Student News

Kathryn A. Bethea, a graduate research assistant in the Department of Administrative and Policy Studies, received a travel grant from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division J Travel Grant Committee to attend the 2015 AERA Annual Meeting in Chicago, Ill. At the meeting, Bethea presented during a roundtable session and chaired another session.

Kaitlyn Brennan, who is studying special education leadership and applied behavior analysis, was one of 11 doctoral students who participated in the Higher Education Consortium for Special Education’s Short Course in Education Policy and Politics in Washington, D.C. in January 2015.

Jennifer Briggs, a doctoral student in applied developmental psychology, received the 2015 Graduate Student Award for Excellence in SEL Research from the AERA Social and Emotional Learning Special Interest Group.

Joshua “J.C.” Childs, a doctoral student in learning sciences and policy, was selected by the AERA Minority Fellowship Selection Committee to receive the 2015–16 AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship in Education Research.

Alexis Fisher, a master’s student in the Department of Psychology in Education, had an article published in the PA CASSP Newsletter, which is released statewide. CASSP, which stands for the Child and Adolescent Service System Program, provides a comprehensive system of care for children, adolescents, and their families in Pennsylvania.

Stacy Kehoe, a graduate student researcher, was honored by the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators with its 2015 Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Education award, which recognizes someone who has contributed to environmental education in a nonteaching area, such as publishing or research. She also was featured in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s “Newsmaker” section for her award.

Brian Leventhal, a teaching fellow in the Department of Psychology in Education, earned a summer internship with the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). Leventhal worked with AICPA as part of its CPA (Certified Public Accountant) examinations, which ensure that only qualified individuals become licensed as CPAs.

Nancy Mangels, an undergraduate student, received a scholarship via the Fulbright Scholar Program, and will begin her studies in Malaysia in January 2016. This program provides highly competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists, and artists.

Danielle Peckman, a student in the Department of Psychology in Education, was featured in the Pittsburgh newspaper The Jewish Chronicle for participating in Onward Israel, a program in Israel that includes internships, service learning, academic courses, and fellowships.

John Rozzo, a doctoral student, was featured in the “Newsmaker” section of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Currently assistant superintendent for the Upper St. Clair School District, Rozzo was recognized for his recent Outstanding Middle Level Administrator Award from the Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education.

Mary Utter, a PhD student in the Higher Education Management Program, has been awarded a research grant from NODA (the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education) to conduct research on transfer students for her dissertation, which is titled, “An Exploration of How Previous Collegiate Experience Influences the Social Integration Experiences of Vertical and Lateral Transfer Students at the Transfer Institution.”

Xinyu Huang and Zudan Zhou have each received one-term tuition remission scholarships for the 2015–16 academic year from the University of Pittsburgh Asian Studies Center. They can choose whether to use the funding for fall 2015 or spring 2016.

Ya Zhang, a PhD student in the research methodology program, won a 2015 AERA Division D In-Progress Research Award for her research study, Impact of Form and Group Differences on Equating Accuracy of Linear and Nonlinear Equating Methods.