COMMENCEMENT
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Undergraduate and Graduate Ceremonies
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES
SATURDAY, THE THIRD OF MAY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE
UNDERGRADUATE CEREMONY
Ten o’clock in the morning
GRADUATE CEREMONY
Two o’clock in the afternoon
R.B. CUTLIP AUDITORIUM
AMY SHELTON MCNUTT CAMPUS CENTER
Welcome to The Woods
William Woods University is a coeducational, independent, professions-oriented, liberal-arts based institution of approximately 2,200 students. The scenic campus, in historic Fulton, Missouri, is situated on 225 acres with two picturesque lakes.
Originally founded in 1870 as the Female Orphan School for girls who had been orphaned during the Civil War, the mission of William Woods University always has been to provide a quality education, while ensuring the development of the individual. The University offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines in both campus and outreach settings.
William Woods University consistently has been ranked as one of the top 100 regional universities in the Midwest by U.S. News. The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
William Woods offers exceptional opportunities for students to learn and grow, through unique degree programs, an engaging and personal campus community, life-changing experiences outside the classroom and a firstname relationship with faculty and fellow students that endures far beyond the classroom and long after the degree is earned.
Long a leader in education for working adults and professionals, William Woods University’s influence outside its physical campus is significant, providing quality graduate and undergraduate online degree programs to individuals already in the workforce who wish to advance their careers.
ACADEMIC PROTOCOL AND PROCESSION
The Procession
Traditions relating to the academic procession of the university date from practices established in the academies and universities of Western Europe in the Middle Ages. At William Woods University, the procession is headed by the Marshal of the faculty, followed by the candidates for undergraduate degrees, candidates for graduate degrees, unranked faculty and staff, full-time faculty according to rank, professors emeriti, platform guests, and the President of the University.
The Ivy Ceremony
Although the actual history of the William Woods University Ivy Ceremony remains a mystery, common belief is that early senior classes first planted ivy on campus during special graduation programs. Since then, the planting ritual has evolved into an ivy ceremony in the Fall for new students and an ivy chain processional in the Spring for graduating seniors.
Participation in the Ivy Ceremonies bonds students to the traditions held fast in the hearts of all William Woods University alumni. As the ivy entwines itself, so will their lives be entwined with the lives of those around them. Every student on the William Woods campus is linked inextricably by the ivy bond, which symbolizes the development of friendships, goals, and common purposes. At graduation, the ivy chain will be severed, signifying that students are embarking on the next phase of their lives. However, ties to their alma mater will continue throughout their lifetime as an alumnus of William Woods University.
The Marshal
The Marshal is elected by the faculty to serve for the remainder of his/her tenure at William Woods University. The Marshal is responsible for all matters related to academic protocol and is charged with the organization and regulation of all academic processions and ceremonies. The Marshal’s regalia is unique to the institution and specially designed for the office.
The Mace
The ceremonial mace is the official symbol of the University. It is presented to the President by the Marshal to indicate that the University is assembled.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the President grants permission for the Marshal to lift the mace to signify that the recession may begin. The assemblage shall stand and remain standing whenever the mace is in transit.
Flags and Torches
The American flag customarily is displayed during all academic convocations. Two ceremonial torches symbolize the light of knowledge and indicate the way of the academic procession.
UNDERGRADUATE CEREMONY
Processional………………………………………………………
National Anthem ……………………………………………….
Thomas R. Frankman, Ed.D. Faculty Marshall and Associate Professor
Hannah Payne, Alyssa Carroll, Kyla Adams, Reece Schroer, and Marlee Ramirez
Invocation……………………………………………….……… Rev. Travis Tamerius, M.C.S. University Chaplain
Welcome…………………………………………………………
Introduction of Guest Speaker …………………………………
Address …………………………………………………………
Presidential Message.……………………………………………
Caroline Boyer, Ph.D. University Provost
Romaine Seguin President
Shelly Brown Member, Board of Trustees
Romaine Seguin
Presentation of the Candidates for Degrees ……………………… Blayne Murphy, Ed.S. Assistant Faculty Marshall
Awarding of Diplomas…………………………………………… Romaine Seguin
Conferral of Degrees……………………………………………… Romaine Seguin
Recessional……………………………………………………….
Thomas R. Frankman, Ed.D.
GRADUATE CEREMONY
Processional………………………………………………………
National Anthem ……………………………………………….
Invocation……………………………………………….………
Welcome…………………………………………………………
Thomas R. Frankman, Ed.D. Faculty Marshall and Associate Professor
Hannah Payne, Alyssa Carroll, Kyla Adams, Reece Schroer, and Marlee Ramirez
Rev. Travis Tamerius, M.C.S. University Chaplain
Caroline Boyer, Ph.D. University Provost
Introduction of Guest Speaker ………………………………… Romaine Seguin President
Address …………………………………………………………
Charles Ambrose, Ed.D. Former President, University of Central Missouri
Presidential Message.…………………………………………… Romaine Seguin
Presentation of the Candidates for Degrees ………………………
Blayne Murphy, Ed.S. Assistant Faculty Marshall
Awarding of Diplomas…………………………………………… Romaine Seguin
Hooding of Doctoral Candidates…………………………………
James Concannon, Ph.D. Executive Dean, School of Education Francesco Giuseffi, Ed.D. Chair of Doctoral Studies
Conferral of Degrees……………………………………………… Romaine Seguin
Recessional……………………………………………………….
Thomas R. Frankman, Ed.D.
ACADEMIC REGALIA
The academic regalia worn at American college exercises today dates back to the older universities of northern Europe, such as Paris and Oxford. Gowns recommended for use in the colleges and universities of the United States have the following characteristics:
The gown for the bachelor’s degree has pointed sleeves. The gown for the master’s degree has oblong sleeves, open at the wrist. The sleeve base hangs down in the traditional manner. The rear part of its oblong shape is square cut, and the front part has an arc cutaway. The gown for the doctorate degree has bell-shaped sleeves. Gowns for the bachelor’s or master’s degrees are untrimmed. For the doctorate degree, the gown is faced down the front with black velvet; three bars of velvet are used across the sleeves. The facings and crossbars are velvet in the color distinctive of the discipline to which the degree pertains.
The hoods are lined with the official color or colors of the college or university conferring the degree; more than one color is shown by the division of the field color in a variety of ways. The binding or edging of the hood is velvet or velveteen. The color is indicative of the discipline to which the degree pertains.
GRADUATION WITH HONORS
Academic Honors
Baccalaureate students who graduate with honors must meet the following minimum grade point averages and must have completed at least 60 hours of academic credit with William Woods University.
Summa Cum Laude
Magna Cum Laude Cum Laude
Honors Program Graduates
Graduates of the Honors Program have presented their thesis to the campus community and completed advanced coursework exclusive to the honors program. They are wearing black gowns trimmed in gold.
Honor Societies
Members of honor societies are wearing cords in colors indicative of their honor society.
CABINET
Romaine Seguin President
Caroline Boyer, Ph.D. Provost
Ted Blashak, Ed.D. Chief Student Experience Officer
Mike Dillon Director of Physical Plant
John Fougere Vice President of Media Relations
Montrice O’Neal Vice President of Student Affairs
Andy Otto, PhD. Vice President Enrollment Services
Jessie Studer
Executive Assistant to the President and Provost
Casey Wieder, M.A.Ed. Interim Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Jay Wilson, MPA Vice President of Advancement
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Shelly Brown
Senior Business Management Consultant and William Woods trustee
As a two-time graduate and current member of the Executive Committee of the university’s board of trustees, Shelly Brown’s William Woods University roots run deep. A senior management consultant in the corporate world, Brown has achieved remarkable success in commercial leadership, supply chain, operations and philanthropy during his career, which spans both the private and public sectors. And it all began when he received both his Bachelor’s degree in Management (1997) and Masters of Business Administration (1999) from The Woods, and he joined the WWU Board of Trustees in 2023.
With a career rooted in service, entrepreneurship and advocacy, Brown is a bridge-builder and creator of partnerships that catalyze fresh thinking and new approaches, while advancing innovation and ingenuity. He is a former board director of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
Charles Ambrose, Ed.D.
and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the 2023 Leadership Award from Women’s Enterprise and Minority Business News, for his commitment to the success of entrepreneurs, job creation and corporate development.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Brown was decorated for service during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In addition to his degrees from William Woods, he also completed executive coursework at Dartmouth College and through McKinsey Academy’s Black Executive Leadership Program. With an extensive history of commitment to the non-profit and civic community through both board service and volunteerism, Brown currently serves on the board for Habitat for Humanity of Lake County, Illinois, where he is Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee; Boy Scouts of America – Northeast Illinois Council; and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He lives with his wife and son on the North shore of Chicago, Illinois.
During his address to graduates, Brown will focus on the critical role that education plays in preparing future leaders for resilience, adaptability, and purpose-driven leadership.
Former President, University of Central Missouri
The impact that Dr. Chuck Ambrose has had on Higher Education during his career has been profound. Dr. Ambrose has 40 years experience serving in college presidents’ offices, including 23 of those years serving as president himself. His higher education career includes a tenure as president of the University of Central Missouri (UCM) from 2010-2018, where he earned the Governor’s Award for Economic Development for the creation of the Missouri Innovation Campus, and as chancellor of Henderson St. University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas (2021-2023), where he arrived during a severe financial crisis and achieved the largest cost containment in the shortest amount of time for a four-year public university.
Currently, Dr. Ambrose serves as a Senior Education Consultant with the Husch Blackwell Law Firm, sharing strategies and
offering tangible support to other college and university leaders. Since joining Husch Blackwell in 2023, he has worked with the firm’s higher education clients as a consultant, with a focus on policy, strategy, and enhancing institutional performance and outcomes.
The author of Colleges on the Brink: The Case for Financial Exigency, Dr. Ambrose has received numerous awards during his career, including having UCM’s Missouri Innovation Campus recognized as a national model for higher education by President Barack Obama; the 2006 Furman University Distinguished Alumni Award, and the Governor of Missouri’s Economic Development Advancement Award in 2013.
Dr. Ambrose is a graduate of Furman University (B.A., Sociology), the University of Louisville (M.A., Higher Education Administration) and the University of Georgia (Ed.D, Higher Education Administration).
Associate of Arts
Jessica Nicole Blake
Brittney Mae Brave
Breia Brownley
Susanne Casey
Jesus Arturo Castro-Diaz
Alison Colello
My’Asia Sierra Davis
Robert Dickerman
Chante L. Donaldson
Lizzie Dorsey
Sabina Francis
Tamara Francis
Cameron Elijah Frye
Carmina Garay
Emily May Gardner
Kelsey Gilstrap
Darrius Green
De’Aira Nychelle Greene
Yesenia Maricela Gutierrez
Lorenzo Harris, Jr.
Heidi Lynn Hoff
Emily Claire Kennedy
Kayla Mae Kilcomons
Trevez Vonell McDaniel, Sr.
Emily Forest Mills
Christine Moore-Howell
UNDERGRADUATE CEREMONY GRADUATES
Jessica Marlene Perry
Cassidy Poitras
Teryn Rachel Lynn Porch
Maryanne L. Potter
Davina Rush
Alberto Santus
Ivette Marie Serrano
Breanah Washington
Byron Randall Winn
Bachelor of Arts
Blake Ryan Adams
Isabelle Rose Boschert
Victor Breceda Diaz
Ruth Marie Brown
Madilynne Grace Bruce
Hannah Sky Burkybile
Clayton Lee Ebers
Alexis Renee Edgren
Zoe Elizabeth Gray
Leah Marie Hays
Melissa Mae Lopez
Susan E. McCoy
Abigail Jean Propst
Skylar Ragazzoni
Michelle L. Rhodes
Lainey Elizabeth Rutter
Kayla Savage
Dallas Kimberly Seyler
Tara D. Simms
Sarah Nicole Theodorou
Hailey Triske
Natalie Julian Vassell
Joel Viera-Vera
Reine Mary Allene Voigt
Madison Watkins
Jack Allan Wetzel
Marilyn R. Widman
Ty Caleb Williams
Jennifer Wilson
Bachelor of Applied Science
Candace Bommarito
Ashleigh Nichole Curtis
Kiamani Grant
Dillon Mach
Marija Nedeljkovic
Bachelor of General Studies
Keeley Cobain Diblasi
Whitney Kay Elizabeth Ecker
Laura Wilson Hornsby
Sylvia Elaine Perry
Annalisa Joy Ramirez
Samuel R. Snyder
Jayden Spore
Kaiulani Marie WheelerWehmeyer
David Lee Wiley
Dmari Wiltz
Bachelor of Science
Lauren Ashley Adams
Kayana Allen
Jessica Lynn Alter
Rosa Lizcano Anaya
Jaterius R Anderson
Serenity Arciniega Torres
Ella J. Ardizoni
Corynn Lee Argent
Victoria Louise Arriaga
India Atkins
Cheyenne Morgan Ausborn
Megan Riley Bachand
Adam Lawrence Barbieri
Elise Jeannine Barron
Jillian Kay Becker
Alexandra C. Beckwith
Cameron Bennett
UNDERGRADUATE CEREMONY GRADUATES
David Maxwell Evan Benton, III
Andrew Edwin Berglund
Patrick Garrett Bernius
Louis Rollo Bi
Justus Christian Bischoff
Hannah Marie Biszewski
Rhakala Blackmon
Samantha Marie Blashak
Sydney Brianna Booker
Brodina Bousselot
Lily Marie Brachio
Tyrie Vincent Brady
Madeline Marie Brinkmann
Holly Sue Brockman
Noah C.W. Burton
Candace Marie Carlson
Peyton William Clampitt
Micah Thomas Cleveland
Alexis Lee Clifford
Emma Nicole Clifford
Katherine Collaros
O’Neal Cotton, Jr.
La’Shana Cummings
Danielle Rae Davidson
Peyton Dearing
Vince Thomas DeMarco
Adetokunbo Desalu
Karin Nekole Desalu
Alexis Mary Drbul
Reanna Janel Dodge
William David Duran
Diane Ernst
Wyatt R. Fischer
Mary K. Fitzpatrick
Kennedy Layne Flanner
Jaden Rose Fousert
Sonyé-Xcaret Garcia Ortiz
Colleen R. Garvin
Jeffrey Shawn Gemmell
Mekayla Generose Gibson
Olivia Gilmore
Alyson Grace Goeken
Sean Clay Goings
Loucine Susan Hakimi
Jeffrey T. Hamilton
Ronald Harless
Katie Harrison
Allyson C. Havens
Taylor Elizabeth Hayburn
Eve Elizabeth Wallendorff
Lauren Helmert
Alexis Elaine Henley
Ian D. Hickman
Jordan Tyler Holland
Grace S Hollenberg
Allyson Renee Hollrah
Alfred Benedict Holt, III
Cade William Irwin
Antoinette Jackson
Ella Marie Jenkins
Tanner Richard Johnson
Evan Johnston
Katie Ann Keilholz
Rachel Kellar
Brandon Kim
Karter Lee Koenig
Allison Rose Kowalke
Ryleigh Elizabeth Kramp
Jocelyn Alexis Kronewitter
Emma Rose Kucsik
Evan LaPosha
Bellesea E Laschober
John Stephen Lawrence, Jr.
Shay Rose Leake
Johanna Marianne Ariena Lindeboom
Catherine Lockhart
Montana Lianne Long
Phillip Scott Lucas
Joseph Orlan Luckett
Mourad Mabrouk
Sydney Lauren Mahacek
Nicolas Ignacio Martinez
Labra, Sr.
Jared David Matthews
Janiece M. McClure
Caroline Pearl McCurren
Breck Connor McGrail
HolleyMaye Messer
Ingrid Sibylle Mitchell
Shaunder Mitchell
Judy Catherine Morton
Daniel D. Moulin
Aiden Joseph Mowrey
Omar Ariel Murillo
Hernandez
Brady Musgrove
Amanda R. Newcomb
Sean Dylan O’Brien
Francis Okwuosah
Alissa Lynn Olson
Avery Christine O’Meara
Bradley O’Neal
Damien Parfait
Kannon Alexander Patterson
Vicente Poblete
Samantha Poehlmann
Jacob Allen Polacek
Lubos Polacko
Carson Earl Prescott
Jared Price
Vincent Michael Pyeatt
Ryan P. Ranalet
Sarah Grace Randermann
Trista Nicole Rauma
Evelyn R. Reynolds
Nolan Lafe Riechers
Jillian Robertson
Anthony Adam Rodriguez
Kelsey M. Rose
Veronica A. Sander
Patrick T. Schultz
Nathan Micheal Schwartze
Ian R. Schwierjohn
Henry Shannon III
Justin Sharkey
Hannah Shepherd
Mason M. Silverwood
Shane Simpson
Ryan Sirulnik
Katelynn Sierra Slaven
Gavin Cooper Smith
Stephanie Marie Sneed
DaShaun Jamal Stark
Carlon Steward
UNDERGRADUATE CEREMONY GRADUATES
Daelynn Nacole Stock
Jaden Elizabeth Swift
Kevin Taylor
James Charles Tennyson
Alex Michael Thomas
Joshua Rand Thompson
Mackenzie D. Thompson
Melissa L. Thompson
Taylor Ann Thompson
Tre G. Titus
Jackson Allan Truesdell
Keona Raquel Vela
Madison Villa
Brooke Ann Villarreal
Samantha Eve Webster
Hannah M. Weidler
Bailey Sadler Wendt
Thomas White, II
Anthony Joseph Willenberg
MaKenna Hope Wuelling
Callie M. Zarcone
Bachelor of Social Work
Lisa Munoz
Education Specialist
Jennifer Batts
Lanie Nicole Lowry
Master of Arts
Taylor Marie Baker
Devin Battefeld
Ryan Davis Camerer
Latrice Collins
Simeon Adoja Etonu
Markayla Goss
Cathleen Harris
Jennifer Leah Johnson
Chloe Renee Overkamp
Alayna Rochelle Parmalee
Saundra Marie Perkins
Madelyn Ross San Soucie
Tracy Lee Simmons
Elizabeth Marie Smith
Angela Walker
Benjamin Wallace
Master of Education
Whitney Lynn BachmanTwombly
Sydney Lyree Balducci
Ryan Robert Bariteau
Bailey Bauer
Joshua Baughman
Alexis D. Begley
Andrea LeAnn Benne
Alexia Breean Bennett
Bailey Mlynn Berry
Alanna Bielawski
James Warren Bohannan, Jr.
Lisa Marie Borror
GRADUATE CEREMONY GRADUATES
Lainey Grace Brotan
Mikayla Joy Burton
Kristin R. Buschjost
Kelsey Len Caine
Amy Camp
Andrea Marie Carroll
Andrew Collins
Ann L. Collins
Jill Cook
Amy L. Craghead
Justin Edward Davis
Rory Anne DeFazio
Mitchell Dekutoski
Justin Robert Dibb
Jamie Nichole Dryer
Stacey Lee Eisterhold
Hannah Elaine Femia
Ashley Fischer
Courtney D. Fischer
Lindsey Fosse
Samuel Edward Gonzalez
Abbey Elizabeth Gradle
William Anthony Graft
Brooke Harmon
Ashton Lynn Hays
Jared Leon Hines
Catherine Joy Holthaus
Jessica L. Imbriaco
Ashley Rene’ Isenberg
Elizabeth Ann Kasubke
Mackenzie Ketcherside
David Ellis Koppelmann
Lisa Kuper
Hayley Dawn Lafferty
Theresa Adeline LaGrande
Justin Larsen
Michael J. Lauer
Zachary Leffler
Julie Lichtenstein
Kevin Jeffrey Lombard
Darren James Long
Jessica Lott
Mitchell Walter Lundy
Cirsten Martin
Luis Miguel Martinez
Paige Michael Maske
Joshua McCutcheon
Jack Meyer
Annika Ruth Miller
Jeremy Miller
Damonni Morris
Brenten B. Moser
Emily Kellen Mueller
Clayton Richard Polson
Crystal Marie Pratt
Brittany K. Prenger
Shelby Turner Rader
Cale Ramsey
Anna Raymond
Patricia Beth Rivero
Blane Tyler Robinson
Jaden Delaney Santoni
Dyana Linn Schroeder
Noel Rene’e Sherer
Gabriel Drew Shilts
Taylor Christine Shivelbine
Jamie Lee Smith
Kimberly Renee Smith
John Snider, Jr.
Antonio Arnandez Snyder
Nyna Sprouse
Belinda Denise Stratton
Branden Edward Sugar
Zachary William Summers
Raina Tikka
Erica Treis
Tisha Vanderbeck
Jessica Ann Vernickas
Jeremy David Wardlow
Jordan B. Weidner
Tanner M. White
Sydney DeeAnn Wilbeck
Jennifer Lynn Wilcox
Linden Ann Marie Wilson
Kallie Jean Witthaus
Brent A. Wolf
Master of Business Administration
Maria Eleni Bampiri
Jaryl Bernard
Federica Borsero
Lori L. Bonnot
Federica Borsero
Theo Judicael Roy Brown
Jeffrey A. Burgert
Marta Calvo Larraz
Ivett Dayana Castaneda
Mauricio
Bobby J. Flesch
Monica R. Fox
Tom Gehring
David W. Gillam
Kelsey Hammack
Holly Ann Hicks
Lauren Lexuis Imler
Emery Lee Jones
Jessica Lauren Keilholz
Hailey Kesler
Prashanta Koirala
Gavin Lee Leuther
Hannah Michele Loethen
Cael Jacob Lorentz
Elizabeth Peter Mbuya
Tom Mueller
Terry Lavon Nash, Jr.
Declan Anthony O’Callaghan
Chais Paul
Grant Wayne Peters
Danielle Ramiro Prior
Benjamin Richwine
Margret E Sharp
Luca Struffi
Vitek Subert, III
Margaret Fafali Sumly
Mimi Tran
Victor Waldrich Vechi
Haydon Michael Wyant
Master of Health
Administration
Whitney Brown
GRADUATE CEREMONY GRADUATES
Sara Bullock
Danielle Marie Chidister
Courtney A. Dickey
Chelsea Ann Epperson
Ronda Friend
Conrad Patterson Hansel
Charice L. Hilgedick RN
Kristina Alene Jackson
Donna Ellen Jones
Adrian Neil MacGregor
Haley Mathews
Harley Leanna Nale
Hawks Pass
Ashley N. Smith
Melik S. Smith
Bailey Nicole Yeater
Master of Science
Lori Burnett
Andrew Oren Daly
Evan Stewart Filer
Abigail L Klos
Elizabeth Tara Larkin
Kolton Shoop
Christopher P. Stevens
Hannah Elizabeth Stevens
Education
Specialist
Jessica Jo Adrian
Jarett Michael Allen
Tracey Anne Allen
Savannah Rheanne Bare
JoAnn Rose Benfield
Holly Marie Bennett
Erica Bruington
Elizabeth Ranae Clement
Erica Coats
Niki Dawn Dailey
Jamie McKenna Dillon
Caitlin Kelly Fincher
Gregory Freeman
Robin Crystal Friedrich
Genna Galluzzo
Amber Fae Graziano
Madelyn Jean Hansen
Christopher L. Herriman
Chad Holmes
Aimee L. Huse
Anitera J. Jackson
Stephanie Lauren Johnson
Daniel J. Kruse
Michael Linehan
Jana Lee Locke
Montana Lee Loesing
Nicole Lynn Marshall
Kelli Mayberry
Jessica Morgan Meisenheimer
PhD
Daphne Militzer
Katie May Mooneyham
Cameron L. Phillips
Margaret E.F. Plybon
Zackary Darnell Shelby
Jesse Ann Shilling
Kayla Snider
Candice Marie Sullivan
Wittney Swyers
Christina J. Thalhuber
Robert John Thalhuber
Michael Lee Tipton
Sarah E. Worsham
Derek Joseph Yost
Courtney B. Young
GRADUATE CEREMONY GRADUATES
Doctorate of Education
Dr. Spencer Lee Allen
The Correlation of Network for Educator Effectiveness Training and Implementation with Principal Self-Efficacy. Dr. Kristee Lorenz, Chair.
Dr. Brandt Douglas Bell
Impact of School Sponsored Activities on Student Sense of Belonging: A Qualitative Study of Activity Participation in Suburban Missouri. Dr. Tom Frankman, chair.
Dr. Jena Bollinger
Perceptions of Teachers on the Impact of Competency Based Grading Versus Traditional Grading on Student Achievement. Dr. Francesco Giuseffi, chair.
Dr. Stacey Lynn Boyce Bonderer
Mid-Missouri Teachers’ Perceptions of the Science of Reading Approach to Early Literacy. Dr. Leslie Trogdon, chair.
Dr. Christina Marie Booker
General Education Teacher Perceptions of Inclusive Education. Dr. Gretchen Guitard, chair.
Dr. Adym Nicholas Cooney
Analyzing the Self-Efficacy of New Teachers Compared to Veteran Teachers and Its Effects on Teacher Attrition. Dr. Joseph Davis, chair.
Dr. Jonathan Brock Crowley
Impact of Industry-Recognized Credentialing on Secondary Career and Technical Education Student Job Placement. Dr. Cindy Amick, chair.
Dr. Shannon Marie Cunningham
Show Me Sports: A Study Examining the Differences Between Athletic Involvement and Student Success among Missouri Athletes and Non-Athletes. Dr. Tim Hanrahan, chair.
Dr. Morgan Christine Dawson
The Effect of Social-Emotional Learning on Attendance, Academics, Extracurricular Participation and Overall Student Achievement. Dr. Amanda Tolen, chair.
Dr. Andrea Briones Eatinger
Training for Racial Equity: Understanding Elementary Teacher Experiences and Perceptions. Dr. Lisa Nieuwenhuizen, chair.
Dr. David Wayne Garrison
The Impact of After-School Activities on Students Grade Point Averages and Attendance. Dr. Charles Brazeale, chair.
Dr. Nanya Lee Gegg
The Impact of Standards-based Learning and Grading on Growth Mindset Development and Student Achievement in Upper Elementary Students. Dr. Gretchen Guitard, chair.
Dr. John William Kiel Giese
Influence of Emotional Intelligence, Trust, & Collaborative Culture on the Creativity in Teams. Dr. Kristee Lorenz, chair.
Dr. Athena Noelle Graham
Teacher Attrition and Retention in Secondary Schools: Novice Versus Veteran Teachers. Dr. Francesco Giuseffi, chair.
Dr. Craig Matthew Hastings
Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 School Closures on Teachers’ Motivation and Well-Being: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective. Dr. Kristee Lorenz, chair.
Dr. Cherie Hayes
Being a Trauma-Informed Middle School and Exclusionary Discipline Rates: A Quantitative Study. Dr. J. Michael Pragman, chair.
Dr. Robert Edwin Hedgecorth
Explaining Teacher Retention: Why teachers stay beyond five years in education. Dr. Tim Hanrahan, chair.
Dr. Kristen Rae Huffman
A Phenomenological Case Study of a Rural High School’s Mandatory Attendance Policy Consequences and At-Risk Students. Dr. Lisa Nieuwenhuizen, chair.
Dr. Laura Beth Janovec
K-12 Teachers’ Perceptions of Technology Implementation Post COVID-19. Dr. Gretchen Guitard, chair.
Dr. Roy Alvin King III
Minority Leadership: America’s Struggle to Rectify Race in Education. Dr. Lisa Nieuwenhuizen, chair.
Dr. Brian M. Linquist
Analysis of Hardware and Software Training at the Secondary Level. Dr. J. Michael Pragman, chair.
Dr. Chad Preston Lograsso
GRADUATE CEREMONY GRADUATES
The Big Squeeze: Student Loan Debt and New Teacher
Intentions to Persist in the Education Profession. Dr. James Concannon, chair.
Dr. Andrea Lynn Maddox
A STEM Education Program Impact on Academic Achievement of Fifth-Grade Students in a Rural Missouri School District. Dr. Cindy Amick, chair.
Dr. Michelle Lynn Maupin
An Exploration of Perception of Safety in Mid-Missouri K-12 Schools That Utilize Armed School Resource Officers and/or Conceal and Carry. Dr. Cindy Amick, chair.
Dr. Michelle L. McMullan
Missouri School Leaders’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of PBIS Implementation on Academic Achievement. Dr. J. Michael Pragman, chair.
Dr. Aimee Lynn Merideth
The Impact from the Implementation from Trauma Informed Practices on Elementary Students Since the Covid-19 Pandemic. Dr. Kristee Lorenz, chair.
Dr. Roosevelt Mitchell III
Invisible Heroes: Addressing the Shortage of Black Male Special Education Teachers in Missouri Public Schools. Dr. Lisa Nieuwenhuizen, chair.
Dr. Matthew Otis Morris
Teacher Perception of the Effects of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) in Missouri Charter Schools. Dr. Shanna Schwarzer, chair.
Dr. Keith Alexander Moyer Jr.
School Safety and the Belongingness Hypothesis: The Effects of Student Belonging on a Suburban, Midwestern, School District’s Perception and Predictors of School Safety. Dr. Kristee Lorenz, chair.
Dr. Roy Allen Northern
The Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS): Comparison of SAEBRS Scores with Student Outcomes on Traditional At-Risk and Academic Indicators. Dr. Lisa Nieuwenhuizen, chair.
Dr. Rebecca Lynn Orrick
Perceptions of the Impact of 1:1 Technology in Education. Dr.
Lisa Nieuwenhuizen, chair.
Dr. Aitriona Lois Peterson-Ramey
Black Female Teachers in Missouri Public K-12 Schools. Dr. Lisa Nieuwenhuizen, chair.
Dr. Touria Belahsen Pratt Principal Feedback and Its Relationship to Student Achievement. Dr. Kristee Lorenz, chair.
Dr. Stephen Daniel Priebe Culturally Responsive Teaching: Preservice and In-Service Teacher Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectancy. Dr. Tom Frankman, chair.
Dr. Crystal Anne Riggs Roles and Responsibilities of the School Resource Officer: Perspectives of Secondary Administrators and School Resource Officers. Dr. Tom Frankman, chair.
Dr. Allen Jerome Roth Impact of Extracurriculars on Student Achievement. Dr. Francesco Giuseffi, chair.
Dr. Melissa Schroeder
The Impact of Extracurricular Activities on Academic Achievement. Dr. John Long, chair.
Dr. Jamie Schutte
Impact of LETRS Professional Development on Student Achievement Scores of Second through Fourth Grade Students in Western Missouri. Dr. Cindy Amick, chair.
Dr. Tiffani Shuman
The Impact of Class Size on Reading Achievement in Kindergarten. Dr. Paul Sturgis, chair.
Dr. Gena Lynne Sitton Unsung Heroes: How Rural Public K-12 Missouri Administrators Navigated Educational Challenges Through COVID-19 School Closures. Dr. Paul Sturgis, Chair.
Dr. Abby Lou Smith
Effective Communication: A Case Study Perception about Effective Communication Tools in Kindergarten. Dr. John Long, chair.
Dr. William C. Spencer
The Impact of Intervention Frequency on Middle School Outcomes. Dr. J. Michael Pragman, chair.
Dr. Matthew David Stacey
GRADUATE CEREMONY GRADUATES
Teacher Perceptions of Traditional and Virtual Educational Settings on Student Performance. Dr. Tom Frankman, chair.
Dr. Carrie Ann Tripp
Removing the Glass Ceiling: Helping Females Rise to the Superintendency. Dr. Kristee Lorenz, chair
Dr. Sarah D. Vyrostek
Teacher Preparedness for Teaching Students with Dyslexia. Dr. J. Michael Pragman, chair.
Dr. Tyler Burk Walker
Educator Perceptions of the Four-Day School Week in Rural Missouri School Districts. Dr. Charles Brazeale, chair.
Dr. Ryan Scott Waters
Factors Influencing Generation Z Engagement in Rural Secondary Classrooms. Dr. Shanna Schwarzer, chair.
Dr. Amy L. Westacott
Perceptions of Split-Building Elementary Assistant Principals on Work-Life Quality: Duties, Instructional Leadership, and School Culture. Dr. J. Michael Pragman, chair.
FACULTY
Melissa Alpers-Springer, M.A.
Assistant Professor of Communication
Kyle Anderson, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Education
Dory Andrew, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Social Work
Sean Baldridge, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Science and Health; Associate Professor of Physics
Stacey Bonderer, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Education
Caroline Boyer, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology; Provost
John Brand III, M.A.
Assistant Professor of American Sign Language
Jessica Brown, M.A.
Assistant Professor of American Sign Language
Olivia Buzzacco, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor of English
Erin Cardea, Ed.D.
Associate Professor of Equestrian Studies; Dean of the College of Equestrian Studies
Anthony Cavaiani, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Communication
James Concannon, Ph.D. Professor of Education;
Executive Dean of the School of Education
Julie Davenport, M.S.
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Joseph Davis, Ed.D.
Associate Professor of Education
Zachary Dowdle, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of History; Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities
Matt Dube, Ph.D. Professor of English; Director of Online Education
Linda Duke, M.B.A., D.M.gt.
Assistant Professor of Management
David Forster, M.B.A.
Associate Professor of Business and Economics
Tom Frankman, Ed.D. Professor of Education
Madelyn Fritts, M.S.
Instructor of Exercise Science
Krista Frohling, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor of Photography; Dean of the College of Art, Design, and Media
Sarah Greenland-White, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biology
Francesco Giuseffi, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Education
Liz Haben, M.Ed.
Associate Professor of Equestrian Studies
Julian A. Hertzog, Ph.D. Professor of Education and Psychology
Robin Hirsch-Jacobson, Ph.D. Professor of Biology
Sheila Hodge-Logan, Ed.D. Associate Professor of Education
Raymond Hune, Ed.S., M.A.T. Assistant Professor of Developmental Math
Kimberly L. Keller, Ph.D. Professor of Biology
Alexander Kirby, M.A. Associate Professor of Music
Cynthia Kramer, J.D., LL.M. Professor of Legal Studies
Gayle S. Lampe, M.Ed. Professor Emeritus of Equestrian Studies
Ethan Lesko, M.S. Instructor of Chemistry
Kristee Lorenz, Ed.D. Associate Professor of Education
Hilary Maag, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Interpreting
Jill Mahoney, M.A.
Associate Professor; Director of University Library
Jessica Manion, Ed.D.
Associate Professor of Accounting
Bailey McCallum, M.Ed.
Assistant Professor of Equestrian Studies
Carrie McCray, Ph.D.
Professor of ASL Interpreting; Associate Dean for Institutional Effectiveness
Nina McKee, M.B.A, M.S.
Assistant Professor of Cyber Security; Chair of Undergraduate Technology Programs
Blayne Murphy, Ed.S. Assistant Professor of Education
David Nelson, M.S.
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice; Director of Online Criminal Justice Program
Lisa Nieuwenhuizen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Education
Cameron Nuss, M.A.
Instructor of Information Literacy
Miriam O’Callaghan, Ph.D.
Professor of Management; Executive Dean of the School of Business and Technology
Jennifer Petterson, M.Ed.
Professor of Equestrian Studies
W. Joseph Potter, M.A.
Assistant Professor of Theatre
Paul Schiltz, D.V.M.
Associate Professor, Veterinarian
Chris Schneider, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
John Selburg, M.F.A.
Associate Professor of Studio Art; Art Gallery Director
Lisa Simms, M.F.A.
Instructor of Graphic Design
Roman Sivkov, M.B.A.
Instructor of Finance
Gregory Smith, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
Clinton Stephens, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Leadership
Arthur Streb, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Sports Management
Sarah Track, M.Ed.
Professor of Equestrian Studies
Joshua Turkewitz, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Rachel Utrecht, M.S.
Associate Professor; Technical Services Librarian
Laura Ward, M.S.
Professor of Equestrian Studies
Valerie Wedel, M.F.A.
Associate Professor of Studio Art
Anthony Weed, M.B.A., M.F.A.
Associate Professor of Communication; Associate Provost
Cynthia Wibberg, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Special Education
David Witter, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Music
Scott Zimmerman, Ph.D., Ed.S. LTC (retired), Assistant Professor; Chair of Undergraduate Business Administration
Mission Statement
William Woods University promotes a student-centered learning environment valuing inclusion, creativity, and intellectual inquiry. Focused on professions-oriented education, we prepare learners for success.
1 University Avenue Fulton, Missouri 65251