On April 14, 2022 Ciara Christian of LLC Cohort 21 successfully defended her dissertation and earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy. Her degree will be conferred on May 25, 2022.

Ciara's virtual defense went very smoothly and she gave a powerful presentation of her dissertation research, "Talkin' Shit, Pouring Libations, and Building Community: Exploring Podcasts as a Contemporary Site of Black Feminist Knowledge Production and Activism." 

The program wishes to acknowledge the guidance and commitment of Ciara's committee:

Co-Chairs:

   Dr. Brandy Wallace, Sociology, Anthropology & Public Health

   Dr. Kimberly Moffitt, Language, Literacy & Culture and CAHSS

Members:

   Dr. Jason Loviglio, Media & Communication Studies

   Dr. Jasmine Lee, Inclusive Excellence & Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging

   Dr. Tina Harris, Louisiana State University, Manship School of Mass Communication

On April 6, 2022 Kaleigh Mrowka of LLC Cohort 21 successfully defended her dissertation and earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy. Her degree will be conferred on May 25, 2022.

The virtual conversation with the committee about Dr. Mrowka's dissertation, "Restorative Justice Practices as a Framework for Change in Higher Education," was a wide-ranging and reflective conversation about personal, relational and systemic openings, possibilities and challenges of Restorative Justice Practices. Her powerful work reveals how practitioners of Restorative Justice Work in higher education have been impacted, and it uncovers the possibilities that expanding Restorative Justice Practices can contribute towards positive change into higher education and communities.

The program wishes to acknowledge the guidance and commitment of Kaleigh's committee:

Co-chairs:

     Dr. Yolanda Valencia, Geography & Environmental Systems

     Dr. Beverly Bickel, Language, Literacy & Culture

Members:

     Dr. Joby Taylor, Shriver Peaceworker Program

     Dr. Ramon Goings, Language, Literacy & Culture

     Dr. Gina Abrams, International Institute for Restorative Practices

On April 5, 2022 Tunisia Lacy-Lumpkin of LLC Cohort 19 successfully defended her dissertation and earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy. Her degree will be conferred on May 25, 2022.

The virtual meeting with the committee about Dr. Lacy-Lumpkin's dissertation, "What I Like: Chronicles of Black Males' Perspectives of Black Women's Hair," was a lively and engaged conversation about the methodology of the study and the power of her findings for opening up conversations with and among Black men and women about hair and body perceptions, politics and representations. The conversation included Dr. Lacy-Lumpkin's plans to expand her Black hair and body politics research by analyzing and sharing lived experiences of Black men and women through scholarship and media platforms.

The program wishes to acknowledge the guidance and commitment of Tunisia's committee:

Co-chairs: Dr. Kimberly Moffitt and Dr. Beverly Bickel (LLC)

Dr. Nicoleta Bazgan (MLLI)

Dr. Ramon Goings (LLC)

Dr. Bertram Ashe (University of Richmond)

Congratulations, Dr. Lacy-Lumpkin!

On December 16, 2021 Ruken Isik of LLC Cohort 17 successfully defended her dissertation and earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy. Her degree will be conferred in May, 2022.

Her virtual defense went very smoothly and she gave a powerful presentation of her dissertation research, "Livable, Lovable, and Grievable Lives: Kurdish Women's Funerals in Northern Kurdistan/Turkey."

The program wishes to acknowledge the guidance and commitment of Ruken's committee:

Dr. Carole McCann, Gender, Women's, + Sexuality Studies, Chair

Dr. Beverly Bickel, Language, Literacy & Culture

Dr. Christine Mallinson, Language, Literacy & Culture

Dr. Mejdulene Shomali, Gender, Women's, + Sexuality Studies

Dr. Emek Ergun, Women's and Gender Studies Program and Department of Global Studies, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

On November 15, 2021 Harry Bhandari of LLC Cohort 19 successfully defended his dissertation and earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy. He is currently making final edits to his manuscript and hopes to have his degree conferred in December, but no later than May.

Harry's virtual defense went very smoothly and he gave an excellent presentation of his dissertation research, "The Political Participation and Linguistic Integration of Nepalese Americans."

The program wishes to acknowledge the guidance and commitment of Harry's committee:

Dr. Loren Henderson, Sociology, Anthropology & Public Health, Chair

Dr. Ramon Goings, Language, Literacy & Culture

Dr. Felipe Filomeno, Political Science

Dr. Brandy Wallace, Sociology, Anthropology & Public Health

Dr. Omar Ka, Modern Languages, Linguistics & Intercultural Communication

Dr. Uttam Gaulee, Morgan State University

Congratulations, Dr. Bhandari!

On August 23, 2021 May Chung of LLC Cohort 17 successfully defended her dissertation and earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy. Her degree will be conferred in December, 2021.

Her virtual defense went very smoothly and she gave an excellent presentation of her dissertation research, "Mandarin-English Dual Language Education: Understanding Parental Ideologies and Expectations."

The program wishes to acknowledge the guidance and commitment of May's committee:

Dr. Sarah Shin, Education, Chair

Dr. Christine Mallinson, LLC, Co-Chair

Dr. Jiyoon Lee, Education

Dr. Fan Yang, Media and Communication Studies

Dr. Beverly Bickel, LLC

Congratulations, Dr. Chung!

On June 30, 2021 Montia Gardner of LLC Cohort 19 successfully defended her dissertation and earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy. Her degree will be conferred in August, 2021.

Her virtual defense went very smoothly and she gave an excellent presentation of her dissertation research, "Shadowed Beneath Thy Hand: Organizational Capital and the Cultivation of Academic Talent at a Low-SES Suburban High School."

The program wishes to acknowledge the guidance and commitment of Montia's committee:

Dr. Pamela Bennett (PUBL), Chair

Dr. Kimberly Moffitt (LLC)

Dr. Keisha McIntosh Allen (EDUC)

Dr. Ramon Goings (LLC)

Dr. LaTonya Turner (Marian University)

On May 3, 2021 Katherine J. Morris of LLC Cohort 18 successfully defended her dissertation and earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy. Her degree will be conferred in August, 2021.

Her virtual defense went very smoothly and she gave an excellent presentation of her dissertation research, "Being Called to Social Work: What Latina Women Carry."

The program wishes to acknowledge the guidance and commitment of Katie's committee:

Dr. Beverly Bickel (LLC), Chair

Dr. Francine Hultgren (UMD) Co-Chair

Dr. Tania Lizarazo (MLLI)

Dr. Thania Muñoz (MLLI)

Dr. Debra Gioia (SOWK)

On April 23, 2021 J Inscoe of LLC Cohort 19 successfully defended their dissertation and earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy.

Their virtual defense went very smoothly and they gave an excellent presentation of their dissertation research, "Sonic Waves of Grain: Paul Harvey's American Evangelism."

The program wishes to acknowledge the guidance and commitment of J's committee:

Dr. Jason Loviglio (MCS), Chair

Dr. Christine Mallinson (LLC), Co-Chair

Dr. Jessica Berman (ENGL)

Dr. Jennifer Maher (ENGL)

Dr. Elizabeth Patton (MCS)

On April 7, 2021 Eva Wright of LLC Cohort 15 successfully defended her dissertation and earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy.

Her virtual defense went very smoothly and she gave an excellent presentation of her dissertation research, "PTSD and Narration: Traumatic Stories' Impact on Realism in Film and Literature."

The program wishes to acknowledge the guidance and commitment of Eva's committee:

Dr. Craig Saper (LLC), Chair

Dr. Raphael Falco (ENGL)

Dr. Jessica Berman (ENGL)

Dr. Melissa Hilbish (JHU)

Dr. George Scheper (JHU)