Patricia Koski, dean of the Graduate School and International Education, will retire at the end of 2021 after a 37-year career at the University of Arkansas. The campus community is invited to a reception honoring Koski from 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, in Gearhart Hall room 206.

Koski, a longtime leader and promoter of graduate education, steps down after a term as the second female dean in the Graduate School's nearly 95-year history.

"In her distinguished career at the U of A, Dean Koski has always been steadfastly dedicated to the betterment of students through graduate and international education," said Terry Martin, interim provost. "Her vision and commitment to innovation and interdisciplinary studies have built a foundation for success in the Graduate School that will benefit all who follow in her role, and we will miss her insight, professionalism and collegiality."

Koski served as the associate dean of the Graduate School and International Education since 1998, before taking the helm as the ninth dean of the Graduate School in 2020. She began her career at the university in 1984 as visiting assistant professor in sociology, rising in 1993 to chair what was then known as the Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice Department.

Throughout her tenure in the Graduate School, Koski worked to create and strengthen graduate programs and initiatives that provide a legacy of student support, advocacy and influence. She has aggressively pursued increased diversity at the U of A, and has long been known as a dogged advocate who engages the voice of graduate students.

Improving Retention and Graduation Rates

Among her many accomplishments, Koski solidified interdisciplinary graduate degree programs, strengthened retention and graduation rates, and successfully pushed to build a formal organization for graduate student government in the Graduate Professional Student Congress.

Similarly, Koski formed the Graduate Dean's Student Advisory Board in an effort to hear from more students in discussions relevant to their academic and research efforts. In the last two years, Koski has worked with former dean Kim Needy to increase the minimum monthly stipend for graduate assistants, and joined initiatives to support emergency funding for both graduate and international students facing unexpected financial need during the pandemic.

"While serving in the Graduate School since 1998, and under three different deans, the one constant was Dean Koski, who despite numerous challenges was the glue that held it all together, while raising the national profile of our campus with its innovative approaches to improving graduate education," said Kim Needy, dean of the College of Engineering and former dean of the Graduate School.  "Although she is retiring, her influence will be felt for many years to come, and personally, I will always be grateful for her wise counsel and mentorship."

Increasing Diversity Among Student Population

Koski's efforts have successfully increased diversity among the graduate student population. Recognizing the need for supporting underrepresented students, Koski helped implement the highly successful RISE program, a bridge for underrepresented students entering U of A graduate programs. Each semester, Koski is known to carefully evaluate the percentage of graduate students who identify as underrepresented minorities, always proud of the Graduate School's progress while urging staff to stay dedicated to greater success.

Koski has also been instrumental in helping the Graduate School create credible microcertificate programs. To better meet the need for upskilling in an ever-changing workforce marked by digital transformation, the microcertificate programs allow students and professionals to keep knowledge and skills up to date.

Curt Rom, associate dean of international education, has been named interim dean of the Graduate School and International Education, beginning Jan. 1, 2022.

"Dean Koski has made a monumental contribution to graduate education at the university as a tireless champion and advocate for students," said Curt Rom, associate dean of international education. "She was instrumental in developing the interdisciplinary graduate programs which are among the largest and most diverse on campus. She built a strong, service-oriented team within the Graduate School and International Education to serve the students and faculty of the university."  

In recognition of her leadership to international educations over the decades, Koski was honored earlier this semester with the Hoyt Purvis Commendation for Leadership in International Education.

In 2011, Koski received the Collis R. Geren Award, given to faculty and staff members who demonstrate exceptional commitment to graduate education. The award was initiated in 2010 in honor of Geren, who served as the dean of the U of A Graduate School for nearly 20 years. Additionally, the Graduate Student Professional Congress honored Koski with the GPSC Presidential Service Award in early 2021.

She has also served in leadership roles for the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, including serving as the host committee co-chair for the 2018 conference, where she was honored with an award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate Education in the Southern Region.

Koski earned a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from Washington State University, with research interests in family violence and in cultural sociology, notably creation of the self. Before joining the University of Arkansas, Koski was chair of the program in criminal justice at the University of Tulsa.

After her career comes to a close this month, Koski said she plans to "catch up on nearly 40 years of sleep deprivation," spend time reading all the things she didn't have time to read before, and take long walks with her beloved dogs. "However, I will miss working with everyone at the University of Arkansas," she added. "It is the best place in the world."