Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Awards
This is a collection of recipients of the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award given by the UNI Graduate College. Only award winning works posted to UNI ScholarWorks are listed below. For a complete list of award recipients, go to the Graduate College website. To go to the Graduate Student Award Recipients collection page, Click here.
Dissertations from 2023
No Contaban Con Mi Resiliencia: Mental Health of Undocumented/DACAmented Undergraduate Latino Men in the 45 Era, Jesús Lizárraga Estrada, Department of Educational Psychology, Foundations, and Leadership Studies, Dissertation (UNI Access Only) 2024 Award
OUT in Education: A Qualitative Study Examining the Intersectionality and the Lived OUT Experiences of PreK–12 LGBTQ+ Educators, Landon Wood, Department of Educational Psychology, Foundations, and Leadership Studies, Open Access Dissertation 2024 Award
Dissertations from 2022
Teacher hiring and selection processes in Iowa schools, Michael C. Fisher, Department of Educational Psychology, Foundations, and Leadership Studies, Open Access Dissertation 2023 Award
Dissertations from 2021
Mid-level manager's perspectives of competencies for entry-level campus housing professionals, Nicholas F. Rafanello, Department of Educational Psychology, Foundations, and Leadership Studies, Dissertation (UNI Access Only) 2022 Award
Exploring the experiences of one team of teachers: Well-being and navigating the demands of the education profession, Abby Weiland, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Open Access Dissertation 2023 Award
Dissertations from 2020
Impact of positive psychology in PK-12 settings, Daniel Paul Butler, Department of Educational Psychology, Foundations, and Leadership Studies, Open Access Dissertation 2022 Award
Grading and equity: Inflation/deflation based on race, gender, socio-economic and disability statuses when homework and employability scores are included, Robert Thomas Griffin, Department of Educational Psychology, Foundations, and Leadership Studies, Open Access Dissertation 2020 Award
Dissertations from 2019
A study to explore linkages between reports of institutional racial oppression, internalized racial oppression, and self-efficacy in African American youth in predominately white colleges and universities (PWIS), Belinda Creighton-Smith, Department of Health, Recreation, and Community Services, Dissertation (UNI Access Only) 2020 Award
Understanding ESL undergraduate students' beliefs about learner-centered instruction, Mahjabeen Hussain, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Open Access Dissertation 2020 Award
Influence of external and internal factors on financial advisors' guidance of clients in the area of charitable giving, Angela J. Gorsuch Widner, Department of Health, Recreation, and Community Services, Open Access Dissertation 2019 Award
Dissertations from 2018
Student engagement in higher education: Measuring the differences in community engagement, Stanley S. Ebede, Department of Health, Recreation, and Community Services, Open Access Dissertation 2019 Award
Exploring the experiences of adolescent students attending a virtual school, Allan G. Nelson, Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations, Open Access Dissertation 2019 Award
Study of low dose nitrite stress on human mononuclear cells: An in-vitro case-control study on osteoarthritis, Junu Shrestha, School of Kinesiology, Allied Health, and Human Services, Open Access Dissertation 2019 Award
Dissertations from 2015
Do teacher judgment accuracy and teacher feedback predict student achievement in elementary and middle-school science?, Mason Albert Kuhn, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Open Access Dissertation 2017 Award
Dissertations from 2013
Perceptions of coaching efficacy from the coaches', parents', and athletes' perspectives, Wade Previn Kooiman, School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services, Dissertation (UNI Access Only) 2015 Award
Dissertations from 2012
Comparing middle school students' learning and attitudes in face-to-face and online mathematics lessons, Clayton M. Edwards, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Open Access Dissertation 2014 Award
Dissertations from 2011
Maggie and her students: Talking and reasoning in a reform-based mathematics classroom, Debra Louise Semm Rich, Department of Educational Leadership and Postsecondary Education, Open Access Dissertation 2013 Award
Dissertations from 2009
Application of health promotion theoretical approaches to changing recycling behaviors and assessing participation rates augumented with GIS/GPS among targeted populations, Israel Gabriel Msengi, School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services, Dissertation (Electronic Copy Not Available) 2010 Award
Teacher learning in a Tibetan school in exile: A community of practice perspective, Pema Yangchen, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Open Access Dissertation 2011 Award
Dissertations from 2008
Low power energy harvesting and storage techniques from ambient human powered energy sources, Faruk Yildiz Open Access Dissertation 2009 Award
Dissertations from 2006
Exploring intersectionality in education: The intersection of gender, race, disability, and class, Amy J. Petersen, Department of Special Education, Open Access Dissertation 2008 Award
Dissertations from 2005
Opportunity and access for children with disabilities in the inclusive preschool classroom, Jodi Meyer-Mork, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Open Access Dissertation 2007 Award
The impact of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation on school leadership of two school buildings designated in need of improvement: An agency theory perspective, Susan Pecinovsky, Department of Special Education, Open Access Dissertation 2006 Award
Dissertations from 2003
Predicting Ghanaian pre-service teachers' intention to teach high-risk sexual behavior prevention from teaching efficacy and prevention approach, Joseph Kwesi Ogah, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Open Access Dissertation 2005 Award
Dissertations from 2002
A qualitative inquiry into why and how special educators leave the field, Jane E. Caraway, Department of Educational Leadership and Postsecondary Education, Open Access Dissertation 2003 Award
Dissertations from 2001
An investigation of cooperative consciousness-raising as an innovative teaching practice, and of reactions to its introduction into a high school, Sahoby Solo Raharinirina, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Open Access Dissertation 2002 Award
Dissertations from 1999
Perceptions of Iowa high school principals on the relationship of leadership, school size, and socioeconomic level to school culture, Kevin Wayne Fiene, Department of Educational Leadership and Postsecondary Education, Open Access Dissertation 2001 Award
Simulation of Optimal Drive Systems Consisting of Gear-Cam Mechanisms With Brushless DC Servomotors, Norbert Fritz Open Access Dissertation 2000 Award
Dissertations from 1996
Early childhood teachers' beliefs and practices related to promoting children's conflict resolution in constructivist classrooms: A study of two teachers, Yuko Hashimoto, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Open Access Dissertation 1997 Award
Dissertations from 1995
Process of educational innovation: A micropolitical study of the implementation of a team teaching model, Bruce Steven Frana, Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations, Open Access Dissertation 1996 Award
Dissertations from 1990
A Foundation model for the practice of school psychology, George Michael Harper, Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations, Open Access Dissertation 1991 Award
