Kyla Rankin was the 2019-20 recipient of the Graduate Student Mentorship Program Best Mentor Award, and the 2020-21 Coordinator of the University Teaching Program. She also has an adorable weiner dog named Toby.

What did you get your degree in, and what are you doing now?

My degree is in Social/Personality Psychology, with an emphasis is health and well-being. I am starting a tenure-track position as an Assistant Professor at Moreno Valley College this Fall.

What are the top 2-3 things you did while at UCR that helped you finish your degree (and get a position in your field, if you have)? What was most helpful to you as a student here?

Being a part of the GradSuccess community was the most helpful thing I did while at UCR. From being a mentor in the Graduate Student Mentorship Program, then the Graduate Student Resource summer coordinator, and finally the University Teaching Certificate Program coordinator, I was able to harness skills that made me a more appealing candidate on the job market. I was able to show experience mentoring people from diverse backgrounds, working collaboratively with people across campus, and being responsive to student needs and the social climate, as well as my commitment to service and training.

Participating in teaching-focused development opportunities was also something I highlighted a lot during my time on the job market. I discussed my experience teaching my own classes (on campus and off campus), my time in the University Teaching certificate program, attending teaching conferences, participating in an advanced pedagogy reading series that was funded by the Center for Ideas and Society, and attending various workshops on distance education, culturally-responsive teaching, etc.

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[Image Description: Tim Meadows on The Golbergs claps his hands and says, "Let's Get to Learning!"]

Pictured: The typical reaction of students in Kyla's classes.

What did you like best about your graduate work? What did you like least?

I received a lot of support from my advisor and department, but I also had to seek out other resources to get an idea of what I wanted to do after graduating. In my experience, I did not feel like I was able to explore all possible career paths. As a result, I changed my mind… a lot. Thankfully, I had incredible mentorship and a strong support system in place—my graduate advisor, my graduate student colleagues, the GradSuccess staff – who I was able to turn to for guidance when I needed it most. Collaborating while finessing new ideas, designing studies, going through the publication process, and even prepping job market materials were the things I enjoyed the most about graduate work.

Is there anything you wish you had done, or regret doing/not doing, while you were a UCR graduate student?

Every year I would take a look at my CV to figure out what was missing so I could prioritize the areas I wanted/needed to build up, which is a practice I would suggest for everyone. However, the year I focused on funding I only received one out of the seven fellowships/grants I applied for. I wish I had put more effort into seeking out resources that could have helped me be more successful in acquiring this type of funding. I ultimately took a job that did not require or prioritize it, but it was missing from my statements during the job hunt.

What are you most looking forward to in your new position/post-graduate life?

Prioritizing my teaching and my students is very high on this list; however, I am most looking forward to being able to support my husband as he pursues his academic career. My husband moved to Riverside with me and put his passions on hold to financially support us through graduate school. Now it can be his turn!

What advice do you have for other graduate students at UCR about finishing their degrees, going on the job market, or life in general?

We are more than our research. Of course, research can be a large part of our time and even our identities as graduate students, but it is important that we appreciate and maintain balance in all aspects of our lives. Graduate students can easily get lost in the stressors of that role, so having a mentor who can remind you of your successes, hear you out, and who endorses self-care is equally as valuable as someone who encourages you to work hard in your studies. For this reason, cast your mentorship net as wide as you can! Cast wider than your cohort, your department, and even UCR—seek out professional development opportunities, check out different professional organizations and conferences, and get involved in your community.

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[Image Description: A poster image of Bill Murray in Stripes, pointing at the viewer, with the text "You're Awesome" next to his face.]

Pictured: Find at least a few mentors who remind you of this!