June doctoral degree recipients announced
July 30, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- Twenty students received doctoral degrees from Western Michigan University at the end of Summer I session in June.
Nineteen students received doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees and one earned a doctor of public administration (D.P.A.). The degrees were awarded in nine fields: biological sciences; counseling psychology; counselor education; mechanical engineering; psychology; public administration; science education; sociology; and statistics.
Ali Abdullah Al-Shomrani of Washington D.C., earned his Ph.D. degree in statistics. The title of his dissertation was "A Comparison of Different Schemes for Selecting and Estimating Score Functions Based on Residuals."
Alicia Maria Alvero of Kalamazoo received her Ph.D. degree in psychology. The title of her dissertation was "Using Protocol Analysis to Help Determine the Behavioral Function of Conducting Safety Observations."
Dana Renee Atwood-Harvey of Sheboygan, Wis., received her Ph.D. degree in sociology. The title of her dissertation was "Interspecies Encounters: An Ethnography of a Veterinary Hospital."
Margaret Mary Bernhard of Portage, Mich., earned her D.P.A. degree in public administration. The title of her dissertation was "Essential Elements of an Implementation Process for Grant-Funded Projects/Programs in Nonprofit Organizations."
Cherise E. Brandell of Battle Creek, Mich., earned her Ph.D. degree in public administration. The title of her dissertation was "Public Discourse and Social Capital: An Assessment of Open, Honest and Fair in One Community's Public Deliberation Processes." Brandell, who is the director of Yes We Can! in Battle Creek, earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Michigan.
Teresa Marie DiStefano of Bangor, Mich., received her Ph.D. degree in counseling psychology. The title of her dissertation was "Experiences and Meanings of Maternal Ambivalence with First-born, Early Adolescents."
Yichuan Fang of Kalamazoo earned his Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering. The title of his dissertation was "Parallel Simulation of Microflows by DSMC and Burnett Equations."
Jean Mauriello Germain of San Antonio, Texas, earned her Ph.D. degree in counseling psychology. The title of her dissertation was "Using Journal Writing to Promote Reflective Practice in the Counseling Practicum: A Multiple-case, Narrative Study of Counselor Development." The daughter of Ray Mauriello of San Antonio, Texas, and Carol Mauriello of New Port Richey, Fla., she is now a staff counselor at the University of Tennessee, Martin and a resident of St. Martin, Tenn. A 1988 graduate of Incarnate Word High School in San Antonio, she earned her bachelor's degree from Knox College and master's degrees from both Emerson College and Roosevelt University.
Andrea T. Kozak of Harper Woods, Mich., earned her Ph.D. degree in psychology. The title of her dissertation was "Treatment of Specific Animal Phobias and the Relationship of an Opiate Antagonist to Outcome." Kozak earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Oakland University in 1996 and her master's degree in clinical psychology in 1998 from Minnesota State University-Mankato. She is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital.
Susan Jean Lentz of Kalamazoo received her Ph.D. degree in biological sciences. The title of her dissertation was "Cellular Proliferation, Death and Histology of Gambusia Affinis Livers After Exposure to 2-Aminofluorene and Benzidine."
Jennifer Elizabeth Lewis of Cincinnati, Ohio, received her Ph.D. degree in psychology. The title of her dissertation was "Effects of Writing Therapy Across PTSD and Chronic Stress."
Jeremy M. Linton of Flint, Mich., received his Ph.D. degree in counselor education. The title of his dissertation was "Group Processes in Group Supervision: A Quantitative and Qualitative Study." A native of Flint, Linton is the son of Gerald J. and Mary E. Linton of Howell. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1996 from the University of Michigan and a master's degree from Valparaiso University in 1998. Linton is an assistant professor at Indiana University-South Bend.
Emily Kathleen MacDonald of Flint, Mich., earned her Ph.D. degree in psychology. The title of her dissertation was "An Evaluation of Methylphenidate Preference in Adults Diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder."
Lori Heather (Diener) Miller of Troy, Mich., received her Ph.D. degree in psychology. The title of her dissertation was "Using Behavioral Systems Analysis to Improve the Placement Service of the Association for Behavior Analysis." The daughter of Janet and Bob Maxwell, she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from WMU. She is currently a performance improvement specialist for the Association for Behavior Analysis in Kalamazoo.
Bruce A. Nanzer of Grand Rapids, Mich., received his Ph.D. degree in public administration. The title of his dissertation was "Ownership and Stewardship: Attitudes Among Michigan's Voters Impacting Opposition to Great Lakes Water Diversions."
Eric Thomas Pederson of Kalamazoo earned his Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering. The title of his dissertation was "Investigation of the Iced Airfoil Flow Field Characteristics Related to the Stall Margin Instrumentation Used in Icing Conditions."
Peter F. Rausch of Claremore, Okla., earned his Ph.D. degree in counseling psychology. The title of his dissertation was "Affective Expression and Behavior of Sex Offenders."
Suha Sari of Kalamazoo received his Ph.D. degree in statistics. The title of his dissertation was "A New Graphical Approach on the Analysis of Experimental Data." He is the son of Adnan Yuksel Caddesi Azimyayla of Etlik, Ankara in Turkey and earned his master's degree from Michigan State University.
Jacalyn S. Smeltzer of South Bend, Ind., received her Ph.D. degree in psychology. The title of her dissertation was "A Behavior Systems Analysis Approach to Designing a High-Impact Knowledge Management System." The daughter of Phil and Susan Smeltzer, she earned her bachelor's degree at Indiana University-South Bend and her master's degree at WMU. A native of South Bend, Smeltzer is currently a performance consultant with Triad Performance Technologies Inc. in Farmington Hills, Mich.
Chokchai Usawinchai of Kalamazoo earned his Ph.D. degree in science education. The title of his dissertation was "Understanding on Concepts of Force of Thai Freshmen."
Media contact: Jessica English, 269 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu