UK Career Center, The Graduate School Join Forces to Invest in Grad Students

Tithi Basu-Mallik seated at conference table
A new partnership between The Graduate School and the Stuckert Career Center involves Tithi Basu Mallik, Ph.D. (pictured). Pete Comparoni | UK Photo.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 23, 2021) At the University of Kentucky, we strive to put students first. With that mission in mind, it’s important to recognize each cohort of students has unique needs. 

A new partnership between The Graduate School and the Stuckert Career Center — housed in the Office for Student Success — aims to uniquely position graduate students to become leaders in their fields by strengthening career development support. 

Tithi Basu Mallik, Ph.D., is at the helm of the partnership — holding the first dual-embedded role between the two entities.

In the Stuckert Career Center, Mallik is the assistant director for graduate/professional students and postdoctoral scholars. In The Graduate School, she is the graduate student and postdoctoral career advisor. Though Mallik has multiple titles to accompany her expertise, her role on campus is simple — ensure student success after graduation.

“Today's graduate students and postdoctoral trainees are facing numerous challenges as they navigate their career path choices and enter job searches,” said Morris Grubbs, assistant dean for professional enhancement in The Graduate School. “Dr. Mallik’s services will complement the existing resources on our campus. As a new Ph.D., she brings a wealth of insights and empathy to this new position.”

“We are excited to have Dr. Mallik join the UK community, and we are fortunate to have a new colleague with such relevant experience and expertise,” said Beth Austin, the Stuckert Career Center’s associate director of career advising.

Originally from Kolkata, India, Mallik completed her doctorate in philosophy at the University of Connecticut. While a student at the university, she served as a graduate assistant for graduate student and postdoctoral programs and services in the Center for Career Development. In this role, Mallik discovered her passion for advising and helping students explore a variety of career choices in higher education, nonprofit organizations, government and industry.

“When I became aware of this current position, I was intrigued by the supplemental questions on the application, which showed UK’s interest in and awareness of the needs of graduate and professional students and postdocs,” Mallik explained. “I was able to envision myself at UK after determining the institution takes seriously the challenges these students face, especially when seeking employment outside of academia.”

Mallik has already hit the ground running — offering individual career advising appointments and programming such as a Graduate Resume Workshop, which will be held virtually on Sept. 30. 

In her new role, Mallik will also create and execute plans for tailored career programs, as well as provide individual and group advising, among other resources.

"I will reach out to the graduate and postdoctoral community to introduce myself and let them know I'm a resource for them  spotlighting that there are diverse career opportunities available,” she explained. “I also plan to bring in employers and alumni to facilitate connections, so current students and trainees have a glimpse at career success in all of its various forms outside of academia.”

Ultimately, Mallik hopes the partnership will ensure resources are accessible for all students to feel empowered and pursue the career of their choice.

More information about career programs, resources and services for graduate students and postdocs, can be found here. Additionally, students can follow step-by-step instructions on scheduling an appointment in Handshake.

About The Graduate School

The mission of The Graduate School is to promote excellence at all levels of graduate education at UK. By encouraging and supporting the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge in an environment of diversity and interdisciplinary cooperation, The Graduate School aids graduate programs in preparing students as future leaders of the global society in research, teaching, applied science, creative production, policy making and public service.

About the Stuckert Career Center

For more than 20 years, the Stuckert Career Center has served the UK campus community by providing comprehensive career development programming, resources and services for the student body and new graduates.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.