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Writing a thank you note to dissertation committee members, published by steve tippins on june 25, 2020 june 25, 2020.

Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 02:37 am

As much as your dissertation may have been a battle, and as much as members of your committee may have seemed unreasonable at times, their ultimate goal was to help you be a better researcher and finish your degree. They were your allies. So when you do finish, a strong thank you is important.

You may even dislike members of your committee, but remember that after you finish your dissertation , your committee members don’t just disappear. You will be working in a related field to them and having a good relationship with them may be important for your career later on. For example…

• You may need a recommendation from them
• They may be able to introduce you to potential data sources for research
• They may know people that ask them about you
• You may do joint research with some of them in the future

Or, maybe you’ve received a ton of support from your committee members and feel nothing but gratitude for how they’ve guided you. In that case, all the more reason to express your gratitude!

Either way, an academic field is a small world. Maintaining good relationships with members of the field is important for your career. And saying “thank you” is just good manners, after all.

Here’s how to write a thank-you note to dissertation committee members who’ve helped you along the way.

Thank Them in the Acknowledgments Section

It’s important to include a thank you note for your dissertation committee members in the acknowledgments section of your dissertation . It doesn’t have to be very long–one or two sentences is enough. It’s vital to do this because it’s expected, and not doing so may seem like an intentional snub. 

Thank Your Committee Members Personally

It’s also kind to thank your committee members personally as well. Even the person who’s been hardest on you has helped you get to where you are. A personal thank-you often feels more genuine, personal, and real than what can be communicated by written words. Even if it’s as simple as looking them in the eye, shaking their hand, and saying “thank you for everything,” it matters.

Write a Thank You Note for Dissertation Committee Members

Even if you’ve already done everything above, it’s best to write a separate thank you note for your dissertation committee members as well. There are a couple of reasons to send an additional thank you note. First, they may never look at the acknowledgments section of your dissertation. And secondly, it shows that you went just a little above and beyond. 

With handwriting being what it is today, I’d say it’s acceptable to write it on a computer. Print it out, sign it, and deliver it (slide it under their door, put it in their mailbox, mail it to them).

Tips for Writing a Thank You Note for Your Dissertation Committee 

Be specific. Show them that you paid attention by thanking them for the specific roles that they played and the specific ways that they helped you get to the end. Saying something like, “thank you for being on my committee, without you I would have had to have somebody else on my committee,” isn’t going to endear you to them.

Address them properly. Even though you’re technically a doctor now too, still say, “Thank you Dr. ___” Unless they’ve explicitly asked you to call them by their first name, default to calling them “doctor” until they tell you otherwise.

Be genuine. It’s important not to have your letter sound like a form letter. While it should still be professional, it shouldn’t be sanitized of any personal touch. If you have funny memories of your time working with them, it would be appropriate to recount these with a tone of appreciation.

Example Thank You Note for Dissertation Committee 

Dear Dr. ___,

Saying thank you just doesn’t seem to be enough now that you’ve helped me complete this journey. You were an integral part of me being able to make it to the end.

Without the help that you gave me in developing my methodology and the emotional support you gave me, I wouldn’t have made it.

I hope that I can “pay forward” what you’ve done for me by helping other people. I will use your selfless support as a model as I move forward.

Best wishes,

Dear Dr. ____

I’m writing to offer my deepest gratitude for the guidance you provided me as part of my dissertation committee.  From the time I took your History of Education in the Progressive Era course, I knew you would be the one to help me sort out my thinking on my topic.  Your suggestions brought in threads of thought that made my research so much richer, and my dissertation something I can be proud of having written.  You’ve also inspired me with your own body of research and the gift of helping me visualize a similar trajectory for myself.  I feel confident that I can succeed, standing on your shoulders.

I look forward to working with you again in the future, as our research interests will undoubtedly invite future collaboration.  No doubt, we’ll be at the same conferences year after year!  May you continue to inspire and enrich your students.  I will miss being among them!

With Deepest Gratitude, Me

Final Thoughts

Now that you have your degree and are moving into the world of an academic career, you will be met with a host of new challenges. If you’re looking for someone who knows the territory, feel free to take a look at my Academic Career Coaching services and reach out for a free 30-minute consultation .

Steve Tippins

Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

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• Thesis & Dissertation Acknowledgements | Tips & Examples

Thesis & Dissertation Acknowledgements | Tips & Examples

Published on May 3, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on July 18, 2023.

The acknowledgements section is your opportunity to thank those who have helped and supported you personally and professionally during your thesis or dissertation process.

Thesis or dissertation acknowledgements appear between your title page and abstract  and should be no longer than one page.

In your acknowledgements, it’s okay to use a more informal style than is usually permitted in academic writing , as well as first-person pronouns . Acknowledgements are not considered part of the academic work itself, but rather your chance to write something more personal.

To get started, download our step-by-step template in the format of your choice below. We’ve also included sample sentence starters to help you construct your acknowledgments section from scratch.

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Table of contents

Who to thank in your acknowledgements, how to write acknowledgements, acknowledgements section example, acknowledgements dos and don’ts, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about the acknowledgements section.

Generally, there are two main categories of acknowledgements: professional and personal .

A good first step is to check your university’s guidelines, as they may have rules or preferences about the order, phrasing, or layout of acknowledgements. Some institutions prefer that you keep your acknowledgements strictly professional.

Regardless, it’s usually a good idea to place professional acknowledgements first, followed by any personal ones. You can then proceed by ranking who you’d like to thank from most formal to least.

• Chairs, supervisors, or defense committees
• Funding bodies
• Other academics (e.g., colleagues or cohort members)
• Editors or proofreaders
• Librarians, research/laboratory assistants, or study participants
• Family, friends, or pets

Typically, it’s only necessary to mention people who directly supported you during your thesis or dissertation. However, if you feel that someone like a high school physics teacher was a great inspiration on the path to your current research, feel free to include them as well.

Professional acknowledgements

It is crucial to avoid overlooking anyone who helped you professionally as you completed your thesis or dissertation. As a rule of thumb, anyone who directly contributed to your research process, from figuring out your dissertation topic to your final proofread, should be mentioned.

A few things to keep in mind include:

• Even if you feel your chair didn’t help you very much, you should still thank them first to avoid looking like you’re snubbing them.
• Be sure to follow academic conventions, using full names with titles where appropriate.
• If several members of a group or organization assisted you, mention the collective name only.
• Remember the ethical considerations around anonymized data. If you wish to protect someone’s privacy, use only their first name or a generic identifier (such as “the interviewees”)/

Personal acknowledgements

There is no need to mention every member of your family or friend group. However, if someone was particularly inspiring or supportive, you may wish to mention them specifically. Many people choose to thank parents, partners, children, friends, and even pets, but you can mention anyone who offered moral support or encouragement, or helped you in a tangible or intangible way.

Some students may wish to dedicate their dissertation to a deceased influential person in their personal life. In this case, it’s okay to mention them first, before any professional acknowledgements.

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After you’ve compiled a list of who you’d like to thank, you can then sort your list into rank order. Separate everyone you listed into “major thanks,” “big thanks,” and “minor thanks” categories.

• “Major thanks” are given to people who your project would be impossible without. These are often predominantly professional acknowledgements, such as your advisor, chair, and committee, as well as any funders.
• “Big thanks” are an in-between, for those who helped you along the way or helped you grow intellectually, such as classmates, peers, or librarians.
• “Minor thanks” can be a catch-all for everyone else, especially those who offered moral support or encouragement. This can include personal acknowledgements, such as parents, partners, children, friends, or even pets.

How to phrase your acknowledgements

To avoid acknowledgements that sound repetitive or dull, consider changing up your phrasing. Here are some examples of common sentence starters you can use for each category.

Note that you do not need to write any sort of conclusion or summary at the end. You can simply end the acknowledgements with your last thank you.

Here’s an example of how you can combine the different sentences to write your acknowledgements.

A simple construction consists of a sentence starter (in purple highlight ), followed by the person or entity mentioned (in green highlight ), followed by what you’re thanking them for (in yellow highlight .)

Acknowledgements

Words cannot express my gratitude to my professor and chair of my committee for her invaluable patience and feedback. I also could not have undertaken this journey without my defense committee, who generously provided knowledge and expertise. Additionally, this endeavor would not have been possible without the generous support from the MacArthur Foundation, who financed my research .

I am also grateful to my classmates and cohort members, especially my office mates, for their editing help, late-night feedback sessions, and moral support. Thanks should also go to the librarians, research assistants, and study participants from the university, who impacted and inspired me.

Lastly, I would be remiss in not mentioning my family, especially my parents, spouse, and children. Their belief in me has kept my spirits and motivation high during this process. I would also like to thank my cat for all the entertainment and emotional support.

• Write in first-person, professional language
• Thank your professional contacts first
• Include full names, titles, and roles of professional acknowledgements
• Include personal or intangible supporters, like friends, family, or even pets
• Mention funding bodies and what they funded
• Appropriately anonymize or group research participants or non-individual acknowledgments

Don’t:

• Use informal language or slang
• Go over one page in length
• Mention people who had only a peripheral or minor impact on your work

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In the acknowledgements of your thesis or dissertation, you should first thank those who helped you academically or professionally, such as your supervisor, funders, and other academics.

Then you can include personal thanks to friends, family members, or anyone else who supported you during the process.

Yes, it’s important to thank your supervisor(s) in the acknowledgements section of your thesis or dissertation .

Even if you feel your supervisor did not contribute greatly to the final product, you must acknowledge them, if only for a very brief thank you. If you do not include your supervisor, it may be seen as a snub.

The acknowledgements are generally included at the very beginning of your thesis , directly after the title page and before the abstract .

In a thesis or dissertation, the acknowledgements should usually be no longer than one page. There is no minimum length.

You may acknowledge God in your dissertation acknowledgements , but be sure to follow academic convention by also thanking the members of academia, as well as family, colleagues, and friends who helped you.

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We make college applications easier, 9 proven tips for a successful dissertation committee email request.

February 9, 2024 Pacesetter Schools General 0

Get a “YES” on your Dissertation Committee Email Request : Securing faculty members to serve on your dissertation committee is a critical step in completing your doctoral degree. Committee members agree to closely guide your dissertation research and writing from proposal through final defense.

Choosing the right people and making a strong request is key to starting this important journey on the right foot. This article provides proven tips and strategies for crafting an effective dissertation committee email request.

Before proceeding, let’s understand what a dissertation committee is.

Table of Contents

What’s a Dissertation Committees

Before diving into crafting your email, understand the basics of what a dissertation committee is and its composition.

A dissertation committee is usually made up of three to five faculty members who direct and evaluate a doctoral candidate’s dissertation research and writing. At minimum, it includes your dissertation chair or advisor who leads the committee and two additional members.

Committee members should have relevant expertise in your dissertation topic area and research methods. The chair usually holds a terminal degree in your field of study and has deep subject matter knowledge and dissertation mentoring experience.

Other members typically have doctorates as well and bring complementary areas of specialization to give you well-rounded feedback and oversight.

It’s preferable to have at least one committee member from outside your home department to provide a fresh external perspective. Your graduate program will have specific policies around committee composition, so be sure to review these guidelines before making requests.

The goal is to assemble a team of scholars enthusiastically invested in helping you conduct and complete high-quality original research. Here are some dissertation research examples to start your projects.

Dissertation Committee Email Request: Proven Tips to get a “YES” from Your Professors

1. do thorough research on potential members.

The first step to crafting an effective request email is conducting in-depth research on potential committee members. Beyond just their bios and credentials listed online, dig deeper into their research interests, current projects, and publications.

Look for alignment and overlap with your proposed dissertation topic to demonstrate how a faculty member would be well-suited to serve.

Go beyond just browsing public profiles – talk to other students, program staff, and current advisees to get insider perspectives. Ask what professors’ research and advising styles are like.

Learn which ones are particularly dedicated mentors willing to provide prompt feedback and support. Gauge appropriateness of workload – avoid bombarding the busiest faculty. With quality qualitative research, you’ll write a much stronger targeted case for specific individuals.

2. Customize Each Email Request

Rather than blasting a form letter to multiple professors at once, take the time to individually customize each email request. Address professors by name and reference something unique and relevant you learned about their work.

Show you understand their specialty areas and how your topic fits rather than broadly stating “I’m interested in Quantum Physics”. Demonstrate thoughtful consideration for why they in particular would make valuable committee members.

3. Highlight Connections

It’s not enough to simply state your interest – draw explicit connections between your research and a professor’s. Mention how a paper or project of theirs inspired an aspect of your work or methodology. Note any past classes taken from them to establish credibility as a dedicated student.

Point to similarities in a particular theoretical framework or discipline used. Quantify connections wherever possible rather than leaving statements vague. The clearer the synergies, the stronger case you’ll make.

4. Show Preparedness and Organization

Part of appealing to busy professors is demonstrating you’ve done the necessary groundwork so they won’t have to spend excessive time bringing a new student up to speed.

Attach a draft dissertation prospectus, timeline, or chapter outline to illustrate your proposal is developed and you’ve put serious critical thought into the research process and design already.

Offer to meet in person to provide further details and discuss next steps if interested in joining your committee. Convince them you’re organized and won’t require excessive hand-holding.

5. Highlight Mutually Beneficial Partnership

While faculty serve to mentor students primarily, frame committee membership as a mutually beneficial professional partnership. Note how a professor’s guidance could strengthen your work to a level warranting publication or conference presentation, thereby advancing both your careers.

Express enthusiasm for the opportunity to collaborate on related research with them going forward as a result of being advised through the dissertation. Highlight potential synergies and long term scholarly cooperation rather than it solely being a favor to you.

6. Emphasize Timeline and Commitment Needed

Be transparent about anticipated timeline, milestones, and level of involvement expected from committee members. Provide a draft completion schedule spanning IRB approval through final defense, noting when key checkpoints like proposal and full draft reviews are anticipated.

Outline roughly how many hours of meetings or feedback iterations they should expect per semester. Reassure professors you understand their other obligations and appreciate any commitment, even if a rigorous timeline can’t be promised. Honesty prevents future scope creep concerns.

7. Follow Best Practices for Email Format

While content of your message is most important, small formatting details also influence readability and response rates. Keep the email concise at 2-3 well-spaced paragraphs. Use a clear descriptive subject line stating the purpose succinctly.

Compose in a reader-friendly text format rather than an attached document. Include required contact information prominently like your name, program, and student ID. Proofread thoroughly for typos or awkward phrasing before sending to maintain professionalism. Attractive formatting leaves a positive first impression.

8. Add Appropriate Closing

Close by thanking the professor for considering your request and restating your enthusiasm and qualifications for the opportunity. Indicate next steps such as following up by phone within a week if no response is received or a deadline for response if needed to meet program deadlines.

Express willingness to provide any additional needed context in person. Close courteously whether a meeting is scheduled or not to maintain good rapport for future occasions. Leaving the door open maintains networking relationships even if an initial ask is declined.

9. Keep Trying Until Successful

Securing ideal committee members typically requires persistence, so keep networking and refining requests until confirmation is received. Respectfully follow up emails after a week or two if no initial response.

Reach out during posted faculty office hours if possible to have productive in-person discussions. Consult program advisors for alternative suggestions if all targeted professors decline.

Maintaining a positive attitude during the process reflects well and often secures backup options still committed to student success. With patience and continued effort, strong committees can usually be assembled.

Templates for Dissertation Committee Email Requests

Here are examples highlighting qualifications while requesting guidance:

Template #1 Subject: Dissertation Committee Inquiry – A Cross-country Analysis of Renewable Subsidies

Dear Dr. [Last Name],

I am a PhD candidate at University of Michigan studying the impacts of climate policy on agricultural innovation. My dissertation examines cross-country analysis of renewable subsidies and yields over the past decade.

Your publications on European Union renewable targets and rural development directly inform my project. I appreciate your thought leadership in this area and believe your insight would greatly enrich my research. I have reviewed my prospectus and timeline with my advisor, Dr. Johnson, and we believe finalizing my committee allows sufficient time for meaningful feedback.

I would be honored if you would consider joining my dissertation committee. Please let me know if you require any additional information. I have attached my prospectus for your review and look forward to discussing further if you accept this request.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Template #2 Subject: Dissertation Committee Formation for Spring 2025

Dear Professor Jones,

I am a PhD student at Stanford studying US-China relations in the 21st century. My dissertation project analyzes patterns in trade and foreign direct investment since 2000 using novel datasets.

Your expertise in East Asian economics and quantitative political analysis would be incredibly valuable as I develop my models and analyze results. After reviewing my research plan with my advisor Prof. Smith, we believe your insight would strengthen my contribution to the field.

I have attached my prospectus outlining my key research questions and intend to defend by next Fall if possible. Please advise if you would be willing to serve on my dissertation committee. I am available to discuss further at your convenience.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.

Best regards, [Your Name]

Properly formatted requests effectively persuade respected scholars that accepting enhances their meaningful impact. Maintain a tone reflecting each scholar’s stature.

Follow-Up Best Practices

After initially contacting candidates:

• Send prompt thank you emails reiterating your appreciation for their consideration
• Follow up with any who request additional information within a week
• If still pending, send a respectful follow up email after 2-3 weeks
• Clearly communicate next steps including deadlines upon receiving positive or negative replies
• Express understanding and appreciation for feedback helping your research progress

Timely, courteous follow ups demonstrate enthusiasm while respecting scholars’ obligations. Maintain regular contact with your advisor regarding progress. Persistence, gratitude and professionalism maximize response rates.

Conclusion on Dissertation Committee Email Request

Securing top scholars for your dissertation committee takes strategic planning and relationship building through effective outreach. By thoroughly researching potential members, customizing compelling requests highlighting synergies, and following up courteously, your chances of enlisting dedicated mentors increase greatly.

With the right committee in place, you’ll receive invaluable guidance transitioning your ideas into a quality final product advancing both your career and field of study. Perseverance and sincere scholarly partnership are keys to dissertation success.

Get More Dissertation Committee Email Request Now!

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Thank You Letter For Serving on a Committee: How To, Templates & Examples

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Running a committee and being a part of one can be a challenging feat. However, it is necessary to execute certain tasks like organizing an election or a show. What works in committees is the teamwork involved, without which the task won’t be completed successfully. Therefore, the contribution of each member, however small, counts towards the proper execution. 

It is natural to want to thank all the committee members as the group is being dispersed or as someone decides to leave. In this article, you will find helpful tips to write an effective thank-you letter and a sample thank you letter for serving on a committee. 

What is a thank you letter for serving on a committee? When is it required?

A thank-you letter for serving on a committee is a letter you write to your fellow committee members or the president of the committee to express gratitude. Writing this letter makes the recipient feel validated and appreciated for the work they put in, encouraging them to continue their good work. Therefore, it is necessary to check up on a sample thank you letter for serving on a committee before drafting this letter. 

Following are occasions when you should check out a sample thank you letter for serving on a committee and work on drafting this document: 

• When the committee is about to be dispersed
• When the committee member is resigning
• While the committee is still working and you want to thank someone for a specific incident
• When a new member has joined the team

Tips to write an effective thank-you letter

Writing a letter is a honed skill. Therefore, referring to a sample thank you letter for serving on a committee always helps. What also helps is following certain guidelines when writing a thank-you letter. Therefore, when writing a thank-you letter for serving on a committee, it is always advisable to follow these tips.

Be specific

Specificity is important when you write a thank-you letter because it shows you have been paying attention to the person. Therefore, add details about exactly how they helped you and what you are grateful for. The more specifics you add, the more you impress the person. So, avoid writing lines like, “thank you for being part of the committee- without you, I would have had to find someone else.”

It can be tricky to express your feelings when writing a letter. However, showing your genuine feelings can make your letter more effective. While you should always maintain a formal tone, you should ensure you are not removing the trace of emotions in the letter. A great idea is to include some memories to personalize the letter. For instance, if you have some funny memory together, include it in your letter to make your recipient smile. 

Address properly

A thank-you letter to committee members needs the right address. Unless your recipient has allowed you to be on a first-name basis with them, it is always safe to use a formal salutation with the proper titles like Mr, Ms, Mrs, Dr, etc.

Write from scratch

Writing a letter can be nerve-wracking, especially when writing it for the first time. You may want to make a great impression and thus, refer to a sample thank you letter for serving on a committee. However, make sure you don’t copy off the sample. Your recipient can easily pick on plagiarized letters. Therefore, do yourself a favor and write the letter on your own using your words. 

Keep it short

You may have been part of a dissertation committee. However, your letter should not be like a dissertation- it should be kept as small as possible to respect your recipient’s time. The ideal length of a thank-you letter is anywhere between 150 words and 200 words; going beyond that is just overkill. A great way to control your word count is by being concise and eliminating unnecessary words.

Keep the conversation going

More often than not you are writing the letter to ensure your relationship with the recipient goes beyond the committee. A well-written letter helps you do exactly that. However, to get there you need to keep the conversation going. A great way to do that is by asking them a question, for feedback on the committee activities, or a follow-up meeting.

Use the right tone

As mentioned before, a thank-you letter should have a formal way of writing- this means avoiding slang and informal words. Aside from the norm of writing a thank-you letter, what also decides the tone is the kind of relationship you share with the recipient. For instance, you can write with a degree of familiarity when writing to someone you share a cordial relationship with. 

Proofread the writeup

Finally, your letter must be proofread for spelling and grammatical errors. It is very common to make such mistakes when writing but eliminating them is important for a convincing letter. Therefore, read the letter and have someone else read it multiple times until the write up is error-free. 

Sample thank you letter for serving on a committee

1. thank you letter for serving on a committee.

[Recipient name

Subject: ********

Dear Ms/Mr/Mrs/Dr___________,

Six months have passed so quickly, and I can’t believe the Vega Festival is about to start tomorrow. The fest is yet to start to call it a success, but from what I can see about our preparation, I think the event will turn out wonderfully tomorrow. Your hard work has helped us greatly during the prep work, and I wanted to write this letter to thank you for being an integral part of this committee.

Since Day 1, you have always been so excited to help us out with different tasks we needed to do to get this show on the road. You joined us as a content specialist for the event and went beyond the role and helped us out. To say that you were one of the most reliable members of the committee would not be an overstatement. So, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your presence in the group. 

Yours sincerely, 

[Your name,

2. Thank you letter to the committee president

Being a leader is not the easiest task in the world. However, you have led the committee greatly in the last six months. I write this letter to express my gratitude for your great leadership and guidance, which has helped me learn much from the experience. 

When I joined the Medicine for All committee six months ago, I didn’t have many expectations in terms of the overall experience. Sure, I knew I would learn something new but I never expected to form lifelong friendships and networks. But due to your expert guidance, I was able to get more out of this committee than I collectively got out of other committees I have served over the years. 

You would be happy to know I have secured a lucrative job at a Medical Institution and you have played a pivotal role in this development. Without your introduction, I may have never gotten the opportunity. I’m grateful for all that you have done for me and would like to take you out for a meal to celebrate my achievement. Please let me know if that’s something you would be interested in. I look forward to hearing from you. 

3. Thank you letter to a resigning member

I just heard the news of you resigning from the committee, and I wanted to let you know how grateful I am for all that you have done for us. Since the day you joined a few months ago, you brought in a great change in the workings of the committee. Due to your structured approach, we were able to finish some of the toughest tasks of organizing a national-level debate competition. 

It is sad to see you leave us before the event is held but I’m also happy to see you work towards achieving your dreams. I’m grateful for all your contribution to the event prep and hope to see you at the event next month. All the best for your future. Keep in touch!

4. Thank you letter for a dissertation committee member

Dissertation seemed like Mt. Everest when we started our committee six months ago. However, you have made it all seem like a cakewalk with your leadership and approach. So, I wanted to take the opportunity to write this letter and thank you for having served the committee with so much dedication. 

You have always been there for me whenever I needed to clear some basic-level doubts and always did so without any judgement. You were truly someone I could rely on in the committee, and I am grateful for your presence on the committee. Now that the dissertation is about to be completed, I hope our relationship doesn’t end here, and we can meet up sometime and catch up. Let me know what you think about it. Looking forward to your response. 

5. Thank you letter to a new member

Hope you are well. I am [your name], the president of the Go Women Championship Event Committee. We are yet to introduce ourselves but I wanted to write this letter to thank you for joining us and volunteering to help promote the event. 

With this championship, we aim to encourage more women to take up sports without any fear of judgement or discrimination. So, every person who joins us counts towards creating the impact we want to create with the Go Women Championship. I hope the next six months give you the experience you are looking for with us and inspire you to continue your good work. 

I would like to establish a great relationship with you as it would allow all of us to work well together. Could you tell me what you expect from this committee? We can continue from there. Once again, thank you for joining our team. I look forward to your response. 

6. Thank you letter to a temporary member

I can’t believe one month has already passed, and it is time for you to take your leave. Despite being a temporary member, replacing Cody, you have been invaluable to the committee. I would like to take this opportunity to express just how grateful I am for all your work on the committee. 

Setting up a music festival during these times we live in is no small feat and requires a lot of coordination and teamwork. You have been pivotal in establishing open communication across the committee, which has increased our efficiency. Since day 1, you have been working hard to solve our communication gaps by setting up meetups and team chilling times. 

 In just a month, you have become an integral part of the team, and I would like to see you stay. I realize you have prior commitments, but I was wondering if you would just stay as an ancillary member of the committee? We can grab a coffee to discuss the terms if you are interested. 

7. Thank you letter to a committee

Being a part of a committee to set up a library in the town is not something I envisioned for myself. So, when I joined six months ago due to my parents and teachers’ suggestion, I didn’t know what to expect. Today, I don’t regret that decision because my experience with this committee has taught me so many things. 

From learning to approach investors to negotiate sales, I have upskilled in a lot of ways. I am grateful for all the opportunities that the Highlands Library Committee has offered me. I look forward to keeping being a part of the team and working towards creating a library that the community can benefit from. 

Silent Auction Donation Thank you Letter: How To, Templates & Examples

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Writing a thank you letter to dissertation committee members.

In the years past, a lot of value is attached to writing thank you letters and notes but this time around, it seems nobody is interested in writing such letters, not even when it is necessary that you thank your dissertation committee members after successfully defending your academic paper. You don’t have to toe this path of not showing appreciation, you can easily differentiate yourself from the others by taking your time to craft a letter full of appreciation. Apart from the fact that the committee members would be glad that somebody appreciates their efforts, it would also go further to strengthen the relationship between you and them, for future purposes.

If you want to experience the many wonders of writing a thank you letter to dissertation committee members, especially when you are ready to go into the job market, here are some tips to consider. They are:

• Add A Personal Touch: Don’t just send a generalized thank you letter. Make the letter very personal as it goes a long way to show you appreciate the time each given member spent to go through your academic paper. It also helps to foster relationships.
• Send It Early Enough: Don’t wait until several months have passed before you can send your thank you note to the committee members, you never know if you would need their help anytime soon.
• Mail Versus Email: Although it is okay if your thank you message is sent as email, people appreciate it when you take your time to write hard copy thank you letter and mail it to them. However, don’t let the issue of mail or email deter you from thanking the committee members.
• Insert Subtle Solicitation: Your major aim of writing this thank you letter is to create opportunities in the future, especially when it comes to career enhancement and others. Therefore, it is important that you subtly solicit the recipients’ assistance in the future, should it be needed. Don’t make the mistake of sounding very pushy or you will end up creating the wrong impression on the minds of your dissertation committee members.

These are just a few tips to help you write that appreciation letter you have been putting off. Whether you are sending a snail mail or email, make sure your letter is well-written and completely polished. It would increase your chances of building solid relationship with these committee members, if not now then definitely in the future.

Writing Ideas

Organize your thoughts.

By keeping your mind intact you make yourself more resistant to stress, and writing an academic paper is surely a lot of stress. You may feel better if you organize your working space, too. Make sure you have everything you need on the table, and that it’s comfortable to sit and write for a couple of hours. Create the working space that will make you want to be there for longer and work harder.

Plan Your Project

Get more ideas, find an assist.

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How to Write a Meaningful Thank You Note

• Christopher Littlefield

Sample messages from common workplace scenarios.

Many of us fear expressing our thanks to others. We might worry that our efforts will be misinterpreted or make the person on the receiving end uncomfortable. Or we might struggle to find the right words to express how we feel. Here’s how to do it right.

• Keep it genuine : The goal of expressing appreciation should be to let someone know how their actions have impacted you and/or others. If you have any other agenda, your message will not be authentic.
• Share what you appreciate and why : Focus on the impact their actions had on you and explain both  what you appreciate and why . This will help the other person understand the reason you feel the way you do.
• Send it : E-mails get lost and handwritten cards get saved. Write your message on a piece of paper, post-it note, or card and give it directly to the person. If you are at work, you can also leave it on their desk or in their “mailbox.”

We all want to be appreciated. Whether you’ve accepted a task while your plate is already full, worked through weekends to get a project off the ground, or simply been there for a work friend when they needed your support, an acknowledgement or “thank you” can go a long way in making us feel good about the efforts we put in — and the research supports this.

• Christopher Littlefield is an International/TEDx speaker specializing in employee appreciation and the founder of  Beyond Thank You . He has trained thousands of leaders across six continents to create cultures where people feel valued every day. He is the author of 75+ Team Building Activities for Remote Teams—Simple Ways to Build Trust, Strengthen Communication, and Laugh Together from Afar . You can follow his work through his weekly mailing  The Nudge .

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Thank You Note to Committee Members (5 Examples You Can Use)

Committee members play an important role in the decision-making process at an association’s general meeting and fulfill other tasks in between.

To keep committee members motivated, feeling valued, and strengthen relationships, a simple ‘thank you’ message goes a long way!

Here are some examples of a thank you note to committee members you can use along with some tips for writing your own note:

5 Thank You Notes to Committee Members

“Dear Committee Members,

We truly appreciate all of the time and effort you have put into this project over the past few months.

We are incredibly thankful for everything that you do.

Thank you again for your commitment and support.”

We want to extend a huge thank you for all of the effort that you have put in to make sure that our organization runs efficiently.

Your dedication over the past few months has been instrumental in helping us reach our goals.

Your efforts are ensuring that our organization is successful and we can’t thank you enough for it.

Thank you for showing such an incredible amount of care, attention, and determination towards this project.

We want to thank you for all of the hard work, support, and leveraging your expertise to help with the committee.

I’m writing to pass on my sincere thanks for all of the support and hard work you’ve committed to the committee.

Without a committee of such dedicated individuals, our goals would never have been achieved.

Related content : 4 ways to say thank you to outgoing board members ; Examples of ‘thank you’ for the chocolate messages ;

Why Thank Committee Members?

Thanking committee members is a good way to show your appreciation for their time and efforts, and to maintain positive relationships with them in the future.

It’s one of the simplest things you can do, yet it’s one of the most impactful in terms of strengthening relationships within the organization.

Writing Your Own Thank You Note to Committee Members

Also, let them know how much their efforts were truly appreciated by expressing gratitude in a sincere manner and using words that will resonate with them.

Thanking committee members is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a successful and productive organization.

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Should I thank thesis committee before defense?

I want to email a copy of my thesis to the thesis committee, should I thank them that they are serving on my thesis/dissertation committee? and how should I thank them? (it is before my defense))

• thesis-committee

• 4 I downvoted because it is an extremely trivial question. –  Ketan Commented Jun 25, 2015 at 17:27
• 2 @Ketan That criticism could be levelled at a great number of questions on here! –  Calchas Commented Jun 25, 2015 at 23:03

You should thank them by acknowledging them at the end of your defense (i.e. the acknowledgment slide of your PowerPoint presentation). Keep it professional though. Once your defense is over and you are cleared for graduation, then you can shake their hands and get a beer.

• Thanks. Do you think including a sentence ,e.g., "thank you for serving on my dissertation committee" would be unprofessional? –  Alex Commented Jun 25, 2015 at 17:43
• You can just put "thesis commitee" and underneath that list the names of the members. As you narrate the slide you can say "I would also like to thank the members of my thesis committee.....etc." –  ScienceGuy59 Commented Jun 25, 2015 at 17:46

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How to say "thanks" april 4, 2012 8:43 pm   subscribe.

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Did you write individual “thank you” letters to your dissertation committee after you finished?

This would be in addition to acknowledging them in the thesis itself.

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Calvert Remarks at FY25 Budget Request For The United States Air Force and Space Force (As Prepared)

The Defense Subcommittee will come to order.

Today, the Subcommittee will receive testimony from the Honorable Frank Kendall, Secretary of the Air Force; General David Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force; And General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations.

Thank you all for joining us today. General Allvin, I'll note that this is your first appearance before this Subcommittee. Welcome, and congratulations on your new role.

Increasingly volatile world events since this hearing last year have underscored the importance of maintaining a strong and ready Air Force and Space Force.

China is engaged in a historic military buildup and seeks to erode our military superiority. While China remains our pacing threat, it is not the only threat we face. Russia continues its assault on Ukraine, and earlier this month Iran launched its first ever direct attack on Israel.

I am pleased that we were able to get supplemental appropriations across the finish line to address emergent needs in these three regions.

Our Air and Space Forces must be ready and able to respond across the globe if needed. We need to be innovative and agile, with the goal of rapidly putting advanced capability in the hands of our Airmen and Guardians.

For the Air Force, the fiscal year 2025 budget request is $228.8 billion. This is 2% more than the enacted amount for fiscal year 2024, which I note does not keep up with inflation.

When budgets are constrained, tradeoffs must be made, and a certain level of risk is assumed. Today, we will discuss your proposed tradeoffs in a constrained topline. One area that gets a lot of attention is the divestment of aircraft – and this budget proposes significant divestments.

On one hand, older airframes are less suited for modern missions, expensive to maintain, and parts are at a premium. On the other, quantity has a quality unto itself – particularly in a perilous security environment.

I understand that you had to prioritize in your constrained topline, but we need to understand the capability gaps this will create and your mitigation plans.

We also need assurance that your bet on modernization over sustainment will yield success – and unfortunately, the track record is not encouraging so far. Just last week we were notified of a Nunn-McCurdy breach for the

MH-139 Grey Wolf. This follows the Sentinel’s Nunn-McCurdy breach. We need to understand the implications of both these breach reviews for fiscal year 2025 and beyond.

I also hope to hear how the Air Force plans to address acquisition delays and mitigation plans to ensure there are no capability gaps for the warfighter in the F-15EX, T-7, and E-7, to name a few of particular concern.

On the bright side, I am pleased to see the Air Force continue to prioritize investments in the B-21 and Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft, especially with the recent down-select of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft to two companies, one of which was founded a few years ago.

For the Space Force, the Fiscal Year 2025 budget request is $29.4 billion, which is effectively flat funding compared to last year. Factoring in inflation, this is a real dollar cut.

In fact, the projected budget for the Space Force remains flat at this amount over the next five years.

Budgets are obviously tight. However, given the increasing reliance on space capabilities and plans to pivot some missions from aircraft to space, I am skeptical that a flat-level budget is credible to deliver all the capabilities needed. I’d like to know where you chose to take risks in the space portfolio in this year’s budget.

This Committee expects programs to be well-managed. One of the key reasons for establishing the Space Force was to bring a focused discipline in delivering capabilities on schedule and within budget. The Space Force continues to be a work in progress in this regard, especially when it comes to delivering ground systems and user equipment.

For example, the Global Positioning System ground control system is more than $3 billion over budget, more than seven years late and still has not been delivered.

Further, your own assessment identifies the Space Command and Control program and the Family of Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals as other challenging programs that failed to meet schedule milestones and will be delivered late.

The pattern is clear. The problem with space is on the ground. I hope to hear your plans to ensure ground systems keep pace with satellite developments.

On a positive note, I continue to be impressed with the progress of the Space Development Agency and their rapid development-to-acquisition process. This Committee is willing to give the Space Force resources to take risks and pursue new approaches when warranted, and SDA has lived up to its investment so far.

I think we can agree that there are challenges that need to be addressed, but I also know the devil is in the details and it matters how things are addressed.

I have been disappointed with the level of rigor in analysis behind some of the Department’s program decisions and organizational proposals. This Subcommittee is data-driven, and will not accept proposals that are presented simply as done-deals.

Another area of concern is in the innovation and rapid fielding accounts – which have been a focus of mine. The request for AFWERX is just $20.5 million, a substantial decrease from the last two years. AFWERX and SpaceWERX are crucial to the defense innovation ecosystem, essential to expanding opportunities to non-traditional defense companies and increasing use of commercial technologies. I will be interested to hear how you intend to get after barriers to innovation if not through AFWERX and SpaceWERX.

Finally, we are all aware of the challenges the entire Department is having with recruitment across all components. I want to hear about your strategy to recruit the Airmen and Guardians of today, and the service leaders of tomorrow.

We will work closely with you throughout this budget process to find ways we can accelerate the fielding of the platforms needed by our warfighters today.