Get a Glimpse of Grad School Life

Our graduate and professional students Think and Do at a high level. They ask critical questions and follow where the research leads. They’re worldly and committed to applying their knowledge for impact. 

And each year, we’re excited to celebrate them!

During Graduate Student Appreciation Week, NC State highlights their contributions to our campus with events and activities meant to recognize their accomplishments and support their wellness. 

The week’s events include the annual Graduate Student Research Symposium, where around 200 graduate students showcase their academic achievements and practice presenting their research to a broad audience.

Free yoga on Centennial Campus, donuts with the dean, breaks with the Pawsitive Support Network — and certified therapy pups! — and other wellness activities encourage our graduate and professional students to find ways to take a breather, support healthy habits and connect with each other.

We got a chance to catch up with members of our GradPack to discover what inspires them and learn more about their experiences at NC State.

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Why Did You Choose NC State for Graduate School? 


Lily Boyer, accelerated bachelor’s in brand management and marketing to a master’s of textiles: I did my undergraduate here in fashion marketing and loved it. So I just decided to continue here. My program is accelerated, so it’s only one year instead of two, which will help me finish my graduate degree sooner. I came to NC State with Exploratory Studies because I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. But when I learned about the Wilson College of Textiles, I was super interested in it. Then, I realized fashion marketing specifically was something that I would love even more.

Fatima Garcia-Corona, master’s in textiles: I chose NC State for graduate school because of its textile program. I did my undergrad here, and I chose that because I was interested in how the program combined textile research and the science behind it. There are so many different opportunities, especially within the college. So I saw that as an undergrad, and then I chose it for grad school because of the hands-on research.

André Truter, master’s in horticultural science: Funnily enough, I was in South Africa working when I met my current advisor at NC State. We started chatting and found that a lot of the research I was doing for my company compliments the research he was doing here at NC State. He offered me to then come over and start working with him at the university. My research has to do with sustainability and the green industry and making it easier to be sustainable in the horticultural community.

Sajid Shahriar, Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering: I worked with a professor whose research interest basically aligns with mine. I think that was the biggest driver. My research area is wireless networking, specifically connecting autonomous vehicles through wireless communication. And secondly, NC State is very much reputed for its research, and its graduates are in very good positions in academia.

How Is the Graduate Program You’re in Empowering You to Achieve Your Career Goals?

Ben Clark, Ph.D. in civil engineering: I really like being more independent in a Ph.D. program, being able to do the projects that I would like to do and being able to speak up for myself. I also like having an advisor who will listen to me if I say that something isn’t right. She’s humble enough to say, ‘If this isn’t working, we can find a different solution.’

Jack Bobo, Ph.D. in horticultural science: I was looking for a really great professor to mentor me, and that’s what I got here. My master’s degree was in wine grapes, but I pivoted pretty hard to studying potting soil here, which is totally different. And now I’ve just accepted a job in the horticultural substrates industry.

Kayla Paglia, Ph.D. in agricultural education and human sciences: I work with agricultural education faculty in my department, and they are preparing me to teach undergraduate students who want to be agricultural teachers. They’re giving me resources, support and experiences that will prepare me to be a successful teacher-educator when I graduate.

Sajid Shahriar: I wish to be an academician. In my country, North American degrees are very appreciated and very valuable. So, I think NC State has me on that track.

Sharon Ruebesam, Master of Arts in Teaching in special education and assistant director in the Disability Resources Office: My undergraduate and K-12 teaching experiences were very focused on working with students who were deaf or blind. But here at NC State, the program encompasses all disabilities — some of which were not well known to me. So it’s opened doors and really helped me learn about other disabilities and how the laws and systems have changed since I began my career.

What Is Your Favorite Thing About Being a Graduate Student That Other Students Should Know?

Lily Boyer: The classes are smaller, so you really get to know people in your classes. You also get to have free discussions and hear everyone’s different opinions rather than just listening to a lecture all day. It’s just talking, which I really like.

Fatima Garcia-Corona: My favorite thing about being a grad student here would probably be that I was able to choose my education, what classes I wanted to take and what research I wanted to do. It’s more self-directed. Something I think students should know is that it takes a lot of self-discipline to motivate yourself to complete your degree – but you also get a lot of support.

Ben Clark: There are lots of opportunities for travel at NC State in general. I participated in the National Science Foundation’s International Research Experiences for Students program over the summer in Malawi. I met some of my best friends on that trip, and we just had a great time. And I think everyone on that trip learned a lot and developed a lot professionally as well. So it was a win-win.

No matter which direction you want to go or the type of person you’re trying to be as a professional … there’s always something or someone to help you along in that direction.

Kayla Paglia: I would love prospective grad students to know that NC State is a community. It’s really fantastic to be on a campus that has so much school spirit and that loves sports. You see someone off campus, and you’re wearing an NC State shirt, and they’ll give you the wolf ears. So it’s just a really big community that I really love.

Jack Bobo: Dr. Rhonda Sutton leads the Graduate School’s Leadership Learning Institute, and it’s been one of my favorite things that NC State offers for graduate students overall. It’s all about leadership training and how to manage individuals and manage yourself. It’s been an absolutely wonderful experience. And I would also say that the facilities and resources we have to do research are unlike any other place that I’ve been, and I’ve been a student at three universities.

Sharon Ruebesam: The relationships you build with other students, whether they’re older or younger, is one of my favorite things. Also, the relationships with the professors and how they are open to giving us any experience they can through our assignments. An assignment may be laid out a certain way, but you can say, “Well, I was thinking I could do this, this and this,” and as long as it meets the guidelines, they allow us to focus on what our interests are and how it could better us for the future.

André Truter: The opportunity to grow, I think that’s probably my favorite aspect. There’s no limit to the paths that I can choose here at NC State. No matter which direction you want to go or the type of person you’re trying to be as a professional, there are always options, and there’s always something or someone to help you along in that direction.