College of Education and Human Development
PhD Dissertations - Fall 2014
December 15, 2014
Eleven doctoral students in the PhD in Education program at George Mason University defended their dissertations during the Fall 2014 semester.
The list below is a window into current issues in education research as well as particular strengths and interest areas in the College of Education and Human Development.
The PhD in Education program at Mason is one of the largest in the country and notable for its individualized, interdisciplinary, and experiential approach and the level of guidance provided by faculty advisors. The program is currently co-directed by Professors Anastasia Kitsantas and Gary Galluzzo.
| Doctoral Student | Dissertation Title | Committee Chair |
| Melissa K. Ainsworth | Effectiveness of the ALL Curriculum to Teach Basic Literacy Skills to Groups of Students with Severe Disabilities and Complex Communication Needs | Anna Evmenova |
| Winifred F. Betts-Campbell | The Examination of Medical Mistrust among Native and Foreign-Born Blacks Living with HIV/AIDS | Regine Talleyrand |
| Rebecca L. Caufman | On the Record: Exploring Reading Recovery Teachers' Reported Beliefs About and Uses of Running Records | Julie Kidd |
| Susan M. Dass | The Effectiveness of a Professional Development Intervention on Faculty Consideration of Adoption of 3D Avatar-Based Virtual Worlds as a Learning Environment: An Exploratory Case Study | Nada Dabbagh |
| Nicole M. Jones | The Role of Personality and Professional Learning Community Quality in Predicting Teacher Effectiveness | Anastasia Kitsantas |
| Neda Khalili | Student Designed Science Games: A Study of the Design Process, Artifacts, and Attitudes in a Constructivist and Constructionist Learning Environment | Kevin Clark |
| Kevin McGowan | Experiences of Early Childhood Educators with Disabilities: A Critical Disability Theory Perspective | Julie Kidd |
| Kate P. Moran | The Effects of Using the Crossfit Kids Program on Academics and Fitness | Frederick Brigham |
| David A. Nelson | Rasch Analysis of a Rating Scale for Gifted and Talented Identification | Erin Peters-Burton |
| Charles Parrish | Event Planner Perceptions of a College Football Stadium as an Event and Meeting Venue: A Qualitative Study of Site Selection Attributes | David Wiggins |
| Raymond D. Shorter | Black Early Childhood Teachers' Perspectives Regarding the Overrepresentation of Black Students in Special Education | M. Susan Burns |
About CEHD
George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) includes two schools: the Graduate School of Education, one of the most comprehensive education schools in Virginia, and the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism. CEHD offers a full range of courses, certificates, and degree programs on campus, online, and on site to more than 4,000 students each year. CEHD is fully accredited by NCATE, and all licensure programs are approved by the Virginia Department of Education. George Mason University, located just outside of Washington, DC, is Virginia's largest public research university.
For additional information:
- CEHD Communications: cehdnews@gmu.edu
- Graduate School of Education: gse.gmu.edu
- PhD in Education: cehd.gmu.edu/phd
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