June doctoral recipients announced
July 24, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Seventeen students received doctoral degrees from Western Michigan University at the end of spring session in June.
Fourteen students received doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees and three earned doctor of education (Ed.D.) degrees. The degrees were awarded in nine fields: counseling psychology; counselor education; educational leadership; English; mathematics; psychology; science education; sociology; and statistics.
June 2002 doctoral degree recipients
Asheber Abebe of Kalamazoo received his Ph.D. degree in statistics. The title of his dissertation was "Nonlinear Regression Based on Ranks."
Tracey E. Barnett of Rockwood, Mich., earned her Ph.D. degree in sociology. The title of her dissertation was "The Link Between Smoking and Body Weight Among Adolescents." The daughter of Kathleen Barnett and the late Charles Barnett of Rockwood, she earned her bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University and a master's degree at WMU. Barnett is a research associate at the University of Michigan Health Management Research Center and a volunteer with Special Days, a camp for children with cancer and their siblings.
Chris Carl Clatterbuck of Delton, Mich., earned his Ph.D. degree in counseling psychology. The title of his dissertation was "The Impact of Systematically Varying the Duration of Breath Samples During Infrared-Based Alcohol Breath Testing." The son of Elaine and Jerry Garver of Hide-a-way Hills, Ohio, and Charles Clatterbuck of Anaheim, Calif., he earned his bachelor's degree from Otterbein College and a master's degree from the University of Kansas. He is an associate professor in WMU's Specialty Program in Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and he plans to open his own practice, Sterling Consultation & Psychological Services.
Douglass Lee Gilbertson of Waite Park, Minn., earned a Ph.D. degree in sociology. The title of his dissertation was "What Have They Told Us About Gangs? A Content Analysis of Twentieth Century Texts on U.S. Gangs." The son of Dwayne and Nila Gilbertson of Fairmont, Minn., and Sandra Gilbertson of Crystal, Minn., he earned his bachelor's degree at Excelsior College and a master's degree in criminal justice from Saint Cloud State University. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Saint Cloud State. Gilbertson is a certified gang expert and reviewing editor of the Journal of Gang Research, published by the National Gang Crime Research Center.
Amy Kay Goodwin of Flagstaff, Ariz., received her Ph.D. degree in psychology. The title of her dissertation was "Assessment of the Discriminative Stimulus Effects of (±)-3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") and (+)-Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) in a Three-Lever Drug Discrimination Procedure."
Linda Hale Goossen of Rockford, Mich., earned her Ph.D. degree in science education. The title of her dissertation was "Classroom Questioning Strategies as Indicators of Inquiry-Based Science Instruction." Goossen earned her bachelor's degree in biology education at Ohio State University and her master's degree at Grand Valley State University. She is an assistant professor of biomedical and health sciences and coordinator of clinical laboratory sciences at GVSU.
Apollos Bitrus Goyol of Kalamazoo earned his Ph.D. degree in educational leadership. The title of his dissertation was "Adjustment Problems of African American Students at Western Michigan University."
Joseph J. H. Horak of Alto, Mich., received his Ph.D. degree in counselor education. The title of his dissertation was "Factors Predicting Distress at Marital Therapy Onset."
Stephen Mark Keizer of Portage, Mich., received his Ed.D. degree in educational leadership. The title of his dissertation was "A Study of the Effects of Goal Conflict on Job Satisfaction in Auxiliary Enterprise Units within Higher Education." The son of the Rev. Thomas D. and Erma Keizer of Rockford, he is a graduate of Forest Hills Central High School in Cascade, Mich. Keizer earned his bachelor of science degree in 1989 and his master's degree in 1991, both at WMU. He is director of development for the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the College of Aviation at WMU.
Beth M. Martinelli of Providence, R.I., received her Ph.D. degree in English. The title of her creative dissertation, a collection of poetry, was "Water Bearing Bodies." The daughter of the Hon. and Mrs. John E. Martinelli, she earned her bachelor's degree at George Washington University and master's degrees at New York University and the University of Maryland. While earning her degree at WMU, she worked as a doctoral associate.
Laura K. Murray of Oconomowoc, Wis., earned her Ph.D. degree in psychology. The title of her dissertation was "Self-Control Training in Young Children." The daughter of JoAnn Murray and Gordon Sauer, she earned her bachelor's degree at Drake University and her master's degree at WMU. Formerly employed in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, she will be doing post-Sept. 11 trauma work at Columbia University in New York.
Carol V. Nowakowski, formerly of Kalamazoo and a resident of Emmett, Mich., received her Ed.D. degree in educational leadership. The title of her dissertation was "Career Planning Needs of Students." The daughter of Aloysius and Frances Nowakowski of Avoca, Mich., she earned her bachelor's degree in business from Michigan State University and her MBA at WMU. Formerly employed at Davenport College in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, she is now dean of students at St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, Mich.
Donna M. Ritenour of Kalamazoo received her Ed.D. degree in educational leadership. The title of her dissertation was "Differences Among Accredited Athletic Training Education Programs in Preparing Students for the National Certification Exam."
Paula Therese Helen Smith of Columbus, Ohio, received her Ph.D. degree in mathematics. The title of her dissertation was "Local Symmetries of Symmetrical Cayley Maps."
Kurt A. Stevens of Sturgis, Mich., received his Ph.D. degree in counselor education. The title of his dissertation was "A Study of the Counseling Practices of Wesleyan Pastors." The son of Jane Pueschel and Dan Stevens, both of Sturgis, he earned his bachelor's degree in Christian ministries at Indiana Wesleyan University and his master's degree in counseling at WMU. Previously a therapist with Psychological Services of Southwest Michigan, Stevens is returning as minister of family life to the Sturgis Wesleyan Church, the church he grew up in and worked for until resigning to finish his Ph.D.
Julie Stotz-Ghosh of Kalamazoo received her Ph.D. degree in English. Her creative dissertation was titled "The Unlocking: A Collection of Poetry." The daughter of Gerald and Barbara Stotz of Ortonville, Mich., she earned her bachelor's degree in English at Albion College and two master's degrees in English and creative writing from WMU. Formerly an English instructor at Kalamazoo College, she is now an English instructor at Albion College.
Patricia Jabbeh Wesley of Kalamazoo earned her Ph.D. degree in English. Her award-winning creative dissertation, "Becoming Ebony: Poems," will be published next year. The daughter of Moses C. Jabbeh and the late Mary D. Williams of Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa, she earned her bachelor's degree in English at the University of Liberia and her master's degree in English education at Indiana University. Formerly a doctoral associate in WMU's Department of English, she has been promoted to assistant professor.
Media contact: Jessica English, 269 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu