Graduate Student Accomplishments, 2012-2013

The following is a compilation of the many accomplishments of our College of Arts and Sciences graduate students during the 2012-2013 academic year.

Publications

David Young (English): The unbearable heaviness of being: Narrative structure, arrested development, and potatoes in Bela Tarr’s The Turin Horse, (Essay), The Child in Post Apocalyptic Cinema (forthcoming, 2014); Pomerance, Murray, et al., The Last Laugh: Stange Humors of Cinema (Book Review), The Journal of American Culture (forthcoming); Kerry, Larson, et al., The Cambridge Companion to Nineteenth Century American Poetry (Book Review), The Journal of American Culture (2013). Sana Loue (Theology and Religious Studies): "Parentally-mandated religious healing for children: A therapeutic jurisprudence approach.” Journal of Law and Religion 27, no. 2 (2012): 397–422. Understanding theology and homosexuality in African American communities. New York: Springer Science & Business (forthcoming). Karen Witker (Theology and Religious Studies): "'To the Lost of Israel': An (Hypothetical) Ancient Letter with Commentary," Conversations with the Biblical World: Proceedings of the Eastern Great Lakes Biblical Society & Midwest Region Society of Biblical Literature XXXI (2011 [issue delayed; published in 2013]): 217–35. (Co-authored with Michele Stopera Freyhauf (’13, Theology and Religious Studies), Bridget M. Ludwa (’11, Theology and Religious Studies), and Mark Levand (’11, Theology and Religious Studies).

Presentations

Albina Khasanova (Biology) Impacts of drought on physiology and growth in grasses of the Intermountain West, the Joint Meeting of the Botanical Society of America and the Canadian Botanical Society, Columbus, OH, July 2012. Kelly Gronemeyer (Biology): Antimicrobial function of alkaloids in geographically different populations of Oophaga pumilio and Melanophryniscus simplix frog skin, The Annual Meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Albuquerque, July 2013. Maggie Hantak (Biology): The role of chemical compounds in the defense against predation of two neotropical anurans, Dendrobates auratus and Rhaebo haematiticus, The Annual Meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Albuquerque, July 2013. Jennifer Murphy (Biology) Early life history traits in globally invasive and non-invasive Rosa congeners, the Joint Meeting of the Botanical Society of America and the Canadian Botanical Society, Columbus, OH, July 2012; Functional trait plasticity in globally invasive and non-invasive Rosa sp in response to different light environments, Annual Ecological Society of America Conference, Minneapolis, summer, 2013. Jeff Walker (Biology) Biomass allocation and nitrogen cycling during the first year of growth for two perennial bunchgrass species, the Joint Meeting of the Botanical Society of America and the Canadian Botanical Society, Columbus, OH, July 2012. Victoria Giegerich (Clinical Mental Health Program): Shyness Types and Technology: University Students’ Experiences of Shyness and Use of Technology for Communication and Asperger’s Syndrome: A Systems Perspective for Working with Youth with Asperger’s and their families, the American Counseling Association’s Conference in Cincinnati, March 2013. Charmae Cottom (English): The Wife’s Lament, University of Cincinnati Graduate Studies Conference, April 2013. Rachel Hoag (English): A Kind of Nothing: Visual and Linguistic Difference in Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus, The Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association Conference in Washington DC in March 2013; A Thing Made of Actual Holes: Simon Armitage’s Modern Masculinity, the Midwest Intercollegiate Graduate Conference in Milwaukee, February 2013. Megan Griffin (English): Violence and Responsibility in Julie Taymor’s Titus, 2013 Midwest ACA/PCA Convention, St. Louis. Samantha Syracuse (English): Beyond Marianismo: Isabel Allende, Self-Reliance and Personal Fulfillment, Sigma Tau Delta Literary Festival and Conference, Shepherdstown, WV David Young (English): Love in Times of Chaos: Romance and Affection in the Films of Michael Haneke, The Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association Conference in Washington DC, March 2013; The Fifth Time Will Not Be the Charm, or, How Baz Lurhmann’s the Great Gatsby Will Fail as a Cinematic Adaptation, Midwest Popular Culture Association conference taking place in Columbus, October 2012; Framing the Unfilmable: Harold Pinter’s Adaptation of the French Lieutenant’s Woman, Mid-Atlantic PCA/ACA Conference, Pittsburgh, November 2013; Debasing the Shoah: Sex, Violence, and Historicity in Independent Holocaust Film, ACA/PCA Conference, Boston, April 2012. Ann Visintainer (English): Bold Defiance: Frederick Douglass, Gangsta Rap and Resistant Masculinity, the Midwest Popular Culture Association conference in Columbus, October 2012; Performing Gender in Law & Order: SVU and Ice Loves Coco, the Midwest Popular Culture Association conference in Columbus, October 2012. Haley Bishop, Jenn Murphy, Jenny Schmidt (School Psychology), Teacher perceptions of consultative practices that facilitate RTI at the elementary level. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Seattle, WA., February 2013. Robert Richardson, Kristen Marvinney, Jennifer Lewis (School Psychology), Teacher knowledge and perceptions of emotional disturbances: Improving consultation. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Seattle, WA., February 2013. Michelle O’Donnell, Emily Gray (School Psychology), School psychologists as systems-level consultants. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Seattle, WA., February 2013. Nicole Huzl (School Psychology) A Comparison of Teacher and School Psychologists' Views of Effective Consultation Skills to Increase Intervention Integrity, the International School Psychology Association Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada, July 2012. Shannon Sullivan (School Psychology): A small-scale study of the effects of supplemental vocabulary instruction on preschoolers with vocabulary delays, the American Educational Research Annual Meeting, San Francisco, April 2013. Jennifer Murphy (School Psychology):Teachers’ perceptions of consultative practices that facilitate RTI at the elementary level, the Ohio School Psychology Conference, Columbus, OH, April 2013. Carson Bay (Theology and Religious Studies) the Liberty and Markets Conference, February 2013. Michele S. Freyhauf (Theology and Religious Studies): Cyber Brides: Female Subjugation, Patriarchal Hegemony, and Economic Enslavement, The United Nations on the Commission on the Status of Women, March 2013. Kristen Pungitore (Theology and Religious Studies): The Eucharist and U2: A Theology that Transcends US: The Hype and The Feedback Conference, Cleveland, OH, April 2013.

Awards/Fellowships

Albina Khasanova (Biology) Best Poster from the Physiology Section at the Joint Meeting of the Botanical Society of America and the Canadian Botanical Society, Columbus, OH, July 2012. Radka Muhlsteinova (Biology): California Desert Research Grant from the Desert Legacy Fund. This award will help fund her biodiversity studies of biological soil crusts in south California wilderness areas; Outstanding Graduate Student in Biology Award at JCU. Jennifer Murphy (Biology): Best Graduate Student poster Award from the Ecological Section at the Joint Meeting of the Botanical Society of America and the Canadian Botanical Society, Columbus, OH, July 2012; Outstanding Graduate Student in Biology Award at JCU. Maggie Hantak (Biology): Gaige Award from the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists to partially fund her field research in Costa Rica this summer; Excellence in Graduate Studies Award from the JCU Biology Department. Ashley Coccitto (Education and Allied Studies): JCU Department of Education and Allied Studies Sally Wertheim Award. Heidi Levine-Shtern (Education and Allied Studies): JCU Department of Education and Allied Studies Hoffman Award for Educational Leadership. Rachel Hoag (English): Midwest Interdisciplinary Graduate Conference Travel Award; Graduate Teaching Assistantship, West Virginia University. Megan Griffin (English): JCU English Department Ann Lesser Essay Award; Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Case Western Reserve University. Samantha Syracuse (English): John Carroll University English Department Teaching Award. Ann Visintainer (English): JCU English Department Ann Lesser Graduate Essay Award. David Young (English): Michael Schoenecke Travel Grant, Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association; Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Duquesne University. Rachel Zaccardelli (Nonprofit Administration) is the first recipient of the Nonprofit Leader of Tomorrow Award. The award recognizes a graduating student in the Nonprofit Administration Program who exemplifies academic excellence, leadership, and service to the community. Carson Bay (Theology and Religious Studies): “Cook Fellow” for funding/participation in Liberty and Markets: A Co-Sponsored Program of the Action Institute and Liberty Fund, Inc.

ALPHA SIGMA NU JESUIT HONOR SOCIETY

Alpha Sigma Nu is the honor society for Jesuit institutions of higher education. This society honors undergraduate and graduate students who distinguish themselves in scholarship, loyalty, and service and encourages those so honored to understand, appreciate, and promote the ideas of Jesuit education. Congratulations to the following graduate students who were inducted in fall 2012:

• Jennifer Murphy (Biology)
• Jennifer Hayek (Communications Management)
• Elessa Young (Communications Management)
• Ashley Simpson (Counselor Education)
• Natalie Grabowski (Counselor Education)
• Lily Moore-Coll (Counselor Education)
• Coreen Schaefer (Counselor Education)
• Jennifer Easley (Education)
• Emily Eddings (Education)
• Katherine LeSueur (Education)
• Matthew McHam (Education)
• Diane Wilkoff (Education)
• Rachel Hoag (English)
• David Young (English)
• David Wakefield (History)
• Ross Carbone (Nonprofit Administration)
• Chantel Davis (Nonprofit Administration)
• Ruth Rachel Przybojewski (Non profit Administration)
• Sara Thomas (Nonprofit Administration)
• Lavinia Tighe (Nonprofit Administration)

Post Masters’ Education

• Maggie Hantak (Biology): Ph.D. Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Ohio University.
• Jennifer Murphy (Biology): Doctoral Program in Biology at Case Western Reserve University.
• Charmae Cottom (English): Ph.D. Program in English at Kent State University
• Rachel Hoag (English): Ph.D. Program in English, West Virginia University
• Megan Griffin (English): Ph.D. Program in English, Case Western Reserve University.
• David Young (English): Ph.D. Program in English, Duquesne University.
• Kaylee Sutton (Mathematics): Ph.D. Applied Engineering Mathematics, University of Akron.
• Michele Stopera Freyhauf (Theology and Religious Studies) PhD. Program in Ancient Near Eastern and Hebrew Bible Studies at the University of Durham, Durham, England.
• New Positions
• Maria Iannucci (Biology): USDA Aquatic Invasive Weeds Unit, the University of California, Davis.
• Coreen Schaefer (Education and Allied Studies): Assistant Principal, Beaumont School, Shaker Heights.
• Chamois Williams (English): Director of Awards and Scholarships, Delta Gamma Cleveland.
• Samantha Syracuse (English): adjunct instructor in English, John Carroll University and Ursuline University.
• Ryan Szymczak (English): elementary teacher, I CAN Schools, Cleveland.
• Kaylee Sutton (Mathematics): Summer Internship, Sherwin Williams.
• Chioke Barkari (Nonprofit Administration Program): the Development and Communications Associate at Preterm.
• Chantel Davis (Nonprofit Administration Program): the 2013 Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship Program creating a marketing strategy for the West Side Community House’s Summer of Sisterhood Program.
• John Hagerty (Nonprofit Administration Program): Director of the Annual Fund for Urban Community School.
• Eustacia Netzel-Hatcher (Nonprofit Administration Program): Director of Business Development, Corporate College.
• Ruth Rachel Przybojewski (Nonprofit Administration Program): promoted to supervisor in the Poll Worker Department, Cuyahoga Board of Elections.
• Richard Rozewski (Nonprofit Administration Program): Program Associate, Center for Art and Community Partnerships, Massachusetts College of Art.
• Brandon Sheil (Nonprofit Administration Program): promoted to Alumni Director, Open Doors Academy.
• Sana Loue (Theology and Religious Studies): Vice Dean for Faculty Development and Diversity at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
• Kristen Pungitore (Theology and Religious Studies): CORE Ministry Department, St. Joseph’s Academy, Cleveland.

Graduate Student Alumni

• Annie Brust (’12, English): Literature teacher, Kenston High School; tenured in spring 2013.
• Jeanne Kidera (’12, English): English/Humanities teacher, Hawken School.
• Claire McBroom (’12, English): Ph.D. program in English at Case Western Reserve University, editor for alumni association and instructor of English for international students, CWRU.
• Andrew Todd (’12 English): Ph.D. Program in Contemporary Literature, University of Tennessee;
• Published: Probably true enough: Narrative control through possibility in Absalom, Absalom! Sigma Tau Delta Review;
• Presented Spatiotemporal rebalancing in Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia, The American Comparative Literature Association Conference, Toronto, April 2013;
• Teaching Associate, University of Tennessee.
• Ben Scott (’12, Mathematics), Ph.D. in Mathematics, Ohio State University.
• Samantha Stroud Mealy (’11, Nonprofit Administration): Director of Marketing and Communication of Catholic Charities, Cleveland.
• Beth Lucas (’10, Nonprofit Administration): Director of Strategic Initiatives and Development at Baldwin Wallace University.
• Tracy Francescone (’08, Nonprofit Administration): Development Director for Community Services/Summit County at Catholic Charities, Cleveland.
• Helen Dumski (’08, Nonprofit Administration): Director of the Center for Bariatric Surgery at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.
• Lauren Kotmel (’12, Nonprofit Administration): promoted to Marketing Assistant to Development Coordinator, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• Natalie Clark (’09, Nonprofit Administration): Lead Intake and Referral Specialist, Help Me Grow.
• Kyle Sobh (’12, Nonprofit Administration): Electronic Medical Initiative, Office of Project Management for University Hospitals.
• Shannon Edwards (’12, Theology and Religious Studies): resident minister at JCU.
• Mark Levand (’11, Theology and Religious Studies) Ph.D. Program in Human Sexuality Studies at Widener University in Chester, PA.
• Jared Ward (’12, Theology and Religious Studies) PhD. Program in Asian Studies at the University of Akron.
• Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Brunswick.
• Bridget Ludwa O’Hanlon (’11, Theology and Religious Studies): Veteran Coordinator at Cuyahoga Community College.
• Gina Messina-Dysert (‘07, Theology and Religious Studies): Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies at Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, Ohio.