Steve Tippins Ph.D.Helping doctoral students get their dissertation accepted, succeed in their careers, & change the world | Academic Career Advisor | Dissertation Chair & Founder, Beyond PhD Coaching | 35 + years of experience.

3 Ways to Thank Your Committee

24 Mar 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:48

In this concise video, the presenter outlines three practical methods for expressing gratitude to dissertation committee members. The first method is including a brief acknowledgment section in the dissertation, noting that its absence is noticeable. The second method is offering a personal verbal thank‑you, ideally at the conclusion of the final defense, to recognize the committee’s support. The third method is sending a written thank‑you note—either printed or handwritten—signed by the author, emphasizing that a separate note feels more personal and is rarely received, making it especially meaningful. The speaker also notes that acknowledgments may go unread, reinforcing the value of a dedicated note, and invites viewers struggling with thank‑you notes or any dissertation challenges to join a free dissertation help community for support.

Chapters

There are 3 different ways to thank your committee members. First is the acknowledgment section. A sentence or 2 is enough, and if it's not there, it's conspicuous in its absence. The second way is to personally thank them. And a great opportunity is at the end of your final defense, where you should take a moment and thank your committee for the support they provided you to get to this point. The third way is a written thank-you note. You know, why does this matter? Well, first, they may never read the acknowledgment. And a separate note seems more personal and thoughtful. Printed or handwritten is okay, but sign it yourself. And I will tell you from experience, it's rare to get one of these, so they are meaningful. If you're struggling with a thank-you note or any other part of your dissertation, join our free dissertation help community. You don't have to do this alone.