Marilyn Rose

A Brock professor and former Dean of Graduate Studies will spend part of her time this year at Trent University to help graduate students prepare for their professional lives after graduation.

Marilyn Rose, Department of English, has been named the 2011-12 Traill Visiting Fellow at Catharine Parr Traill College, Trent University’s Graduate Studies College in Peterborough.

She will focus on professional development initiatives for graduate students enrolled in Trent’s 13 programs. That means co-ordinating and leading professional development workshops to help prepare students for careers in academia or beyond.

Rose spent seven years as Brock’s Dean of Graduate Studies and is also a long-time executive member of the Council of Ontario Universities.

“Her work in helping students to prepare for a smooth transition from graduate studies to meaningful careers in the public and private sectors is important if we are to ensure a strong competitive advantage for Trent students in today’s challenging job markets,” said Douglas Evans, principal of Traill College.

Rose will present a series of similar workshops at Brock from November to April.

“Much like Brock, Trent has a very close-knit graduate community that features a similar atmosphere that values collaboration and an interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and research,” Rose said. “Both schools are committed to the success of their students and recognize how vitally important it is that students be workplace-ready.”

Rose has “experience and passion for graduate education,” said Mike Plyley, Dean of Graduate Studies.

That makes her “an ideal candidate to mentor and guide our students as they negotiate their future in a wide world of career opportunities.”

This academic year, Rose will also produce a research report on programs that are available to graduate students in the Humanities and Social Sciences in Canada. The report, jointly sponsored by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies, will include an analysis of best practices and recommendations for future program development.