2017 Distinguished Dissertation Award Winners Announced

Dr. Alan Seadler, associate provost for research and technology and the Edward V. Fritzky Chair in Biotechnology, has announced the 2017 Distinguished Dissertation Award winners.

Renee Gilhousen, Distinguished Dissertation in Pharmacy, Health Sciences and Nursing for The Lived Experience of Individuals Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) While Residing in a Rural Region of Northern Appalachia. Her advisor is Dr. Lenore Resick.

Katelyn Sadler, Distinguished Dissertation in the Physical and Biological Sciences for Nociceptive Processing in the Central Nucleus of the Amygdala. Her advisor is Dr. Ben Kolber. Sadler’s dissertation will be nominated for a national award with the Council of Graduate Schools.

Sara Tavela, Distinguished Dissertation in the Humanities and Fine Arts for ’What a Poor, Passive Machine’: The Psychosomatic Heroine from Richardson to Austen. Her advisor is Dr. Laura Engel.

James Wortman, Distinguished Dissertation in the Social Sciences for The Utility of a Theoretical Framework of a Culture of Leadership. His advisor is Dr. Connie Moss.

Honorable Mentions were awarded to Jessica Posimo, pharmacy, (advisor Dr. Rehana Leak) and Matthew Walsh, social sciences, (advisor Dr. Lisa Lopez Levers).

Winners receive a monetary award of $500 as well as a memento.

The Distinguished Dissertation Awards, which are co-sponsored annually by the Office of Research and the Graduate Council, were established to encourage and recognize the accomplishment of academic excellence in graduate programs.

This year’s dissertation award review committee members include Dr. Gibbs Kanyango, School of Education; Dr. Melissa Kalarchian, School of Nursing; and Dr. Tom Eyers, McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts.