Illinois State Awards August Doctorates

Illinois State University awarded the following recipients their doctoral degrees in August.

Michael Bokor of Normal received his Ph.D. in English Studies.  The title of his dissertation is "Reconceiving Communicative Competence in International Technical Communication: A World Englishes Perspective in Native English Speakers Ethos Transformation."  The son of Agbayi Bokor of West Africa and the late Dosi Lavoe and husband of Gloria Bokor of New York, Bokor is an assistant professor at Long Island University.  He received his bachelor's degree in English from the University of Cape Coast and his master's degree in English from Illinois State University.

Bruce Erickson of Pesotum received his Ph.D. in English Studies. The title of his dissertation if "Before Beyond: A Study of a Para-Pedagogy Which Uses Discovery and Demystification to Revisit First-Year College Composition.  The husband of Nancy Kleiss of Pesotum, Erickson received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Oregon State University and his master's degree in writing from Illinois State.

Devon Fitzgerald of Champaign received her Ph.D. in English Studies.  The title of her dissertation is "Intersections of the Self: Identity in the Boom of Social Media."  The son of Nancy and Bruce Fitzgerald of Panama City, Fla., Fitzgerald is an assistant professor of professional writing and rhetoric at Millikin University.  She received his bachelor's and master's degrees in English from the University of South Alabama.

Teresa Hill of Normal received her Ed.D. in Educational Administration and Foundations.  The title of her dissertation is "Every Closed Eye Ain't Sleep: Accessing African American Discourse on the Achievement Gap."  The wife of Bishop Anthony Hill of Normal, Hill is an assistant superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at District #87.  She received her bachelor's degree in elementary education and her master's degree in educational administration from Illinois State.

Cindy Lochbaum Janovetz of Peoria received her Ed.D. in Educational Administration.  The title of her dissertation is "Analyzing the Leadership Issues Involved in the Evolution of Deaf Education in Central Illinois After 1950."  The daughter of Mary Lochbaum of Peoria and the late Edward Lochbaum and wife of James Janovetz of Peoria, Lochbaum Janovetz is a principal in Peoria Public School District #150.  She received her bachelor's degree in elementary education and her master's degree in educational administration from Bradley University. Lochbaum Janovetz is a member of the Illinois Association of the Deaf, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Illinois Principals Association, Phi Delta Kappa and Illinois Women Administrators.

Troy Larson of East Peoria received his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences.  His dissertation is titled "Functional Analysis of the Drosophila Melanogaster Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Pez."  The son of Louis Larson of Rochelle and the late Saundra Larson and husband of Julie Larson of East Peoria, Larson is a post-doctoral research associate at NCAUR in Peoria.  He received his bachelor's degree in biology from Augustana College and his master's degree in biology from Bradley University.

Angela Lynn of Macomb received her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Foundations.  Her dissertation is titled "Effect of Academic Content First-Year Seminars on Student Engagement in the Institutional Social System."  The daughter of Mellie and Lou Gilbert of Macomb and wife of Mitch Lynn of Macomb, Lynn is an associate director in the Office of the Registrar at Western Illinois University.  She received her bachelor's degree in individual studies and her master's degree in sociology from Western Illinois University. Lynn is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and the Illinois Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

Cindy Ropp of Bloomington received her Ed.D. in Special Education.  The title of her dissertation is "Special Education Administrators' Perceptions of Music Therapy: A National Perspective."  The daughter of Mary and Bill Ramseyer of St. Helena, S.C. and wife of Steve Ropp of Bloomington, Ropp is director of Music Therapy at Illinois State.  She received her bachelor's degree in music education from Bluffton College and her master's degree in music education from Illinois State.

Jonathon Stagg of Dixon received his Ph.D. in School Psychology.  His dissertation is titled "A Latent-Variable Analysis of the Color-Word Interference Test from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System: A Complex Executive Task." The son of Frances and William Staff of Peoria and husband of Kathy Thomas-Staff of Dixon, Stagg is a school psychologist at Ogle County Educational Cooperative. 

Nicole Williams of Winona, Minn., received her Ph.D. in Mathematics Education.  Her dissertation is titled "Interpreting Scatterplots: The Role of Statistical Knowledge and Personal Knowledge."  The daughter of Nancy and Robert Hemker and wife of Mike Williams all of Winona, Minn., Williams is an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Winona State University.  She received her bachelor's degree in secondary mathematics at the University of Maine at Farmington and her master's degree in mathematics at Illinois State.  Williams is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Jase Teoh of Segundo, Calif., received her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction.  Her dissertation is titled "Preservice Teachers in a Simulated World."  Teoh received her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Northern Iowa and her master's degree in counseling and psychological services from St. Mary's University of Minnesota.