New Grad Student Commons opens in Baker University Center

On Sept. 17, 2026, graduate students, Athens community members and University faculty and staff gathered in Baker University Center 403 for the grand opening of the Grad Student Commons. The space was newly designated for graduate student use in the summer of 2026 and contains a wide communal use space for graduate students to connect, lead events or simply take a moment to breathe during their everyday lives.

The space is open during Baker University Center’s regular hours and requires OHIO ID card swipe access. All graduate students, as well as all faculty and staff, have swipe access to the space. The space also contains two offices which are occupied by the leadership of Graduate Student Senate and Graduate College deans and administrators.

During the grand opening, leadership from the Graduate College, Graduate Student Senate, the Research Division and the Office of Student Life took the time to speak to the audience about the importance of the space, and the work graduate students do to make Ohio University what it is. David Koonce, dean of the Graduate College, kicked off the speeches with a reminder of the urgency of need that graduate students face, and the Grad Student Commons being a start to advancement.

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The speakers also included Eric Muth, vice president for Research and Creative Activity, Imants Jaunarajs, assistant vice president of the Division of Student Life and Carolina Herrera Céspedes, vice president of Graduate Student Senate. All the speakers also partook in a ceremonial “ribbon cutting” of the official opening of the space.

Graduate students who are interested in hosting events, whether on behalf of themselves, a University organization or their academic discipline, are encouraged to reach out to Nathan Blackburn at blackburnn@ohio.edu to coordinate time and advertisements. Graduate students are also encouraged to bring promotional materials for events and post them on the corkboards within the entrance of the Commons. Lastly, graduate students are encouraged to email Blackburn with ideas for décor and appliances that could benefit graduate student life, which could live in the Commons.