Graduate Commencement Program Dec. 2024

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Dec. and Aug. 2024 Graduate Degree Candidates

Honorary Degree Doctor of Science

Tom Skilling, WGN-TV chief meteorologist emeritus

Tom Skilling casts a long shadow over Chicagoland. The knowledgeable, personable figure on television became a much-loved extended family member to many during his 45 years on the air at WGN-TV.

Starting his successful career at the unheard-of age of 14, Skilling was hired by WKKD Radio in Aurora while attending West Aurora High School. He joined WLXT-TV three years later while going to school during the day.

In 1970, Skilling moved to Madison to study meteorology and journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison while continuing to work in radio and television. His first television job was at age 18 in Aurora at WLXT-TV, before going on to WKOW-TV and WTSO Radio in Madison, and WITI-TV Milwaukee.

Joining WGN-TV in August 1978, he established himself as a respected meteorologist both locally and nationally, known for his in-depth reports, enthusiasm and use of state-of-the-art technology. Skilling served as chief meteorologist on WGN Midday News as well as WGN Evening News, WGN News at 9 and WGN News at 10. Along the way, he mentored meteorology students who interned with him — including dozens of NIU students.

In early 2004, he helped coordinate the Tribune Weather Center, combining the meteorology resources and expertise of WGN-TV, CLTV and the Chicago Tribune in one location. Skilling’s expertise was the driving force behind the Chicago Tribune’s weather page, the WGNtv.com weather blog and weather reports on WGN Radio.

For more than 38 years, he hosted a Tornado and Severe Storms Seminar at Fermilab. As event host, Skilling welcomed the “who’s who” in the severe weather research and forecast community, including famed University of Chicago tornado researcher Ted Fujita, D.Sc.

Skilling has spoken and continues to speak at numerous events throughout the Chicagoland area discussing climate change including hosting a talk for 200 area science teachers, participating in an area climate conference, addressing an energy expo sponsored by the Sierra Club, and working with the Chicago mayor’s office on multiple occasions.

He emceed a conference of local mayors from across the Chicagoland area, addressing climate change, as well as an awards event for mayors recognizing environment efforts in member cities (mayors and their representatives for the world’s 40 largest cities).

He has earned numerous accolades, including being named a 2018 Broadcast Pioneer by the Illinois Broadcasters Association, receiving the Climate Action Hero Lifetime Achievement Award and being named a 2023 Order of Lincoln recipient by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

Skilling officially retired from WGN-TV in February 2024. He is still active in retirement, working with Adler Planetarium on their fundraising efforts. In support of Adler’s James A. Lovell Legacy Fund, he recently interviewed Apollo 13 commander Captain James Lovell. The longtime Adler collaborator is 96, the last of our country’s living astronauts.

Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award Recipient

Stacy Kelly, Professor, Department of Special and Early Education

Stacy Kelly is a professor in the visual disabilities program within the Department of Special and Early Education (SEED) and College of Education (COE). Kelly is honored to have been awarded one of two NIU Distinguished Graduate Faculty Awards for the 2024-2025 academic year. NIU’s visual disabilities program has continuously received federal grant funding since its inception more than a half century ago in 1964 — and Kelly is keeping this 60-year streak alive. Notably, 300 NIU graduate assistantships have been supervised by Kelly and supported through more than $7.5 million in federal personnel preparation grants awarded to Kelly by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Also, the vast majority of Kelly’s more than 100 publications and more than 100 conference presentations have involved NIU graduate students as co-authors and co-presenters.

Additionally, Kelly serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB) and as an associate editor for The New RE:view (TNR). As an associate editor for both journals of record in the profession, Kelly has mentored several hundred graduate students (both NIU graduate students and graduate students worldwide) in their writing of publications included in these peer-reviewed journals. These accomplishments of Kelly and her colleagues over the long and successful 60-year history of this program keeps NIU well situated as the top university for those who want to work with the visually disabled. Graduates of the NIU visual disabilities program go on to play a significant role in the lives of children and adults who are visually impaired, along with their families, and Kelly is proud to play a significant role in making this meaningful career path possible for so many.

Dec. 2024 Graduate Degree Candidates and August 2024 Graduate Degree Recipients

The list of graduate degree candidates was compiled from information received from the Graduate School as of October 2024, and should not be regarded as conclusive evidence of graduation.

Names marked with a cap icon ( August Graduate ) indicate a person who graduated in August 2024.

Doctor of Philosophy

Iddrisu Bachokun Abdul Razak  August Graduate (B.S., Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology),
“Using Ex-Situ and In-Situ Mössbauer Spectroscopy to Study the Degradation of NaFe(1-x)
(Ni0.5Mn0.5)xO2 Batteries.” Department of Physics. Major Professors: Dennis Brown, Ph.D., and Yingwen Cheng, Ph.D.

Adeyemi Adesanwo  August Graduate (B.S., Obafemi Awolowo University; M.S., Western Illinois University), “Genetic Engineering of E. coli for Riboflavin Production.” Department of Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Shengde Zhou, Ph.D.

Lenie A. Adolphson (B.A., M.A., Southern Illinois University - Carbondale), “Guardians of the Community: A History of Provident Hospital, 1891 - 1950.” Department of History. Major Professor: Beatrix Hoffman, Ph.D.

David Seyi Akanbi (B.S., University of Maryland; B.S.B.A., M.B.A., Ashworth College; M.S.Ed., Western Governors University), “A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective on Online University Education Adoption in Nigeria.” Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment. Major Professor: Cynthia York, Ph.D.

Akhil Pandey Akella  August Graduate (B.S., Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management; M.S., Northern Illinois University), “Effort of Reproducibility: Metrics, Methods, and Models to Navigate the Landscape of Reproducible Research.” Department of Computer Science. Major Professors: Hamed Alhoori, Ph.D., and David Koop, Ph.D.

Abdulmohsen Hasen Alomran (B.A., King Saud University; M.S.Ed., Temple University), “The Role of Self-Assertion and Academic Self-Efficacy in Predicting Acculturation of Saudi Students Studying in the United States.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Stephen Tonks, Ph.D.

Thamarah Awad Alqahtani (B.A., King Khalid University; M.A., University of Northern Colorado), “Exploring Factors Predicting Teachers’ Intentions to Use Digital Games in Saudi Elementary Schools.” Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment. Major Professor: Wei-Chen Hung, Ph.D.

Nora Sultan Alrashed (B.A., King Saud University; M.S.Ed., M.S., Northern Illinois University),
“Examination of the Use of Design Thinking Among Higher Education Faculty in Saudi Arabia.” Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment. Major Professor: Cynthia Campbell, Ph.D.

Samson E. Awoh (B.S., Colorado State University - Pueblo; M.O.T., Bay Path University; D.O.T., University of South Dakota), “Ordinal Logistic Regression Exploring the Influence of Admission and Discharge Policies on Resident Departures from Assisted Living Facilities.” College of Health and Human Sciences. Major Professor: Jinsook Kim, Ph.D.

Gobind Basnet (B.S., M.S., Tribhuvan University; M.S., University of Arkansas; M.S., University of Louisiana - Lafayette), “X-Ray Standing-Wave Fluorescence Study of the Interaction of an Anti-Microbial Peptide with a Supported Phospholipid Bilayer.” Department of Physics. Major Professors: Laurence Lurio, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Gaillard, Ph.D.

Gabrielle Bennett (B.A., University of Massachusetts - Amherst; M.S., California State University
- Fullerton), “Examining Project FLEX: A Sports-Based Prison Program for Incarcerated Youth.” Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Major Professors: Zachary Wahl-Alexander, Ph.D., and Jennifer Jacobs, Ph.D.

Kakoli Bhuyan (B.S., North Lakhimpur College; M.S., University of Delhi; M.S., Northern Illinois University), “Explicitly Counting Subspaces of Given Height Defined over a Field of Rational Functions.” Department of Mathematical Sciences. Major Professor: Jeffrey Thunder, Ph.D.

Robert Tanner Bivens  August Graduate (B.A., M.A., Ohio University), “Productive Shared Identity: Angola and LGBTQIA+ Norm Diffusion Through Lusophony.” Department of Political Science. Major Professor: Aarie Glas, Ph.D.

Maria Eleni Christopoulou (B.S., University of the Aegean; M.S., University of Athens), “Diatom Productivity and Nutrient Dynamics in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, During Warm Events in the Neogene.” Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment. Major Professor: Justin Dodd, Ph.D.

Christina Marie Cline  August Graduate (B.A., Illinois Wesleyan University; M.S., Northern Illinois University),
“Value Held for Learning Communication Skills by Students on a Healthcare Track.” Department of Biological Sciences. Major Professors: Heather Bergan-Roller, Ph.D., and Karen Samonds, Ph.D.

Kara J. Coffman-Rea (B.S., M.S., Northern Illinois University),
“Inhaling the Unseen: Exploring the Presence of Microplastics in the Human Respiratory Tract.” Department of Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Karen Samonds, Ph.D.

Kevin John Cox  August Graduate (B.S., Illinois Benedictine College; M.S., Aurora University; M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University), “Academic Categorization and School Sense of Belonging: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of Middle School Student Voices.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Stephen Tonks, Ph.D.

Mariliis Eensalu  August Graduate (B.S., M.S., Tallinn University), “Tracing Past Climate Signals Through Multi-Proxy Analysis: Insights from Sedimentary Plant Wax Hydrogen Isotope Data and Long-Term Hydroclimate Records in Estonia.” Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment. Major Professor: Nathan Stansell, Ph.D.

Obinna Franklin Ezeibekwe  August Graduate (B.A., University of Port Harcourt; M.A., Eastern Illinois University; M.S., Northern Illinois University), “Essays on Institutions, Regulations, and Business Performance in a Less-Developed Economy.” Department of Economics. Major Professor: Virginia Wilcox, Ph.D.

Jeffrey Caz Ferreira (B.S., Wheaton College), “Superelectrophile Promoted Synthesis of Aromatic Spirocycles.” Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Major Professor: Douglas Klumpp, Ph.D.

Robert Clayton Fritzen (B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign; M.S., Northern Illinois University), “Medium Range Prediction of U.S. Severe Convective Storms.” Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment. Major Professor: Victor Gensini, Ph.D.

Dikshyant Gautam (B.S., Kantipur Valley College), “Leveraging Bioinformatics to Understand Chlorophyll d Biosynthesis in Acaryochloris.” Department of Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Wesley Swingley, Ph.D.

Benjamin Goka (B.S.Ed., University of Cape Coast; M.A., Ball State University), “Addition Reactions of Olefinic Heterocycles and 4-Hydroxycoumarins.” Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Major Professor: Douglas Klumpp, Ph.D.

Callie Ames Klatt Golba  August Graduate (B.S., Butler University; M.S., Northern Illinois University), “Evaluation
of Conservation Strategies for Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii).” Department of Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Richard King, Ph.D.

Mitchell Tyler Howell  August Graduate (B.S., Purdue University), “Studies Toward Mechanistic Understanding of the Suzuki-Miyaura Catalyst-Transfer Polymerization.” Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Major Professor: Evgueni Nesterov, Ph.D.

Timothy Brian Huber  August Graduate (B.S., Indiana University), “Assessing Fixed-Node Diffusion Monte Carlo for Radical Polymerization Reaction Energetics.” Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Major Professor: Ralph Wheeler, Ph.D.

Audra Paige Jensen (B.S., M.S., University of Louisiana - Lafayette), “The Role of Metaperceptions
in Mindset Formation from Performance Feedback.” Department of Psychology. Major Professor: Amanda Durik, Ph.D.

Nicholas Garrison Leonard  August Graduate (B.A., Hope College; M.A., University of Nebraska at Kearney), “Digital Art in a High School Art Classroom: Entanglements and Becomings.” School of Art and Design. Major Professors: Kerry Freedman, Ph.D., and Douglas Boughton, Ph.D.

Mohammadreza Mahmoudi  August Graduate (B.S., Urmia University; M.S., Sharif University of Technology; M.A.,
M.S., Northern Illinois University), “Essays on Computational and Financial Economics.” Department of Economics. Major Professor: Evan Anderson, Ph.D.

Bradley Joseph McKinney (B.A., Judson University; M.A.T., Aurora University), “Looking
for Ways Art Education Can Create Counternarratives to Heteronormativity: Portraits and Snapshots of the Lives of 5 Gay Art Teachers.” School of Art and Design. Major Professor: Kryssi Staikidis, Ed.D.

Alexander Minasyan  August Graduate (B.S., Emory & Henry College), “DNA I-Motifs: Biophysical Characterization and Structure-Property Correlation As Foundation for Functional Material Design.” Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Major Professors: Irina Nesterova, Ph.D., and James Horn, Ph.D.

Cassandra Ashley Mohr  August Graduate (B.S., B.A., M.S., Northern Illinois University), “Explicit Proximal Gradient Methods: Bridging Theory and Practice in Optimization.” Department of Mathematical Sciences. Major Professor: Yunier Bello-Cruz, Ph.D.

Harold Nii-Aponsah (B.S., B.D.S., University of Ghana; M.P.H., Northern Illinois University), “Oral Cancer Inequalities: Unmasking Health Disparities of Vulnerable Populations in the U.S.” College of Health and Human Sciences. Major Professor: Kunal Patel, D.P.H.

Babatunde George Olawuni (B.S., M.S., Ladoke Akintola University of Technology), “The Glutamine-Asparagine Interplay: Exploring the Role of Asparagine Synthetase in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.” Department of Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Barrie Bode, Ph.D.

Samuel Pate (B.S., Northeastern Illinois University), “Magnetotransport Properties of Dirac Semimetal TaCo2Te2 and Ferromagnetic Weyl Semimetal Co3Sn2S2.” Department of Physics. Major Professor: Zhili Xiao, Ph.D.

Marisol Perez  August Graduate (B.S., M.S., Governors State University), “Latine Caregiver Perspectives of Their Child’s Speech and Language Services.” College of Health and Human Sciences. Major Professors: Janet Olson, Ph.D., and Danai Fannin, Ph.D.

Diana Adele Robinson  August Graduate (B.A., M.A., California State University - San Bernardino), “Expressive Writing Rooted in Self-Determination Theory: An Intervention for Racial Trauma.” Department of Psychology. Major Professor: Michelle Lilly, Ph.D.

Sylvie Sanou  August Graduate (B.S., M.S., Universite Ouaga II; M.A., Western Illinois University; M.S., Northern Illinois University), “Three Essays on the Impact of Debt on U.S. Young Adults’ Lives.” Department of Economics. Major Professor: Virginia Wilcox, Ph.D.

Jonathan Steven Spike (B.S.Ed., University of Wisconsin - Madison; M.A., Marian University), “Attitudes, Perceptions, and Quality of Learning Experience Design in Head-Mounted Virtual Reality for Preservice Educators.” Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment. Major Professor: Ying Xie, Ph.D.

Richard Erik Sroka  August Graduate (B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign; M.P.T., Midwestern University), “Low Back Pain and the Lumbar Multifidus Muscle.” College of Health and Human Sciences. Major Professor: Hamid Bateni, Ph.D.

Ian Sugrue (B.S., Eastern Kentucky University; M.S, Northern Illinois University), “Facial Reduction of Semidefinite Relaxations of Binary Quadratic Problems.” Department of Mathematical Sciences. Major Professor: Nathan Krislock, Ph.D.

Caitriona Raine Terry  August Graduate (B.A., Cornell College; M.A., Northern Illinois University), “The Gentle Powers: The Importance of Unmarried Women in the Middlebrow Novels of Interwar Britain.” Department of English. Major Professor: Brian May, Ph.D.

Morgan Gabrielle Tillery (B.S., M.A., Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville), “Stand-Up Leaders: Creation of a Perceived Intentions-Based Taxonomy of Humor.” Department of Psychology. Major Professor: Lisa Finkelstein, Ph.D.

Andrea Armour Trudeau  August Graduate (B.A., Illinois Wesleyan University; M.S.Ed., National Louis University), “Modern-Day Storyliving in Immersive Learning Environments: The Impact of Cinematic Virtual Reality on Adolescents’ Empathy and Sympathy.” Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment. Major Professor: Ying Xie, Ph.D.

Roy Valenzuela (B.S., Purdue University Global; M.S., Kansas State University), “Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Components of Metabolic Syndrome by Race/Ethnicity: Spotlight on Mexican Americans.” College of Health and Human Sciences. Major Professor: Lynn Herrmann, Ph.D.

Carolina Velandia Hernandez  August Graduate (B.S., National University of Colombia; M.S., Simon Bolivar University), “Three Papers on the Investigation of Epistemic Legitimacy Among Colombian Regulators.” Department of Political Science. Major Professor: Thomas Skuzinski, Ph.D.

Elizabeth Marion Wyman  August Graduate (B.S., Missouri State University), “An Environmental Isolate of Pseudomonas 20E11 Reduces Aspergillus Llavus Growth in an Iron-Dependent Manner Affecting the Expression of Numerous Genes.” Department of Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Ana Calvo, Ph.D.

Yang Zhang  August Graduate (B.S., Shandong University; M.S., Northern Illinois University), “Applications of Shape Analysis.” Department of Mathematical Sciences. Major Professor: Duchwan Ryu, Ph.D.

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Doctor of Education

Maria Aguilar Beltran  August Graduate (B.A., California State Polytechnic University - Pomona; M.S.W., California State University - Long Beach), “A Qualitative Case Study of the Equity-Minded Institute Faculty Reflections: Designing Transformative Faculty Learning Communities.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Quortne Hutchings, Ph.D.

Kathleen Lynn Almy  August Graduate (B.S., Southern Illinois University - Carbondale; M.S., Northern Illinois University), “A Quantitative Study on the Relationship Between Corequisite Support Courses and College Algebra Success.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Xiaodan Hu, Ph.D.

Jason Altmann  August Graduate (B.A., University of Wisconsin - Madison; M.P.A., University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee), “A Qualitative Case Study of Disabled Students’ Experiences with Online Course Accessibilty During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Xiaodan Hu, Ph.D.

Keith Renard Barnes (B.S., M.S.Ed., M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University), “It Takes a Village: Understanding Community College Chief Diversity Officers’ Experiences with Mentoring Relationships.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Quortne Hutchings, Ph.D.

Greta Behan  August Graduate (B.S.Ed., University of Wisconsin - Madison; M.A., St. Cloud State University), “Commitment to Teaching: Collective Efficacy, School Climate, Job Satisfaction.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Kelly Summers, Ph.D.

Tracy Noel Beling (B.A., Northern Illinois University; M.A., National Louis University), “An Exploration of Teacher-Student Writing Conferences in a Fourth Grade Classroom.” Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Major Professor: Donna Werderich, Ed.D.

Joseph Michael Bergman (B.S., University of Iowa; M.S., Illinois State University), “Can High School GPA Predict College-Level Course Success at Community College?” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Xiaodan Hu, Ph.D.

Mikel Birch  August Graduate (B.S., Westminster College; M.A., Webster University), “’The Impact of Being Seen’: A Study of Restorative Practices at Community Colleges.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Quortne Hutchings, Ph.D.

Veronica Dale Bjorkman (B.A., University of Alaska - Fairbanks; M.A., Eastern Kentucky University), “The Hip-Hop Collective.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Gudrun Nyunt, Ph.D.

Jason Blume (B.A., Bethel University; M.S.Ed., National Louis University; Ed.S., Northern Illinois University), “Building Effective Communicative Relationships: Understanding Superintendent and School Board Member Perceptions of Trust and Roles and Responsibilities.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Patrick Roberts, Ph.D.

Kimberly Caponi (B.A., Union College; M.A., Antioch University Midwest), “To Speak or Not
to Speak: Institutional and Presidential Statements in Response to Community Crisis Events.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Carrie Kortegast, Ph.D.

Matthew J. Condon (B.A., University of Iowa; M.A., Concordia University; Ed.S., Northern Illinois University), “Point Break: Exploring Associations of Burnout, Locus of Control, and Engagement in the Principalship.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Kelly Summers, Ph.D.

Laura J. Crisp  August Graduate (B.A., Olivet Nazarene University; M.S., University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign), “How Middle-Grade Students Navigate the School Library and Grade-Level Reading Classroom to Support Their Independent Reading and Literate Selves.” Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Major Professor: Corrine Wickens, Ph.D.

Catherine Warrick Doederlein  August Graduate (B.A., M.A., Northern Illinois University), “A Braven New World: A Qualitative Case Study of Career Readiness Efforts on Career Identity and Career Self-Efficacy for Students at a 4-Year Public University.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Jacqueline Mac, Ph.D.

Thomas William Davidson (B.S., Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; M.S.Ed., American College of Education; Ed.S., Northern Illinois University), “Mentorship Matters: Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders Today.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Benjamin Creed, Ph.D.

Joyce Elam (B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign; M.S., DeVry University), “You Belong Here: How the African American Success Unit Supports a Sense of Belonging for Black Men at an Urban Institution in Chicago.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Jacqueline Mac, Ph.D.

Stephanie Renee Eller (B.S.Ed., Valparaiso University; M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University),
“Bilingual Students’ Language Use, Identity, and Investment in Dual Language Classrooms.” Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Major Professors: David Nieto, Ph.D., and James Cohen, Ph.D.

Dora Elena Escobar  August Graduate (B.A., M.S., California State University - Fullerton), “Guerreras (Women Warriors): Latina Faculty Utilizing Their Cultural Capital to Advance Transformative Change.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Quortne Hutchings, Ph.D.

Alicia Rose Guzman-Riley (B.S., M.S., Western Illinois University), “Navigating Academic Advising in Hispanic-Serving Institutions: Cultural Competencies, Responsiveness, and Student-Centered Practices.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Quortne Hutchings, Ph.D.

Terrica Janelle Huntley (B.A., M.S.Ed., University of Notre Dame), “Lean on Me: The Importance of an Informal Social Support Group from the Community College Workplace for Black Women Doctoral Students (BWDS) to Foster Degree Completion.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Quortne Hutchings, Ph.D.

Ayla Susann Peczkowski (B.A., Valparaiso University; M.S.Ed., M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University), “Teachers’ Perceptions Regarding Legal Literacy Surrounding Student Discipline in Illinois.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Tiffany Puckett, Ph.D.

Suzana Tyler Peterson (B.A., M.S.Ed., Loyola University; M.A., Northeastern Illinois University; M.S.Ed, Ed.S., Northern Illinois University), “Teacher Perception on Role Strain, Self-Efficacy, and Class Composition: A Closer Look at the Impact on K-12 Teachers’ Remote Teaching Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Tiffany Puckett, Ph.D.

Rebecca Ann Reuland (B.F.A., Columbia College Chicago; M.A., Sotheby’s Institute of Art), “’We Are All Sort of Figuring It Out Together’: A Case Study on How an Experiential Learning Course Shapes Career Readiness for Photography Students.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Carrie Kortegast, Ph.D.

Jaime Lynn Riewerts Budziak  August Graduate (B.S., Bradley University; M.A., University of Texas at Austin), “A Case of Instructor Experiences Teaching in the Hyflex Modality at a Midwestern Community College in a Post-Pandemic Context.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Quortne Hutchings, Ph.D.

Shari Ruehling  August Graduate (B.S., Iowa State University; M.S.Ed., University of Oklahoma), “College Freshman or College Junior? A Phenomenolgy of the Experiences of Dual-Enrolled Students Who Complete an Associate’s Degree While in High School and Attend a Public 4-Year University.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professors: Xiaodan Hu, Ph.D., and Quortne Hutchings, Ph.D.

TeQuila Stamps (B.A., M.A., Roosevelt University; Ed.S., Northern Illinois University), “Research-Based English Language Arts (ELA) Instructional Practices: Characteristics of Effective ELA Instructional Practices That Drive Student Achievement in Title I School Districts.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Tiffany Puckett, Ph.D.

Linnie Tennile Tarrant (B.S., Northern Illinois University; M.A., M.E.L., Aurora University), “The Complexities of Disproportionality in a Large Urban School District: A Look into District Interventions and Identification Process.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Tiffany Puckett, Ph.D.

Alexandria Marie Terrazas (B.A., M.B.A., Saint Xavier University), “The Surge of College Credit Accumulation in Early College Programs: Understanding Early College Program Advising.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Xiaodan Hu, Ph.D.

Maria Treto-French  August Graduate (B.S., University of Phoenix; M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University),
“School District Budgeting: How School Principals’ Lack of Budget Knowledge Can Lead to Negative Impacts on Funding.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Kelly Summers, Ph.D.

Joseph W. Trsar (B.S., Illinois
State University; M.A., North Park University; M.A., Aurora University; Ed.S., Northern Illinois University), “Investigating the Perceptions of the Professional Development Experience of Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) in a PK-8th Grade District.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professors: Kelly Summers, Ph.D., and Alexios Rosario-Moore, Ph.D.

Leticia Valadez (B.A., M.A., M.A., Northeastern Illinois University), “The Intersectionality of Language and Special Education: An Exploration of How Systems Shape Teachers’ Perceptions and How Perceptions Shape Educational Practice.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Tiffany Puckett, Ph.D.

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Doctor of Nursing Practice

Lindsey Kirsten Anderson

Elvia Arroyo

Amy Marie Daniel

Kristine Anne Doligosa  August Graduate

Amanda Deborah Hays

Alison Keck

Emily Joan Grace Minerva

Jillian Grace Montefusco

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Educational Specialist

Kendra Ann Asbury  August Graduate

Bridget E. Belcastro  August Graduate

Matthew Collins  August Graduate

Rachel Andrea Fieber  August Graduate

Shannon Hamm  August Graduate

Martin Heffner  August Graduate

Tom Jeppson  August Graduate

Ashley McGarry  August Graduate

David Ezzat Mekhiel  August Graduate

Laurel Elizabeth O’Brien  August Graduate

Suzana Tyler Stojovic Thomas Peterson  August Graduate

Sarah Elizabeth Schwartz  August Graduate

Justin John Snider  August Graduate

Katherine Elizabeth Surjan  August Graduate

Matthew David Zilm  August Graduate

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Master of Arts

Brianna Abba

Robert Frederick Adams II

Annalisa Fallon Amber  August Graduate

Wedad Ahmad Ayesh

Danielle Renae Bally

Brianna Isabel Banks

Hannah Lynn Binkley

Samantha Marie Brown

Daniel Mayer Cappell  August Graduate

Shiyuan Chen
Anna Nicole Chitwood  August Graduate

Travis Cole

Brandon Davis  August Graduate

Matthew Geisler

John Peter Hansberry

Kaela Ann Harber

Lulu Edward Kafunda  August Graduate

Matthew Keath

Cassidy Knoerzer

Megan Mary Kroehnke

Kristen Marie Lookingland

Damien Alexander Malak

Angela Marcelino  August Graduate

Thomas Joseph Mejdrech

Maire O’Malley

Amaka Peace Onebunne  August Graduate

Marissa Louise Ott

Jessica Susan Philip

Paul Matthew Pickerl

Bailey Raab  August Graduate

Mina Rajaei Moghadam  August Graduate

Ruby Maria Rivera

Teddy Schupack

Isabella Jolie Sibenaller

Andrew Edward William Slany

Lorraine Kennedy Smith

Sumaya Tamanna  August Graduate

Hannah Leath Tarleton

Pheanusa Satra Ty

Jennifer Valentine  August Graduate

Jiawen Wang

Milsy Westendorff  August Graduate

Anna Matisse White

Jared Elijah Patrick Wilson

Sahar Yaghoubzadeh Torki

George Agbenyega Zumanu  August Graduate

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Master of Science

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Master of Accountancy

Emanuel Jose Agosto  August Graduate

Zhaklina Andoni  August Graduate

Khishigjargal Ayush  August Graduate

Jennifer Ashley Bell  August Graduate

Matthew Casey Cacciatore

Kevin Daniel Cech  August Graduate

Katarzyna Aneta Cutrera  August Graduate

Jacqueline Fritz

Maribel Hernandez

Eric Michael Jensen  August Graduate

Zachary George Johnson  August Graduate

Hannah Kathryn Kline  August Graduate

Dawn Anne Marshall  August Graduate

Tanya Lee Paustian

Janeth Karina Reta Briones  August Graduate

Melissa Kathleen Talbot  August Graduate

Drashti Thakkar  August Graduate

Ivette Carolina Vega

Kimberly Volkmann  August Graduate

Alyssa Ruth Wulterin  August Graduate  

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Master of Accounting Science

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Master of Arts in Teaching

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Master of Business Administration

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Master of Fine Arts

Aidan Robert Wingate Murphy

Adam Rager

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Master of Music

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Master of Public Administration

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Master of Public Health

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Master of Science in Education

Master of Music

Meng-Hui Lin

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Performer’s Certificate

Daniela Escobar Oyola  August Graduate

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Commencement Program

This commencement program lists the names of individuals who have applied for graduation on the presumption that all the requirements have been, or will have been, met by the end of the semester. To be listed in this program, individuals were required to apply for graduation by the respective posted dates at the Graduate School or at the Office of Registration and Records. The fact that a candidate’s name is listed in this program does not indicate that they will in fact qualify for graduation.

Photographs

A professional photograph of each graduate will be taken during the ceremony by Grad Images. To ensure that all graduates and their families and friends can view and enjoy the ceremony, we ask that guests be considerate of one another when taking photographs.

Nondisclosure of Directory Information

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, students who have chosen not to release directory information to public disclosure (which includes, but is not limited to, degrees conferred) will not appear in this program.