With the support of our members, CGS has begun work on a four-year strategic plan to positively shape the future of graduate education and meet the pressing challenges facing graduate institutions. The strategic planning process began in the fall of 2025 with committee selection and was formally announced to the CGS membership at the 2025 Annual Meeting. The plan will guide CGS’s strategy from 2027 to 2030, shaping the organization’s priorities and decisions.

Throughout 2026, the CGS membership will be invited to contribute their insights through a member survey, focus groups, and town halls. The process will conclude with the presentation of the strategic plan at the 2026 CGS Annual Meeting.

How to Get Involved

We want to hear from you! 2025 Annual Meeting attendees provided insights on key challenges and opportunities for our community. More opportunities to share your perspective are planned, and we want to hear from you. Members of CGS will be eligible to participate in our outreach activities, which include:

  • Member survey (Spring 2026)
  • Topical focus groups (Spring 2026)
  • Open town hall (Fall 2026)

As more information becomes available about each of these avenues, this page will be updated, so check back regularly.

 

A simple blue-and-white graphic of a road map with numbered icons on it. 1: Fall 2025: Steering Committee identified and confirmed. 2: December 2025: Planning process launched at CGS Annual Meeting. Following #2, there is a yellow dot on the road to indicate where we are in the process. 3: February-March 2026: Member survey and focus groups. 4: April-June 2026: Review data and write draft plan. 5: July 2026: Submit draft plan to CGS Board. 6: Fall 2026: All-member town hall; revise plan based on feedback. The last icon is a blue star and reads: December 2026: Launch final plan at 2026 Annual Meeting.

 

The planning committee below is listed in alphabetical order.

Strategic Planning Committee

Tyler Becklund
Government Affairs and Public Policy Assistant
Council of Graduate Schools
April Boulton
Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
Hood College
Laurence Bray
Senior Associate Provost for Graduate Education
George Mason University
C. André Christie-Mizell
Vice Provost for Graduate Education & Dean of the Graduate School
Vanderbilt University
LaKeisha Harris
Dean, School of Graduate Studies
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Jeni Hart
Dean of the Graduate School & Vice Provost for Graduate Studies
University of Missouri
Co-Chair
Julia Kent
Vice President, Strategy and Program Innovation
Council of Graduate Schools
Dovev Levine
Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Affairs & Assistant Vice Provost for Outreach and Engagement
University of New Hampshire
Nicole Lounsbery
Director, Graduate School
South Dakota State University
Tracy Love
Graduate Dean
San Diego State University
Fahim Quadir
Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs
Queens University
Rodrigo Rentería-Valencia
Dean for Graduate Studies and Research
Central Washington University
Co-Chair
Janet Rutledge
Dean-in-Residence
Council of Graduate Schools
Denzil Streete
Senior Associate Dean & Director of Graduate Education
MIT
Linda Thomas
Dean of the Graduate School
James Madison University