WMU News

April doctoral recipients announced

June 18, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- Fourteen students received doctoral degrees from Western Michigan University at the end of winter session in April.

Eight students received doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees, five earned a doctor of education (Ed.D) degree and one student received a doctor of public administration (D.P.A.). Degrees were earned in seven fields: counselor education and counseling psychology; English; educational leadership; history; physics; psychology; and public administration.
Degree recipients listed by home town.

Michigan

BAY CITY -- Linda S. Schneider-Rediske of 4729 Morningside Drive earned an
Ed.D. degree in educational leadership. The title of her dissertation was "The Relationship Between Principals' Leadership Characteristics and Characteristics of Public Middle Schools." The daughter of Raymond and Gloria Schneider, she earned a master's degree from Central Michigan University and a bachelor's degree from Alma College. She is a principal in the Berkley (Mich.) School District.

EAST LANSING -- Carole Joanne Woolford-Hunt of 6261 Gossard Ave. received a Ph.D.
degree in counseling psychology. The title of her dissertation was "The Relationship Between Selected Environmental Variables and Attrition, Persistence, and Academic Success of Majority and Minority College Students."

GALESBURG -- Juleen Audrey Eichinger of 2281 Carriage received a Ph.D. degree in
history. The title of her dissertation was "The Muggletonians: A People Apart." She received a bachelor's degree in home economics education and master's degrees in comparative religion and medieval studies from WMU. She is currently working as a production editor for Medieval Institute Publications at WMU.

GRAND HAVEN -- Andrew W. Bowne of 1827 Pine Court earned an Ed.D degree in
educational leadership. The title of his dissertation was "The Field Study of a Transfer Enhancement Process and Its Effect on Transfer of Training." The son of Bill and Judy Bowne of Ionia, Mich., he also earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from WMU. He is currently the executive director of the Association of Commerce and Industry in Grand Haven, which is the economic development and chamber of commerce organization serving northwest Ottawa County.

KALAMAZOO -- Jeffrey Brian Greer of 836 W. Vine St., received a Ph.D. degree in
English. The title of his dissertation was "Indoor/Outdoor: Poems."

Angela Joy Hirschy of 709 W. Kalamazoo Ave., #1 earned a Ph.D. degree in counseling psychology. The title of her dissertation was "Individual Differences in Attributional Style: The Mediating Influence of Self-Efficacy, Self-Esteem and Sex Role Identity."

Noriah Mohd. Ishak of 1940 Howard St., #306 received a Ph.D. degree in counselor education. The title of her dissertation was "An Analysis of Parental and Peer Attachment and its Determinant Factors: A Test of Attachment Theory on Malaysian Students at American Universities."

Timothy Victor Nolan of 4022 Lake Crest Circle, #3B received a Ph.D. degree in psychology. The title of his dissertation was "The Effects of a Combination of Feedback, Goals, and Consequences on the Performance of Four Small Businesses."

Simeon Dimitrov Simeonov of 1074 Mt. Royal, #2C earned a Ph.D. degree in physics. The title of his dissertation was "Periodicity and Disorder."

PORTAGE-- Kaye L. Centers of 7648 Saint Andrews Circle earned an Ed.D. degree
in counselor education and counseling psychology. The title of her dissertation was "Educational Affirmations for Healthy Self-Esteem: An Exploratory Factor Analysis." She received bachelor's and master's degrees from Western Michigan University. She is the daughter of Dormilee Kooyers and the late Edwin Kooyers of Mattawan, Mich. Formerly employed as a psychotherapist by Psychology Associates in St. Joseph and Buchanan, Mich., she is a consultant in preventing domestic violence, helping adults abused as children and parent education.

Matthew Chodkowski of 1232 Carriage Place received an Ed.D. degree in educational leadership. The title of his dissertation was "Relationships Between Leader Characteristics, Planned Change and Organizational Culture in a Dynamic Manufacturing Environment."

SOUTH LYON -- Jean E. Schmeichel of 11427 Clovis Pointe earned an Ed.D degree in
educational leadership. The title of her dissertation was "Devolution of Power Through Shared Decision Making." She earned a bachelor's degree at Fort Hays State University and a master's degree at University of Chicago. She is currently the assistant superintendent of curriculum instruction and technology assessments for South Lyon Community Schools.

Other states

North Carolina

DURHAM -- Abel E. Ekpunobi of 6821 Lockwood Drive earned a D.P.A. in public
administration. The title of his dissertation was "Judicial Decision-Making Under Michigan Sentencing Guidelines." Eknobi received a master's of public administration degree from Eastern Michigan University and a bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology from the University of Nigeria.

West Virginia

LEWISBURG -- Barbara A. Johnston of 606 S. Lafayette earned a Ph.D. degree in
psychology. Her dissertation was titled "Determining Cutoff Sources for the MMPI-2 Substance Abuse Scales for an Inmate Population.

Media contact: Marie Lee, 616 387-8400, marie.lee@wmich.edu


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