Launched in 2022 by the Office of the Provost - Graduate Studies in collaboration with the Division of Student Affairs, Graduate Global Ties (GGT) is a peer mentoring program for incoming international graduate and professional students.
GGT actively seeks to welcome new international graduate and professional students into Pitt’s campus community, support them as they adjust to Pittsburgh and their academic journey, and foster a sense of belonging, encouragement, and care.
Graduate Global Ties aims to provide holistic support through continuous learning and engagement with students. Throughout the academic year, program participants are invited to social, cultural, and educational programs that are meant to deepen their sense of belonging at Pitt and beyond.
Become a Peer Mentor
GGT mentors are returning graduate and professional (domestic and international) students who are interested in serving the Pitt community. Mentors play an important role in supporting students by offering encouragement, helping students to make connections, and answering important questions. Each mentor is paired with at least one mentee for the academic year based on similar academic interests and backgrounds.
Mentor Requirements: GGT mentors should be a current graduate or professional student at the University of Pittsburgh. Peer mentors are expected to commit to the program for one academic year, touch base with mentee(s) monthly, complete two hours of asynchronous training, and attend at least two social events sponsored by the GGT team.
Graduate Global Ties Team
Yuan Gao
Yuan Gao (she/her) is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Social and Comparative Analysis in Education program at the School of Education. Yuan is the Graduate Student Assistant (GSA) on the Graduate Studies team in the Office of the Provost and serves as the main contact for the Graduate Global Ties program, where she supports both domestic and international graduate students at Pitt.
During her time at Pitt, Yuan served as a GSA at the Institute for International Studies in Education (IISE) and in the Student and Career Service office at the School of Education. She also held the position of Vice President of the Council of Graduate Students in Education (CGSE). Furthermore, Yuan is the co-founder and president of the International Student Peer Network (ISPN), a student organization within the School of Education.
Prior to joining Pitt, Yuan accumulated over 10 years of managerial experience in the private sector in China. Her expertise spanned various fields, including language training, off-campus tutoring, and international vocational training programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international economics and trade from China and two master’s degrees in marketing and management from the U.S.
Dr. Alydia Thomas
Dr. Alydia Thomas joined the Graduate Studies team in the Office of the Provost in June 2022 as the diversity, engagement, and inclusion manager. The main function of her role is to support the recruitment, academic success, retention, and well-being of underrepresented graduate students. Alydia currently serves as the director of the Graduate Global Ties peer mentoring program. In her career, Alydia has created several mentoring programs and other initiatives fostering inclusion and belonging that benefit underrepresented students.
Contact Us
The Graduate Global Ties team can be reached at GradGlobalTies@pitt.edu.