ISU Awards May Doctorates

Illinois State University awarded doctorates to the following individuals in May.

Jennifer Grogg of Washington received her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction.  The title of her dissertation is "I think I can, I think I Can, I Think I Can... I Know I Can't: Self-efficacy and its Relationship to Attrition/Persistence in Science, Technology, and Mathematics Programs."  The wife of Richard Grogg, she received her bachelor's degree in history and biology education from Bradley University.  She is a member of the National Teachers Association and the Association of Supervision and Curriculum and Development.

Kavitha Damal of New Brunswick, N.J., received her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences.  The title of her dissertation is "Dispersal and Phylogeography of Aedes Aegypti (Yellow Fever Mosquito) in South Florida."  The daughter of Lakshmi and Vijayashree of India and the wife of Banugopan Kesavaraju, Damal received her master's degree from from Pondicherry University in India.  She is a member of the Entomological Society of America.

Ricia Chanksy of Barrio Cruces, Puerto Rico, received her Ph.D. in English Studies.  The title of her dissertation is "Language Beyond Words: Alternate Discourse as Rhetoric, Metaphor and Pedagogy."  The daughter of Howard and Patricia Chansky of Lunenburg, Mass., Chanksy received her bachelor's degree in political science from Regis College in Weston, Mass.  She is a member of Sigma Tau Delta and a winner of the Ora Bretall Award.

Allison Ambrose of Bettendorf, Iowa, received her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Foundations.  Her dissertation is titled "Student Characteristics of Merit Aid Recipients: Structural and Human Agency Determinants."  Daughter of Bryon and Marion Springer of Lawrence, K.S. and wife of Joseph Ambrose, she received her bachelor's degree accounting from University of Iowa.  She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Association for the Study of Higher Education.

Jessica Barnes of Charleston, W.Va., received her Ph.D. in English.  The title of her dissertation is "Writing the Body Politic: Fallen Women and the Construction of Empire."  Daughter of Randy Barnes of Colona and Randi Barnes of Rock Island, and wife of Jeff Pietruszynski, Barnes received her bachelor's degree in English from Drake University.  She is a member of Sigma Tau Delta and the Modern Language Association.