Illuminated | Fall 2023

Illuminated

IL LUM INAT ED

Graduate Student Research Magazine ETSU Graduate School Fall 2023 Volume 12 Issue 1

FROM THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

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T h e E a s t Te n n e s s e e State University Graduate School is proud to present Illuminated, a magazine that showcases the excellent work of our graduate students and their faculty advisors. There are over 2,400 students enrolled in graduate programs at ETSU. Illuminated presents some of our students’ research and creative works that make meaningful contributions to various disciplines, and contribute to our strong graduate programs.

Illuminated features research and creative projects that are currently happening on campus, and provides updates on alumni of ETSU graduate programs.

Sharon James McGee, PhD Dean Karin Bartoszuk, PhD Associate Dean Scott Kirkby, PhD Associate Dean

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EDITORIAL STAFF

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EDITOR

WRITER

Dr. Karin Bartoszuk Associate Dean, Graduate School

Janit Leonard Audiology, AuD

DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHY Emily Redd, MFA Publications and Special Projects Coordinator, Graduate School

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. ETSU may also offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of ETSU may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

East Tennessee State University does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs and activities sponsored by ETSU. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Compliance Coordinator, PO Box 70271, Johnson City, TN 37614, 423-4398544. ETSU’s policy on non-discrimination can be found at: etsu.edu/universitycounsel/compliance. ETSU is an AA/EEO employer. ETSU-240170-A-24 Produced by BMC Creative.

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02 FROM THE GRADUATE SCHOOL 10 Symptom Clusters in Individual Adults Seeking Treatment for Gambling Disorders, Blaine Stiglets, PhD, Psychology

24 Where are They Now? Featuring: Keri Blair

13 Where are They Now? Featuring: Morgan Scott

25 Where are They Now? Featuring: Cory Howard 26 Using EEG To Differentiate Brain Activity for Familiar Stimuli, Jordan Razzak, PhD, Psychology 14 Predictive Modeling of Heart Disease Using Machine Learning Models, Aishat Olatunji, MS, Computer Science 17 Where are They Now? Featuring: Jarrett McGill 18 Fostering a Community for Graduate Students: Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA), GPSA

29 Where are They Now? Featuring: Brandon Merritt 30 Examining Word Recognition Score (WRS) Testing as a Method of Improving Audiometric Testing Efficiency, Rachel Dove, Audiology & Speech Language Pathology 33 Where are They Going? Featuring: Mofeoluwa Jide-Jegede

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GRADUATE STUDENTS & ADVISORS

Are you excited about your research and would like to share your hypothesis or findings?

YOU MIGHT BE A PERFECT FIT FOR ILLUMINATED. There is more than one way to get into the next issue of the magazine!

For current graduate students and their advisors: Are you or one of your graduate students working on a culminating experience (e.g., thesis, dissertation, capstone)? Your research could receive additional exposure through Illuminated magazine and help educate the rest of the campus about your department and program. This is a unique opportunity to get your work recognized!

For current graduate students and their advisors: Did you or one of your students get into an excellent doctoral program or get an excellent position? We want to hear about it! Share your story in the “Where Are They Going?” section.

For former graduate students and their advisors: Do you know an outstanding student who graduated from ETSU more than a year ago? We want to hear from them! The “Where Are They Now?” section features former ETSU graduate students who are now professionals in positions across the country.

Click here for Nomination Form: https://etsu.jotform.com/212844078429058 For more information on nominating students or getting featured in Illuminated, please contact: Dr. Karin Bartoszuk, bartoszu@etsu.edu.

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Symptom Clusters in Individual Adults Seeking Treatment for Gambling Disorders

Blaine Stiglets

Psychology, PhD concentration in Clinical Psychology

Dr. Meredith Ginley Faculty Advisor

Written by Janit Leonard

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ambling is synonymous with American life: from casinos to online-sports wagering to scratchof lottery tickets, there is no shortage of press-your-luck gambling avenues in our culture. For some, gambling isn’t just an occasional hobby. According to research, about 1% of American adults will sufer from a Gambling Disorder in their lives.

Te DSM-5 defnes a Gambling Disorder as “persistent and problematic” gambling behavior. Te 2 to 4 million Americans who will experience a Gambling Disorder

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“According to research, about 1% of American adults will suffer from a Gambling Disorder in their lives.”

in their lifetime may lose more than their money - their careers, relationships, and mental health may all sufer. At ETSU, doctoral student Blaine Stiglets and his advisor Dr. Meredith Ginley are hoping to shed light on adults experiencing gambling harms and pave the way for more clients to receive the treatment they need to better their lives. Tis research feature highlights how Blaine’s research into the categories of individuals seeking treatment for Gambling Disorder challenges the current criteria laid out by the current DSM-5, and

on the integration of research and clinical practice, but what solidifed his choice was the opportunity to work with Dr. Ginley. Dr. Ginley’s Prevention, Education, and Treatment of Addiction Learning (PETAL) Lab comprises one branch of the Tennessee Institute for Gambling Education and Research (TIGER).

Trough TIGER, Dr. Ginley also oversees Te Gambling Clinic, a speciality service for individuals experiencing gamblingrelated harm across Tennessee, and with an in-person clinic at ETSU. Blaine felt that working with Dr. Ginley would provide a unique experience and was excited to come to ETSU for the opportunity.

Blaine and Dr. Ginley’s work is currently focused on highlighting the diferent characteristics of people seeking treatment for Gambling Disorder. Clients arriving to Te Gambling Clinic might look very diferent from one another. One client may seek treatment afer losing a relationship from their problematic gambling, while another may have recently lost their job due to harms from problem gambling.

Some still may not have seen these

drastic consequences in their life but have identifed gambling as being problematic and are hoping to get treatment before further consequences develop. According to the DSM-5, clients with gambling disorder are classifed by the total number of criteria they meet. Tese criteria include being restless or irritable when trying to cut back on gambling, lying to conceal their gambling problems, relying on others to provide them with money for bills due to their losses in gambling, returning the next day afer losing big to get even (also called “chasing”), and jeopardizing a job or relationship due to gambling, among others. A client with “mild” gambling addiction would meet 4 to 5 of these criteria, while someone with “severe” Gambling Disorder would meet eight or more. Blaine felt that diagnosing individuals in this way did not accurately represent the severity of a Gambling Disorder diagnosis and may not refect the nuanced experiences of potential groups who sufer. For example, there may be two clients who each meet four of the criteria, but one may be sufering more from their

how expanding this defnition can help reach those in need.

Blaine grew up in the deep south, spending his adolescence in Gulfport, Mississippi. He knew he was interested in gambling disorders as a teen but found that opportunities to study gambling were limited in Gulfport. Afer completing his undergraduate education in psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi, he decided to pursue further education at ETSU. He was excited about ETSU’s focus 11

individuals can be treated before they lose something important. Blaine also feels that this research will help shif the narrative around Gambling Disorders. Some clients are seeking treatment well before they hit their lowest point, and it is up to clinicians to recognize the grouping of symptoms and tailor treatment accordingly rather than implementing a one-size-fts-all diagnosis and treatment.

Blaine is presenting his research at the International Center for Responsible Gaming conference in Las Vegas, Nevada in October 2023. Afer his thesis, Blaine hopes to continue his research as part of his dissertation. He would like to see

Left, Dr. Meredith Ginley, Right, Blaine Stiglets

“Some clients are seeking treatment well before they hit their lowest point, and it is up to clinicians to recognize the grouping of symptoms and tailor treatment accordingly rather than implementing a one-size-fits-all diagnosis and treatment.”

gambling addiction.

Blaine’s project sought to classify clients seeking treatment for gambling harms into categories based on their types of symptoms instead of simply symptom quantities to assess whether diferent groupings of particular diagnostic criteria for Gambling Disorder indicate a more accurate refection of how severe a client’s diagnosis is. Using a set of 444 clients built from intake data at Te Gambling Clinic, Blaine conducted a latent class analysis to identify classes of clients.

Tere were three classes of clients identifed. Te frst class were those clients who would not have met the DSM-5 criteria for gambling addiction. Class 2 were those clients who reached the threshold for diagnosis, and tended to sufer from tolerance, gambling to escape, lying, and difculties cutting back. Te third and fnal class were clients with “severe” gambling that tended to endorse all criteria of Gambling Disorder.

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In addition to identifying these three classes of clients, Blaine compared these classes to identify diferences in clinical covariates between them. Classes 1 and

2 showed similar levels of self-efcacy; these two classes felt fairly certain that they would be able to control their gambling under a stressful situation.

Classes 2 and 3 showed similar levels of cognitive distortions toward gambling.

Of signifcance, Blaine’s analysis showed that alcohol use was not a signifcant diference in drinking among the three classes showing all classes abstaining from problematic alcohol consumption, despite the DSM-5 characterizing Alcohol Use Disorder as being highly comorbid with Gambling Disorder.

Blaine’s research challenges the criteria laid out by the DSM-5 for Gambling Disorder.

Clients in Class 1 who are seeking treatment for their gambling addiction do not meet diagnostic criteria, and may consequently have difculty receiving treatment for their disorders. According to Blaine, these clients are fying under the radar. He believes it is vital that these clients have access to treatment before more drastic consequences develop.

Ultimately, he thinks this research is partial evidence that the DSM-5 should reevaluate the criteria necessary for a Gambling Disorder diagnosis so that more

how the three identifed classes of clients difer as they progress through gambling addiction treatment. Afer graduation, Blaine hopes to continue to serve the community in Tennessee that he has grown to love. Blaine is thankful for the opportunity to work with Dr. Ginley in the PETAL lab, and is excited to see where else this research leads. ETSU’s Te Gambling Clinic has on-ground and telehealth services that can provide help to anyone who feels they may need assistance to gain more control of their gambling. You can visit thegamblingclinic.com for more information.

Blaine Stiglets stiglets@etsu.edu

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Morgan Scott Master of Health Administration, College of Public Health Year of Graduation: 2022

Why did you choose ETSU for your education?

ETSU is truly an exceptional institution.

The exceptional environment, dedicated faculty, and staff, as well as the outstanding quality of education, make it an extraordinary place. ETSU feels like more than just a school; it’s a place I consider my home.

What is your current position and/or research?

I am the Underserved Medicine Coordinator for the ETSU Quillen College of Medicine.

What does this position/research entail?

In my present position, I am responsible for supervising third-year medical students during their Underserved Medicine Clerkship. As part of this clerkship, we actively engage in organizing a community health fair. I collaborate closely with our community partners to coordinate a two-day, no-cost health fair.

These events provide an opportunity for our medical students to contribute to the community by offering their services free of charge.

How did your time at ETSU prepare you for this career?

My Master of Health Administration (MHA) program at ETSU has been instrumental in my career preparation.

Specifically, courses like Health Leadership and Management, Data Informed Decision-Making, and Strategic Plan for Health Care provided me with the essential knowledge and skills necessary for my current profession.

In my final semester, the Capstone project offered a hands-on experience that allowed me to bridge the gap between theory and practice. During this project, I applied the concepts I learned in the classroom to real-world situations, which enabled me to acquire valuable skills that I now use daily in my career.

Furthermore, the support I received from the dedicated faculty and staff at ETSU has been invaluable. Throughout my graduate program, they served as mentors, guiding me in my academic

journey. What truly sets ETSU apart is their commitment to the success of their students, not only during the program, but also after graduation. I am particularly grateful to individuals like Jennifer Hunt and Ryan Youngblood, whose unwavering support and guidance have played a pivotal role in shaping my education and career. I cannot express enough gratitude for their contributions to my professional growth.

What advice would you offer current or future graduate students?

Actively engage during your time in school. Embrace and make the most of the various opportunities available to you. Additionally, take the initiative to build connections with your faculty and staff because they will remain a valuable resource for your academic journey and beyond.

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Predictive Modeling of Heart Disease Using Machine Learning Models

Aishat Olatunji

Computer Science, MS

Dr. Biju Bajracharya

Faculty Advisor

Written by Janit Leonard

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rtifcial Intelligence, or AI, is one of the fastest growing felds in engineering. Artifcial intelligence implements complex computer systems and algorithms to autonomously complete what were once thought of as inherently “human” tasks: learning, perception, and higher-level rationalization. When we try to learn a new skill, we may use a number of approaches to gather information and fgure out the most efcient route to complete the task. We ofen look for patterns in data that can give us clues as to what comes next. AI systems work in much the same way: they use algorithms to fnd patterns in the data, and are able to make predictions for future data. And, just like a human improves with practice, an AI system can become more precise as more data is presented to it. While much of media attention has focused on the potential ethical issues surrounding AI, many engineers have focused their research on the innumerate advances that AI can ofer. Here at ETSU, graduate student Aishat Olatunji and her advisor, Dr. Biju Bajracharya, believe that AI can assist medical doctors in diagnosing heart disease in a patient automatically, speeding up the process and getting patients to life saving care faster. Tis research feature

highlights how Aishat’s research could impact the feld of cardiovascular medicine through the use of machine learning algorithms to diagnose heart disease.

Aishat has always loved to try new things.

Afer graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Kwara State University in her home country of Nigeria, she knew she wanted to fnd opportunities to learn abroad. Tis search for further education led her to ETSU. Her cousin had previously attended ETSU, so she knew she’d feel at home. Originally, Aishat was admitted to the mathematics graduate program, but her curiosity drew her to data science. With the help of Dr. Biju, she found her place in the Computer Science program, where she is now pursuing a graduate degree with a concentration in AI and Machine Learning.

“The most accurate machine learning model was the Random Forest algorithm, which predicted heart disease in Aishat’s data population with 100% accuracy.”

Aishat chose to dive into the feld of cardiovascular disease when she saw the efect it could have on people. According to the CDC, heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States, with one in fve deaths being attributed to heart disease in 2021.

Despite having no medical background, Aishat knew she could contribute to the feld through the use of AI, and was excited to learn more about cardiovascular disease through her research. Her project, “Predictive Modeling of Heart Disease using Machine Learning Models,” aims to identify an efective machine learning algorithm for use by medical professionals to quickly and accurately predict whether a patient is at high risk for heart disease.

Aishat began by collecting patient data from Kaggle, an open data hosting site. She identifed 1025 patients and 14 risk factors of interest, including smoking history, type 2 diabetes, age, and cholesterol levels.

Before using this data set in her machine learning models, Aishat processed the data to eliminate outliers and further categorize her data. She also conducted preliminary correlation analyses with the hopes of fnding which variables were most predictive of heart disease before using her AI models. Being thorough was important to her; they are not just data points, they are real people, and she wanted to ensure she represented it well.

Once she concluded data preprocessing, Aishat was ready to implement various

Left, Aishat Olatunji, Right, Dr. Biju Bajracharya

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“Aishat’s goal is to develop a fully-automated tool that would allow doctors to input a patient’s risk factors, and determine whether that patient is likely to have heart disease.”

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Left, Dr. Biju Bajracharya, Right, Aishat Olatunji

machine learning algorithms. Her goal was to determine which model was best at predicting heart disease in patients. She tested four diferent AI learning models: logistic regression, decision trees, random forest, and support vector machines (SVM). Each of these models use the data input, or “historical” data, to learn the pattern of heart disease. Ten, when presented with new data, they are capable of using their learned algorithm to predict the new outcome. In this case, Aishat presented the models with her identifed patients and fourteen risk factors, allowing the algorithms to learn which risk factors were most important for predicting heart disease.

Two of the machine learning algorithms that Aishat testedlogistic regression and SVM- are commonly used in the literature as predictive models of medical diagnoses. According to Aishat’s results, however, these two models are not the most accurate for predicting cardiovascular disease. Logistic regression showed an 87% accuracy in its prediction, and SVM showed only an 85% accuracy afer hyperparameter tuning. Te third method, decision trees, faired even worse, with only 76% accuracy in Aishat’s model. Te most accurate machine learning model was the Random Forest algorithm, which predicted heart disease in Aishat’s data population with 100% accuracy. Even afer hyperparameter tuning, the Random Forest maintained its 100% accuracy in its predictions. Tis is evidence of the model’s stability: Aishat proposes that the Random Forests reliability would translate across many data sets, allowing medical providers to use the model in their own population of patients.

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Ultimately, Aishat’s goal is to develop a fully-automated tool that would allow doctors to input a patient’s risk factors, and determine whether that patient is likely to have heart disease.

She knows that early diagnosis and ongoing treatment of heart disease is critical to improve patient outcomes. According to the World Health Organization, it is critical for patients to be diagnosed as soon as possible so that pharmacological and medical interventions can begin before any major damage is done.

With her high-accuracy model, Aishat believes that the diagnostic process can be automated, allowing patients to get quicker access to cardiovascular treatments. Using machine learning can reduce costs, too. With access to one AI tool, doctors can diagnose hundreds of patients, potentially without the need to even see

them in person. Her algorithm can keep patients from slipping through the cracks and ending up with preventable end-stage disease.

Jarrett McGill Master of Fine Arts in Digital Media, concentration in Animation Year of Graduation: 2023

Why did you choose ETSU for your education?

Data visualization

Aishat feels that Dr. Biju’s guidance has been invaluable in her time at ETSU. Whether conducting her initial literature review or writing her algorithm code, she could count on him to guide her when she needed it. Her favorite part of this research project was the opportunity to explore and learn more about heart disease, and how machine learning can be implemented in the healthcare feld. Dr. Biju enjoyed being able to explore an avenue of research that was new to him, too. Aishat hopes to present her research before she graduates in December. Afer graduation, she hopes to go back to work for HP, where she completed an internship previously, and work on machine learning in their supply chain.

She is thankful for the education and guidance she continues to receive from the faculty at ETSU, and is excited to see where else her research may lead.

Aishat Olatunji olatunjia@etsu.edu

I’ve always wanted to work in art and video games growing up, and after touring the school and researching what the Digital Media department was all about, it felt like the obvious choice with the resources provided for aspiring game developers. After finishing my bachelor’s at ETSU, the great community and atmosphere kept me here to pursue further studies and enhance my skills as a gameplay animator.

What is your current position and/or research?

I am currently an animation intern at Epic Games on Fortnite.

What does this position/research entail?

This position entails collaborating with other artists and designers to create gameplay animation conforming to the visual design and style of Fortnite. I am constantly learning from and working with others to push my skills, and the project as a whole for players to enjoy.

How did your time at ETSU prepare you for this career?

The MFA provided me the opportunity to hone in and focus specifically on game animation. Through this program, I was able to fill in the gaps of my knowledge; including how to stylize animation, how to work with outside clients, and how to work within creative restraints in projects.

These skills and more found in my educational experience have helped me in my current position.

What advice would you offer current or future graduate students?

Figure out exactly where you want to be, and then figure out what skills are needed to get there. This can help guide the trajectory of your study to be more effective as you focus on what gaps you need to fill to reach your dreams, whether that be mocap knowledge for a company that produces realistic animation, acting experience for film animation studios, or something entirely different.

Anything else you’d like to add?

I was able to get to where I wanted to be in my career thanks to the resources provided to me through the university.

ETSU allowed me the opportunity to foster my growth as an artist, seek new and higher opportunities, and be able to make friends for life. This is the place to be if you aspire for more.

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Fostering a Community for Graduate Sudents: graduate and professional student association (GPSA)

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raduate school is full of exciting opportunities to expand your academic horizons. Collaborating with new faculty and a diverse student body, developing research skills specifc to your feld of study, and developing your study-skills to refect your academic advancement are achievements that highlight an excellent graduate education. But with these changes also come new challenges. Te Graduate and Professional Student Organization, or GPSA, is an organization striving both to celebrate these achievements and help to cope with these challenges.

GPSA is the only organization on ETSU’s campus that represents graduate and professional students. As a student-led and studentmanaged organization, GPSA also strives to serve the educational, social, and professional interests of graduate students. Te GPSA strives to serve as a community for graduate and professional students on campus. Despite graduate students making up approximately 20% of the student body, much of the activity on campus is geared toward undergraduate students. “We really wanted to create something that gives us (graduate students) a place to go to, and fosters that community and connection outside of our individual departments and programs,” said Donna Zastrow, the Secretary and Social Media Director for GPSA.

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GPSA’s community is created through a number of diferent avenues, one of which is representation on academic and student government councils. GPSA representatives serve on many councils and hope to introduce bills that will improve the interests of graduate students. Graduate-student specifc parking, reserved places for graduate students to meet on campus, and

“We really wanted to create something that gives us [graduate students] a place to go to, and fosters that community and connection outside of our individual departments and programs.” ~ Donna Zastrow, Secretary and Social Media Director for GPSA

A S GP allocation of student fee funds for travel allotments are some of the topics they are currently pursuing.

In addition to representing graduate students, GPSA also provides resources to help students academically through a number of workshops provided throughout the year. Entering graduate students are ofen faced with academic challenges that they’ve never encountered before, and GPSA strives to be there to help when those problems arise. Past workshops have included an APA how-to guide, how to create an academic project, and creating an annotated bibliography and literature review. Tese workshops are an excellent resource for everyone: whether the topic is brand new to you, or if you are looking to “refne your skills,” you can beneft, says GPSA president Mehmet Topyurek. Te workshops ofered vary by semester, so there is sure to be one that is benefcial to students in every department.

GPSA is not all academic: Te organization also ofers social and philanthropy events throughout the semester. Giving graduate students the opportunity to network with one another is one of the main goals of

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Undergraduate Move in Day, 2023

GPSA treasurer, Olayinka Adetayo, mentions how travel awards help alleviate the financial burden of traveling, and allow students who otherwise may not be able to afford conferences.

White Duck Taco Shop, Social Event, 2023

GPSA Secretary and Social Media Director, Donna Zastrow, explains GPSA’s interest in introducing bills that will improve the interests of graduate students.

GPSA Officers. Left, Kajol Dahal, Mehmet Topyurek, Donna Zastrow, Olayinka Adetayo

GPSA President, Mehmet Topyurek, speaks about how GPSA takes advantage of university resources to help students academically through a number of workshops provided throughout the year.

the organization. Tis semester, more than 80 graduate students gathered at the White Duck Taco Shop before the semester began as a way to unwind and meet one another. Days prior, they had assisted in the undergraduate move-in day, helping the hundreds of new undergraduate students move into their dorms.

In September, the organization also supported the community through a food drive benefting the Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency. Tey also participated in the homecoming tailgate this semester, which was a frst for the organization. Tey hope to continue this tradition, and create new social events, in the coming semesters.

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GPSA Vice President, Kajol Dahal, discusses GPSA membership growth, and how the officers attribute their growth to an increased presence both on campus and online.

“We have 193 members right now, which is a significant increase from last year.” ~Kajol Dahal, GPSA Vice President

Food Drive Event, 2023

Perhaps the most important aspect of graduate education is attendance at research conferences. GPSA is here to help with that, too. Members of GPSA who have attended two of the exciting workshops throughout the semester, and are presenting a research project at a conference, are eligible to receive up to $700 in travel funding from the organization. Students who are attending a conference, but not presenting, are eligible for up to $300 in travel funding.

Tese awards can help alleviate the fnancial burden of traveling and allow students who otherwise may not be able to aford conferences, to attend and grow their academic portfolio. To apply for funding, visit the GPSA website at etsu.edu/gradschool/gpsa and click on “Transportation Funds.” From here, you can check your eligibility, fll out the application and required documents.

Te GPSA also conducts weekly “travel clinics” to assist students in flling out the application, submitting documentation, and ensuring they are able to secure their funding. To fnd upcoming travel clinic dates, visit the GPSA website.

“...workshops are an excellent resource for everyone: whether the topic is brand new to you, or if you are looking to “refine your skills,” you can benefit.” ~ Mehmet Topyurek, GPSA president

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Food Drive for the Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency, September, 2023. Left, Joey Cantrell, Tobi Adegbile, Dr. Karin Bartoszuk, Renu Swamy, Kajol Dahal

Trough all of these events, the GPSA is hoping to make its mark on campus. Te organization is growing, and they are hoping to reach more students each semester. “We have 193 members right now, which is a signifcant increase from last year,” says Kajol Dahal, the Vice President of GPSA. Tey attribute their growth to an increased presence both on campus and online. “I think things are improving, because when I came to ETSU, I was not aware of GPSA,” said Adetayo Olayinka Folasole, the Treasurer for GPSA. “But we are reaching more and more students, which is a good thing for us.” As the organization grows, their ability to provide resources to graduate and professional students increases with them, and they hope to make an impact on any student who needs them. We are always looking for members who become involved and support the organization.

Dr. Karin Bartoszuk (center), is the faculty advisor who applies for the travel grant, oversees the accounts, helps organize events, provides information and workshops, and connects officers to different support units.

GPSA is open to any post-bachelor graduate or professional student on ETSU’s campus. To join, contact gpsa@etsu.edu. You can also follow GPSA on social media @etsugpsa to keep up with upcoming social and academic events.

“I think things are improving, because when I came to ETSU, I was not aware of GPSA,...but we are reaching more and more students, which is a good thing for us.” ~ Adetayo Olayinka Folasole, GPSA Treasurer

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Kajol Dahal at the food drive benefiting the Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency, September 2023

Not a member?

Join us today: GPSA@ETSU.EDU

Te GPSA ofcers would like to thank the staf that make their work possible: Dr. Karin Bartoszuk, the faculty advisor who applies for the travel grant, oversees the accounts, helps organize events, provides information and workshops, and connects ofcers to diferent support units; Dr. Sharon McGee, Dean of the Graduate School; and Dr. Kimberly McCorkle, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Afairs at ETSU.

gpsa@etsu.edu Mehmet Topyurek Kajol Dahal Olayinka Adetayo Donna Zastrow Dr. Karin Bartoszuk https://www.etsu.edu/gradschool/gpsa/ @etsugpsa

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Keri Blair

Cory Howard

Master of Arts in History Year of Graduation: 2020

Master of Arts in Communication and Storytelling Studies Year of Graduation: 2023

Why did you choose ETSU for your education?

ETSU offered a program that provided the academic and financial support needed to develop my skills as a historian at the graduate level, both in and out of the classroom.

What is your current position and/or research?

I am a PhD student and Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Department of History at Purdue University studying horses and the British Royal family in sixteenth and seventeenth century England. I am also Secretary of the History Graduate Student Association for Purdue.

What does this position/research entail?

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As a PhD student, I have combined my passion for horses and history to focus on equestrianism used in English coronation

ceremonies, while also examining different aspects of horse breeding, horse management, horse care, and horse training in early modern England. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, I facilitate learning in the classroom by assisting the instructor with lectures, classroom discussions, grading, and meeting with students to go over course materials.

How did your time at ETSU prepare you for this career?

ETSU provided the essential field training and teaching experience that I needed before jumping off to a PhD program, as well as opportunities to network and present my graduate research at academic conferences.

What advice would you offer current or future graduate students?

As a first-generation college student, I learned early on how important it is to ask questions. There is no such thing as a “stupid question,” and I encourage everyone to ask as many as they can. I also cannot stress enough how important time management is. Graduate school is more than just attending classes and writing papers, so staying organized will help you succeed.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Mental health is so important, yet it is often ignored in academia. Make sure that you eat something, that you are getting enough sleep, and that you are reaching out to those around you when you feel like you are the only one going through the pressures of graduate school…you are not alone.

Why did you choose ETSU for your education?

I was working on a live performance project in California when the pandemic hit; and during some soul searching, I came across the Storytelling program at ETSU. Not knowing when humans would begin having live entertainment again, I thought it seemed like a great way to bide my time while continuing to work on this little dream of mine.

What is your current position and/or research?

Freelance performer/storyteller.

What does this position/research entail?

Ninety percent of the time (it seems) it consists of sending emails, filling out applications, and writing proposals, with the hope of getting the opportunity to perform for money with the other 10% of my remaining time.

How did your time at ETSU prepare you for this career?

The best thing ETSU did was give me the opportunity to be exposed to and authentically meet real life professionals — people who are making a living at the craft of storytelling. They do exist, they are awesome, and they want new storytellers to succeed. These relationships taught me as much about being a professional performer in the two years I was at ETSU as I had learned in the preceding 15 years out in the field on my own.

What advice would you offer current or future graduate students?

Do you love what you’re doing/learning?

Not —”is it always fun, is it always enjoyable?” — but on a cellular level, do you feel like you’re pursuing what you were put on this planet for? Life is so hard, school is so hard, it is all so demanding, the returns are minimal; so please do yourself a favor and make sure the work is the reward, because otherwise, what is it all for?

Anything else you’d like to add?

The high ropes course on campus is a hidden gem. Go. Climb. Be free.

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Using EEG To Differentiate Brain Activity for Familiar Stimuli

Jordan Razzak administering an EEG test

would typically require a background in computer science. Dr. Sellers was very supportive of the idea and will be using Jordan’s program for additional studies in the future.

In the experiment, participants’ EEGs are recorded during multiple viewings of photos they provided and similar photos selected from a database. Afer the experiment, the data is processed to remove non-brain electrical activity, eye blinks, and muscle movements. Tis is necessary because the EEG is very sensitive to “noise,” and it is a very weak signal due to the fact that it must travel through the skull. Once the noise has been removed, they look at the time period of the EEG immediately afer each image was presented. EEG segments from when the participants’ own photos were presented are averaged and compared to

Jordan Razzak

Psychology, PhD, concentration in Experimental Psychology

Dr. Eric Sellers Faculty Advisor

Written by Janit Leonard

A

n electroencephalogram, or an EEG, is a noninvasive method of recording the brain’s electrical activity using electrodes attached to the scalp. Te EEG was discovered a century ago, since that time it has been used by physicians to examine and diagnose many brain disorders. In addition to clinical purposes, researchers use the EEG to investigate how humans perceive and process the world. For example, do our brains respond diferently to familiar items than to unfamiliar items, and what implications could this have for the future of science and technology? Jordan Razzak and his advisor Dr. Eric Sellers are conducting research that may answer this question.

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Jordan grew up in Sevierville, Tennessee, and frst attended ETSU as an undergraduate psychology student. He came in with an interest in pre-medical psychology, and really enjoyed the challenge presented by his science courses. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many on-campus labs were forced to halt their research. Tat did not stop Jordan. His persistence during this time secured him a position in Dr. Sellers’ lab. Afer graduating with his bachelor’s degree, he felt he had more to learn from Dr.

“...do our brains respond differently to familiar items than to unfamiliar items, and what implications could this have for the future of science and technology? Jordan Razzak and his advisor Dr. Eric Sellers are conducting research that may answer this question.”

Sellers and decided to remain here at ETSU to pursue a PhD in Experimental Psychology.

Teir research is based on the idea that autobiographical information is processed diferently in the brain than unfamiliar information. Jordan’s research project is examining how the brain responds to self-relevant information and seeks to determine whether our brains respond diferently to information that is personally signifcant. For example, when someone is shown a set of keys, does the brain respond diferently when the keys belong to them than when the keys are just another set of unfamiliar keys? If so, self-relevant photos could be the key to developing an EEG-based authentication system, which would allow people to use their brainwaves as their computer passwords.

In order to conduct the research, Jordan took it upon himself to develop a Python program to control the stimulus presentation because pre-packaged programs limit the fexibility in designing experiments. Although this is not unheard of, it is not common for psychology students to write computer programs. Such a task

Jordan Razzak administering an EEG test

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“Brainwaves are nonreplicable; you can model someone’s fingerprints or bone structure to get past other types of biologic passwords, but you cannot create a model of a person’s unique brain activity.”

Jordan Razzak at his desk in Dr. Sellers’ lab

Left, Jordan Razzak, Right, Dr. Eric Sellers

Jordan’s work is unique to his feld.

While other researchers have examined brainwave response to self-relevant information, Jordan’s work is exceptional in that he is using full-color photographs provided by his participants, rather than simple words and phrases. Tey feel that these images will have more ecological signifcance than the typically highlycontrolled lab images and sentences.

Jordan has loved working with Dr. Sellers and being able to see into the brain. “With EEG, you take recordings right from the brain in real time. It’s like a window into the most mysterious organ.” His favorite part of conducting research is fnally visualizing the data afer putting so much work into capturing it. Afer spending so much time reading about brainwaves, fnally seeing them in front of him was a rewarding experience.

the average of the database photos. In examining both brainwaves, they look for diferences in location and timing of brainwave occurrence.

Jordan is still collecting data, so the results are not yet conclusive. However, Jordan and Dr. Sellers believe their research may have a major impact on data security in the future. If their hypothesis is correct, they believe that a person’s brain, when presented with a familiar image, will create a unique electric signal that is very diferent than the signals it creates in response to general information. Similar 28

to how Face ID works, a person would be able to unlock their secure data by using this unique brainwave identifer.

People could measure their EEG in real-time using a low-cost EEG machine.

Brainwaves are non-replicable; you can model someone’s fngerprints or bone structure to get past other types of biologic passwords, but you cannot create a model of a person’s unique brain activity. Te potential security improvement that this technology would bring is huge. Jordan’s project is serving as a precursor to these technological advancements, and they hope to be able to work toward EEG-based user authentication in the future.

Jordan plans to present his research at a major conference before he earns his degree. Afer graduation in May of 2026, Jordan hopes to complete a postdoc position and learn more about psychophysiology. A lifelong learner, he feels like he will still have so much to learn before he jumps into a faculty position.

His advice for any students who want to conduct research is to jump in headfrst and apply for a lab position. He is thankful for Dr. Sellers’ guidance and openness in allowing him to follow his passion in this project.

Jordan Razzak razzak@etsu.edu

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Brandon Merritt Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Master of Science in SpeechLanguage Pathology Year of Graduation: 2006; 2008

Why did you choose ETSU for your education?

What does this position/research entail?

ETSU provided great opportunities for learning right at my doorstep, and at an affordable cost. I also really liked that the graduate program in SpeechLanguage Pathology gave me flexibility in what major I chose, so I was able to pursue academic interests that were complementary to the program.

I study acoustic-phonetic properties of speech that differentiate talkers of varying gender identities, and how listeners perceive the gender of a talker.

I’m currently investigating how gender is projected and perceived in Spanish versus English in bilingual talkers. I also teach undergraduate and graduate coursework in speech-language pathology, including anatomy and physiology, dysphagia, voice, and research methods.

What is your current position and/or research?

I am an assistant professor in the Dept. of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). I study how our identities are encoded in how we speak.

How did your time at ETSU prepare you for this career?

The program in Spanish was an awesome opportunity to learn about the Spanish language and culture. Now that I’m in El Paso, Texas, where Spanish is widely spoken, I feel that I can capitalize on my experiences from my undergraduate days at ETSU. The Speech-Language Pathology program at ETSU was rigorous and

helped me to develop an appreciation for research that led me to later pursue my PhD at Indiana University. My position at UTEP is a great marriage between both my undergraduate and graduate experiences from ETSU.

What advice would you offer current or future graduate students?

Be open to new experiences that graduate school brings. You’re given the opportunity to do things that you may never again have. I especially encourage people to explore research. Even participating in a small way can plant a seed that grows in unexpected ways.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Thank you to the great folks in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology who inspired me!

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Examining Word Recognition Score (WRS) Testing as a Method of Improving Audiometric Testing Efficiency

Rachel Dove

Audiology & Speech Language Pathology

Dr. Marc Fagelson & Dr. Richard Wilson Faculty Advisors

Written by Janit Leonard

C

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ompleting a hearing test involves quantifying hearing - a subjective experience - by relying on a patient’s ability to respond to sound in a setting that is ofen very unlike the real world. Audiologists use a variety of tests to assess a patient’s hearing. One such test evaluates a patient’s Word Recognition Score (WRS). Te WRS involves the patient repeating a word played to them at a particular stimulus level. It is typically used in a clinic setting to determine, among other things, whether amplifcation devices, such as hearing aids, would be benefcial for the patient. Te test seems straightforward - as the intensity of a word is increased, a patient can recognize it more accurately.

Te test has been used for decades as part of the basic suite of comprehensive audiometric testing. However, ETSU student Rachel Dove and her advisors, Dr. Marc Fagelson and Dr. Richard Wilson, recently decided to conduct research examining whether WRS testing, as completed today, is as efcient as it could be. Tis research article will highlight how Rachel’s work with WRS testing investigated its efcacy, and the implications this may have for the word recognition testing in the future.

1. laud 2. boat 3. pool 4. nag 5. limb 6. shout 7. sub 8. vine 9. dime 10. goose 11. whip 12. tough 13. puff 14. keen 15. death 16. sell 17. take 18. fall 19. raise 20. third 21. gap 22. fat 23. met 24. jar 25. door 26. love 27. sure 28. knock 29. choice 30. hash 31. lot 32. raid 33. hurl 34. moon 35. page 36. yes 37. reach 38. king 39. home 40. rag 41. which 42. week 43. size 44. mode 45. bean 46. tip 47. chalk 48. jail 49. burn 50. kite

Rachel grew up in Shelbyville, Kentucky, where she always knew she wanted to work with children. Afer completing her Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Milligan University, she sought a feld that could foster her love of science and allow her to make a real diference in people’s lives. She shadowed an Audiologist, and saw a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA), and knew from that moment that Audiology was the feld for her. She began looking for programs, and found that ETSU was only a few minutes up the road from her undergraduate school. Te distance was nice, but what really drew Rachel to ETSU’s program was the focus on rural health. She saw ETSU’s contributions to rural populations through community outreach, and recognized that rural health care would be vital to her clinical practice goals. Now a third-year student in the program, Rachel loves working in a feld that sits at the forefront of science, where she’s able to ofer new technology to her patients that makes a real diference in their lives.

As a student clinician, Rachel has performed WRS testing dozens

of times. She was approached by Dr. Richard Wilson, an ETSU graduate and former researcher at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center here in Johnson City, who is now a faculty member at Arizona State University. He was looking for a student to work with him on a project that would include participants from San Jose State University and ETSU. Dr. Fagelson recommended Rachel for the study, due to her excellent work in classes and clinics, and as well as her ability to work independently; he knew she’d be capable of completing the project in a timely fashion while meeting the rigorous protocol ofered by Dr. Wilson.

Te project’s aim was to examine WRS testing using a novel approach: when the sound level of the word stimulus is increased, the patient’s ability to repeat the word improves. Study participants had normal hearing thresholds, and all were native English speakers, because the testing was conducted in English.

Each participant was presented with one 50-word list per ear. Te word lists were repeated six times, starting at a low level (6 dB above threshold) and increasing in 6-dB increments with each repetition, ending at 36 dB above threshold. Te patients were asked to repeat back the words they heard, and their responses were recorded as correct or incorrect at each increasing level. Afer testing was completed, the participants were asked to list on a computer how many of the words from their lists they were able to remember.

Te results of this testing showed, as expected, that patients’ ability to repeat words back improved as the presentation level increased. Of importance, the investigators also determined that 86% of words correctly identifed at a low level would go on to be correctly identifed at subsequent higher test levels. Tis fnding has clear implications for word recognition testing, as completing this test is time consuming, and is ofen truncated in clinical settings as only one test level may be assessed due to time constraints.

However, the word recognition test is most clinically relevant when conducted over a range of stimulus levels. Certain retrocochlear pathologies, including auditory nerve tumors, can be diagnosed by observing the WRS at both a normal suprathreshold level and a very high-

Left, Dr. Marc Fagelson, Right, Rachel Dove

Left, Dr. Marc Fagelson, Right, Rachel Dove

“[Rachel] sought a field that could foster her love of science and allow her to make a real difference in people’s lives.”

intensity level. Because this research showed that words recognized at low levels will likely be recognized again at higher levels, it presents the possibility that the WRS testing can be automated in a way that shortens the word list as the patient identifes words correctly, without jeopardizing the reliability of the test. Tis would allow clinicians to test an array of intensity levels without having to set aside an unreasonable amount of time for a single appointment.

Another important fnding of Rachel’s study involved the number of words

that patients remembered. Typically, audiologists use a pre-written, phonetically balanced word list to complete word recognition testing. Tese words are single-syllable words whose sounds have been specifcally chosen to create an appropriate representation of the spoken English language. One popular sets of word lists, the NU-6 lists, were created in the 1960s at Northwestern University. Tese word lists are used in clinics throughout English speaking countries; if you get your hearing tested at any audiology clinic in the United States, chances are they will use one of the NU-6 lists. However, this may have important 31

“...this research...presents the possibility that the WRS testing can be automated in a way that shortens the word list as the patient identifies words correctly, without jeopardizing the reliability of the test.”

Rachel Dove, Hearing Evaluation Lab

Left, Dr. Marc Fagelson, Right, Rachel Dove

implications for word recognition testing in patients with long-standing hearing loss. If a patient has had their hearing tested every year for the past 20 years, is it possible that their word recognition scores are infated because they simply remembered the words? Rachel’s research shows that this is not a concern. She found that there was no correlation between how many times someone identifed a word correctly and how many words they remembered. From the list of 50 words, patients on average remembered only 11 of them. Tis fnding reduced concern that the WRS lists were invalid due to patient memory.

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Overall, Rachel’s research serves as a preliminary study to pave the way for more comprehensive word recognition analysis during routine clinical encounters.

Ideally, the study team would like to develop a dynamic, computer-based procedure that utilizes machine learning to eliminate words that the patient gets correct, shortening the test and increasing its utility. Tey would also like to modify the test to incorporate “speech-in-noise” testing, which can more closely replicate real-world scenarios for patients in the testing booth. According to Dr. Fagelson, these advancements have the potential to allow clinicians to get a “better handle on the (patient’s) maximum word recognition score in much less time,” streamlining the audiometric testing process.

Rachel says she never felt unsupported during her research at ETSU. Between Dr. Wilson from afar and Dr. Fagelson locally, she always found someone willing and ready to answer her questions. Dr. Fagelson attributes her success to her “unprecedented independence,” a trait that helped give her incredible success both in research and her program as a whole.

Her favorite part of the project was the ability to conduct hands-on research, and seeing the culmination of her hours of work fnally come together in the end. She plans on presenting her research at the Appalachian Student Research forum this spring, and she is currently preparing an abstract for submission to the American Academy of Audiology’s annual meeting, to be held in Atlanta in April, 2024. Rachel recently accepted a fourth-year externship placement at Pediatric ENT of Atlanta, and is excited to be able to continue her education there. Afer graduation, she is not sure where she’ll end up, but knows she’d like to work with a pediatric population.

Rachel Dove dovera1@etsu.edu

WHERE ARE THEY GOING? Mofeoluwa Jide-Jegede Master of Science in Computer Science, concentration in AI & Machine Learning Year of Graduation: 2023 What are your plans after graduation?

Starting work as a full-time software engineer at HP Inc.

What is the title of your new position?

Software Engineer

What are the primary responsibilities of your new position?

I will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and optimizing software applications serving different teams in the Print and Imaging organization at HP.

Why did you choose to pursue this position?

I currently have an internship doing the same thing at HP, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far, because it has been a great opportunity to learn and gain handson knowledge on different software tools.

How has your master’s degree prepared you for this position?

In every way. My undergrad background was in Biomedical Engineering, so choosing to switch fields and pursue a Master’s in Computer Science meant I had to learn a lot of new concepts like programming language and algorithms in a short period of time. All of this has come in handy during my time as an intern and has prepared me to take up this full-time position.

is resilience. At the end of the day, getting what you desire might not come easy, or when it comes, it might not fit the pictureperfect idea you have in your head.

What’s important is that you never give up. In your job search, grad school search, or whatever the scenario might be, never give up! Also, start your job search early, network extensively, attend conferences, and continually develop your skills to enhance your marketability. Lastly, put God first! Ironic, yes?

Did any professors/ advisors help you obtain this position?

Anything else you would like to share?

While not directly involved in obtaining the position, I owe gratitude to Melinda LaPrade, Director of Career Services CBAT, and Dr. Johnson, Chair of Engineering/ Engineering Technology. Their support was crucial when I accepted my internship at HP.

I’m currently part of a team developing a web-based platform to transcribe and make accessible stories from over 50 years of the International Storytelling Center. This involves a combination of software engineering, AI, and frontend development. I am proud of the progress that has been made during my time working on this project. Personally, I am also investigating various research domains, particularly the application of generative AI in enhancing life safely and ethically.

What advice would you give to current graduate students who would like to enter the workforce after graduation?

One of the most important traits to have

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