About Me
I partner with universities and higher education-adjacent organizations to reimagine doctoral training for the changing academic and professional landscapes today.
Much of what determines success in higher education—for students, faculty, staff, and administrators—remains tacit knowledge: how funding works, how decisions get made, what career pathways exist, and how to navigate institutional structures. This creates inequitable outcomes for those without insider access.
I work with institutions to make this knowledge explicit and accessible. I design workshops for doctoral students, postdocs, junior faculty, staff, and administrators learning to navigate university systems. I build institutional systems that increase transparency and equity in grantmaking, advising, and program design. I advise programs on reconceptualizing doctoral training to prepare students for rigorous intellectual work across contexts.
My approach is grounded in over a decade of experience building programs, securing funding, and leading reform initiatives at research universities. I don't just research higher education—I build the systems that make it work better.
Services
Institutional Literacy Workshops
Universities are some of the oldest and most complex organizations that exist today. I help people understand how they actually work.
I design and facilitate workshops that make institutional knowledge explicit and accessible for doctoral students, postdocs, junior faculty, staff, and administrators. Participants learn how universities actually function—not as an abstract system, but as a navigable environment where informed decisions become possible.
Format: 60-90 minute sessions or half-day workshops
Who this serves: Graduate programs, postdoctoral programs, faculty development initiatives, academic and professional development centers
Who this serves: Graduate programs, postdoctoral programs, faculty development initiatives, academic and professional development centers
Career Strategy for Humanists
Humanities scholars—whether doctoral students, postdocs, or contingent faculty—are trained for rigorous intellectual work that translates across contexts. But many don't receive systematic preparation to recognize how their skills, qualifications, experiences, and expertise apply beyond their current positions, to identify their unique strengths as humanists, or to navigate career transitions strategically.
I refuse the pervasive humanities-deficit perspective—the one where humanists are always, already in need of "upskilling" to be competitive. My approach is realistic without being cynical—I help scholars recognize what they already know and empower them to effectively communicate their value to potential employers.
I design and facilitate workshops that help participants understand labor market realities across sectors, translate academic skills for different professional contexts, identify where their interests and strengths intersect with market opportunities, and build institutional literacy about how different sectors and organizations function.
For graduate programs: Most career services offices focus on general professional development. I bring expertise in humanities-specific career navigation combined with institutional literacy—helping students understand not just how to apply for jobs, but how different sectors and organizations actually function. Students who know their options and have a clear footing for their PhD off-ramp complete on time, reducing time-to-degree and saving programs thousands in stipend costs while improving student outcomes.
Format: 60-90 minute sessions, half-day intensives, or workshop series
Who this serves: Graduate programs, postdoctoral programs, early-career faculty development initiatives, humanities centers
Who this serves: Graduate programs, postdoctoral programs, early-career faculty development initiatives, humanities centers
Graduate Education Innovation Consulting
PhD programs are navigating real pressures: shifting funding landscapes, evolving definitions of scholarship, uncertainty about AI in research and pedagogy, and unstable labor markets. Responding well requires understanding your institution's specific context, aligning stakeholders around a shared vision, and building changes that can actually take hold.
I advise graduate programs, departments, and deans on program redesign—including interdisciplinary curriculum development, public and applied humanities pathways, professional development integration, and outcomes strategy.
I also work with programs on time-to-degree and program completion, including building the structures and milestones that keep students moving through when informal mentorship networks aren't enough.
Who this serves: Graduate programs, graduate schools, deans, and faculty committees leading program change
Approach
I don't offer generic solutions. Every engagement is tailored to your institutional context, taking into consideration your constraints, affordances, and goals. I bring fluency across audiences—I can work with a dean, a faculty committee, program administrators, or a room full of PhD students, and speak each language well.
My work is grounded in:
Academic expertise: PhD in Communication Studies from Northwestern, research in organizations, systems, and institutional culture
Hands-on experience: Built and transformed centers and programs at R1s, managing $800K+ portfolios and securing foundation funding
Coalition-building skills: I work across faculty, administrative, and stakeholder environments to move initiatives from concept through adoption
Let's Talk
Interested in working together? Email me at [gabriela@gabrielamayes.com] with information about your project, timeline, and institutional context.
Pricing varies by scope, format, and institution type. I'm happy to discuss what makes sense for your needs and budget.