2020-2021 Travel Awards

The Graduate School is proud of our students' accomplishments. Here you'll find a list of student presentations sponsored by the Graduate School.

Last Updated on June 2, 2021.

American Studies

Biology

James Mann
Sponsor: Dr. Jason Pitts

"Rapid DNA Detection in Vector Arthropods"
Entomological Society of America. Virtual. November 11-25, 2020.

Biomedical Studies

Karel Kalecky
Sponsor: Dr. Teodoro Bottiglieri

"Metabolomic and Lipidomic Analysis in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease Reveals Similarities and Differences in Plasma Profiles Including Abnormal Microbial Metabolites"
AD/PD 2021: The 15th International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases. Virtual. Mach 9-14, 2021.

Business

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Himasha Perera
Sponsor: Dr. Michael Trakselis

"Molecular Contacts and Kinetic Control within the Replisome maintain Coupled DNA Unwinding and Synthesis"
ASBMB Experimental Biology 2021
Virtual. April 27-30 2021.

Yuling Deng
Sponsor: Dr. Mary Lynn Trawick

"2086 - Cancer Signaling and Therapeutics"
2021 ASBMB Annual Meeting
Virtual. April 27-30, 2021.

Communication

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Computer Science

Denton Wood
Sponsor: Dr.Tomas Cerny

"Database-Conscious End-to-End Testing For Reactive Systems Using Containerization"
23rd International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems
Virtual. April 26-28, 2021.

Curriculum and Instruction

Nate Scholten
Sponsor: Dr. Brooke Blevins

"Shifting Conceptions of Citizenship: Preservice Teachers and Action Civics"
College and University Faculty Assembly (CUFA) - National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
Washington, DC. November 30-December 4, 2020.

"Fusing Civic Praxis and Ideological Clarity: Action Civics and Preservice Teachers' ' Shifting Conceptions of Citizenship"
American Educational Research Association
Virtual. April 8-12, 2021.

Jess Smith
Sponsor: Dr. Brooke Blevins

"Critically Conscious Reciprocal Mentoring: Reimagining and Renewing the Egalitarian Learning Community"
College & University Faculty Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies 2020 Conference
Virtual. December 2-4, 2020.

Jess Smith
Sponsor:Dr. Rachelle Rogers

"CO-LABorate: Co-Teaching in the Science Classroom"
NAPDS (National Association for Professional Development Schools)
Virtual. March 28-31, 2021.

Jess Smith
Sponsor:Dr. Kevin Magill

"Critically Conscious Reciprocal Mentoring: Reimagining and Renewing the Egalitarian Learning Community"
American Education Research Association
Virtual. April 8-12, 2021.

Melissa Donham
Sponsor: Dr. Trena Wilkerson

"Algebra Teacher Self-Efficacy Instrument Validation for Preservice Teachers"
Research Council on Mathematics Learning Conference
Virtual. February 26-27, 2021.

Melissa Donham
Sponsor: Dr. Sandra Cooper

"The Development of Teacher Noticing for PSTs in a Varied Field Experience"
School Science and Mathematics Association
Virtual. November 5-7, 2020.

"Teacher Noticing for PSTs in an Early Childhood Field Experience"
Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators Conference
Virtual. February 11-20, 2021.

"Measurement: What's a line got to do with it?"
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Meeting
Virtual. April 21-May 1, 2021.

Ashleigh Maldonado
Sponsor: Dr. Tony Talbert

"Critically Conscious Reciprocal Mentoring: Reimagining the Egalitarian Learning Community"
College and University Faculty Assembly(CUFA)
Waco, Texas. November 30-December 4, 2020.

Ashleigh Maldonado
Sponsor: Dr. Brooke Blevins

"Critically Conscious Reciprocal Mentoring: Reimagining the Egalitarian Learning Community"
American Educational Research Association
Virtual. April 8-12, 2021.

Hannah Anderson
Sponsor: Dr. Trena Wilkerson

"Empowering Teacher and Student Voice Examining Math Teaching and Learning Through Lesson Study"
NCTM 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting & Exposition
Virtual. April 21-May 1, 2021.

Jennifer Gonzales
Sponsor: Dr. J. Vargas

"Investigating the Validity of the Scales for the Identification of Gifted Students (SIGS)"
2021 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
Virtual. April 8-12, 2021.

Hamza Haqqi
Sponsor: Dr. Laila Sanguras

"Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent Development Poster Session 1"
2021 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
Virtual. April 9-11, 2021.

Shavonne Gibson
Sponsor: Dr. Laila Sanguras

"Updating the National Norms for the Scales for the Identification of Gifted Students (SIGS)"
2021 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
Virtual. April 8-12, 2021.

Sarah Chambers
Sponsor: Dr. Laila Sanguras

"Investigating the Validity of the Scales for the Identification of Gifted Students (SIGS)"
2021 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
Virtual. April 9-12, 2021.

Felicia Turner
Sponsor: Dr. Laila Sanguras

"Exploring the Relationship between Mentors and Novice Choral Teachers"
2021 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
Virtual. April 9-12, 2021.

Brian Dossey
Sponsor: Dr. Sarah Pratt

"Exploring Effects of Whiteness in Math Instruction with Urban HS Students"
Annual Conference of the Research Council on Mathematics Learning
Denton, TX. February 26-27, 2021.

Sponsor: Dr. Laila Sanguras

"Exploring the Relationship between Mentors and Novice Choral Teachers"
2021 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
Virtual. April 8-12, 2021.

Daniel Smelker-Cheeseman
Sponsor: Dr. Laila Sanguras

"The Role of Mentoring in Supporting Teachers from Diverse Communities"
2021 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
Virtual. April 9-12, 2021.

Angie Torres
Sponsor: Dr. Laila Sanguras

"Updating the National Norms for the Scales for the Identification of Gifted Students (SIGS)"
2021 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
Virtual. April 9-12, 2021.

Kenley Bailey Ritter
Sponsor: Dr. Karon LeCompte

"Yes! I have rights: First amendment freedoms in elementary classrooms"
College and University Faculty Assembly
Virtual. November 30-December 4, 2020.

"Learning Together: A Multicase Study on Reciprocal Learning in Action Civics Programs"
American Educational Research Association
Virtual. April 9-12, 2021.

Kenley Bailey Ritter
Sponsor: Dr. Sandra Cooper

"The Development of Teaching Noticing for PSTs in a Varied Field Experience"
School Science and Mathematics Association
Virtual. November 5-7, 2020.

"Teacher Noticing for Preservice Teachers in an Early Childhood Field Experience"
Association of Mathematic Teacher Educators
Virtual. February 11-20, 2021.

Kenley Bailey Ritter
Sponsor: Dr. Sandra Cooper

"PST Noticing: Reflecting after Watching their own Videos"
Research Council on Mathematics Learning
Virtual. February 26-27, 2021.

Lee Anne Brannon
Sponsor: Dr. Brooke Blevins

"A New Approach to Meeting Teacher Candidate and Student Needs in a Virtual World"
National Association of Professional Development Schools
Houston, Texas. March 28-31, 2021.

Karynecia Conner
Sponsor: Dr. Phil Nichols

"Critical Conscious Reciprocal Mentorship"
College and University Faculty Assembly
Virtual. December 4-6, 2020.

"Critical Conscious Reciprocal Mentorship"
2021 Virtual American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
Virtual. April 8-12, 2021.

Brandy Crowley
Sponsor: Dr. Sandra Cooper

"Using Desmos in Elementary Grades"
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Virtual. February 1-6, 2021.

"Syllabi Review through a Social Justice Lens"
Association of Teacher Educators
Virtual. February 15, 2021.

"PST Noticing: Reflecting after Watching Their Own Videos"
Research Council on Mathematics Learning
Virtual. February 26-27, 2021.

Tracy Harper
Sponsor: Dr. Kelly Johnston

"Syllabi Review through a Social Justice Lens"
Association of Teacher Educators Annual Meeting
Waco, Texas. February 14-17, 2021.

"Practitioner Inquiry in the Midst of Mandates: Examining Teachers and Shifts in Literacy Pedagogy"
American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
Waco, Texas. April 9-12, 2021.

Victoria Smith
Sponsor:Dr. Kevin Magill

"Critically Conscious Reciprocal Mentoring"
National Council for the Social Studies - College and University Faculty Assembly
Virtual. November 30-December 4, 2020.

"Students as Place Makers: A Case Study on Action Civics and Place-Consciousness"
American Education Research Association
Virtual. April 7-13, 2021.

Ecological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Garret Sulak
Sponsor: Dr. Marshall Magnusen

"Fuller House: The Impact of Promotions on Venue Capacity in Minor League Baseball"
Applied Sport Management Association
Virtual. February 24-26, 2021.

Economics/Health Services Research

Treasure Ramirez
Sponsor: Dr. Emily R. Smith

"The Economic Impact of Pediatric Surgical Care on Families in Somaliland"
Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) 2021 Virtual Conference
Virtual. March 12-14, 2021.

Educational Leadership

Gianna Esparza
Sponsor: Dr. Marshall Magnusen

"Planning for an Unplanned World with Don Costante"
2021 Applied Sport Management Association Virtual Conference
Kerrville , Texas. February 24-26, 2021.

Aaliyah Miller
Sponsor: Dr. Marshall Magnusen

"Industry Interview Presentation"
Applied Sport Management Association
Virtual. February 24-26, 2021.

Rachel Morton
Sponsor: Dr. Marshall Magnusen

"Industry Interview"
Applied Sport Management Association
Virtual. February 24-26, 2021.

Brittany Needham
Sponsor: Dr. Marshall Magnusen

"Fuller House: Analyzing the Impacts of Promotions on Venue Capacity in Triple-A Baseball"
Applied Sport Management Association
Virtual. February 24-26, 2021.

Jeff Strietzel
Sponsor: Dr. Rishi Sriram

"Lies We Tell Ourselves: Administrator Job Loss Narratives, Attribution Errors, and Some Truth"
Association for the Study of Higher Education Annual Conference
Virtual. November 18-21, 2020.

Educational Psychology

Marie Kirkpatrick
Sponsor: Dr. Jessica Akers

"Systematic Review of Video Activity Schedules to Teach Individuals with ASD"
Texas Association for Behavior Analysis
Virtual. February 12-14, 2021.

Maryann Hebda
Sponsor: Dr. Todd Kettler

"Experiences of Intellectually Gifted Students with ADHD in Higher Education"
Southwest Educational Research Association (SERA)
Waco, Texas. February 3-5, 2021.

"An Apple (iPad) a Day Keeps the Intern in Play!"
National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS)
Waco, Texas. March 28-31, 2021.

"Gifted Education Policy and Equitable Identification of Students for Gifted Education"
American Educational Research Association (AERA)
Waco, Texas. April 9-12, 2021.

Julia Hrabal
Sponsor:Dr. Tonya Davis

"Special Educator Self-Efficacy for Teaching Students with Autism"
36th Annual TXABA Conference
San Antonio, Texas. February 11-14, 2021.

Yasmin Laird
Sponsor:Dr. Todd Kettler

"Gifted and Talented Identification of English Language Learners: A Meta-Analysis; Everything I Know About YA Lit I Learned from Beyonce"
National Association for Gifted Children
Virtual. November 12-17, 2020.

Kristin OGuinn
Sponsor:Dr. Jessica Akers

"Interventions Targeting Interactive Play in Individuals with Autism: A Systematic Review"
Association for Behavior Analysis International 47th Annual Convention
Virtual. May 28-31, 2021.

"Interventions Targeting Interactive Play in Individuals with Autism: A Systematic Review"
Texas Association for Behavior Analysis
Virtual. February 11-14, 2021.

David Rehfeld
Sponsor:Dr. Tracey Sulak

"Caregiver Coaching to Promote AAC Skill Acquisition"
Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Virtual. April 12-26, 2021.

MacKenzie Wicker
Sponsor:Dr. Tonya Davis

"Using Telehealth to Train Parents to Conduct Trial-Based Functional Analyses in Home"
36th TXABA Annual Convention
Virtual. February 11-14, 2021.

"Using Telehealth to Train Parents to Conduct Trial-Based Functional Analyses in Home"
Association for Behavior Analysis International 47th Annual Convention
Virtual. May 28-31, 2021.

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Justin Bui
Sponsor:Dr. Robert Marks

"Autoencoder Watchdog Outlier Detection for Classifiers"
13th International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence
Virtual--Austria. February 4-6, 2021.

English

Entrepreneurship

Environmental Science

Claire Moffett
Sponsor: Dr. Rebecca Sheesley

"Long-term Trends for Marine Sulfur Aerosol in the Alaskan Arctic and Relationships with Temperature"
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2020
Waco, Texas. December 1-17, 2020.

Meghan Guagenti
Sponsor: Dr. Sascha Usenko

"Transport and Impacts of the June 2020 Saharan Dust Event on the Continental US"
American Geophysical Union
Virtual. December 1-17, 2020.

Sujan Shrestha
Sponsor: Dr. Sascha Usenko

"Transport and Impacts of the June 2020 Saharan Dust Event on the Continental US"
American Geophysical Union
Virtual. December 7-17, 2020.

Sarah VerPloeg
Sponsor: Dr. Sascha Usenko

"Transport and Impacts of the June 2020 Saharan Dust Event on the Continental US"
American Geophysical Union
Virtual. December 1-17, 2020.

Geosciences

Julia Visy
Sponsor: Dr. Stacy Atchley

"Sequence Stratigraphic Partitioning and Reservoir Attributes of the Late Devonian to Early Mississippian Exshaw Formation, Alberta, Canada"
GeoGulf 2020
Lafayette, LA. September 30-October 2, 2020.

Anna Ruefer
Sponsor: Dr. Kenneth Befus

"Anthology of Quartz-hosted Embayment Textures"
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Virtual. December 1-17, 2020.

Rudger Dame
Sponsor: Dr. P James

"Subsurface Gravity Signatures of Subduction on Venus"
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Virtual. December 1-17, 2020.

Health, Human Performance and Recreation

Kathleen Adair
Sponsor: Dr. Rodney Bowden

"Metabolic Phenotypes, Obesity, and Chronic Kidney Disease: Findings from the 2013-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys"
American Public Health Association (APHA) National Meeting
Virtual. October 24-28, 2020.

Tyler Prochnow
Sponsor: Dr. Renee Umstattd-Meyer

"Will you play with me? Changes in Frequency of Active Play within Social Networks for Mexican-heritage Children Participating in a Father-focused Health Program"
Active Living Conference
Virtual. April 6-9, 2021.

"Implications of Race and Ethnicity for Child Physical Activity and Social Connections at Summer Care Programs"
Society of Behavioral Medicine
Virtual. April 12-16, 2021.

History

Heidi Campbell
Sponsor:Dr. Philip Jenkins

"The Cut Lotus Can Still Bloom: Seventh-Day Adventist Women’s Discovery of Agency, Purpose, and Resilience as Missionaries in China from 1902–1949"
American Academy of Religion
Virtual. November 29-December 10, 2020.

Andrew Bellamy
Sponsor: Dr. Andrea Turpin

"'The Rude Concussions of Modern Times': Mobilizing Free Trade, Opium, and Imperial Christianity for Britain's Information War in Canton, 1834-1836"
Plymouth, UK. June 16-18, 2021.

Information Systems

Journalism

Math

Taylor Poe
Sponsor: Dr. A Martinez Finkelshtein

"Poncelet Quadrilaterals Four Ways"
Virtual. Washington, D.C. January 6-9, 2021.

Mechanical Engineering

Ziwen He
Sponsor: Dr. Min Pack

"Drop Bouncing Dynamics on Draining Films: The Influence of the Entrained Air Layer"
2020 Division of Fluid Dynamics 73rd Annual Meeting. Virtual. November 22-24, 2020

Modern Languages and Cultures (Spanish)

Museum Studies

Music

Shannan Baker
Sponsor: Dr. Monique Ingalls

"Bethel Music and Elemental Imagery: Biblical Concepts or Personal Experience?"
Megachurch Worship Conference. Birmingham, AL. Virtual. October 15-17, 2020

Nursing

Philosophy

Christopher Tomaszewski
Sponsor: Dr. Alexander Pruss

"A Formal Solution to Composition Vagueness"
2021 Meeting of Eastern Division of the American Philosophical Association. Virtual. January 7-16,2021

Physics

Political Science

Benjamin Slomski
Sponsor: Dr. David Clinton

"The Rule of Law Meets the War on Terror: The US Supreme Court as an Actor in International Relations"
International Studies Association Annual Convention
Virtual. April 6-9, 2021.

Stefan Koppert
Sponsor: Dr. Lee A. Ward

"Jefferson on Inheritance: A Radicalization of Locke"
Southern Political Science Association 2021 Annual Meeting. (New Orleans) Virtual. January 6-9, 2021.

Matthew Wells
Sponsor: Dr. Lee A. Ward

"Socratic and Commercial Virtue in Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography"
Southern Political Science Association 2021 Annual Meeting. (New Orleans) Virtual. January 6-9, 2021.

Preaching

Psychology and Neuroscience

Public Health

Cesia Cotache Condor
Sponsor: Dr. Emily R. Smith

"Retrospective Review of Gastroschisis Epidemiology in Northern Ghana"
16th Annual Academic Surgical Congress 2021
Virtual. April 6-9, 2021.

Cesia Cotache Condor
Sponsor: Dr. Emily R. Smith

"A Review of Children's Surgery in the National Health Plans of 124 Countries"
Consortium of Universities for Global Health 2021. Virtual. March 12-14, 2021.

Andie Grimm
Sponsor: Dr. Emily R. Smith

"Anesthesia Capacity for Children in Somaliland"
16th Annual Academic Surgical Congress 2021. Virtual. April 6-9, 2021.

Andie Grimm
Sponsor: Dr. Emily R. Smith

"Anesthesia Capacity for Children in Somaliland"
Consortium of Universities for Global Health 2021. Virtual. March 12-14, 2021.

Braden Popelsky
Sponsor: Dr. Matt Asare

"Understanding Ghanaian Parents' Perceptions, Beliefs about HPV Vaccination, and the Likelihood of Allowing their Adolescents to Get Vaccination"
SOPHE 2021dX Annual Conference. Virtual. April 6-9, 2021.

Braden Popelsky
Sponsor: Dr. Matt Asare

"Using Multi-Theory Model Constructs to Evaluate the Ghanaian parents' Perceptions, Beliefs, and Attitude Towards HPV Vaccination"
Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) 12th Annual Global Health Conference. Virtual. April 12-16, 2021.

Keyanna Taylor
Sponsor: Dr. Emily R. Smith

"The Relationship Between Alcohol Purchasing, Rurality, and Poverty Status in Zambia"
Consortium of Universities for Global Health 2021. Virtual. March 12-14, 2021.

Religion

David Basher
Sponsor: Dr. Joel Burnett

"A Breath of Fresh Air: The Demilitarization of Ruach in the Persian Period"
Society of Pentecostal Studies
Dallas, Texas. March 17-20, 2021.

Andrew Ronnevik
Sponsor: Dr. Barry Harvey

"Whipple's Vision: The Theology of the Land in Nineteenth-Century Episcopal Missions to Minnesota Native Americans" and "Lutheran Conceptions of Human Dignity in a Global Context: A Conversation with Indian Dalits and European/Americans"
American Academy of Religion Annual Meetings
Virtual. November 29-December 10, 2020.

Social Work

Jennifer Hollenberger
Sponsor: Dr. Laine Scales

"Accessing the Academy Culture as an Online Doctoral Student"
Social Work Distance Education Conference
San Antonio, Texas. April 14-16, 2020.

Jennifer Hollenberger
Sponsor: Dr. James Ellor

"Pregnancy Options Counseling"
North American Christians in Social Work Annual Conference
Boston, Massachusetts. November 4-8, 2020.

Veronica Timbers
Sponsor: Dr. Laine Scales

"Accessing the Academy Culture as an Online Doctoral Student"
Social Work Distance Education Conference
St. Louis, Missouri. April 14-16, 2020.

Veronica Timbers
Sponsor: Dr. Clay Polson

"Exploring the Intersectionality of Tran-Identities and Faith"
Social Work Distance Education Conference
Reston, Virginia. April 14-16, 2020.

Sociology

Alonso Aravena_Mendez
Sponsor: Dr. Jerry Park

"Methodological Findings from a Field Experiment on the Intersection of Race and Religion during COVID-19"
2021 Annual Meeting of the Southern Sociological Society
New Orleans, Louisiana. May 5-8, 2021.

"Demystifying Meritocracy: The Effect of Subsidies on Class Disparities among Higher Education Programs"
Southwestern Social Science Association 2021 Centennial Annual Meeting
New Orleans, Louisiana. April 15-17, 2021.

Daniel Allen
Sponsor: Dr. Kevin Dougherty

"Spatial Analysis of New Homes Built in America Since 2000"
Southwestern Social Science Association
New Orleans, Louisiana Virtual. April 13-17, 2021.

Yingling Liu
Sponsor: Dr. Kevin Dougherty

"Low Birth Weight Rate and other Health Indicator among Community Areas in Chicago"
American Association of Public Opinion Research
Virtual. May 11-12, 2021.

Xi Zhu
Sponsor: Dr. Kevin Dougherty

"Age Differences in Links Between Social Media Use and Mental Health: Results from a National Sample of U.S. Adults"
2021 Virtual Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America
Virtual. May 5-8, 2021.