Graduate Scholars

Emelia Ahmed

Major: Ph.D. in Literacy, Language, and Culture
Project Title: Supporting Latino Middle Schoolers in Reclaiming Their Home Language in Their Social Studies Class Through Translanguaging
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mary Amanda Stewart, School of Education - Literacy & Learning

Isabel Almanza

Major: M.S. in Psychological Science
Project Title: Exploring How Textured Hair Stereotypes Influence Evaluations of Black Women Defendants
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gabrielle Smith, School of Social Work, Psychology & Philosophy

Klarissa Alvarez

Major: Ph.D. in Special Education
Project Title: From Evaluation to Inclusion: Supporting Literacy for Bilingual Students with Disabilities
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Randa Keeley, School of Education – Special Education

Kritishma Aryal

Major: Ph.D. in Nutrition
Project Title: Effect of Mango Supplementation on Circulating Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Shanil Juma, Department of Nutrition & Food Science

Amit Basnet

Major: Ph.D. in Molecular Biology
Project Title: How Immune Cells May Contribute to Greater Orofacial Pain in Females
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dayna Averitt, School of Sciences – Division of Biology

Runyararo Chabata

Major: Ph.D. in Nutrition
Project Title: Navigating and Reinterpreting Food Systems: A Critical Pedagogy Study with Black Pregnant Women
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Davis, Department of Nutrition & Food Science

Roberto Contreras

Major: Ph.D. in Kinesiology, emphasis in Adapted Physical Activity
Project Title: Advancing Outcome Measurement in Community-Based Physical Activity Programs: A Systematic Review of Psychometric Properties
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kerri Staples, School of Health Promotions & Kinesiology – Kinesiology

Heather Getchell

Major: Ph.D. in Nursing Science
Project Title: Evaluating a Multicomponent Fall-Prevention Initiative in an Adult Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elif Isik, College of Nursing

Yan He

Major: Ph.D. in Marriage & Family Therapy
Project Title: Examining the Moderating Role of Dyadic Coping in the Relationship Between Financial Strain and Depressive Symptoms Among Couples During the COVID- 19 Pandemic
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Adam Jones, School of Human Sciences – Marriage & Family Therapy

Nahida Arfin Huda

Major: Ph.D. in Molecular Biology
Project Title: Impact of TDP-43 C-Terminal Fragments Accumulation on Neurodegeneration in ALS and FTD
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Brower, School of Sciences – Division of Biology

Changyan Jin

Major: Ph.D. in Nutrition
Project Title: Effects of ZDHHC6 Knockdown on Adipogenesis and Adiposity: An Integrated Transcriptomic and Proteomic Study
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Zhipeng (Toby) Tao, Department of Nutrition & Food Science

Briley Lashombe

Major: M.M. in Pedagogy, Instrumental Emphasis
Project Title: Mosaic of Shattered Glass: Creating a Pedagogical Database of Clarinet Music Written by Women Composers
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Danielle Woolery, School of Arts & Design – Division of Music

Jian Liu

Major: Ph.D. in Kinesiology, emphasis in Adapted Physical Activity
Project Title: Integrating Fitness Coaching into TWU’s Wellness Peer Coaching Program
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Suzanna Dillon, School of Health Promotions & Kinesiology – Kinesiology

Cheyenne Martinez

Major: Ph.D. in Kinesiology, emphasis in Biomechanics
Project Title: Beyond the 50s Cliff: Behavioral and Neural Mechanisms of Age-Related Decline in Bimanual Coordination Learning
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Shaochen Huang, School of Health Promotions & Kinesiology – Kinesiology

Amani Porter

Major: Master of Public Health
Project Title: Eczema Among U.S. Children: Co-occurring Allergic Conditions and Sociodemographic Correlates
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Siyong Choe, School of Health Promotions & Kinesiology – Health Studies