Oral Defense Schedule
Spring 2026
This page lists upcoming oral defense presentations for graduate students in the College of Education, Health and Human Services, showcasing the culmination of their research and academic achievements.
Updated: 3/11/2026
To attend an online defense, please contact the dissertation director listed.
| CANDIDATE | MAJOR | TITLE | DATE OF DEFENSE | TIME OF DEFENSE | LOCATION AND DIRECTOR(S) | BROCHURE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logan Vess | Counselor Education and Supervision | My Career Story Workbook Efficacy with College Students: A Randomized Trial | January 20, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. | White Hall 308D Directors: Dr. Lynne Guillot Miller and Dr. Lena Salpietro | Logan Vess (Ph.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Tadarrelle Lett | Interprofessional Leadership | Exploring the Effects of Mentorship on Black College Students' Sense of Belonging | January 22, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. | White Hall 403 Directors: Dr. Karl Kosko and Dr. Lisa Testa | Tadarrelle Lett (Ed.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Emma M. Royan | Curriculum and Instruction | The Reading Preferences and Experiences of Upper Elementary Boys | February 6, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. | White Hall 403 Director: Dr. Kristine Pytash | Emma M. Royan (Ph.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Doğuş Duran | Counselor Education and Supervision | Predicting the Roles of Relationship Between White Privilege Attitudes and Multicultural Competence on Broaching Behaviors Among Counselors: A Hierarchical Multiple Regression Analyses | February 18, 2026 | 12:00 p.m. | Microsoft Teams Director: Dr. Marty Jencius | Doğuş Duran (Ph.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Joseph James Kratky | Research, Measurement and Statistics | The Higher Education Reservations Scale: Development, Refinement, and Exploratory Application | February 20, 2026 | 10:30 a.m. | Microsoft Teams Directors: Dr. Jason Schenker and Dr. Aryn Karpinski | Joseph James Kratky (Ph.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Peggy S. Coyne | Interprofessional Leadership | Implementing an AI Innovation Champion Program in a Corporate Setting: Insights into Innovation Champion Self-Efficacy and Peer Perceptions | March 2, 2026 | 9:30 a.m. | Microsoft Teams Director: Dr. Elena Novak | Peggy S. Coyne (Ed.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| John R. Burkey | Interprofessional Leadership | Understanding First-Year College Students' Experiences and Attitudes Towards Personal and Academic Technology | March 2, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. | Microsoft Teams Directors: Dr. Rich Ferdig and Dr. Enrico Gandolfi | John R. Burkey (Ed.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Adam M. Novelli | Interprofessional Leadership, Educational Technology | Understanding Student Mobile Digital Distraction | March 3, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. | Microsoft Teams Directors: Dr. Rich Ferdig and Dr. Enrico Gandolfi | Adam M. Novelli (Ed.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Shruti Kate | Learning Sciences | How Do Pragmatic Forms of Provisional Language Shift the Interpretation of Facts and Myths? | March 6, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. | Microsoft Teams Directors: Dr. Jennifer Roche and Dr. Brad Morris | Shruti Kate (Ph.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Molly K. Schneider | Curriculum and Instruction | Exploring Critical Inquiry and Emotions in Contentious Issues Dialogue: Youth Participatory Action Research with High School Government Students | March 6, 2026 | 11:30 a.m. | Microsoft Teams Directors: Dr. Elizabeth Kenyon and Dr. Matthew Hollsetin | Molly K. Schneider (Ph.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Joseph Myung Kang | Interprofessional Leadership | Investigating the Impact of Incorporating the Community Translanguaging Pedagogy Through Students' Writing Project at a South Korean University | March 12, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. | Microsoft Teams Director: Dr. Scott Courtney | Joseph Myung Kang (Ed.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Roy Greenlee | Interprofessional Leadership | Impact of MOOC-Based Professional Development on Public School Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Mandatory Professional Development Training | March 17, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. | Microsoft Teams Director: Dr. Elena Novak | Roy Greenlee (Ed.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Kendra L. Wilson | Cultural Foundations of Education | The Academic and Social Realities of Black Student Mothers Attending Predominately White Institutions | March 19, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. | Microsoft Teams Director: Dr. Tricia Niesz | Kendra L. Wilson (Ph.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Kathryn A. Klonowski | Cultural Foundations | "Ms. Fix It": The Unravelling, Recovery, and Evolution of a White Savior Scholastic Journalism Adviser | March 19, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. | Microsoft Teams Director: Dr. Natasha Levinson | Kathryn A. Klonowski (Ph.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Marcia L. Denton | Interprofessional Leadership | Using Regular Reminders of Mindfulness Practices to Address Implicit Racial Bias | March 19, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. | Microsoft Teams Director: Dr. Natasha Levinson | Marcia L. Denton (Ed.D.) Doctoral Brochure |
| Collin P. Palmer | Interprofessional Leadership | Understanding Admission Officer Perceptions of Chief Admission Officer Leadership Behaviors and their Impact on Perceived Self-Efficacy and Job Satisfaction | March 20, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. | Microsoft Teams Directors: Dr. Kimberly Peer and Dr. David Dees | Collin P. Palmer (Ed.D.) Doctoral Brochure |