snacks and coffee on Wednesdays. You can drop in with questions or simply work in a focused environment with a format advisor nearby.

If you cannot attend drop-in hours, you can now book an advising appointment in person or via Zoom through E2E Appointment Advising. As semester deadlines approach, appointments may prioritize students defending and completing their documents during the current term, so it is wise to plan ahead.

Finishing a thesis or dissertation is a milestone worth celebrating. The formatting process is simply the final step in preparing your scholarship for the world. 

Reach out, stop by or schedule an appointment.