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UNC Graduate School Announces Student Awards for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021

The UNC Graduate School has announced the recipients of awards recognizing superior academic achievement and outstanding research in graduate studies.

The UNC Graduate School has announced the recipients of awards recognizing superior academic achievement and outstanding research in graduate studies.

Dean’s Citation for Excellence

The Graduate Dean’s Citation for Excellence is awarded to students nominated by their school in recognition of superior academic achievement in graduate studies.

Fall 2020

  • Megan Bissell, Master of Arts, Sociology
    Nominated by Josh Packard, Harmony Newman and Cliff Leek
  •  Capt. Deon Hall, Doctor of Philosophy, Counseling Psychology
    Nominated by Jeffrey Rings and Brian Johnson
  •  Jay Martyn, Doctor of Philosophy, Sport and Exercise Science: Sport Administration
    Nominated by Alan Morse, Brent Oja and Milan Larson

Spring 2021

  • Nouf Aljobaily, Master of Science, Biological Sciences
    Nominated by Yuyan Han, James Haughian and Nicholas Pullen
  • Collin Brooks, Doctor of Philosophy, Sport and Exercise Science: Sport Pedagogy
    Nominated by Jaimie McMullen and Jennifer Krause
  • Amber Heidbrink, Doctor of Philosophy, Chemical Education
    Nominated by Melissa Weinrich, Emily Holt and Molly Jameson
  • Lauren Matheny, Doctor of Philosophy, Applied Statistics and Research Methods
    Nominated by Susan Hutchinson and Chia-Lin Tsai
  • Maaly Younis, Doctor of Philosophy, Educational Psychology
    Nominated by Cassandra Bergstrom and Kevin Pugh

Outstanding Thesis/Dissertation/Scholarly Project

The Graduate Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Thesis, Dissertation and Scholarly Project is awarded to students recognized for outstanding research in graduate studies.

Outstanding Thesis

Spring 2021

  • Nouf Aljobaily
    Master of Science, Biological Sciences
    Role of Cannabigerol (CBG) As a supplementation to Alleviates Hepatic Steatosis, Fibrosis and Inflammation in Methionine/Choline-Deficient (MCD) Diet-Induced NASH
    Nominated by Yuyan Han, James Haughian and Nicholas Pullen
  • Annaliese Engler
    Master of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice
    An Examination of Average Pretrial Risk Assessment Scores Between Drug and Violent Offenders
    Nominated by Victoria Terranova, Brian Iannacchione and Kyle Ward
  • Patrick Wilson
    Master of Science, Chemistry
    Characterizing of Monoamine Neurotransmitters at the Hub of the Central Auditory System
    Nominated by Aaron Apawu, Hua Zhao and Robert Hausa

Outstanding Dissertation

Fall 2020

  • Alexandra Aguirre-Berman
    Doctor of Arts, Music: Performance
    Finding Messiaen’s Blackbird: An Investigative Analysis of Birdsong and Other Techniques used in Le Merle Noire
    Nominated by James Hall, Andrew Dahlke and Paul Elwood
  • Jeremy Davis
    Doctor of Philosophy, Higher Education and Student Affairs Leadership
    Confluences of Student Leadership and White Privilege: Exploring Consciousness of-Self with White Student Leaders
    Nominated by Matt Birnbaum
  • Jacob Garritson
    Doctor of Philosophy, Sport and Exercise Science: Exercise Physiology
    Effects of Exercise on Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Related Tumor Progression and Metastasis
    Nominated by Reid Hayward
  • Capt. Deon Hall
    Doctor of Philosophy, Counseling Psychology
    Military Life Narratives and Identity Development Among Black Post-9/11 Veterans
    Nominated by Jeffrey Rings and Brian Johnson
  • Jay Martyn
    Doctor of Philosophy, Sport and Exercise Science: Sport Administration
    Forming Institutional Values: An Exploratory Investigation of the Interinstitutional Logics System and National Collegiate Athletic Association Embedded Agents
    Nominated by Alan Morse, Brent Oja and Milan Larson
  • Kaitlin Ohde
    Doctor of Philosophy, Counseling Psychology
    Perceptions of Challenges and Reliencies of Post 9/11 Combat Veterans’ Caucasian Wives
    Nominated by Lia Softas-Nall and Lu Tian
  • E. Elaine Osborne
    Doctor of Philosophy, Special Education
    Parent Perceptions of the Transition Planning Process for Children with Significant Support Needs
    Nominated by Sandra Bowen, Kristin Melloy, Lori Peterson and Erin Moser

Spring 2021

  • Sarah Rapoza
    Doctor of Philosophy, Nursing Education
    Nursing Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Sex Trafficking: Does Victim Gender Matter?
    Nominated by Darcy Copeland and Jeanette McNeill
  • Rumpasri Sukonthaman
    Doctor of Philosophy, Special Education
    The Effects of Online Parent Training in the Teach-Model-Coach-Review Instructional Approach on Parents’ Use of Language Expansion During Routine-Based Activities for Children with Cochlear Implants in Thailand
    Nominated by Sandra Bowen, John Luckner, Silvia Correa-Torres, Hasan Zaghlawan and Julie Hanks
  • Laura Trapp
    Doctor of Philosophy, Special Education
    Teach, Practice, Analyze, and Reflect: Preservice Teacher Perceptions and Experiences with Simulated Manifestation Determination Meetings
    Nominated by Tracey Gershwin

 Outstanding Scholarly Project

Spring 2021

  • Laraine Klunder
    Doctor of Nursing Practice, Nursing
    Programmed Intermittent Epidural Bolus for Labor Analgesia in a Critical Access Hospital
    Nominated by Kathie Records and Kathleen Dunemn

View a printable/downloadable PDF of the Fall 2020 recipients

View a printable/downloadable PDF of the Spring 2021 recipients

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