Reconnecting Our Community 

Academic relationships are inherently hierarchical, which can inadvertently create distance, communication barriers, or tension between graduate students and faculty. 

Initially developed as a joint collaboration between the Graduate Division and the Othering and Belonging Institute’s (OBI) for the Biological Sciences Division of L&S has now become a yearly tradition that has also been facilitated for the Neuroscience Department. By centering personal narrative sharing and facilitated dialogue over a shared meal, these events are designed to break down structural divides to foster psychological proximity, empathy, and a strong sense of departmental belonging. 

• Date: September 25th, 2026
• Time & Location: 12:00-2:30pm, 2063 in the Valley Life Sciences Building
• Registration: Please complete the interest form below if you would like to attend and receive more information. Note that registration is capped to maintain an intimate environment for dialogue, so early sign-up is encouraged.

For faculty, this event serves as a valuable service opportunity and a grounded way to better understand the issues facing today’s graduate students. For graduate students, it offers a supportive space to build community with peers and engage with faculty beyond standard academic hierarchies.

Attendees can look forward to:

• Personal Narratives: Inspiring stories shared by selected faculty and student speakers to set the foundation for open dialogue. 
• Facilitated Breakout Discussions: Small-group conversations addressing lab culture, power dynamics, and practical tools for collaboration.
• Community Connection: Opportunities to connect across departments over a complimentary lunch.

The first bridging event within the Biological Sciences Division of L&S focused specifically on community and belonging while the second bridging event centered on personal narratives that highlighted the importance of feeling valued in scientific collaborations. The third bridging event within the Neuroscience Department, on the other hand, highlighted the importance of the mentor/mentee relationship within research. 

Participants consistently report that personal narrative sharing is the most transformative element of these gatherings. Hearing colleagues speak candidly about their lived experiences, challenges, and hopes helps flatten hierarchies and highlight our shared humanity. As one past graduate student participant observed, they were surprised to realize that faculty and students “share many of the same core values and feelings, even if we have different experiences”. A faculty member similarly reflected: “It was really helpful to hear students and faculty from other departments speaking from the heart about their experiences, hopes and fears.”