Graduate Students to Present Research Feb. 10 at State Forum
Five graduate students and one recent graduate of Old Dominion University have been chosen to present their research at the fifth annual Graduate Student Research Forum in Richmond on Wednesday, Feb. 10.
The ODU participants are among more than 60 presenters from 13 Virginia colleges and universities. The forum, which is sponsored by the Virginia Council of Graduate Schools, will be held from 4-6 p.m. at the Library of Virginia. It provides an opportunity for the public, legislators and the business community to hear about current graduate student research, which promotes economic, social and civic development in Virginia.
"As we make the transition from Information to an Innovation Age, the role played by our graduate students will achieve greater meaning and purpose. ... With an increase in our graduate talent pool in the commonwealth, we can create a Silicon Valley or a Boston Route 128 right here in Virginia," said Kent Murphy, co-chair of the Virginia Research & Technology Advisory Commission.
Philip Langlais, ODU vice provost for graduate studies and research, said the projects being presented will contribute to economic, social and civic progress in Virginia.
More information about VCGS, and the research forum, can be found at www.vacgs.net.
The ODU participants are:
Karen Carter, of Jonesville, Va., doctoral student in education, Darden College of Education, "Efficacy of Dual Enrollment in Rural Southwest Virginia." The intent of this research was to determine if enrollment in a career and technical education dual enrollment program encouraged students to continue their studies in postsecondary education and if workforce readiness skills increased.
Ann Marie Kopitzke, of Norfolk, who earned a doctorate in health services research in December, College of Health Sciences, "Test of a Multidisciplinary Health Behavior Model of Medicare Elders' Antihypertensive Acquisition." This study examined the relative unity of the enhanced Health Belief Model as compared to the proposed Pharmaceutical Acquisition Model for Medicare elders in describing antihypertensive acquisition with usage intentions for Medicare elders (65 and older) in southeastern, Virginia.
Basim Matrood, of Charles City, Va., doctoral student in mechanical engineering, Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology, "Development of Dynamic Environment Simulation Laboratory: Repetitive Impact Test." High-performance crafts have been widely used in recreation, racing and the military. The intent of this study was to understand the dynamic environment of these crafts and be able to simulate it in a repetitive and reliable manner in order to assist in the development of combatant craft systems and components that will perform well in extreme and dynamic conditions.
Tom Musumeci, of Virginia Beach, doctoral student in public administration, College of Business and Public Administration, "GASB 45 and the Realization of OPEB Liabilities by Cities: Implications for Funding, Sponsorship and Plan Design." GASB Statement 45, released in 2004, addresses how governmental units accounted for employees' other post-employment benefits (OPED), primarily retiree health care. The new rules, which became fully effective for all state and local government employers after December 2008, require these employers to stop reporting OPED on a pay-as-you go basis and instead to account for the actual cost of current and future benefits.
Matthew Pearson, of Portsmouth, doctoral student in applied experimental psychology, College of Sciences, "Job Satisfaction, Burnout, and Perceived Organizational Support of University Faculty." The study examines antecedents to job satisfaction and burnout using a time allocation analysis among American faculty at a midsize public research university.
Jennifer S. Schiff, of Fairfax, Va., doctoral student in international studies, College of Arts and Letters, "Mitigating Water Scarcity: The Efficacy of the Integrated Water Resources Management Policy Framework in Virginia." Faced with vanishing freshwater, legislators have encouraged a wide-ranging discussion about efficient resource management, but the form and function of any solution present unique political and theoretical challenges for policymakers and scholars alike. This research draws from the disciplines of international relations, comparative politics, environmental history and the ecological sciences and uses a case study approach to examine the implementation successes and failures of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) strategy.
ODU's assistant vice president for graduate studies, Brenda Lewis, said the five graduate students and the December graduate who are presenting were nominated by their colleges and chosen by the Office of Graduate Studies. "Our decisions were based, among other things, on the quality of the research proposals and the value of that research to the commonwealth," Lewis explained.
Lewis said that about 70 percent of the people who earn graduate degrees at Virginia schools take jobs in Virginia, and that the forum is designed to show the benefits of in-state graduate education.