The Graduate School’s Graduate Pathways to Success (GPS) initiative is designed to empower doctoral candidates as they approach the final stages of their programs. This event provides practical resources and strategies to help participants sharpen their writing skills, maintain momentum, and explore career opportunities beyond the degree.
The entire schedule is planned to support your navigation to timely graduation through intentional conversations about how to juggle prioritizing and competing demands. Sessions include topics centered on:
Whether you’re seeking strategies to stay focused, build resilience, or plan for life after the dissertation, GPS offers a clear path forward.
Registration invitations for those who achieve candidacy between Fall 2023 and Fall 2025 semesters will be sent in late Fall 2025 via email announcements.
Join us, Wednesday, January 28th, 2026
8:30 am - 9:00 am- Check in
9:00 am - 9:10 am- Opening remarks
Dr. Nicole Stedman, Associate Provost and Dean of the UF Graduate School
9:10 am – 9:30 am- Keynote: Finishing Strong: Resilience, Persistence, and the Doctoral Journey: This keynote shares motivating insights on building resilience, sustaining momentum, and leaning on supportive relationships as you approach the finish line of your Doctoral journey.
9:30 am - 10:00 am- Time and Project Management strategies
10:00 am - 10:20 am- Using the Dissertation template: hear from Editors and Helpdesk about formatting and tips and tricks for well-polished dissertations.
10:20 am - 10:30 am- Break
10:30 pm – 11:10 am- Session Breakouts:
Track 1: Beyond the Doctorate: Mapping Transferable Skills for Career Readiness
Track 2: Global Scholars in Transition: Preparing for Candidacy, Careers, and Next Steps
11:10 am - 11:20 am- Break
11:20 am – 12:00 pm- Session Breakouts:
Track 1: Between Guidance and Growth: Peer Perspectives on the Mentor–Mentee Journey
Track 2: Research Ready: Leveraging Libraries and Data Management for Doctoral Success
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm- Lunch (provided) and Faculty + Postdoc panel
2:00 pm - 2:15 pm- Closing remarks and prizes.
2:15 pm - 2:50 pm- Networking and resource fair with UF Dissertation team, GatorWell Health Promotion Services, the UF Libraries and ARCs team, the Career Connections Center, International Student Center, and more.
3:00 pm- 4:30 pm- Keynote and writing workshop: Finding Your Lane: Developing a Confident, Authentic Research Voice
Dr. Vernetta Mosley, Dissertation writing coach and expert
Developing your scholarly voice is a journey that begins with coursework and culminates with the dissertation. Throughout this journey, it is easy to lose your voice in the multitude of published works and established experts. In this interactive keynote, participants will explore the aspects of their voice that make them unique as they learn strategies to improve their writing and grow as scholars.
Associate Professor Antonio Faciola, Ph.D. (UF College of Agriculture and Life Sciences) will kick off GPS 2026 with “Finishing Strong: Resilience, Persistence, and the Doctoral Journey.” His keynote speech will share motivating insights on building resilience, sustaining momentum, and leaning on supportive relationships as you approach the finish line of your doctoral journey.
Dr. Mosley, an experienced writing coach and scholar, brings practical strategies and motivational insights to help doctoral candidates navigate the challenges of dissertation writing with confidence. In this interactive keynote, participants will explore ways to develop a clear, authentic scholarly voice and strengthen their writing for success.
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