Dean Mark Robson Celebrates the Season with Graduate Families

Graduate students and their families came together for a warm and joyful holiday celebration at the Graduate Student Lounge on the College Avenue Campus, hosted by Supporting Parents and Caregivers at Rutgers (SPCR) in collaboration with the Office of Graduate Student Life.

Held on Saturday from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m., the event welcomed graduate student parents and caregivers, their children, and members of the broader graduate community for an afternoon of connection, crafts, and seasonal cheer. Families enjoyed food, holiday-themed activities provided by Scarlet Arts Rx, and the opportunity to meet Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.

Adding a special touch to the afternoon, Mark Robson, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, volunteered to serve as Santa, much to the delight and surprise of many attendees.

Reflecting on the event, Dean Robson shared:

“The Grad Student Group, Students Who are Parents and Caregivers, along with the Office of Graduate Student Life, hosted a great event from 12.00 to 3.00 on Saturday.  Many of our graduate students who are parents, along with a lot of students who just wanted to visit with Santa came by the Graduate Student Lounge on College Avenue.  I had the privilege of being Santa and meeting our grad students and their beautiful children.  Many were surprised to learn I was also their dean.  It’s the fun part of being the dean!”

The celebration was supported by the Graduate Student Association (GSA), Mason Gross GSO, Scarlet Arts Rx, and the Office of Graduate Student Life. Special thanks were extended to Kelly Esposito from Plant Biology for volunteering as Mrs. Claus.

Supporting Parents and Caregivers at Rutgers is a community-driven group dedicated to connecting graduate student parents and caregivers across departments, sharing campus and local resources, and advocating for policies and practices that support families at Rutgers. Membership is open to all students, postdocs, faculty, staff, and community members who identify as parents or wish to support graduate student families.

The event exemplified the School of Graduate Studies’ ongoing commitment to fostering a supportive, and family-friendly graduate experience, one that recognizes the whole lives of graduate students both inside and outside the classroom.

Dean Robson closed his message with a sentiment shared by many who attended:

“Happy and Healthy Holidays to All!”