Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

Shawn Loner’s Goal: Helping Students Succeed

Wednesday, October 18, 2023, By Diane Stirling
Share
Graduate SchoolstaffStudents
staff member Shawn Loner seated at his desk

Shawn Loner

Shawn Loner sees his role as helping graduate students navigate their journey at Syracuse University—from transitioning to University life to considering post-University careers and everything in between.

Loner, assistant director of professional and career development in the Graduate School, has worked in the position on a part-time basis, but was recently promoted to a full-time role that includes an expansion of his responsibilities.

His expanded role allows him more time to provide services for students, with a particular focus on teaching assistants (TAs), especially in areas of programming, workshops, classroom observations and consultations. He also manages the TA Orientation and TA Program and has primary responsibility for the Graduate School’s English Language Proficiency Services and English conversation partner programs. As a member of the career services team, Loner also supports master’s degree students in preparing job application materials and reviews resumes and cover letters.

“Navigating being a graduate student and a teaching assistant, and all the various hats that go along with those roles, can be quite daunting at times,” Loner says. “The Graduate School staff and I are here to make any transitions students are going through smoother and to provide support in all the roles they might be playing.”

“We see ourselves as supporting graduate students from ‘cradle to grave.’ From the time when they come in fresh as new graduate students we give them welcome and support. We provide that support throughout their graduate student career in terms of programming, professional development and the Future Professoriate Program.”

Loner facilitates several professional development initiatives, including the TA orientation program for new teaching assistants and related programming to help graduate students grow as instructors and scholars. Another major area of focus for Loner is to provide career counseling for graduate students nearing degree completion.

“If there is a higher-quality, more comprehensive TA orientation program than what we have at Syracuse University, you’ll have to show it to me,” says Glenn Wright, executive director of professional and career development in the Graduate School. “Shawn has been the driving force behind that for many years, and it’s great to be able to bring him on board full time so that other programs and services can benefit from his oversight in the same way. His expanded role will provide additional capacity for our career counseling as well as more flexibility in scheduling those services.”

Loner says he enjoys his work in part because he relates to the students. “Having been a graduate student, I know how exciting and how difficult it can be to be in that position, and in particular to be a teaching assistant. There’s a lot of pressure and a lot of expectations, both on the outside and internally. I like who I’m serving here and I want the students to succeed.”

  • Author

Diane Stirling

  • Recent
  • DPS Earns Accreditation From International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators
    Friday, June 6, 2025, By Kiana Racha
  • Rock Record Illuminates Oxygen History
    Thursday, June 5, 2025, By Dan Bernardi
  • What Can Ancient Climate Tell Us About Modern Droughts?
    Thursday, June 5, 2025, By News Staff
  • Blackstone LaunchPad Founders Circle Welcomes New Members
    Thursday, June 5, 2025, By Cristina Hatem
  • Syracuse Stage Concludes 2024-25 Season With ‘The National Pastime’
    Wednesday, June 4, 2025, By Joanna Penalva

More In Campus & Community

DPS Earns Accreditation From International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is thrilled to announce that it has achieved accreditation from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), the leading authority for campus public safety. Fewer than 100 agencies have earned this distinctive…

Blackstone LaunchPad Founders Circle Welcomes New Members

Syracuse University Libraries’ Blackstone LaunchPad welcomed 34 graduates of the Class of 2025 as new members of the Founders Circle. They were selected in recognition of launching or leading ventures at the University while students, as well as contributing to…

Neal Powless Inducted Into American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame

You could say that lacrosse is in Neal Powless’s blood. Powless G’08, the University ombuds, is a member of the Onondaga Nation Eel Clan. He is the son, grandson and brother of legendary lacrosse players. Powless picked up a lacrosse…

The Milton Legacy: Romance, Success and Giving Back

Growing up, Stacey Milton Leal ’75 and Chris Milton heard countless stories about how Syracuse University brought their parents together in what would turn out to be a fairy tale romance with a happy forever ending. So it was no…

Syracuse University Libraries’ Information Literacy Scholars Produce Information Literacy Collab Journal

Earlier this month, Syracuse University Libraries’ Information Literacy Scholars published their first open access information literacy journal, Information Literacy Collab (ILC). It is available on SURFACE, the University’s open access institutional repository. ILC is a diamond open-access publication by and…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2025 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.