In This Issue

• Sales for JMC’s fall pop-up shop close on Sunday

• Upcoming events of interest to JMC students

• Helpful resources in Case Hall

• Scholarships and awards

• Important dates for December 2025 graduates

• Madisonian Mention: Ava Provins (CCP & Journalism) is the director of performances for Orchesis, a student-run contemporary dance company on campus

Correction: A previous version of this newsletter listed the Guyer Award deadline incorrectly. Applications are due Sept. 26.

JMC Fall Pop-up Shop

Looking for some JMC apparel? The college’s Fall Pop-Up Shop is now open! Order online between now and Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. Garments will ship within two to three weeks of the close date.

Events

Yale Law School Recruitment & Admissions
Sept. 23 at 12:30 p.m. in Club Spartan, 338 Case Hall. Meet the Yale Law School admissions team and learn about Yale’s unique admissions process. This session will include a brief presentation with plenty of time for questions. Register to attend via Handshake
Note: This event can be counted as one of the three required events to earn the JMC Career Readiness Badge.

Office Hours with the Chicago Harris School of Public Policy
Sept. 24, 2 to 4 p.m. in 329 Case Hall. The Chicago Harris School of Public Policy will offer insights on their programs and admissions process. Pop by as your schedule allows. Register to attend via Handshake
Note: This event can be counted as one of the three required events to earn the JMC Career Readiness Badge.

Education Abroad Info Session
Sept. 24, 4:30 p.m. in the JMC Library (332 Case Hall). Thinking about an education abroad program? Unsure where to start or what the different types of programs mean? This session will cover program types, logistics, planning and how you can explore your options to learn abroad. Learn more via JMC

5th Annual Malcom & Ann Kerr Lecture featuring Zara Chowdhary 
Sept. 26, 3 to 4:30 p.m. in 303 International Center. Join the Indian writer, producer and educator Zara Chowdhary for a reading from her debut memoir, The Lucky Ones, a personal account of her experience as a 16-year-old during the 2002 riots and anti-Muslim pogroms in Gujarat. Learn more via JMC

JMC Skills Seminar: Resume and Cover Letter Development 
Sept. 29, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in 329 Case Hall. Learn best practices and revise your own professional documents in this interactive workshop. Attendees can also begin working on documents from scratch. Register to attend via Handshake
Note: This event can be counted as one of the three required events to earn the JMC Career Readiness Badge.

MSU Global Learning Expo 
Oct. 1, 1 to 5 p.m. at the Breslin Center. Attend the MSU Global Learning Expo and visit more than 145 exhibits displaying information about MSU’s wide variety of programs. Support services will be available for students to browse and ask questions. Learn more via via ISP

Taylor Swift Album Listening Party
Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the JMC Library. Stop by for a listening party of Taylor Swift's "Life of a Showgirl." Students are invited to bring donations to the MSU Food Bank and a baked good to share (optional, but not required).

Gupta Ethics Lecture featuring Robert Bilott 
Oct. 9, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Kellogg Center Auditorium. Robert Bilott is a prominent environmental attorney, author and lecturer, and inspiration for the 2019 major motion picture, Dark Waters. Bilott exposed decades of chemical pollution by multinational chemical company DuPont de Nemours, Inc. in a legal battle that spanned 20 years. Register to attend by Oct. 6 via MSU

Congratulations to JMC Prof. Jordan Cash, who won a 2025 Teaching Excellence Award from the Jack Miller Center. These annual honors celebrate college and K-12 educators who excel in engaging students in the story of America through primary documents, new courses and extracurricular activities. Cash received this year’s Junior Scholar award.

Scholarships & Awards

MSU Distinguished Awards Office
MSU’s Distinguished Student Awards Office (DSAO) helps students pursue major national and international opportunities by providing information and direct support throughout the competitive application processes. Attend an upcoming session: 

• Truman Scholarship Info Session, Sept. 23, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Funds graduate school for students planning careers in public service.  

• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), Sept. 24, at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Funds graduate school. This award is open to U.S. citizens who are seniors, recent graduates and first-year grad students.  

• Awards for US Grad Schools, Sept. 25, at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. Funds graduate school. This award is open to U.S. citizens and non-citizens who are seniors and recent graduates. Programs include GRFP, Hertz, Knight-Hennessy, Truman and Beinecke.  

• Boren & Critical Language Scholarship Info Session, Sept. 30, at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Funds language study abroad. This award applies to U.S. citizens who are undergraduate and graduate students. 

Gordon and Norma Public Policy Internship Award
This award is open to students of any major who are planning a public policy-related internship that will count for MSU internship credit. Applications for the Fall 2025 Semester are now open (apply by Sept. 26). Find more information on the award and application details via PDF.

Critical Need Language Award 
Students studying a critical need language abroad may apply for a supplemental award of up to $3,000. Limited awards are available, and recipients who complete Gilman requirements may take the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) at no cost. Applicants must submit a short essay on how they will improve their language skills, their motivations, and how the study supports their academic and professional goals. Learn more and apply via Gilman Scholarship Website 

Case Hall Resources

Office Hours with Assoc. Dean Linda Racioppi
JMC students are invited to attend Associate Dean Linda Racioppi’s weekly office hours on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in S359 Case Hall beginning Sept. 24. These weekly sessions are an opportunity for you to discuss your academic journey with college leadership. Potential topics of discussion might include:

• How to connect with faculty who share your research interests

• Student-led events and initiatives you’d like to share with the college

• How to connect with opportunities in and beyond the classroom

• Questions or concerns for college leadership

These drop-in office hours are open to all Madison students.

CAPS Connect in Case Hall
JMC has a dedicated counselor on staff, Courtney Brown, available for drop-in counseling on Mondays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in S363 Case Hall. Courtney is available for free, confidential conversations to discuss any mental health concerns you may be facing. Visit MSU Caps Connect for more information.

Express Academic Advising (In Person & Virtual)
JMC’s Academic Advising Teams offers in-person express appointments from Monday to Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. in 328 South Case Hall. Assistant Dean Jeff Judge is also available in the Express Advising Center on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. On Fridays, virtual express appointments are available from 1 to 4 p.m. Learn more about academic advising (including when you should use the Express Advising Center and when you should schedule an appointment) on JMC’s website.

Writing Center at JMC
Need help working through an assignment, essay or presentation? The Writing Center at JMC in 341 Case Hall will be open Monday-Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. Learn more on JMC’s website.

December 2025 Commencement

MSU's Fall 2025 Commencement Ceremonies for baccalaureate graduates will take place on Dec. 13 in the Breslin Center. JMC grads will be recognized at the 9 a.m. ceremony.

Want your name to appear in the ceremony program? Apply to graduate in MSU's Student Information System by Oct. 10 (be sure to remove any FERPA restrictions from your account if you'd like your name to appear).

Register to participate via Eventbrite by Dec. 1 to walk in your ceremony and have your name called.

Find more information on MSU's Commencement website.

Find more information about MSU resources available to JMC students — including info on academic accommodations, mental health support and the MSU Food Bank — on JMC’s website.

Madisonian Mention: Ava Provins

Each week, we highlight a JMC student. This week’s Madisonian Mention is Ava Provins!

“Hi, my name is Ava Provins, I am a senior double majoring in Comparative Cultures and Politics and Journalism with minors in Public Relations and Business. I’m the Vice President of Student Senate at JMC, which I have been a part of for four years now. I am also the Director of Performances for Orchesis. Orchesis is a student-run contemporary dance company here on campus. We have classes Tuesday-Thursday, 6 to 7 p.m., which are open for everyone (pull up)! We also put on two student-run shows a year, which feature dances choreographed by me and other student choreographers!”

More from Ava:

• Favorite movie: Before Sunset (The Before Trilogy)

• Fav combo place: 1855 Market

• Favorite artist(s): Charli XCX, Labi Siffre and TV Girl

• Best study spot: The library basement with friends :)

Have questions or submissions for this newsletter? Contact Jane Deacon (locket20@msu.edu).