Grabau selected as the Graduate School's summer graduation marshal

When Natasha Grabau arrived at Auburn University to pursue her doctorate, she found more than a place to study. She found a community that made her feel at home.

That sense of belonging, paired with years of research, leadership and campus involvement, will come full circle next weekend when Grabau represents the Graduate School as graduation marshal during Auburn’s summer commencement ceremonies in Neville Arena.

Grabau will be awarded a doctorate degree at the Graduate School’s afternoon ceremony where she will lead the processional for Auburn’s graduate and professional degree candidates. Student marshals are selected for their outstanding academic performance, leadership qualities, and involvement in the campus community. For Grabau, the honor reflects both the academic path she followed and the people who helped shape her experience on the plains.

“I have always felt accepted and at home,” Grabau said. “When I heard Dr. Kroeger speak about his research vision, I knew that this was the environment where I wanted to train and grow as a scientist, surrounded by people passionate about their research.”

Grabau’s interest in neuroscience began from a personal curiosity about how the brain works and how changes in its normal functions can affect mental health. At Auburn, that inquiry led her into research on how sleep shapes cognition and behavior, challenging her to think deeply about the connections between science and human experience.

The work was demanding, Grabau said, but it also became one of the most rewarding parts of her Auburn journey. Through the long process of completing a Ph.D., she learned that discovery often requires patience, resilience and confidence built over time.

“Natasha distinguished herself not only through the quality of her research, but also through her excellence as a teacher, her leadership across the College of Veterinary Medicine and her generous service to the campus community,” said Daniel Kroeger, Grabau’s major professor. “She was greatly involved in college events and student organizations, always willing to contribute wherever she was needed. We will miss her but wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”

Outside the laboratory, Grabau sought opportunities to build community for other students. She served as vice president of outreach for the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student Organization in the College of Veterinary Medicine and helped create connections through the Sri Lankan Student Association, where she was a founding member and vice president of publicity.

Those roles allowed her to support conversations about graduate education, culture and belonging, including graduate school information sessions for undergraduate students in Sri Lanka and outreach programs such as Vet Fest, Spring into Science, the Sri Lankan Social Hour and Dinner at the Edge. She also contributed to the WE@auburnvetmed Committee in the College of Veterinary Medicine and participated in the college’s accreditation review process with the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education site visit team.

“Being selected as the Graduate School’s student marshal is a significant honor and a well-deserved recognition of Natasha’s accomplishments at Auburn,” noted Ash Abebe, Interim Dean of the Graduate School. “I enjoyed working with her on a virtual recruiting session for Sri Lankan students, where she was an excellent ambassador for Auburn and helped us build important connections. She will represent our graduate students very well at commencement.”

After graduation, Grabau will work as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Section on Behavioral Neuroscience at the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health. She said her Auburn experience has prepared her for that next step by teaching her how to keep the passion and curiosity alive, persist through challenges and remain connected to the communities that make scientific work possible.

Commencement will begin at 3 p.m. in Neville Arena on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. Dr. Gordon Sumner, 2006 Master of Business Administration graduate from the Harbert College of Business and member of the Graduate Advisory Council for the Graduate School, will deliver the keynote address.

Additional information is available on the commencement website and will be posted to Auburn’s social media. All ceremonies will be livestreamed, and recordings will be available on the website following the weekend festivities.