Liz Silva has been appointed Vice-Chancellor for Graduate Education. She joined Stanford University after several years supporting graduate and professional students at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
Liz Silva is Vice President for Graduate Education. (Image credit: Alex Ghiraspie)
“I’m really excited to be on campus with students from all walks of life and disciplines,” said Silva. “I have a real passion for research, policy, graduate education, and understanding the factors that lead to student success.”
As Associate Vice-Chancellor, Silva serves as a representative on issues related to graduate education policy. She works closely with graduate student groups to offer workshops, training, and other opportunities that support students’ professional and career development. She also assists in developing marketing and communications strategies for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Graduate Education.
“Liz Silva has a proven track record of working directly with graduate students and advocating for their needs at the highest levels of academia,” said Stacey Bent, Vice President for Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. “Her experience and expertise will be useful to Stanford as students return to campus this fall. We are navigating the next year and planning opportunities beyond.”
Silva is from Vancouver, Canada. She holds a BS in Biology from Fraser University and an MS in Genetics from the University of Alberta. She moved to the UK where she completed her PhD in Developmental Biology at her College, University of London, before moving to the US where she completed her postdoctoral studies at the University of California, San Francisco.
Silva for three years pro swanis a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal from the Public Library of Science that publishes interdisciplinary research aimed at accelerating the pace of scientific progress.
Silva returned to UCSF as founding director of the Motivating INformed Decisions (MIND) program, which helps students explore career paths. Subsequently, he served six years as Vice Dean at UCSF, providing comprehensive support to graduate students, including professional development, mental health and wellbeing support, curriculum development, governance, recruitment and admissions. Did.
Silva joined the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Graduate Education at Stanford University in August. She will succeed Helen Doyle, who retired earlier this year after her 16 years at Stanford University. The office serves as the university’s primary professional support center for graduate and professional students.
“I think of VPGE as the hub of the wheel,” says Silva. “We are the place for graduate students from all seven schools to receive professional development support.It also connects them to other resources on campus that have expertise.”