The LLC Program is pleased to announce that Alyssa Brumis, of Cohort 20, successfully and skillfully presented her dissertation research proposal to her committee on December 15, 2020.

Her project is titled, "Misinformation & Misbeliefs: Reinforming False Beliefs Related to COVID-19 in the Age of 'Alternative Facts.'" After Alyssa's presentation, she had a substantive discussion with the committee about the next stages of her work. Alyssa's committee agreed that the project is worthy of doctoral research and helped her consider some key issues as she moves forward into the research and writing.

Many thanks to Alyssa's committee members:

     Dr. Craig Saper, LLC (co-chair)

     Dr. J. Kevin Eckert, SAPH (co-chair)

     Dr. Anne Brodsky, PSYC

     Dr. Beverly Bickel, LLC

     Dr. Barry Mauer, University of Central Florida     

The LLC Program is pleased to announce that Harry Bhandari, of Cohort 19, successfully and skillfully presented his dissertation research proposal to his committee on December 14, 2020.

His project is titled, "Examining Political Participation and Linguistic Integration of Nepalese Americans in the United States."  After Harry's presentation, he had a substantive discussion with the committee about the next stages of his work. Harry's committee agreed that his project is worthy of doctoral research and helped him consider some key issues as he moves forward into the research and writing.

Many thanks to Harry's committee members:

     Dr. Loren Henderson, SAPH (chair)

     Dr. Brandy Wallace, SAPH

     Dr. Ramon Goings, LLC

     Dr. Felipe Filomeno, POLI

     Dr. Omar Ka, MLLI

     Dr. Uttam Gaulee, Morgan State

   

LLC is pleased to announce that Antione Tomlin, of Cohort 19, successfully and skillfully presented his dissertation research proposal to his committee on May 11, 2020. 

His project is titled, "When They See Us: Narratives of Black Male Teachers."  After Antione's virtual presentation, he had a substantive discussion with the committee about the next stages of his work. His committee agreed that his project is worthy of doctoral research and helped him consider some key issues as he moves forward into the research and writing.

Many thanks to Antione's committee members:

     Dr. Keisha Allen, EDUC (chair)

     Dr. Christine Mallinson, LLC (co-chair)

     Dr. Bev Bickel, LLC

     Dr. Brandy Wallace, SAPH

     Dr. Ramon Goings, LLC

LLC is pleased to announce that Montia Gardner, of Cohort 19, successfully and skillfully presented her dissertation research proposal to her committee on March 13, 2020. She was the first LLC student to virtually meet her committee on-line for this purpose.

Her project is titled, "The Capital Concept: The Role of Social Capital in Pursuit of Educational Advancement."  After Montia's presentation, she had a substantive discussion with the committee about the next stages of her work. Her committee agreed that her project is worthy of doctoral research and helped her consider some key issues as she moves forward into the research and writing.

Many thanks to Montia's committee members:

     Dr. Pamela Bennett, PUBL (chair)

     Dr. Kimberly Moffitt, LLC

     Dr. Keisha Allen, EDUC

     Dr. LaTonya Turner, Marian University

     Dr. Gloria Butte, University of South Carolina

LLC is pleased to announce that Katie Morris, of Cohort 18, successfully and skillfully presented her dissertation research proposal to her committee on February 18, 2020. Her hermeneutic phenomenology project is titled, "Being Called to Social Work: What Latina Women Carry." After Katie's presentation, she had a substantive discussion with the committee about the next stages of her work. Her committee agreed that her project is worthy of doctoral research and helped her consider some key issues as she moves forward into the research and writing.

Many thanks to Katie's committee members:

     Dr. Bev Bickel, LLC (chair)

     Dr. Francine Hultgren, UMCP-Department of Teaching and Learning,

           Policy and Leadership (co-chair)

      Dr. Tania Lizarazo, MLLI

      Dr. Thania Muñoz, MLLI

      Dr. Deborah Gioia, UMB-School of Social Work

Please join us in congratulating Katie on reaching this significant milestone! She can now apply for candidacy.

LLC is pleased to announce that Laurel Burggraf Bassett, of Cohort 20, successfully and skillfully presented her dissertation research proposal to her committee on January 31, 2020. Her topic is titled, "Daggers and Stars: Putting the Paratext back in Fingal."

After Laurel's presentation, she and her committee had a substantive discussion surrounding her topic and methodological approach. It was determined that her project was worthy of doctoral study and provided useful advice on how to move forward with her research.

Many thanks to Laurel's committee members:

Please join us in congratulating Laurel on reaching this significant milestone! She can now apply for candidacy.

LLC is pleased to announce that J. Inscoe, of Cohort 19, successfully and skillfully presented their dissertation research proposal to their committee on December 12, 2019. Their topic is titled, "Sonic Waves of Grain: Paul Harvey's American Evangelism."

After J.'s presentation, they and their committee had a substantive discussion surrounding their topic and methodological approach. It was determined that their project was worthy of doctoral study and provided useful advice on how to move forward with their research.

Many thanks to J.'s committee members:

Please join us in congratulating J. on reaching this significant milestone! They can now apply for candidacy.

As a committee member, Dr. Beverly Bickel (LLC) is pleased to announce that Ruken Isik, of LLC Cohort 17, successfully and skillfully defended her powerful dissertation proposal on May 30, 2019. Her title is: "Livable, Lovable, Grievable Lives: Kurdish Women Funerals in Turkey-Kurdistan."

Ruken is investigating Kurdish women's activism at the funerals of Kurdish women guerillas and women who are the victims of 'honor crimes' using feminist theory and methodology. The foundational question that this dissertation will address is: What moves Kurdish women to take action at these funeral sites?

Many thanks to Ruken's committee members:

Dr. Carole McCann (GWST), Chair

Dr. Amy Bhatt (GWST)

Dr. Mejdulene Shomali (GWST)

Dr. Emek Ergun (UNC at Charlotte, Women's and Gender Studies Program & Department of Global Studies)

Please join us in congratulating Ruken on reaching this significant milestone in her doctoral work!

As committee co-chairs, Dr. Beverly Bickel (LLC) and Dr. Jennifer Maher (English) are proud to announce that Frank Anderson, LLC Cohort 18, successfully and skillfully defended his dissertation proposal on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. His title is: "Threshold Organizations and Rhetorical Possibility within the Choice Program.” Frank will be developing a rhetorical ecology of narratives about youth and will focus on youth voice and agency in creating narrative change and transformative access in Baltimore.

Many thanks to Frank's committee members:

Dr. Keisha Allen (Education)

Dr. Lucille McCarthy (English)

Dr. David Olawuyi Fakunle (Morgan State University and Womb Work Productions)

Ms. Brittany Coverdale (Choice Program in the UMBC Shriver Center)

As committee chair, Dr. Kimberly Moffitt (LLC) is proud to announce that Sedrick Smith, LLC Cohort 18, successfully and skillfully defended his dissertation proposal on Friday, May 10, 2019. His title is: "Depictions versus Reality: Countering the television mediated narratives of Black teachers in Baltimore." Sedrick will explore the representations of Black teachers in Baltimore City Public Schools and offer a counter-narrative to the narrative constructed of such teachers on the television news segment, "Project Baltimore."

Many thanks to Sedrick's committee members:

Dr. Keisha Allen (Education)

Dr. Pamela Bennett (Public Policy)

Dr. Kevin Eckert (SAHAP)

Dr. Kindel Nash (Education)

Please join us in congratulating Sedrick on reaching this significant milestone in his doctoral work!