2020 SPRING HOODING CEREMONY...PHYLLIS JUANITA GAMBLE Dissertation A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Approach to Exploring the Lived Experiences of Participants in Georgia’s P-20 Collaboratives

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL 2020 SPRING HOODING CEREMONY

May 29, 2020

Graduate Oath

s I embark on my career, now an alumnus of The Graduate School at Augusta

University, I pledge that I will represent my discipline honorably by conducting myself

and my professional endeavors in a manner that is always above reproach. I will strive

to show compassion, embrace diversity, and above all, uphold excellence that I should

become a worthy role model and ambassador of Augusta University.

With this affirmation, I acknowledge and honor the contributions of those who have preceded me,

while seeking truth and the advancement of knowledge in all my actions. I will always remember

to act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling, and incorporate both the art and science

of my profession in the products of my labor. I will incorporate ethical and moral principles that

constitute integrity in all that I do, and faithfully ensure that the results of my professional activities

ultimately benefit our world.

A

Message From The Dean

The Graduate School, founded in 1965, awards masters, specialist and doctoral degrees in more

than forty-nine programs. This year our enrollment exceeds 900 students. Our Graduate School

faculty members hold primary appointments in the Colleges of Allied Health Sciences, Arts,

Humanities & Social Science, Business, Dentistry, Education, Medicine, Nursing, Science &

Mathematics, and the School of Computer and Cyber Sciences. These faculty members all

demonstrate special talents in research, scholarship and graduate education.

The mission of The Graduate School is to provide a rich intellectual, academic and research

environment for educating students to become leaders in discovery, dissemination, and application

of knowledge.

The Graduate School continually strives to recruit the best faculty and students, and works to create

an open environment for intellectual pursuit. Graduation is not the culmination, but simply an

important step in the process of life-long learning. We hope that the Graduate School at Augusta

University represents a fit for life for all students and graduates.

Best wishes and continued success to all our graduates!

Mitchell A. Watsky, PhD

Dean, The Graduate School

Ceremony

Friday, May 29, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

Virtual Presentation

Welcome Mitchell A. Watsky, PhD Dean, The Graduate School

Remarks Brooks Keel, PhD

President, Augusta University

CEO, AU Health System

Graduation SpeakerGretchen B. Caughman, PhD

Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

ReflectionsMitchell A. Watsky, PhD Dean, The Graduate School

Presentation of the 2020 Graduating Class

Graduate Oath Michael G. Ehrie

College of Nursing, 2020 Doctor of Nursing Practice Graduate

Closing Remarks x Mitchell A. Watsky, PhD Dean, The Graduate School

Doctoral Graduates

Doctor of Philosophy

BRINDA NIKHIL BHATT

Dissertation Role of Ufl1 in CD8+ Memory T Cell Survival and Function

Advisor Nagendra Singh, PhD

Associate Professor

Program Biochemistry & Cancer Biology

SHANKRAPPA DEVI BOGGUPALLI

Dissertation Defining the Role of Tropomyosin-1C in Cargo Transport in Drosophila

Advisor Graydon Gonsalvez, PhD

Associate Professor


AARON EN KUANG FAN

Dissertation Using Peptide-based Vaccines to Enhance Adoptive Cell Therapy with

Genetically Engineered T cells

Advisor Esteban Celis, M.D., PhD

Professor

Program Molecular Medicine

WATSON P. FOLK

Dissertation The E2F1 Corepressor BIN1 is a Novel Tumor Suppressor RB1-Binding

Cofactor for Cell-Cycle Arrest and Genomic Instability

Advisor Daitoku Sakamuro, PhD

Associate Professor


CLAUDIA ANNE FULMER

Dissertation Gene Regulation by the Putative Campylobacter Jejuni Diguanylate Cyclase

CbrR

Advisor Stuart Thompson, PhD

Professor


HELEN E. KAISER

Dissertation The Role of Kynurenine, a Tryptophan Metabolite that Increases with Age, in

Muscle Atrophy

Advisor Mark Hamrick, PhD

Regents’ Professor

Program Cellular Biology & Anatomy

HUIPING LIN*

Dissertation Cell Drinking: A Closer Look at How Macropinocytosis Drives Cholesterol

Uptake in Atherosclerotic Vessels

Advisor Gabor Csanyi, MD

Assistant Professor

Program Vascular Biology

TING LIU

Dissertation Role of Class III Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase in the Renal Proximal Tubule

Advisor Jian-Kang Chen, MBBS

Associate Professor

Program Cellular Biology and Anatomy

YUJIAO LU*

Dissertation Neuron-Derived Estrogen and Neural Function

Advisor Darrell Brann, PhD

Professor

Program Neuroscience

MERRY WENLAN MA*

Dissertation Role of NADPH Oxidase following Traumatic Brain Injury

Advisor Darrell Brann, PhD

Professor

Program Neuroscience

DALEY A. MORERA*

Dissertation Glycosaminoglycans, Chondroitinase, and Molecular Subtypes in Bladder

Cancer

Advisor Vinata Lokeshwar, PhD

Professor, Department Chair

Program Biochemistry and Cancer Biology

LAUREN PRUSINSKI FERNUNG*

Dissertation Early Life Environmental and Hormonal Exposure and Race-Related Influence

on the Human Stem Cell Populations in Fibroid and Myometrial Tissues Leads

to Compromised Genomic Integrity and Increased Fibroid Tumorigenesis

Advisor Ayman Al-Hendy, M.D., PhD

Professor

Program Molecular Medicine

JING SUN

Dissertation False Coverage Rate- Adjusted Smoothed Bootstrap Simultaneous Confidence

Intervals for Selected Parameters

Advisor Santu Ghosh, PhD

Assistant Professor

Program Biostatistics

*PhD with Distinction

Doctor of Education with a Major in Educational Innovation Presented by: Megan Buning, PhD, Assistant Professor

JEANA O’NEILL AYCOCK

Dissertation An Exploration of Elementary Students’ Perspectives on Participating in a Prosocial Behavior Support Program

Advisor Megan Buning, PhD & Molly Quinn, PhD

Concentration Educational Leadership

NATALIE MICHELLE CASON



Concentration Curriculum and Instruction

PHYLLIS JUANITA GAMBLE

Dissertation A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Approach to Exploring the Lived

Experiences of Participants in Georgia’s P-20 Collaboratives



BILL BLOUNT HAMILTON

Dissertation The Influence of Instructional Rounds on Teacher Metacognition in a Middle School Context: A Mixed Methods Study



BARIA LESHEA JENNINGS

Dissertation The Influence of Instructional Rounds on Teacher Metacognition in a Middle

School Context: A Mixed Methods Study

Advisor Megan Buning, PhD & Molly Quinn, PhD Concentration Educational Leadership

JOE HENRY LOTT




CAROL WILLYN MAPLE





FELINA RAE MCCOY



Advisor Megan Buning, PhD & Molly Quinn, PhD Concentration Curriculum and Instruction

LAUREN A. OCAK




KATHERINE MARIE SCOGGINS

Dissertation The Influence of Instructional Rounds on Teacher Metacognition in a Middle School Context: A Mixed Methods Study


Concentration Secondary Education Mathematics

HOLLY ALLEN TOWNSEND

Dissertation The Influence of Instructional Rounds on Teacher Metacognition in a Middle

School Context: A Mixed Methods Study


Concentration Secondary Education English

Doctor of Nursing Practice Presented by: Pamela Cook, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Associate Professor

KAY M. AGROVES

Project An Educational Policy Initatitive to Improve Maternal & Fetal Mortality Rates in Georgia

MARISSA KELLY BYRD

Project PrEP in Primary Care: A Quality Improvement Educational Intervention SHONKEISHA LETITIA BYRD

Project Evaluation of A Quality Improvement Project to Optimize Nurses Knowledge to

Provide Heart Failure Education Prior to Discharge

YESENIA CASTRO

Project A Practice Update on the Evidence-Based Guideline for Prevention, Intervention

and Management of Childhood Obesity

JESSICA L. COKER

Project Improving Provider Attitude of Pharmacogentics: A Focus on Antidepressants

CHARLAINE CONGER

Project PrEP in Primary Care: A Quality Improvement Educational Intervention MICHAEL GRANT EHRIE

Project Early Identification of Sepsis and Adherence to the Latest Evidence-Based

Guidelines: A Performance Improvement Initiative for Advanced Practice Nurses

LAUREN EUGENIA FESPERMAR

Project Implementation and Evaluation of Analgesia and Sedation and Spontaneous

Awakening Breathing Trial Protocols in Intensive Care Units: A Continuous Quality Improvement Project

KAYLA SONDRIA FREEMAN

Project Youth Obesity: Implementation of an Education Process to Reduce Screen Time and

Increase Physical Activity

CHRISTIAN PHILIP GIBBS

Project A Quality Improvement Project Related to Opioid Prescribing Practices in Primary

Care

VALERIE RENEE GRENALD

Project A Practice Update on the Evidence-Based Guideline for Prevention, Intervention

and Management of Childhood Obesity

KIMBERLY NATSON HALL

Project An Educational Program Plan for Medical Providers in the Rural Community Care

Setting on the Benefits of Psychiatric E-consultation Utilization

TANYA R. HALL

Project Quality Improvement Project to Enhance Follow Up Processes for Persons

Presenting with Asympotmatic Hypertension in the Emergency Department

ROBERT ADAM HARDY

Project An Evidence-based Program Plan for HIV Screening in Rural Primary Care

LACY ELIZABETH LALLY

Project Combating Antibiotic Overuse and Misuse in Urgent Care

JENNIFER LYNN LOGAN

Project Improving Provider Attitude of Pharmacogentics: A Focus on Antidepressants

TAYLOR P. LOGUE

Project Evaluation of the Impact of Educational Intervention in Prediabetes

MELISSA ANN SHEESLE LONG

Project Postpartum Depression Screening in Pediatric Primary Care: An Educational

Intervention

CHRISTEN ELIZABETH MCCABE

Project Improving Self-Management in Heart Failute Patients: A Primary Care Education

Initatiative

STEVEN ALLEN MOON

Project A Quality Improvement Project Realted to Opioid Prescribing Practices in Primary Care

DE’MONICA SWANTESE NEAL

Project Quality Improvement Project to Enhance Follow Up Processes for Persons Presenting with Asympotmatic Hypertension in the Emergency Department

MAGGIE ELIZABETH NORMAN

Project Increasing Awareness of the Current Anti-Obesity Medication Guidelines Through

Provider Education

LAUREN NICOLE NOXSEL

Project An Educational Program Plan for Medical Providers in the Rural Community Care

Setting on the Benefits of Psychiatric E-consultation Utilization

CARA HANNAH OVERSTREET

Project An Evidence-based Program Plan for HIV Screening in Rural Primary Care

NICOLE REINECKE POWELL

Project Youth Obesity: Implementation of an Education Process to Reduce Screen Time and

Increase Physical Activity

CHELSEY ELANA PYE

Project Imprementation and Evaluation of Analgesia and Sedation and Spontaneous

Awakening Breathing Trial Protocols in Intensive Care Units: A Continuous Quality Improvement Project

SHANELLE LYNETTE RAIFORD

Project Evaluation of a Quality Improvement Project to Optimize Nurses Knowledge to Provide Heart Faliure Education Prior to Discharge

MORGAN A. ROWE

Project Standardization of Critical Care Orientation in a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit for

Registered Nurses

JACEY LAINE SALLEY

Project Evaluation of the Impact of Educational Intervention in Prediabetes

AKOSUA FREMA SARFO

Project Imprementation and Evaluation of Analgesia and Sedation and Spontaneous

Awakening Breathing Trial Protocols in Intensive Care Units: A Continuous Quality

Improvement Project

ANNALEE H. SNYDER

Project Combating Antibiotic Overuse and Misuse in Urgent Care

ELIZABETH MORAN TYSON

Project Evaluation of the Education and Use of an Electronic Veno-Occlusive Disease

(VOD) Risk Calculator or an Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Unit

ERIN M. WEBB

Project Implementation and Evaluation of Analgesia and Sedation and Spontaneous Awakening Breathing Trial Proctocols in Intensive Care Units: A Continous Quality

Improvement Project

JENNIFER WRIN WOOD

Project Evaluation of Negative Outcomes of Prolonged Length of Stay in Trauma Patients

in an Emergency Department

MELISSA H. ZEAGLER

Project Increasing Awareness of the Current Anti-Obesity Medication Guidelines Through

Provider Education

Specialists Graduates

Specialist in Education with a Major in Advanced Educational Studies Presented by: Rebecca Harper, PhD, Assistant Professor

Laura Burns Cartledge

Kristin N. DeLoach

Alison Denise Hatchett

Kathryne Rebecca Jones

Olga Malin

Kirsten Elizabeth Pitock

Jennifer Carole Robertson

Matthew Brendan Ryan

Aimee Elizabeth Smith

Katrena Taylor-Springs

Britton Campbell Terrell

Meredith Lynn Thomason

Lindsey Rae Weidenaar

Specialist in Education with a Major in Educational Leadership

Angela Lynn Rogers David Solomon Tucker

Masters Graduates

Master of Arts Intelligence and Security Studies Presented by: Craig Douglas Albert, PhD, Associate Professor

Eric Scott Garrett

Hellen Taylor Hanks Christopher William Hennigan

Elizabeth M. Martin

Alexandra J. Montesclaros Rachelle Deanne O’Neil

Master of Business Administration Presented by: Rick Franza, Dean, Professor

Mohamed E. Awad

Rodney She Ferguson

Aaaron Kyle Henson

Dafna Lapidot

Master of Education with a Major in Counselor Education Presented by: Margaux Brown, PhD, Assistant Professor

Christopher C. Colwell

Tawn Shaquelle Middelton

Tevin Shaquelle Middleton

Master of Education with a Major in Educational Instruction Presented by: Ashley Gess, PhD, Assistant Professor

Khalid Ahmed

Micheal Patrick Burns

Nibras Clapp

Sarah Ashley Dowdy

Marilyn S. Eastman

Beverly Yvonne Franqui

Camille Catherine Gee

Sameh Zakaria Said Ibrahim

Mary Claire Jenkins

Nassim Kouba

Michell Lynn Paterson

Sara Sharif

Rebecca Szybura

Faouz Touay

Master of Education with a Major in Educational Leadership

Hannah Pauline Crawford Clifton Blakey Sticher

Master of Public Administration Presented by: William Hatcher, PhD, Associate Professor

Marcus Melvin Allen

John Christopher Cannon

Jessika Marie Douglas

Garrett Lee Dragano

Carla Louise Hamann

Junsoung Kim

Ashley Shena Leonard

Michael Lawrence Siegner

Ruby Parveen Syed

Gregory George Ulseth

Ashley Marie White

Master of Public Health Presented by: Vivian Dicks, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor

Wesley Allen Black

Carley Nicole Borrelli

Caroline W. Cook

Frank Costello Halima Nana Sayyed Gerba

Angela S. Hickson

Tara Koehler

Andrew Lukas

Ian Chrisopher Nichols Kaleb Jakim White

Master of Science with a Major in Allied Health Presented by: Judith Anglin, PhD, RDN, LD, Associate Professor

Hannaj Kathleen Bieze

Hannah Rebecca Burman

Laycee R. Claes Chelsea N. Cotugno

Kathryn Elizebeth Dodds

Irene Margaret Erich

Monica A. Fayik

McKinsey Ray Fiveash

Isabelle Anne Foster Emsley Peyton Jones

Bailey Anne Joyner

Yeo J. Lee

Master of Science with a Major in Biostatistics Presented by: Jennifer Waller, PhD, Professor

Elizabeth Ann Matznick

Master of Science with a Major in Information Security Management Presented by: Mark Harris, PhD, Assistant Professor

Jasmine Denea Bailey

Diamond C. Dixon Nicholas Wyatt Ellington

Fengchong Kong

Alejandro Tadeo

Sandra Griswell Tharpe

Don Jessie Welch

Master of Science with a Major in Kinesiology

Jenna Kate Ansley Andrea Michelle Holloway

Leann Elizabeth Grayson

Master of Science in Medical Illustration Presented by: Amanda Behr, MA, Associate Professor

Benjamin Marshall Brown

Anna Beth Demario Weston Douglas Dewolff

Keri Leigh Jones

Amanda Marissa Manowski

Victoria Bailey Rogers Katharine Marr Thompson

Megan Elise Ward

Master of Science with a Major in Oral Biology

Nicole Shannon Widjaja

Master of Science with a Major in Psychology Presented by: Sabina Widner, PhD, Professor

Delesha Nikkole Greene Casey Brooke Lewis

Congratulations from The Graduate School

To Our Graduates:

When you began this journey, we know your minds and hearts were full of excitement, hope, and perhaps

a little trepidation.

Throughout your journey- each unique in its own way- there may have been speed bumps, and wonderful surprises, but you kept going, applying the tenacity, work ethic, and intellect that we always knew you

possessed. We are honored to have been here to cheer you on, hold your hand, and listen to your challenges

and wins. Together, we overcame the hurdles, and we feel lucky to have supported you along the way.

Today, we celebrate your endeavors, and congratulate you on obtaining your goal.

Graduation is not the end. It is a milestone and an invaluable step towards the rest of your life. We encourage

you to keep learning and to keep steadily moving forward with trademark integrity. We like to call The

Graduate School a “Fit for Life,” and we hope what you have learned here will continue to be a fit for your

dreams and aspirations. We have enjoyed getting to know you, and assisting you through your graduate

career. You have truly become family, and your accomplishments inspire and motivate us.

You’re now equipped with endless opportunity, and we know you will go out into the world as worthy

ambassadors of your special talents and abilities. We thank you for your dedication and wish you continued

success as you apply the principles you learned at Augusta University to your professional and personal growth. Just as you brightened our days at The Graduate School, we know you will make a shining impact

on your individual communities. In the words of Henry David Thoreau, “What you get by achieving your

goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” We have watched you all become

polished, competent representatives of Augusta University and The Graduate School, and we are proud of

each of you.

Mitchell Watsky, PhD

Dean, The Graduate School

Patricia Cameron, PhD

Vice Dean, The Graduate School

The Graduate School Administrative Staff

Acknowledgements

A special note of appreciation to the office staff of The Graduate School. Their hard work and caring greatly

assist the students during their tenure at Augusta University.

We also acknowledge the tireless dedication of our faculty to the education of our students.

A grateful thank you to The Graduate School Alumni Association.

Documents

2020 SPRING HOODING CEREMONY...PHYLLIS JUANITA GAMBLE Dissertation A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Approach to Exploring the Lived Experiences of Participants in Georgia’s P-20 Collaboratives