Travel Grants Support Graduate Student Professional Development - A Q&A with 3rd Year PhD Student Keandra Davis
How did you hear about the travel grant opportunity?
I first learned about the travel grant opportunity through discussions among faculty members in my department.
What made you apply for the grant?
I applied for the Travel Grant due to the critical importance that student attendance at conferences provides for students’ academic and professional advancement. However, the cost to attend conferences can be significant, and so I wanted to ensure I utilized the opportunity to apply for the travel grant to help reduce the overall cost.
The travel grants are for $500. How did you supplement the rest of your travel?
I supplemented the remainder of my travel expenses by submitting a travel grant application to my department. My department awarded me funding in support of my participation in the conference as a presenter. With the additional financial assistance from the Travel Grant provided by the Graduate School, I was able to guarantee that all total cost to present at the conference were fully covered or significantly reduced.
What conference(s) did you attend this year?
This academic year I’ve attended the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Conference and the Social EquityLeadership Conference
How did you select the conference(s)?
I selected these conferences based on the relevance to my research interests and field of study in Public Policy and Administration. As a graduate student with a concentration in urban policy and research area that intersects with social equity. Upon reading through the conference’s themes, panels, and tracks, I knew attending these conferences would place me in a position to present my research but also foster collaboration and connections with other scholars and practitioners whose research interests either share similar or provide nuisance research information that could be beneficial to my academic journey and professional career.
How did attending the conference support your professional and academic growth?
Attending the conference supported my professional and academic growth by providing me with the opportunity to receive constructive feedback regarding my research, impromptu speaking, large networking, relationship building, marketing myself, and enabled me to connect with several esteemed scholars, practitioners, and professional organizations that provided opportunities for career advancement.
What would you tell other graduate students who are anxious or hesitant about attending conferences?
All students should attend conferences! Undergraduate, Masters, Doctoral, and Professional Students. Conferences provide students with the opportunity to learn, grow, network, collaborate and be exposed to new concepts, innovative models, theories, and strategies that are related to your specific field of study. Conferences provide students with the opportunity to present their research and receive direct feedback on their research, collaborative opportunities to write publications or expand upon your research with scholars doing similar work, and they introduce students to innovative concepts that can be applied to your research. Students can also attend several panels that pique their interest and engage in discussions with career organizations regarding potential career paths and partake in tons of networking opportunities.
Conferences are worth it and provide the opportunity to be your authentic self! Everyone is present to learn, grow and develop, while supporting and encouraging students that attend them in any ways possible. Remember everyone around you at conferences wants to see you succeed and will provide feedback, collaborative and even career opportunities to ensure your success. Be open, be encouraged, be ready to meet lifelong acquaintances, explore and most importantly have fun!
What are your plans after graduation?
My plans after graduation are to work with research think tanks who focus on social equity and justice issues impacting marginalized communities and Housing and Urban Development.
Find out more and apply for a travel grant this spring at https://graduate.vcu.edu/current-students/awards-and-competitions/travel-grants/.