2026 College of Professional Studies Doctoral Commencement by Northeastern University Academic Ceremonies

Doctoral Commencement CLASS OF 2026

21 AUGUST 2026 COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

CONTENTS This program is for ceremonial purposes only and is not to be considered an official confirmation of degree information. It contains only those details available at the publication deadline. Please note that not all graduates’ names are listed, as some students opt out of having their names appear in Northeastern publications.

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The Boston campus of Northeastern University is on the traditional land of the Massachusett and Wampanoag People. We honor the Indigenous People of this land: past, present, and future. May we follow the example of the original People and be good stewards of this land.

A UNIVERSIT Y ENGAGED WITH THE WORLD

THE HISTORY OF NORTHEASTERN Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and recognized leader in experiential learning, renowned for its innovative approach to education. Yet its origins were remarkably humble. At the end of the 19th century, immigrants and first-generation Americans constituted more than half of Boston’s population. Among the city’s institutions committed to helping newcomers improve their lives, the Boston YMCA stood out as a gathering place where young men attended lectures on literature, history, music, and other subjects considered essential to intellectual growth. In response to enthusiastic demand for these lectures, the YMCA directors organized the Evening Institute for Young Men in May 1896. Frank Palmer Speare, a well-known teacher and high school principal, was hired as the institute’s director. Two years later, the YMCA established the “Department of Law of the Boston YMCA,” and on October 3, 1898, Robert Gray Dodge taught the first class. This program was an immediate success and marked the birth of Northeastern University. Speare would later remark, “We started with an eraser and two sticks of chalk.” As demand for additional courses grew, Speare expanded the offerings. In 1909, full-time day colleges began instruction. That same year, the Evening Polytechnic School announced “cooperative engineering courses,” providing students opportunities to apply classroom knowledge in the workplace—the genesis of Northeastern’s signature cooperative education program. Decades of expansion The institution continued to grow, establishing the College of Business in 1922. More space was needed. The university acquired the former home of the Boston Red Sox in 1929, and in 1934, the distinguished Boston architectural firm Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson, and Abbott was awarded the contract to design Richards Hall. Employing what would become a Boston campus signature—white brick—the firm created a neoclassical building. Opened in 1938, Richards Hall became the first structure on the front quadrangle. As the physical campus expanded, so did academic programs. The addition of the College of Liberal Arts in 1935 signaled the institution’s evolution toward becoming a major university. When Speare stepped down as president in 1940, Carl Stephens Ell, dean of the College of Engineering, succeeded him. Under Ell’s leadership, Northeastern admitted women to fulltime day programs for the first time. In the postwar era, Northeastern experienced phenomenal enrollment growth. The university expanded programs to accommodate an increasingly diverse student population. Additional colleges were established in rapid succession: College of Education, 1953; University College, 1960; College of Pharmacy, 1962; College of Nursing, 1964; Boston Bouvé College, 1964; College of Criminal Justice, 1967; and College of Computer Science, 1982.

This expansion required substantial physical growth. When Ell retired in 1959, Asa S. Knowles assumed the presidency. Under his leadership, the university acquired suburban properties in Weston, Nahant, and Burlington, Massachusetts. The Boston campus flourished with new construction, including undergraduate dormitories for the growing residential student population at what had primarily been a commuter campus. Transforming the Boston campus Kenneth G. Ryder succeeded Knowles in 1975, bringing unique perspective as someone who had risen from history department faculty member to executive vice president. Under his leadership, the university expanded programs, particularly in arts and humanities, while continuing facilities improvements. Plans for Snell Library were finalized, and the campus was beautified. Northeastern also deepened its commitment to Boston and surrounding neighborhoods. In 1989, Ryder stepped down as the fourth president of the university. He was succeeded by John A. Curry, Northeastern’s executive vice president and its first alumnus to become president. Under Curry’s direction, the university embarked on a series of ambitious undertakings, including a science and engineering research center, a state-of-the-art classroom building, a recreation complex, and several new undergraduate and graduate programs. To support these new ventures, Curry led a successful fundraising campaign; his tenure also featured significant institutional restructuring as the university prepared to enter its second century. After four decades of service, Curry retired in 1996, and the trustees elected Richard M. Freeland as the sixth president. Elevating experience A distinguished historian and administrator, President Freeland brought to the university a renewed sense of energy and mission. His initiatives supported his vision of Northeastern as a university that would be student-centered, practice-oriented, and urban. The university developed the West Campus with architecturally acclaimed residence halls and teaching facilities for the health sciences and computer science, and added new spaces to enrich campus life. When Freeland stepped down in 2006, Joseph E. Aoun, an internationally recognized linguistics scholar, became Northeastern’s seventh president. President Aoun came from the University of Southern California, where he served as dean of the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. He developed an academic plan outlining the university’s vision in several areas: experiential learning, global outreach, use-inspired research, urban engagement, and intellectual life. He significantly expanded global co-op opportunities, and he aligned research with three worldwide imperatives—health, security, and sustainability— emphasizing interdisciplinary solutions. A rising global profile Under Aoun’s leadership, Northeastern launched a campus system designed as platforms for lifelong learning aligned with regional economies. The first locations opened in Charlotte, North Carolina (2011), and Seattle (2013); additional campuses followed in Silicon Valley, California (2015), and Toronto (2016).

In 2016, Aoun led development of a new academic plan, Northeastern 2025, a blueprint for transforming the institution into a global university system—featuring networks of learners and innovators— designed to empower people to succeed in this era of unprecedented technological change. The university expanded its global campuses as platforms for learning, research, and industry partnerships. In 2019, Northeastern opened a Vancouver location and acquired New College of the Humanities in London, now officially Northeastern University London, offering undergraduates a unique opportunity to earn a dual U.S./U.K. degree. Later in 2019, Northeastern launched a research campus in Arlington, Virginia, complementing two existing research campuses in Nahant and Burlington, Massachusetts (formed in 1967 and 2012, respectively). In January 2020, technology entrepreneur David Roux and his wife, Barbara, established the Roux Institute in Portland, Maine. The institute focuses on graduate studies and research in fields such as artificial intelligence, digital engineering, and advanced life sciences, amplified by industry partnerships. It was specifically designed to be a model of how higher education can ignite economic development in regions of the country largely bypassed by the innovation economy, setting a new bar for what the global university system could achieve. Resilience and momentum The revolutionary vision that inspired Northeastern 2025 infuses the university’s latest academic plan, Experience Unleashed. The plan is designed to deepen the impact of Northeastern’s global network by maximizing the power of experience to understand and solve the world’s interconnected, ever-evolving challenges. In 2022, the university merged with Mills College in Oakland, California, becoming the first institution with comprehensive residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate students on both U.S. coasts. In 2023, Northeastern opened a Miami campus featuring graduate education and innovation partnerships aligned with South Florida’s economic growth. The following year, the university announced a New York City campus through a merger with Marymount Manhattan College. Through dedication and vision, Frank Palmer Speare’s “eraser and two sticks of chalk” have evolved into one of the world’s most innovative universities. Our faculty collaborates fluidly with experts across industry, government, and community organizations. Ideas and solutions can be scaled. And our students are empowered to be global citizens, scientists, entrepreneurs, and creators—prepared to make lasting impact wherever they go.

PROGRAM Prelude Processional We kindly ask all guests to silence their electronic devices and remain seated during the processional of the graduates and faculty

Welcome and Opening Remarks Jared Auclair Dean, College of Professional Studies

Faculty Address Wendy Crocker, PhD Lecturer and Dissertation Chair

Conferral of Degrees Doctor of Law and Policy Doctor of Education

Presentation of the Dean’s Medal for Outstanding Doctoral Work Jared Auclair Dean, College of Professional Studies

Dean’s Medalist Address Jennifer Jean Stockton Doctor of Law and Policy

Charge to the Graduates Jared Auclair Dean, College of Professional Studies

Recessional The audience is requested to remain seated during the recessional

FACULTY SPEAKER Wendy Crocker, PhD Ontario, Canada Wendy Crocker has built a career in education on a conviction that she shares with Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies: the most meaningful learning happens when everyone’s voice is included in the work. Her personal mission is captured in the mantra, “No one of us is as smart as all of us.” For more than 30 years, Crocker has turned classrooms, both physical and virtual, into places of possibility and community, serving as a teacher, principal, and learning coordinator within the third-largest school board in Ontario, Canada. That range of roles enabled her to grow connections, experiment with learning approaches, and explore how theory and practice inform one another: an understanding she has since carried into higher education. A former associate teaching professor at Northeastern University’s Graduate School of Education (and previously at Western University’s Faculty of Education), she now serves as a dissertation chair in the College of Professional Studies, walking alongside doctoral students as they complete their own Dissertations-in-Practice – the practice-to-scholarship journey today’s graduates have completed. Her own doctoral research took her deep into Old Colony Mennonite communities in Ontario and Mexico to explore how children, curriculum, and culture shape one another. Her research philosophy reflects Northeastern’s approach, in which researchers learn with and from participants rather than studying them from a distance. Crocker has presented at international conferences, published widely in journals and edited books, and holds membership in research centres in both Canada and England. Across this research landscape, she continues to explore the entanglements of curriculum, multiliteracies, young children, and community. Her passion for teaching and learning has been recognized with multiple teaching honours at both Northeastern and Western, spanning both graduate and undergraduate levels. Dr. Crocker demonstrates her belief in community through her volunteer work with the Mennonite Central Committee and her service on the Board of Directors of a not-for-profit childcare centre.

2026 DEAN’S MEDAL RECIPIENTS The Dean’s Medal is the College of Professional Studies’ highest doctoral honor, awarded to graduates whose dissertation research reflects exceptional originality, meaningful impact on the field, and outstanding academic rigor in its final written form. Faculty advisors nominate candidates from across the college’s doctoral programs, and a committee of college faculty reviews the nominations to select finalists. The Dean of the College of Professional Studies makes the final selection. This year, two graduates were named recipients of the Dean’s Medal.

Jennifer Jean Stockton, DLP Jennifer Stockton embodies the scholar-practitioner approach at the heart of Northeastern University’s Doctor of Law and Policy program, bringing together academic inquiry and more than two decades of professional experience in technology, healthcare, strategy, and innovation. Stockton earned her Doctor of Law and Policy from Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies. Her doctoral research, Governing Artificial Intelligence in Individualized Medicine: Partnerships, Distributed Authority, and the Construction of Governance in Practice, examined one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges: how to responsibly govern artificial intelligence when authority is distributed across regulators, healthcare organizations, technology companies, clinicians, standards bodies, and other stakeholders. Her research found that effective AI governance increasingly depends not on any single institution, but on the relationships and partnerships that connect them particularly as responsibility shifts across the AI lifecycle. Jennifer has built her career at the intersection of technology, strategy, and innovation. As Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Hyland, she helps shape enterprise strategy and growth initiatives, including how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are transforming businesses and the industries they serve. Her career spans engineering, technology, healthcare, and corporate strategy, with a consistent focus on translating complex technologies and market shifts into actionable strategies that drive meaningful business outcomes. Her research and professional interests center on artificial intelligence governance, healthcare policy, cybersecurity, and the evolving relationship between law, technology, and innovation. Jennifer will continue exploring those intersections as she pursues her Juris Doctor with a concentration in Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Law. Through both her scholarship and professional work, she hopes to help shape legal and policy frameworks that enable innovation while strengthening accountability, public trust, and responsible AI adoption. For Stockton, the future of artificial intelligence will not be defined by technology alone, but by the quality of the governance, collaboration, and leadership that guide its use. She believes our greatest opportunity lies in building systems that foster innovation while earning - and maintaining - the trust of the people they are designed to serve.

Melody Su, EdD Melody Su’s doctoral work asked a question Northeastern’s practice-based programs are built around: how do you take rigorous research and make it usable by the people who need it most? Her answer became a consultancy serving organizations navigating one of the most disruptive shifts in education today. Su earned her Doctor of Education from Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies, with a concentration in Integrative Studies. Her doctoral research examined AI integration within small and mid-sized education organizations, resulting in a practical framework and implementation roadmap – including five Organizational Personas that now anchor the advisory practice of EpNex, the cross-border education consultancy she founded to put that research directly into practitioners’ hands. A native of California, Su has lived and worked across Asia since 2018, building a career spanning Beijing, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan – the kind of global, cross- cultural fluency Northeastern seeks to cultivate in its graduates. Over more than a decade in the field, she has built expertise spanning edtech, college consulting, and academic advising, founding EpNex to bridge rigorous education research with the cross-cultural networks organizations need to apply it, partnering with institutions navigating transitions in artificial intelligence, globalization, and generational change. Her commitment to the field extends beyond her own practice: she has been an active member of the Graduate Student Education Research Association since 2023 and served as its Treasurer during the 2024-2025 academic year.

DOCTOR OF LAW AND POLICY Adaleta Loressa Auguste Dissertation: Factors Impacting Parolees’ Successful Transition: Focused on New York State Parolee Programs Advisor: Megan Kennedy

Leroy Berry III Dissertation: Perspectives and Demand for Federal Consumer Protection Data Privacy Legislation: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of College-Educated Black Men in the Dallas, TX Metroplex Advisor: Kevin Brannon

Leonard B Casiple Dissertation: Challenging CARVER: A Qualitative Expert Study on the Effectiveness of the CARVER Matrix in a Cyber Environment and Its Claimed Capability to Predict Adversarial Target Selection Advisor: Kevin Brannon

Chantei Chanese Joseph Dissertation: Evidence Based Instruction: A Mixed-methods Study on the Perspectives of Massachusetts Teachers and Policymakers on the Role of Teacher Preparation in Literacy Instruction Advisor: J.D. LaRock

Wesley Langton Farmer Dissertation: Global Security Analysis on Female Based Terrorism: A Survey on the Efficiency of Female Terrorists with Security Policy Experts Advisor: Kevin Brannon

Amberley D Johnson Dissertation: U.S. Immigration Policy: Impacts on Semiconductor Industry Workforce Advisor: Megan Kennedy

Sean Adam Kagugube Dissertation: From Compliance to Enforcement: Institutional Barriers to the Implementation of International Intellectual Property Regimes in Uganda Advisor: Trevor Taniguchi

Matthew Kang Dissertation: Policy Gaps and Challenges in Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance Under the FSMA for U.S. Small-Sized Food Facilities Advisor: Darin Detwiler

Ibrahim Sorie Koroma Dissertation: A Case for Restructuring Prosecutorial Discretion as a Hurdle to AntiCorruption Justice in Sierra Leone: The Big/Small Opportunism and the Gravity Threshold Advisor: Charles Keckler

Regina Evelyn Lopez Dissertation: The Impact of Characterization: A Phenomenological Analysis of Access Centers and Homeless Veterans Advisor: Kevin Brannon

William Martinez De Velasco Dissertation: Centripetal Value-Capture Bonds: A Social-Risk Conversion and PolicyFinance Framework for Circularized Value, Credit Stabilization, and Total Societal Impact in Targeted Low-Income and At-Risk Communities Advisor: Youngbok Ryu

Caryl Elizabeth Montero-Adams Dissertation: An Exploration of the Engagement of Student Affairs Professionals During Expressive Activities at Public Colleges and Universities Advisor: J.D. LaRock

Edidiong Chrys Obot Dissertation: Building Durable Pathways of Engagement: Nigerian-Americans as a Strategic Case Study of Diaspora Diplomacy in U.S.-Africa Policy, Development, and Relations Advisor: Panagoula Diamanti-Karanou

Andrew Kenneth Prewitt Dissertation: U.S. Army Civil Affairs: Supporting the Capability of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to Protect Civilians Advisor: Fiona Creed

Abigail Marie Robbins Dissertation: Funding Higher Education for the Nation’s Defense: Factors Associated with the Distribution of Federal Defense Research and Development Expenditures Among Universities from 2003–2021 Advisor: Mikhail Oet

Samantha O’Neil Sanfilippo Dissertation: A Qualitative Study of How Responding to Incidents of Crisis Impacts the WellBeing of Higher Education Professionals in On-Call and Live-On Residence Life Roles Advisor: J.D. LaRock

Lenora Denise Sevillian Dissertation: Corruption and Fraud in Public Sector Procurement in South Florida: An Examination of the Perceived Effectiveness of Policy and Enforcement Advisor: J.D. LaRock

Jennifer Jean Stockton Dissertation: Governing Artificial Intelligence in Individualized Medicine: Partnerships, Distributed Authority, and the Construction of Governance in Practice Advisor: Charles Keckler

Ndeh Tanyi Tambe Dissertation: Modeling the Elasticity of Substitution between Renewable Energy and Natural Gas in Nigeria’s Electricity Generation: An Econometric Approach to Understanding Energy Transition Dynamics and Policy Implications Advisor: Fiona Creed

DOCTOR OF EDUCATION Sarah Abdalla Dissertation: The Experiences of International Alumni and Their Influence on Commitment at a Less-Selective Higher Education Institution Advisor: Cidhinnia Torres Campos

May Abuhasan Dissertation: Equal Representation of English Learners in Honors Math Classes Advisor: Melissa Parenti

Helen Ayinbila Adongo Dissertation: Teacher Retention in Desert Pastures International School (a private school) in Bolgatanga-Ghana Advisor: William Ewell

Christian Paul Aguiar Dissertation: An Exploration of Sense of Belonging and Efficacy among First-Generation & Low-Income (FLI) Students in General Education Courses Advisor: Jenay Sermon

Maria Aiolova Dissertation: Building AI Fluency in the Built Environment: Developing Organizational Learning Cultures to Drive AI Adoption and Innovation in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Industry Advisor: Michael Dean

Alain Akasa Dissertation: Beyond the Threshold: Barriers to Promotion for Black Male Staff in Higher Education Advisor: Mounira Morris

Karen Leah Albano Dissertation: Collaborative Leadership for Enhancing Professional Development: An Instrumental Case Study Exploring Innovative Practices in a Northeastern Public School District Advisor: Andrew Anderson

Victoria Amaral Dissertation: Transformative SEL for Equity: Supporting Black and Mixed-Race Students’ Emotional Development in an Alternative Secondary School Advisor: Kimberly Nolan

Emily Amendola Dissertation: Envision General Education Revision Advisor: Kari Thierer

Marline Anderson Dissertation: From Awareness to Action: Advancing Culturally Responsive Instruction in Elementary Education Advisor: Tyneka Holley

Jonathan Armitage Dissertation: Intrinsic Motivation and Service Learning in West Africa: Developing Self-awareness Through Community Partnership Development in International Baccalaureate Programs Advisor: Charles Kilfoye

Gabrielle Bacha Dissertation: Universal Design for Learning in Online Education: Transforming Faculty Practice Through Action Research Advisor: Daniel Serig

Ona E Backus Dissertation: Community College Student Resiliency Factors of Single Mothers: Exploring Lived Experiences and Persistence to Completion Advisor: Karen Phillips

Bethan Jane Nazzaro Bailey Dissertation: Building Literacy in Multilingual Learners Advisor: Kari Thierer

Carrie Kaplan Bernat Dissertation: Development of a Longitudinal, Multi-Modal Medical School Curriculum for Addressing the Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities Advisor: Kari Thierer

Stephen Antony Bess Dissertation: Can You See Me? A Qualitative Case Study on How Students and Educators Use Culturally Responsive Pedagogy to Promote Intercultural Competence in Students of Color Advisor: Andrew Anderson

Carol Denise Blagojevic Dissertation: Exploration of Gender Stereotypes Relative to Leadership Positions in Engineering Advisor: William Boozang

Kimberly Connor Blessing Dissertation: Creating Authentic School-Family-Community Partnerships in Urban Parochial School Settings: Developing a School-Family Liaison Program Advisor: Shaunna Harrington

Brynn Borer Dissertation: Impact of Community and Resources on Well-being and Stress Management of Graduate Occupational Therapy Students Advisor: Tyneka Holley

Willette Anita Capers Dissertation: Black Girl Magic Through Recruitment and Retention: The Lived Experiences of Black Women Faculty at ELCA Affiliated Institutions Advisor: Tyneka Holley

Stephanie Catena Carnazzo Dissertation: The Dialogue Dilemma: Fostering an Inclusive Campus Community Through Difficult Dialogue Advisor: Joseph McNabb

Christopher Michael Cesario Dissertation: Beyond an Ally: Identity-Concordant Mentorship for LGBTQ+ Doctor of Physical Therapy Students During Full-Time Clinical Education Experiences. Advisor: William Ewell

Christine Chedid Dissertation: The Influence of Standards-Based Grading on Learning and Mental Well-Being for 12th Grade Science Students Advisor: Charles Kilfoye

La’Markus R. Cook Dissertation: From Preaching to Teaching: A Qualitative Case Study on the Role of a Black Church in Delivering Culturally Relevant Education in Metro Atlanta, Georgia Advisor: Lynda Beltz

Heather Elizabeth Craigie Dissertation: Fostering Critical Consciousness: An Exploration of Community-Engaged Student Leadership in Higher Education Advisor: Kimberly Nolan

Alison Marie Cranshaw Dissertation: An Action Research Study on Designing a Sustainable and Inclusive Model for Parent Engagement in the Higher Education Ecosystem. Advisor: Daniel Serig

Elika Dadsetan-Foley Dissertation: Understanding Acculturation in Higher Education: Narratives of Recently Arrived Immigrant Students Advisor: Cidhinnia Torres Campos

Heather Rebecca Gallagher Dague Dissertation: Beyond Compliance: Reframing Special Education Through the Four Pillars of the Community School Model: Design and Implementation of a Practitioner Toolkit Advisor: Charles Kilfoye

Marta Elizabeth DeVolt Dissertation: No Longer ‘Lost Out to Sea’: Navigating NPDP Role Ambiguity Through Job Crafting and Peer Support - An Action Research Study Advisor: Charles Kilfoye

Jennifer Lynne DeWallace-Marenholz Dissertation: High-Quality Instruction in Practice: Empowering Teachers Through a Co-Created STEAM Learning Lab Advisor: Annine Crystal

Michael A DiAntonio Dissertation: Realigning University Resources for Undergraduate International Student Support Advisor: Ella Benson

Nadira Dookharan-Baldani Dissertation: Improving Adjunct Professors’ Success in Higher Education: A Narrative Inquiry Study Advisor: Cidhinnia Torres Campos

Matthew Joseph Aldo Epstein Dissertation: Transforming Theory into Practice: Supporting Latino Learners Through Collaborative Culturally Responsive Teaching Advisor: Andrew Anderson

Laura Anne Escamilla Dissertation: Bridging the College Affordability Gap: Action Research on Financial Support for Middle-Class Families in Texas Advisor: Charles Kilfoye

Melody Esqueda Dissertation: “I’m on an Island”: Working to Uplift New Teachers of Color by Utilizing Coaching and Professional Learning Opportunities Advisor: William Ewell

Cecilia Lanisha Facey Dissertation: Strategies for Effectively Supporting Urban Public School Teachers of Color in Their Teaching Practice and Experience Advisor: Noor Ali

Michelle Fiorenza-Hagopian Dissertation: Infrastructure for Inclusion: What Collaborative Practitioner Inquiry Reveals About Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Student Belonging Advisor: Daniel Serig

Thomas Joseph Flanagan Dissertation: Engaging High School Students of Today: What Can We Do as a School to Increase Their Engagement? Advisor: Shaunna Harrington

Rebecca Aline Fletcher Roberts Dissertation: Meaning and Purpose in the Second Year: An Integrated Advising Approach Advisor: Joan Giblin

Elizabeth Ann Fortin Dissertation: Radical Love in Practice: Transforming Instructional Coaching Through Community and Care Advisor: Melissa Parenti

Benjamin R. Fox Dissertation: Perceptions of and Engagement in On-Site Teacher Professional Development in Independent International Schools Using an American Curriculum Advisor: Shira Leibowitz

Sonta Giamber Frindt Dissertation: Cultivating Metaliteracy in Secondary Education: An Action Research Study Advisor: Kari Thierer

Lia Gabrielle Dissertation: Advising the Advisors: The Imperative for Professional Training in Developmental Academic Advising to Enhance Advisors’ Confidence and Advising Competencies Advisor: Shaunna Harrington

Sandra Domenica Gattuso Dissertation: Adult Learner Experience: A Multi-Perspective View of Barriers and Supports Advisor: Kari Thierer

Grace Violet Guarino Dissertation: Supporting Teachers’ Basic Psychological Needs for Autonomy, Relatedness, and Competence to Minimize Teacher Stress and Burnout and to Nurture Teacher Joy Advisor: Melissa Parenti

Kevin D. Guyton Dissertation: Restorative Justice a Pathway to Hope: An Exploration of the Impact Restorative Justice has on the Schooling Experiences of Black Boys and the Teachers who teach them Advisor: Cherese Childers-McKee

David C Hagen Dissertation: Integrating Critical Thinking into Graduate Curricula: Teaching Strategies to Educate National Security Practitioners Advisor: William Ewell

William Thomas Hanauer Dissertation: Evaluating Advisement Practices for International East Asian Students at a MidSize Public College in the Northeast: An Action Research Study Advisor: Charles Kilfoye

Sarah Hany Helmi Nasr Dissertation: Interpersonal Skills and Leadership Development for Employee Retention: Addressing the GenZ Skills Gap in the Middle East Advisor: Afi Wiggins

Eric Vincent Harrield Dissertation: Educating African American Males Ages 11-14 for Educational Success Advisor: Cherese Childers-McKee

Laura Eberly Haskell Dissertation: Supporting Online Graduate Student Populations: A Student Services Lens Advisor: Annine Crystal

James Stewart Heffner, Jr. Dissertation: True North Leadership: Fostering Authentic Psychological Safety in Remote & Hybrid Leadership Teams Advisor: Joseph McNabb

Melissa Ann Hew-Tarradath Dissertation: At the Intersection of Leadership and Caregiving: A Phenomenological Study of Women Leaders’ Lived Experiences in Higher Education during COVID-19 Advisor: Lynda Beltz

Patricia Margaret Hill Dissertation: Trust In Special Education: Developing Relational and Institutional Trust through Intentionality Advisor: Annine Crystal

Tiffani LaVonne Hinds Dissertation: Making Sense of IT: Understanding the Technological Undergraduate Experiences of African American Female, Adult Learners Advisor: Lynda Beltz

David C Howes Dissertation: Resolutions on Learner Engagement: How a Community of Practice Can Be the Engine to Drive an On-Track Culture for Ninth Grade Advisor: William Boozang

Matthew David Huber Dissertation: Perceptions of Pre-High School College and Career Readiness Programming Advisor: Michael Dean

Thomas John Hurley Dissertation: Glory Days: The Importance of Supporting Division III Student-Athlete Career Pathways Advisor: Joseph McNabb

Ebony-Joy Erughaen Igbinoba Dissertation: Voices of Power and Resilience at the Intersections of Black and Blue: Understanding Black Women’s Lived Experiences with Gendered Racial Police Profiling through Counter-storytelling Advisor: Joseph McNabb

Kari Myriah Jensen Dissertation: Cultivating STEM Identity Through Undergraduate Laboratory Experiences: A Study of STEM-Underrepresented Students’ Self-Efficacy and Motivation Advisor: Kari Thierer

Danielle C. Johansen Dissertation: Ending Cycles of Escape and Avoidance: Increasing Educators’ Self-Efficacy for Recognizing and Intervening for Student Anxiety Advisor: Melissa Parenti

Michael Lynn Jones Dissertation: The Belonging-Centered Support Framework: An Action Research Study on Cultivating Belonging and Persistence Through Institutional Responsiveness in Higher Education Advisor: Kari Thierer

Jin Angie Jung Dissertation: Reconstructing ESL/EFL Participation in Post-Pandemic, Post-Digital, and PostHuman Classrooms Advisor: Joseph McNabb

Jacqueline Valentina Kendrick Dissertation: Supporting Postsecondary Students with ADHD in Remote Learning Environments: A Qualitative Study of Student Experiences and Disability Services Practices Advisor: Joan Giblin

Kelly Elizabeth Kent Dissertation: Bridging the Gap, Enhancing Teacher Preparation for Classroom Management Advisor: Kari Thierer

Landon Oliver Krandall Dissertation: Teacher Collaboration in Professional Learning Contexts: Creating Resources for Engaging with Queer Texts and Thinking Advisor: Tyneka Holley

Jessie J. Laguerre Dissertation: From Resources to Relationships: Empowering Educators of Color in Public Schools Advisor: Wendy Crocker

Kimberly Ann Doyle-LaRosa Dissertation: Leadership Involvement Impact on Ninth Grade Student Progress in an Urban Charter School Advisor: Patty Mason

Jeremy Flynn Lawrence Dissertation: The Softer Side of Leadership: The Role Power Skills Play in Creating and Maintaining Associate Engagement During Times of Change Advisor: Joan Giblin

Rebecca Lynn Legro Dissertation: Beyond the Lecture: An Action Research Study Promoting Faculty Self-Efficacy Through Deeper Learning at a Mid-Sized, Private Religious College in the Northeast Advisor: Annine Crystal

Stacy Ventura Lema Dissertation: Beyond the Classroom Walls: Brewing Potential ~ Coffee, Community, and Career Skills “The Positivi-Tea and Coffee Cart” Advisor: Melissa Parenti

Heather Leonardo Dissertation: The Joy Hack: Reclaiming Engagement Through Immersive Learning and Human Connection Advisor: Kari Thierer

Jeffrey Letourneau Dissertation: Expanding Reach: Peer Mentorship Supporting First-Generation Students in Multi-Campus, Online First-Year Seminars Advisor: William Ewell

Sheng Li Dissertation: Building a Strong Entrepreneurship Education System in Chinese Universities: Lessons from the United States Advisor: Cherese Childers-McKee

James S. Lin Dissertation: Navigating Stakeholder Opposition: How Policy Knowledge and Leadership Support Build Self-Efficacy for DEI Instruction Advisor: William Ewell

Rachel Joy Louis Dissertation: Improving the Sense of Belonging of International Graduate Students Advisor: Mounira Morris

Lan Ma Dissertation: Sociocultural Adaptation of First-year Chinese International Undergraduate Students: A Campus Engagement Pilot Program Integrating Peer Mentorship and Intercultural Engagement at a Private Research University in the United States Advisor: Karen Smith

Rachel Maki Dissertation: What Can Psychedelics Teach Nursing?: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners’ Experiences Working in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies in the United States Advisor: Tracy Pascua Dea

Joseph Robert Marcus Dissertation: Navigating Career Influences: An Exploration of Latino/a Young Adults’ Post-Secondary Pathway Decisions Advisor: Keisha Stephenson Taylor

Ashley Nicole Marinaro Dissertation: Together We Rise: Understanding Factors that Foster Collective Teacher Efficacy Advisor: William Ewell

Darin Martin Dissertation: Structural Barriers in Student Support: Addressing Their Role in Student Disengagement Advisor: Joseph McNabb

Cameron James McCuaig Dissertation: Honouring Student Voice: An Action Research Study on the Democratic School Model in Ontario Public Elementary Schools Advisor: Noor Ali

Ray Howard McMilliane Dissertation: The SMART Approach: Enhancing Academic Self-Efficacy and Achievement in Welfare-to-Work Program Learners Advisor: Joan Giblin

Lori Beth McNally Dissertation: Closing the Early Literacy Opportunity Gap in Massachusetts through Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Instructional Practices Advisor: Shaunna Harrington

Barbara Mitchell Dissertation: Building a Digital Scholarly Brand for Contingent Faculty Advisor: William Boozang

Carolyn Mizak Dissertation: Teacher Perceived Barriers to Interdisciplinary Project-based Learning and Possible Interventions Advisor: Kari Thierer

William Moon Dissertation: A Colearning Journey: Cultivating Other-Orientation to Leverage the ProblemSolving Power of Cognitive Diversity in Teams Advisor: Wendy Crocker

Elana Naftalin-Kelman Dissertation: Beyond the Campfire: Camp Counselors as Informal Supports for the Mental Health of Young Adults with Disabilities Advisor: Annine Crystal

Amanda Sara Naro Dissertation: Teachers Teaching Teachers: An Action Research Study of Teacher-Led Professional Development to Support Culturally Responsive Pedagogy Implementation Advisor: William Ewell

Tzi San Angela Ng Dissertation: Exploring Service Gaps for Hong Kong Migrant Students with Special Educational Needs in Greater Vancouver: Challenges and Recommendations Advisor: Lynda Beltz

Sumana Banerjee Northover Dissertation: Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Career Readiness Competency Development in Early Undergraduate Experiential Learning Advisor: Cherese Childers-McKee

Matthias Olson Dissertation: Connection, Culture, and Constraint: An Action Research Study of Teacher Agency and Student Identity Expression at an International School in East Asia Advisor: Daniel Serig

Marsha Lynn Vazquez Oropeza Dissertation: Pathways to Degree Programs, The Road Least Traveled: An Action Research Study on The Reasons Why Adult Learners Do Not Take Advantage of Non-Credit to Credit Pathways Advisor: Joan Giblin

Rosemary Vargas-Osso Dissertation: A Community of Practice Approach to Strengthening Online Curriculum Development Through AI-Supported Mentorship Advisor: Daniel Serig

Candida Elizabeth Audrey Oxendine Dissertation: Bridging the Hidden Gap: An Action Research Study on Addressing Indirect College Costs Advisor: Melissa Parenti

Amy Lee Parsons Dissertation: Talkin’ Bout a Revolution: Student-Centered, Equity-Driven School Design Advisor: Michael Dean

Rawlisha Ginel Pena Dissertation: Beyond Access: Lived Experiences of Acquiring and Mobilizing Social Capital Among First-Generation Graduates of Color Advisor: Mounira Morris

Jazmin Amarilis Peralta Dissertation: The Carceral State: Examining Higher Education’s Carceral Legacies and the Praxis of Repair Advisor: Afi Wiggins

Douglas S. Pilcher Dissertation: A Blueprint for Organizational Culture Advisor: Lydia Young

Vivienne Brady Piroli Dissertation: Strategic Planning Assessment: A Meaningful Driver of Change in Academic Libraries Advisor: Daniel Serig

Melissa Rollins Pritchett Dissertation: From the Frontline to the Homefront: Exploring how the Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program Supports Post-9/11 Veterans with PTSD Transition to Civilian Life Advisor: William Ewell

Eileen Judith Rakhunov Dissertation: Elevating the Authentic Voice of Early Childhood Educators: A Clarion Call for Examining the Factors That Shape and Influence Perceptions of Early Educators as Professionals Advisor: Kimberly Nolan

Danielle Remigio-McGrath Dissertation: Conflict Preparation: Proactive Skill Building for Residential University Students Using Training and Reflection Through Action Research Advisor: Charles Kilfoye

Juana Diane Reyes Dissertation: Workplace Satisfaction in the California State University System: A Case Study of the Academic Professionals of California Union Advisor: Jenay Sermon

Denise Dionne Roberson Dissertation: Beyond the Curriculum: Developing Cultural Competency in Diverse Classroom Settings Through Coach-Facilitated Professional Learning Communities Advisor: Christopher Unger

Michelle Lee Romero Dissertation: The Development of Science and Ethnic Identities of Undergraduate Latino Students Engaged in a Latino-Specific, STEM Student Organization at a Hispanic-Serving Institution Advisor: Thomas Wylie

Meredith Duffy Ross Dissertation: Centering the Needs of Underrepresented Minority Youth in STEM: Professional Learning-focused Action Research for Secondary STEM Educators Advisor: Noor Ali

Lori Anne Russell Dissertation: Leading with Purpose: An Action Research Study of Leadership Development to Strengthen Staff Experience and Organizational Alignment in Early Childhood Programs Advisor: Melissa Parenti

Joseph Edward Ryan, Jr. Dissertation: Self-Identity of Whiteness in the Urban Teacher Residency Advisor: Tracy Pascua Dea

Ryan A. Saul Dissertation: Bridging Scholarship and Practice: Designing a Transferable Employee Engagement Framework for the Future of Work Advisor: Charles Kilfoye

Terrence Ray Scarborough Dissertation: Identifying Their Worth: Making Sense of the Professional Identity of State Authorization Staff Employed at Universities in North Carolina Advisor: Joseph McNabb

Kjirsten Seiler Dissertation: From College Readiness Gaps to Academic Confidence: A Self-Efficacy Intervention Supporting First-Year Business Students Advisor: William Ewell

Kamyar Avi Shahrooz Dissertation: Enhancing the Ethical Adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in An Organizations: A Practical Framework Advisor: Melissa Parenti

Treasure Lorelle Ashley Sheppard Dissertation: The Influence of Organizational Development on the Establishment of Intersectoral Collaboration at the Local Level Advisor: Daniel Serig

Jennifer T Sherman Dissertation: Federal Financial Aid Policies from George W. Bush to Joseph Biden and Their Impact on Community College Financial Aid Offices Advisor: Lynda Beltz

Mengyi Shi Dissertation: Enhancing Peer Tutor Training for Foreign Language Learners in Hybrid Community College Settings: An Action Research Study Advisor: Afi Wiggins

Charna Lynn Soifert Dissertation: Beyond Words: Addressing the Communication Skills Gap in Early Career Professionals New England Corporate Perspective Advisor: Charles Kilfoye

Danielle Stokes Dissertation: Success Reimagined: A Student-Centered Approach to Post-Secondary Planning Advisor: Tyneka Holley

Kelsey Lynn Tafuna Dissertation: Bridging the Tier 1 Student Mental Health Support Gap within the Classroom Setting: An Action Research Study Advisor: Afi Wiggins

Elizabeth Anne Tamura Dissertation: Teachers’ Perceptions and Practical Solutions for Inclusive Secondary Education Advisor: Ella Benson

Asilah MuhammadAli Trabulsi Dissertation: From Access to Action: Building Sustainable Reading Habits for Disadvantaged Students in Saudi Arabia Advisor: Annine Crystal

Kathryn Schmidt Trowbridge Dissertation: Closing the Creative Thinking Gap: Exploring Educator Perceptions and Professional Development in Advancing Workforce-Aligned Education Advisor: Kimberly Nolan

Elizabeth H. Vazquez Dissertation: Student Perceptions and Pedagogical Balance: Integrating Subject and Connection Oriented Teaching Advisor: Daniel Serig

Criss Vo Dissertation: All Em Dashes Are My Own: AI Literacy, Ethical Governance, and Pedagogical Transformation in Community College Education Advisor: Kimberly Nolan

Shauna Kathleen Vyner Dissertation: Caregiver Experiences of Community and Belonging for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and High-Support Needs Advisor: Annine Crystal

Monique Raine Willoughby Dissertation: Reimagining Family Engagement: A Digital Action Plan With Curated Video Resources to Support Hispanic Parents Advisor: Jenay Sermon

Carolyn Ann Waters Dissertation: Making The Move: Transition Supports For Ninth Grade Students Advisor: Andrew Anderson

Yvonne Watson Dissertation: Beyond the Seam: Building Culturally Sustaining Fashion Curriculum and Pedagogies Advisor: Wendy Crocker

Devin Amman White Dissertation: “Who Takes Care of the Caretaker?” An Examination of Burnout and Burnout Prevention Within Mental Health Organizations Advisor: Joseph McNabb

Kathryn Wilchynski Dissertation: Enhancing Teacher Job Satisfaction Through Peer-Led Classroom Behavior Management Advisor: William Ewell

Tatiana Elena Williams-Rodríguez Dissertation: The Need for Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices for Latinx Students with Indigenous Heritage: Making Visible the Invisible Advisor: Andrew Anderson

Gloria Liliana Wojtaszek Dissertation: Evaluation of Operationalized Systems that Strengthen Support for Vulnerable Youth and Their Families Advisor: Christopher Unger

Teryl Jean Wood Dissertation: Wrapping Reflection around Continuing Education: Exploring Supports for Professional Development for Speech-Language Pathologists Advisor: Joseph McNabb

Ruyu Xie Dissertation: Empowering Synchronous Online EFL Teachers Through Interactive Strategy Adaptation: An Action Research Study With Freelance Practitioners Advisor: William Ewell

UNIVERSITY SENIOR LEADERSHIP Joseph E. Aoun, President Tom Sheahan, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kenneth W. Henderson, Chancellor and Senior Vice President for Learning Michael Armini, Senior Vice President for External Affairs Mary Ludden, Senior Vice President for Global Network and Strategic Initiatives Diane Nishigaya MacGillivray, Senior Vice President for University Advancement Thomas Nedell, Senior Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Mary B. Strother, Senior Vice President and General Counsel Satyajit Dattagupta, Head of Global Expansion

UNIVERSITY DEANS Jared Auclair, College of Professional Studies James R. Hackney, School of Law Jerome F. Hajjar, Interim, College of Engineering R. Benjamin Knapp, College of Arts, Media and Design Beth D. Kochly, Mills College at Northeastern University Elizabeth D. Mynatt, Khoury College of Computer Sciences Brent Nelson, Interim, College of Science Carmen Sceppa, Bouvé College of Health Sciences Emery A. Trahan, Interim, D’Amore-McKim School of Business Kellee Tsai, College of Social Sciences and Humanities

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, TRUSTEES EMERITI, HONORARY TRUSTEES, AND CORPORATORS EMERITI Edward Galante, Chair Alan McKim, Vice Chair Joseph E. Aoun, President Ex Officio Members of the Board of Trustees Jeffrey S. Bornstein Subodh Chanrai Alice R. Chinebuah Jeffrey J. Clarke William J. Conley Deborah Dunsire Spencer T. Fung Edward G. Galante Sir Lucian Grainge, CBE Frances N. Janis Chaitanya Kanojia Amin J. Khoury William A. Lowell Todd M. Manganaro Alan S. McKim Trustees Emeriti Barbara C. Alleyne George D. Behrakis, Vice Chair Emeritus Margot Botsford Frederick Brodsky Frederick L. Brown Peter B. Cameron Richard P. Chapman Jr., Vice Chair Emeritus William J. Cotter John J. Cullinane Richard D’Amore, Chair Emeritus Harry T. Daniels Susan S. Deitch Edmond English Neal F. Finnegan, Chair Emeritus W. Kevin Fitzgerald Arnold S. Hiatt David L. House

James J. Pallotta Irene Panagopoulos John V. Pulichino Jean Eric Salata Kathleen C. Sanborn Winslow L. Sargeant Jeannine P. Sargent Maha Shair Shelley Stewart Jr. Hemant Taneja Jean-Pascal Tricoire Christopher A. Viehbacher Gregory L. Waters Christophe P. Weber

William S. Howard Venetia G. Kontogouris Richard G. Lesser Diane H. Lupean Roger M. Marino Katherine S. McHugh, Vice Chair Emerita Kathryn M. Nicholson Arthur A. Pappas Marcy L. Reed Ronald L. Rossetti Ronald L. Sargent Carole J. Shapazian, Vice Chair Emerita Robert J. Shillman Janet M. Smith Sy Sternberg, Chair Emeritus Jean C. Tempel, Vice Chair Emerita Alan D. Tobin, Vice Chair Emeritus

Joseph Tucci Catherine A. White Arthur W. Zafiropoulo

Michael Zamkow Ellen M. Zane

Honorary Trustees Scott M. Black Charles K. Gifford

Lucille R. Zanghi

Corporators Emeriti Salah Al-Wazzan Quincy L. Allen Tarek As’ad Robert J. Awkward Vincent F. Barletta Richard L. Bready John F. Burke William P. Casey Lawrence G. Cetrulo Nassib G. Chamoun William D. Chin Steven J. Cody Timothy J. Connelly Joseph J. Cronin Robert L. Culver Richard J. DeAgazio Kevin A. DeNuccio Robin W. Devereux Robert E. DiCenso Priscilla H. Douglas Adriane J. Dudley Michael J. Egan Douglas M. Epstein Joseph D. Feaster Jr. Louise Firth Campbell Lisa D. Foster Francis A. Gicca Gary R. Gregg Nancy E. B. Haynes Charles C. Hewitt III Roderick Ireland Mark A. Krentzman Joseph C. Lawler Mary Kay Leonard

M Benjamin Lipman George A. MacConnell Susan B. Major Paul V. McDonough Thomas P. McDonough Kathleen McFeeters Susan A. Morelli Francis E. Murphy James Q. Nolan Jr. Peter J. Ogren Lawrence A. O’Rourke Leonard C. Perham Valerie W. Perlowitz Steven Picheny John E. Pritchard Eugene M. Reppucci Jr. Rhondella Richardson Patrick A. Rivelli David J. Ryan George P. Sakellaris Richard A. Schoenfeld Peter J. Smail Karen Tay Koh Gordon O. Thompson Alexander L. Thorndike James R. Turner Mark L. Vachon Laurie B. Werner E. Leo Whitworth Donald K. Williams Jr. Donald L. Williams Akira Yamamura Richard R. Yuse

UNIVERSITY MARSHALS Mary Jo Ondrechen, Chief Marshal Barbara Larson

Stefano Basagni Jonathan Bell Christopher Bosso Luca Caracoglia Christopher Cesario Martin Dias Amy Farrell Kirsten Fertuck Alex Fronduto David Herlihy Dan Kennedy

Kimberly Lucas Steve Lustig Jay Mulki Hande Musdal Ondemir Ana Otero Mary-Susan Potts-Santone Heather Streets-Salter Annemarie Sullivan Rajagopal Venkatesaramani Edward Witten Elizabeth Zulick

The Registrar of the university maintains the official list of all graduates. This program is for ceremonial purposes only.