Author: Brianna Alford

Winter 2017 PhD Graduates were honored with the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) Academic Achievement Medal presented by Dean Mark Ginsberg at the PhD Colloquium on Friday, December 8.  The medal is a symbol of the scholarly achievement and overall commitment to the advancement of the field of education demonstrated by the successful completion of the PhD in Education at George Mason University. It is intended to be worn proudly at graduation. The medal also serves as a lifelong reminder to graduates of the high expectations and unwavering standards of the Mason community. The presentation of the medal to PhD Graduates is a fairly new tradition for CEHD that was first introduced at the spring 2017 School of Education Degree Celebration.

Congratulations to the Winter 2017 PhD Academic Achievement Medalists:

Soo Y. Ahn
Dissertation Title	Using a Mobile-Based Graphic Organizer with Embedded Procedural Facilitation for Idea Generation to Support Persuasive Essay Writing for Middle School Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Major Professor	Dr. Kelley Regan, College of Education and Human Development
Daniah I. Aleissa
Dissertation Title	The Effect of Technology on Saudi Female Students Learning English as a Foreign/Second Language
Major Professor	Dr. Marjorie Haley, College of Education and Human Development
Maha M. Al-Freih
Dissertation Title	Examining the Relationship between Self-Regulated Learning Processes and Persistence to Goals in Massive Open Online Courses
Major Professor	Dr. Nada Dabbagh, College of Education and Human Development
John M. Bordenkecher
Dissertation Title	Peace Corps Service and the Development of Quality School Leaders
Major Professor	Dr. Beverly Shaklee, College of Education and Human Development
Gordon Brown
Dissertation Title	The Effects of an Integrated Curriculum on High School Students’ Achievement and Integrative Thinking
Major Professor	Drs. Beverly Shaklee and Kimberly Sheridan, College of Education and Human Development
Jennifer Buxton
Dissertation Title	An Investigation of the Relationships among High School Students’ Reading Comprehension Strategy Instruction, Strategy Use, Attitudes, and Achievement
Major Professor	Dr. Anastasia Kitsantas, College of Education and Human Development
Mimi Corcoran
Dissertation Title	The AP Calculus Exam Reading Experience:  Implications for Teacher Classroom Practice and Student Comprehension
Major Professor	Dr. Jennifer Suh, College of Education and Human Development
Marriam Ewaida
Dissertation Title	The Process of Co-Constructing and Implementing a Critical Literacy Unit for English Learners
Major Professor	Drs. Kristien Zenkov and William Brozo, College of Education and Human Development
Anthony Garces-Foley
Dissertation Title	California School Superintendents’ Opinion of LGBT-Inclusive Instruction and the Fair Education Act’s Implementation in 2015-2016
Major Professor	Dr. Penelope Earley, College of Education and Human Development
Nicole Harris-Sealey
Dissertation Title	Understanding How Universities Develop Cooperative Systems to Support International Enrollment Management Activity
Major Professor	Dr. Jaime Lester, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Melissa Hughes
Dissertation Title	Examining the Role of Self-Regulated Learning Instruction on the Performance and Self-Efficacy Beliefs of Struggling Writers
Major Professor	Dr. Kelley Regan, College of Education and Human Development
Bobbie Jo Kite
Dissertation Title	Family Language Policy in American Sign Language and English Bilingual Families
Major Professor	Dr. Julie Kidd, College of Education and Human Development
Danielle Kittrell
Dissertation Title	Why They Stayed: A Narrative Inquiry of Three Black Women Science Educators
Major Professor	Dr. Toya Frank, College of Education and Human Development
John Knipe
Dissertation Title	Translingualism and Second Language Acquisition: Language Ideologies of Gaelic Medium Education Teachers in a Linguistically Liminal Setting
Major Professor	Dr. Rebecca Fox, College of Education and Human Development
Michael Mazzarella
Dissertation Title	Expectancy-Value Factors, Gender, and Achievement: Is There a Difference Between Algebra and Geometry?
Major Professor	Dr. Erin Peters-Burton, College of Education and Human Development
Dwannal Wade McGahee
Dissertation Title	Effects of a Self-Advocacy Intervention on the Performance of High School Students with Learning Disabilities when Requesting Academic Accommodations
Major Professor	Dr. Margaret King-Sears, College of Education and Human Development
Sophia Ra
Dissertation Title	Preservice Teachers’ Entering Beliefs and Preconceptions about Teaching for Social Justice
Major Professor	Dr. Gary Galluzzo, College of Education and Human Development
Matthew Ragone
Dissertation Title	Assistant Principals’ Perceptions of Student Progress Goals and their Impact on Instructional Leadership
Major Professor	Dr. Diana D’Amico, College of Education and Human Development
Lauren Serpati
Dissertation Title	The Impact of Secondary Teachers’ Motivational Beliefs on Their Intent to Accept Brain-Based Teaching
Major Professor	Dr. Anastasia Kitsantas, College of Education and Human Development
Sarah-Jane Thomas
Dissertation Title	Using Technology to Facilitate Language Acquisition of English Language Learners
Major Professor	Dr. Beverly Shaklee, College of Education and Human Development
Jessica Turner
Dissertation Title	Who they are Within: Females’ Experiences of Empowerment Programming in India
Major Professor	Dr. Beverly Shaklee, College of Education and Human Development

College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) students are always making #MoneyMoves to prepare for life after college. Shernelle Moneé Helena Rey, a Tourism and Events Management senior, is no different. Native to the US Virgin Islands, Shernelle has been selected to participate in Marriott’s Voyage Global Leadership Development Post Graduate Program (Voyage).

Voyage is Marriott’s competitive international and award-winning global leadership development program that offers resources and support to future leaders of the company across Marriott’s hotel brands. Shernelle expressed, “I am excited to learn through the curriculum and simulations the ins and outs of the Events department as well as the other areas throughout the hotel. I am also excited to be a part of the Marriott Family. I have always wanted to work for Marriott from such a young age!”

The Voyage program allows participants to immerse themselves in the operations of a hotel through mini departmental rotations. Participants receive hands-on training in accounting and finance, culinary, event management, food and beverage, human resources, rooms operations, and sales.

Shernelle contributes her competitiveness in the applicant pool for the Voyage program, and her success at Mason in general, largely to the faculty, staff, and peers who have supported and encouraged her to be more involved on campus and to always do her best.

Shernelle, who is set to graduate in May 2018, has been putting the skills she’s learned from her major courses to good use during her time at Mason. She was the spring 2017 Academic Events Assistant for the Office of Student and Academic Affairs, helping with the coordination of several CEHD signature events, including the Student Research Symposium, Degree Celebrations, and Writer’s Retreat.

Shernelle has also held leadership positions in the Caribbean Student Association and Patriot Activities Council. Through these organizations, she helped coordinate a plethora of programs including, but not limited to, fashion shows, cultural festivals, philanthropic events, and awareness campaigns.

We asked Shernelle to offer some advice for future Mason students. She replied, “Make sure to get as much experience as you can within the industry because it can benefit you in the end! Always follow your passion and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it, because you can do anything you put your mind to!”

Congrats on your Voyage, Shernelle! We are very proud of you!

As the fall semester winds down, we bring you the last weekly digests until the new year. 

Twelve College of Education and Human Development students were initiated into the Nu Alpha Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi education honor society on Monday, November 13 at a ceremony in Thompson Hall.  The new members were nominated by faculty as exemplars of scholarship, leadership, and service – the core values of Kappa Delta Pi.

Members were welcomed by Chapter Counselor and Teacher Licensure Specialist, Rebekah Flis. Dean Mark Ginsberg gave the charge to initiates, reminding them of Nelson Mandela’s words, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”  Flis and CEHD Student Engagement Coordinator Brandon Quiles then led the new members in their oath to uphold the society’s values. Each member was presented with a certificate, pin, and Kappa Delta Pi’s distinctive purple and green cords to be worn proudly at commencement.

Kappa Delta Pi is an international organization with an initiated membership of over 1.2 million, stretching back more than a century, with the goals of fostering excellence in education and promoting fellowship among those dedicated to teaching. Mason’s initiates take their places alongside distinguished members including Margaret Mead, Eleanor Roosevelt, James William Fulbright, and Albert Einstein.

The newest members of Mason’s Nu Alpha Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi are:

Maimoona H. Al Abri	PhD, Education Learning Technologies Design Research
Catherine L. Daniel	MS, Educational Psychology  Learning, Cognition, and Motivation
Leticia A. Guzman	PhD, Education Higher Education
Christopher Kidd	MEd, Curriculum and Instruction Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners
Carla Mowen	MEd, Special Education Early Childhood Special Education
Syed Mustafa Hassan	PhD, Education
Ruth F. Narcisse	MEd, Curriculum and Instruction Literacy Leadership for Diverse Schools: K-12 Reading
Danielle Reese Nixon	MEd, Curriculum and Instruction ASTL Literacy: Reading Specialist
Karen V. Priftis	MEd, Curriculum and Instruction ASTL Literacy: Reading Specialist
Stephanie Reininger	MEd, Curriculum and Instruction Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners
Wendy Thomas	Graduate Certificate Literacy K-12 Reading Specialist
Boshra F. Zawawi	PhD, Education Learning Technologies Design Research