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Posted on Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.

After years of study, hundreds of Ph.D students say goodbye to University of Michigan

By Kellie Woodhouse

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Kristine Molina was the first in her family to graduate college. On Friday she added another milestone to her list of life accomplishments when she became the first doctor in her family.

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Shadows of masters level and Ph.D. students are seen on the sidewalk as they wait to enter Hill Auditorium for commencement on Friday morning.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

Doctor of philosophy, that is.

Molina received a doctorate in psychology and women's studies from the University of Michigan during the school's graduate commencement ceremony at Hill Auditorium on Friday morning. Now she's headed to Miami to conduct post-doctoral research.

"I'm glad to be done and excited to move on," said Molina, who's been working on her doctorate for five years.

After five years of study and research, Elizabeth Gibbs received her doctorate in neuroscience Friday.

"It was an intense five years," Gibbs said. "But it was very rewarding to be a student here."

Gibbs plans to do post-doctoral research at a university next year but is still deciding between multiple offers. Fellow neuroscience doctoral graduate Natela Shanidze is headed to Stanford University to conduct post-doctoral research.

More than 200 students received their doctoral degrees in disciplines ranging from linguistics to American culture to nuclear engineering and radiological sciences.

Maxine Mueller spent six years working toward her doctorate in economics, which she received Friday. Her family traveled from abroad to watch her walk across the stage.

"It's a big deal. But most of us are here for our families, to show them what we did all these years is important," Mueller said. Mueller is conducting post-doctoral research at Harvard University next year.

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Master's level and Ph.D. students prepare for graduation outside of Rackham Auditorium before walking over to Hill Auditorium for commencement on Friday morning.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

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Master's level and Ph.D students file past the Burton Memorial Tower as they walk over to Hill Auditorium for commencement on Friday morning.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

Between 2007 and 2011, 3,793 students earned their doctoral degrees at U-M. Of those individuals, 62 percent accepted a university-level position as a faculty member, researcher or postdoctoral fellow. Another 21 percent took jobs in industry, government or nonprofit organizations and 5 percent did not have a job immediately after graduating. Two percent took time off for family or medical issues.

"All of you represent a microcosm of myriad career choices," U-M professor and chair of the faculty senate Kate Berald told students during commencement. "Among all of these types of careers Michigan has contributed in every corner of the world."

Barald continued: "All of you have one thing in common: A love for this unique university."

Also during graduate commencement ceremonies, Janet Weiss, dean of the Rackham Graduate School, noted that the school was celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. She said that during the past century, U-M has grown from a school that accepted nearly anyone seeking a place to research to an established school that offers doctorates in 108 disciplines and turns 10 applicants away for every one it accepts.

"You're part of a long tradition ... The experience of rising academic expectations began long ago and takes new form in each generation," she said. "Your intelligence, your interest, your values have shaped the... quality (and) character of your graduate program."

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.

Comments

jns131

Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 1:38 p.m.

Just like the other article stated, more grads trying to pay off the loans and falling further and further into debt. Welcome to the real world. Can we say two jobs?

f4phantomII

Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 1:17 p.m.

Congratulations. Now go home.

PersonX

Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 1:29 a.m.

This is the kind of anti-intellectual silliness that is sinking our country. Unfortunately, too many of these clowns can use a keyboard ....

yohan

Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 7:53 p.m.

A new class of bartenders and waitstaff for the AA area!

Angry Moderate

Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 3:30 a.m.

Dotdash, there's a reason they mix postdocs in with real faculty positions.

HeimerBoodle

Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 8:37 p.m.

What a unique comment. Congratulations on your wit and sparkling humor. No doubt these young men and women have never heard such comments about their fields of study, but even if they have, what a pure joy it must be to be exposed to those sentiments as they celebrate their accomplishments with family and friends. No doubt they wish they could have spent these past many years commenting on a local news site of questionable quality.

dotdash

Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 8:29 p.m.

Yo yohan, maybe you missed their next steps: Harvard, Stanford, Miami... Or this: "62 percent accepted a university-level position as a faculty member, researcher or postdoctoral fellow. Another 21 percent took jobs in industry, government or nonprofit organizations and 5 percent did not have a job immediately after graduating" Congratulations to all!

say it plain

Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 8:04 p.m.

oh, please! some of them got engineering degrees, lol! (they'll be fine...'cept maybe the humanities grads ;-) )

15crown00

Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 7:21 p.m.

Long trail CONGRATULATIONS

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