The University of Wisconsin–Madison Graduate School sets university-wide standards and policies for graduate education, serves a special advocacy and communication role, promotes diversity initiatives, and otherwise augments the margin of excellence.
Welcome to the University of Wisconsin–Madison Graduate School!
The Graduate School serves the students, faculty, and staff that make UW-Madison a world-class destination for graduate education, research, and scholarship. We accomplish our mission to foster excellence in graduate education by centering our work around student support and by collaborating with our colleagues in schools/colleges and departments/programs across campus.
Our committed staff work behind the scenes to support graduate students and programs in everything from admissions to degree completion. We set high standards for graduate education on campus. Our activities include processing applications, clearing degrees, setting academic policies, coordinating academic planning and assessment of graduate programs, managing graduate student funding opportunities, coordinating career and professional development opportunities, and encouraging graduate students to build community and find a sense of belonging. More broadly, we advocate for graduate students and graduate education campus-wide and nationally to ensure that graduate students receive the education, skills, and opportunities that will prepare them to lead.
The Graduate School’s work is done in collaboration with many others on campus. We are closely tied to the educational and research missions of the institution, both vital to graduate study. At UW–Madison, there is a long history of excellence in graduate education, scholarship, and research. The Wisconsin Idea is equally important, and our students do much to positively impact the state, nation, and globe.
These strengths in education, research/scholarship, and outreach combine to make UW–Madison a unique and wonderful place to pursue a graduate education. Our graduate programs consistently rank among the nation’s best. We prepare students to be on the cutting edge of knowledge creation and discovery, both during graduate school and after.
Our activities are guided by the Graduate School Strategic Plan for Graduate Education at UW-Madison (2023-2028). This plan outlines our broad priorities, such as advancing innovation in graduate education, recruiting and retaining a talented a diverse student body, supporting graduate student mentorship, strengthening student wellbeing, and facilitating access to funding. I look forward to continuing the work that will support these strategic priorities and maintain the excellent quality of graduate education at UW–Madison.
I encourage you to explore our graduate degrees, our student programming, and the stories of groundbreaking research on this website to learn more about graduate education at UW-Madison.
William J. Karpus
Dean of the Graduate School
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Mission
To foster excellence in graduate education.
Vision
Given its campus-wide responsibility for graduate education and its connection to the research mission through the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the Graduate School is in a unique position to set university-wide standards and policies, serve a special advocacy and communication role, promote diversity initiatives, and otherwise augment the margin of excellence. We fulfill these roles by initiating and incubating new ideas, and facilitating graduate education through partnerships with schools/colleges and other campus units.
Diversity Statement
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all its forms is central to a robust educational, professional, and research environment. The Graduate School aims to help all graduate students be successful academically and personally and is committed to supporting our schools and colleges in creating an inclusive environment for all students to thrive.
Graduate students on our campus are valued individuals who are teachers, leaders, workers, volunteers, advocates, family members, and researchers in our community. We endeavor to support them in all aspects of their identities.
Graduate School Leadership
Jenna Alsteen
Position title: Assistant Dean for Academic Analysis, Planning and Assessment
Email:
jenna.alsteen
Phone: 608-890-2291
Address:
211 Bascom Hall
Katie Bourassa
Position title: Associate Director of Admissions
Email:
katie.bourassa
Phone: 608-262-0805
Address:
232 Bascom Hall
Marcia (Marcy) J. Carlson
Position title: Associate Dean, Professor of Sociology
Email:
carlson
Phone: 608-262-0560
Address:
221 Bascom Hall
Kipp Cox
Position title: Director of Academic Services
Email:
ervin.cox
Phone: 608-262-2433
Address:
217 Bascom Hall
Alissa Ewer
Position title: Assistant Dean, Professional Development and Communication
Email:
alissa.ewer
Phone: 608-262-9970
Address:
209 Bascom Hall
Florence Hsia
Position title: Associate Dean, Professor of History of Science
Email:
fchsia
Phone: 608-262-1044
Address:
323 Bascom Hall
William J. Karpus
Position title: Dean of the Graduate School, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Email:
dean
Phone: 608-263-1353
Address:
217 Bascom Hall
Beth Meyerand
Position title: Associate Dean, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor in the Departments of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering
Email:
memeyerand
Address:
217 Bascom Hall
Abbey Thompson
Position title: Assistant Dean, Access, Engagement and Funding
Email:
abbey.thompson
Phone: 608-263-5517
Address:
229 Bascom Hall
Christopher Wiswell
Position title: IT Systems Manager
Email:
christopher.wiswell
Phone: 608-265-2310
Address:
273 Bascom Hall