Celebrating the Heart of Stony Brook Graduate Life: Graduate Student Appreciation Week

This spring, the Stony Brook University Graduate School hosted its second annual Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW) from April 6 to April 10 to recognize the dedication, resilience and impact of its graduate and professional students.

The week began with a Cookie, Cake and Coffee Break in the Student Activities Center, where students stopped in for a quick reset, picked up commemorative mugs and connected with peers between busy schedules. What started as a simple kickoff quickly set the tone for the rest of the week: appreciative, community-centered and intentionally designed to bring students together across disciplines.

On Tuesday, the Graduate Student Board Game Social, coordinated and sponsored by the Graduate Student Organization (GSO), invited students to step away from their routines and connect in a relaxed environment. Laughter, conversation and a shared sense of community unfolded naturally over games and meals, fostering new connections.

Students gathered at the Graduate Student Board Game Social.

Midweek, the community came together again for a second Cookie, Cake and Coffee Break at the Health Sciences Center, extending the same sense of appreciation to students across campus. That evening, the Graduate Accomplishment Showcase provided a formal moment of recognition, celebrating the achievements and contributions of graduate students, no matter how big or small.

David Rubenstein, associate professor of biomedical engineering and associate dean for academic and student affairs, Graduate School, presented opening remarks at the Graduate Accomplishment Showcase.

As the week continued, Graduate Student Movie Night offered a chance to unwind with a screening of Spider-Man: Homecoming, transforming the Student Activities Center into a space for relaxation and shared experience. Students gathered to enjoy a lighthearted evening, creating a balance between the demands of graduate life and moments of rest.

Giveaway winners proudly showcased their prizes.

The week concluded with a journal-decorating session in the Graduate Student Lounge, where students engaged in creative, reflective activity to close out the celebration.

Graduate students decorated journals in the Graduate Student Lounge.

From social gatherings and interactive programming to opportunities for networking with faculty and staff, GSAW reinforced a core message: graduate students are seen, valued and supported for their academic contributions and the communities they help build.

The events were coordinated by Katie Flood, assistant director of operations at the Graduate School; Christine Greenberg, director of graduate student services; Ally Brasino, assistant director of graduate admissions and student services; and Donal Thomas, graduate student advocate. Collectively, their efforts reflected a week that felt both intentional and genuinely centered on the student experience.

"GSAW was a week-long celebration of Graduate Student Life where students get to share their wonderful achievements and connect with the larger SBU community and beyond," said Thomas. "It was also a great platform for graduate students to connect directly with the Graduate School and share their vision for the future of SBU. The high participation of graduate students shows the importance of continuing this tradition of togetherness and appreciation in the years ahead."

At Stony Brook, where graduate students contribute meaningfully to both research and teaching missions, this week serves as a reminder that their work shapes the future of their fields and the university.

Students are encouraged to stay connected, explore upcoming events and take advantage of the many ways the Graduate School supports their journey at Stony Brook and beyond.