April 2001 doctoral recipients announced
May 16, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- Fifteen students received doctoral degrees from Western Michigan University at the end of winter session in April.
Ten students received doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees, four earned doctor of education (Ed.D.) degrees, and one earned a doctor of public administration (D.P.A.) degree. Degrees were awarded in nine fields: counseling psychology; counselor education; educational leadership; English; mechanical engineering; physics; public administration; psychology; and statistics.
Linda Rutgers Albery, Kalamazoo, earned her Ed.D. degree in educational leadership. The title of her dissertation was "The Effects of Reengineering on Hospital Performance Indicators." The daughter of Howard and Bernadine Rutgers of Kalamazoo, she is vice president and chief operating officer of Borgess Medical Center. Albery earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Michigan and a master's degree in human resource development from WMU.
Boyd J. Hanson, Norwell, Mass., received his Ph.D. degree in statistics. The title of his dissertation was "A Comparison of Methods for Detection of Qualitative Interaction in Multicenter Trials." The son of the late Mark and Sadie Hanson of Spanish Fork, Utah, he is a graduate of Spanish Fork High School. Currently a principal biostatistician in the clinical research department of Serono Inc. in Norwell, he holds two master's degrees from Brigham Young University. The WMU degree is his second Ph.D. in 10 years, the first one having been earned at Oregon State University, Corvallis.
Linda Gail Kimball, Lansing, Mich., received a D.P.A. degree in public administration. The title of her dissertation was "The Grandparent-Raising-Grandchildren Phenomenon in Michigan." Kimball earned her bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and her master's degree from Central Michigan University. She is director of communications at the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging.
Min Lu, Auburn, Ind., earned his Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering. The title of his dissertation was "Study of Automotive Hydromount Mechanism." He is supervisor of the FEA Group at Cooper-Standard Automotive in Auburn.
Oleg Y. Nayandin, Burke, Va., earned his Ph.D. degree in physics. The title of his dissertation was "Photoexcitation and Photoionization of Argon Atom and Chlorine Molecule Using the Advanced Light Source."
Sherry Lynn Pagoto, Chicago, earned her Ph.D. degree in psychology. The title of her dissertation was "Promoting Healthy Behavior Change in Skin Cancer Risk Reduction Using the Transtheoretical Stages of Change Model."
Herdley Oliveira Paolini, Berrien Springs, Mich., earned her Ph.D. degree in counseling psychology. The title of her dissertation was "The Development and Use of the God Representation in Women."
Mary Alice Schultz-Krajenta, Battle Creek, Mich., earned her Ed.D. degree in counselor education and counseling psychology. The title of her dissertation was "The Effects of Educational Development Plans on Motivation to Learn and Attitudes and Behaviors Towards Learning Among Eighth Graders." The daughter of Robert and Ruth Prieskorn of Ann Arbor, Mich., she is principal of Northwestern Junior High School in the Battle Creek Public Schools. Schultz-Krajenta earned her bachelor's degree at Central Michigan University and a master's degree at Eastern Michigan University.
Melissa Ruth Stevenson, Detroit, received her Ph.D. degree in psychology. The title of her dissertation was "African-American Women's Emotional Stressor Response to Historical Racial Events as a Function of Socioeconomic Status." The daughter of Veronica Vincent-Stevenson and Rev. Jerome Stevenson of Detroit, she is an assistant professor of psychology at Chicago State University. Stevenson earned her bachelor's degree at Hampton University and her master's degree at North Carolina Central University.
Maria A. Suchowski, Belmont, Mich., received her Ph.D. degree in educational leadership. The title of her dissertation was "An Analysis of the Impact of an Outlier on Correlation Coefficients Across Small Sample Data Where RHO is Non-Zero."
Richard A. Tackett, Kalamazoo, received his Ed.D. degree in counselor education and counseling psychology. The title of his dissertation was "Correlates of Life Satisfaction After Retirement." The son of Fred Tackett and the late Hildred Tackett of Coldwater, Mich., he earned his bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University and a master's degree from WMU.
Beatrice A. Tatem, Grambling, La., earned her Ph.D. degree in counseling psychology. The title of her dissertation was "The Influence of Race on Ethical Decision-Making Regarding Nonsexual Dual Relationships." The daughter of Grace Dillard Tatem of Grambling, she is a counseling psychologist at Texas Tech University. A licensed counselor in Texas and Louisiana, Tatem earned her bachelor's degree at Fisk University and master's degrees at Villanova University and the State University of New York at Albany.
Scott Alan Topping, Dowagiac, Mich., earned his Ph.D. degree in English. The title of his dissertation was "The Sense of Nonsense: An Annotated Edition of Ring W. Lardner's Short Plays."
Roger Lee Veldman, Holland, Mich., received his Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering. The title of his dissertation was "Enhancing Commercial Aircraft Survivability Via Active Venting." The son of Jay and Virginia Veldman of Coopersville, Mich., he is an assistant professor of engineering at Hope College. Veldman earned his bachelor's degree from Hope College and his master's degree at WMU.
Kenneth Michael Werner, Kalamazoo, earned his Ed.D. degree in counselor education and counseling psychology. The title of his dissertation was "Transitioning and Adapting to College: A Case-Study Analysis of the Experience of University Students With Psychiatric Disabilities."
Media contact: Jessica English, 616 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu