The University of Massachusetts Amherst

Academics

Doctoral Oral Exams for March 21–25

The Graduate Dean invites all graduate faculty to attend the final oral examinations for the doctoral candidates scheduled as follows:

Bi-sek Hsiao, Ph.D., Nutrition, Monday, March 21, 10 a.m., Chenoweth Lab 210 A. Dissertation: “Elucidating Mechanisms Influencing Maternal Postpartum Health: the Protective Benefits of Breastfeeding and Associations with Allostatic Load, Experiences of Stress, and Resiliency.” Lindiwe Sibeko, chr.

Christopher Tranberg, Ph.D., Education, Monday, March 21, 10 a.m., Room N-113 Furcolo. Dissertation: “Professional Learning Cultures at Work: How Principals Serve as Catalysts for Learning.” Sharon Rallis, chr.

Kathryn Wagner, Ph.D., School of Public Health, Monday, March 21, 12:30 p.m. via Zoom. Dissertation: “The Impact of a Lifestyle Intervention on Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors Among At-Risk Hispanic Women.” Lisa Chasen-Taber, chr.

Seyed Arian Akhavan Niaki, Ph.D., Computer Science, Monday, March 21, 2 p.m. via Zoom. Dissertation: “Measuring Network Interference and Mitigating it with DNS Encryption.” Phillipa Gill, chr.

Chalais Carter, Ph.D., Education, Monday, March 21, 2 p.m. via Zoom. Dissertation: “Education Assemblage: Tracing and Undermining Raciality in the Era of Standardization and Accountability.” Korina Jocson, chr.

Amari L. Boyd, Ph.D., Education, Monday, March 21, 3 p.m. via Zoom. Dissertation: “An Endarkened Autoethnographic Approach to Peer Co-Curricular Dialogue Facilitation Training.” Jamila Lyiscott, chr.

Mitchell Culler, Ph.D., Food Science, Tuesday, March 22, 8 a.m. via Zoom. Dissertation: “Novel Approaches for Precenting Oxidation in Emulsion-Based Food Systems.” Eric Decker, chr.

Jessica Porter, Ph.D., Education, Tuesday, March 22, 9:30 a.m. via Zoom. Dissertation: “An Evaluation of Training and Consultation Services for Out of School Time Staff: A Single Case Study.” Sarah Refer, chr.

Gabriel Reif, Ph.D., Education, Tuesday, March 22, 9:30 a.m. Room N113 Furcolo. Dissertation: “Who Benefits from Deferred Entry to College?: Exploring the Relationship Between College Deferment, Postsecondary Academic Success and Institutional Selectivity.” Ryan Wells, chr.

Jenna Febrizio, Ph.D., History, Tuesday, March 22, 10 a.m. via Zoom. Dissertation: “Social Connections & Memory Dimensions: A Layered Portrait of a Twentieth-Century Art Network.” Jon Olsen, chr.

Dale M. Jones, Ph.D., Education, Tuesday, March 22, 10 a.m. via Zoom. Dissertation: “Quality of Life for Women with Chronic Lime Disease: A Socioeconomic Investigation.” Linda Griffin, chr.

Ellen Ho, Ph.D., Education, Wednesday, March 23, 9:15 a.m., Room S125 Furcolo Hall. Dissertation: “Examining Parents who are English Language Learners with Reading Difficulties: Their Experiences of Their Diverse Children’s Literacy Learning.” Alexandra Lauterbach, chr.

Elisabet Pallas, Ph.D., Hispanic Literature and Linguistics, Thursday, March 24, 9 a.m. via Zoom. Dissertation: “Espacios en Disputa. Cronica de Desplazamientos y Reocupacion Urbana en el Raval y el Casc Antic de Barcelona (1964-2014).” David Rodriguez-Solas, chr.

Yongkuk Park, Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Thursday, March 24, 1 p.m., N410 Life Science Laboratories and via Zoom. Dissertation: “Development of In Vitro Bone Model for the Recapitulation of Bone Complexity.” Jungwoo Lee, chr.

Natthapong Sueviriyapan, Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Thursday, March 24, 3 p.m. via Zoom. Dissertation: “Computational Modeling of the Mammalian Central Circadian Clock: the Intercellular Signaling Role of GABA Neurotransmitter.” Shelly Peyton, chr.

Jeffrey Gertler, Ph.D., Physics, Friday, March 25, 8:30 a.m. LGRT 1033 and via Zoom. Dissertation: “Reservoir Engineering of Multi-photon States in Circuit Quantum Electrodynamics.” Chen Wang, chr.

Thomas Pickering, Ph.D., English, Friday, March 25, 9 a.m. via Zoom. Dissertation: “Ownership and Writer Agency in Web 2.0.” Donna LeCourt, chr.

Linda Koh, Ph.D., Nursing, Friday, March 25, 9:30 a.m. via Zoom. Dissertation: “A Plant-Based Culinary Intervention to Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk and Improve Self-Efficacy in Latino/a/x Adults.” Rachel Walker, chr.