Grace Lee Boggs (1915–2015), the first Asian American woman
to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy from Bryn Mawr College, profoundly stated: “You don’t choose the times you live in, but you do choose who you want to be, and you do choose how you want to think.”
At the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT), the IRT staff with Co-Curriculum Coordinators, Heather Moore Roberson, IRT ’07, ’10, Ryan Sermon, IRT ’10, and Renée Wilmot, IRT ’12, ’17 – embark on planning the forthcoming Summer Workshop (SW), this sentiment guides our intent. We are committed to crafting a curriculum that meets scholars where they are, provides critical guidance to meet this moment, and demystifies the graduate application process. In shaping this year’s workshop, we have carefully considered feedback from our stakeholders, including current scholars, SW faculty, advisors, alumni, and our Consortium of Colleges and Universities.
Heather, Ryan, and Renée share their motivations and expectations for this year’s workshop.
The Summer Workshop Framework
Courses
Our goal is for SW faculty to exemplify innovative instructional strategies that promote differentiated, interactive, and community-centered learning. Learning together instead in siloes expands our understanding not only of the content but also of one another. This year, we are enhancing opportunities to analyze critical texts, engage in formative dialogues, and explore various writing genres. We will revisit the readings and course materials previously compiled for the SW on-site program and used before the pandemic. Our aim is to equip scholars with a solid foundation to draft their Statements of Purpose and to bolster their confidence for the other application writing components.
Chalk Talks
We will host a series of chalk talks addressing the nuances of navigating graduate school life in today’s context. These sessions may feature alumni discussing their research agendas, practitioners sharing strategies for maintaining wellness during and after graduate school, authors presenting book talks, and librarians exploring the latest technological advancements and best practices in teaching and scholarship.
Advising
Scholars will be organized into small advising groups, collaborating with SW faculty to research graduate programs of interest and develop personalized school lists in preparation for IRT’s annual Recruiters’ Weekend. During this weekend, scholars will have the opportunity to interact with representatives from our Consortium institutions, gaining insights into program offerings, campus climates, and faculty interests.
We eagerly anticipate a summer of enriching learning experiences, fostering a community where we can all learn with and from each other.
Institute for Recruitment of Teachers 
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