Students Present Projects at Virginia Council of Graduate Schools Research Forum
Eight Old Dominion University graduate students showed off their research at a statewide graduate research forum in Richmond on Thursday, Feb. 3.
The Virginia Council of Graduate Schools Research Forum featured students from Virginia's 13 public colleges and universities, and was held at the Library of Virginia. The 60 students in all presented their research and scholarship to members of the Virginia General Assembly and their staffs, other members of state government, industry representatives, faculty and administrators from across the commonwealth, and the general public.
Much of the research aligns with the priorities of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, demonstrating the critical link between university research and the economic development of the commonwealth and the well-being of its citizens.
Brenda Neumon Lewis, ODU's associate vice president for graduate studies, said the forum is valuable for both the students and the university.
"It is an opportunity for a broad spectrum of individuals to see the good work that is being done at ODU, and to understand that graduate-level research is not just an intellectual exercise but is the source of new knowledge that can provide the answers to many of the challenges we face in the commonwealth and nationally," she said.
ODU's delegation comprised students from all six academic colleges.
Melodee Baines, a doctoral student in international studies, presented her project, "Women, Illiteracy and Public Participation: Barriers to Transforming Governance in Arab States?"
Baines, 30, who is from Damascus, Md., said the multidisciplinary nature of her research made a forum where she could see other top graduate research especially valuable.
"The fact is, with a multidisciplinary project, inspiration can come from a lot of different sources," she said.
Rifat Aras, a doctoral student in modeling, simulation and visualization engineering, presented his project, "Comparison and Analysis of a Queuing Based Traffic Control Strategy." It involves a study of the best method of ensuring traffic flow with better-timed green lights at congested intersections.
He also understands the value of a multidisciplinary forum such as this. "It's very important to see what other graduate students are working on," said Aras, who is from Ankara, Turkey. "It can help focus and inspire my research."
The following ODU students also presented their research projects:
- Beth McHose, M.S. student, communication sciences and disorders - "Word Production Treatments for Anomia and Apraxia of Speech";
- Michael A. Brown Sr., Ph.D. student, public administration and urban policy, international business - "Social Networking and Individual Perception: Examining Predictors of Participation";
- Elaine Blount, Ph.D. student, modeling and simulation - "The Implications of Modeling Physical Fitness in a Tactical Simulation";
- Jewel S. Goodman, Ph.D. graduate, health services research - "Using the Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use to Examine Adult Uninsured Patient Health Services Use at a Community Health Center";
- Brandon J. Rowan, M.S. student, biological sciences - "Finding Animal Reservoirs in the Chesapeake Bay for the Striped Bass Pathogens Mycobacterium shottsii and Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii"; and
- Tabetha Sundin, Ph.D. student, biomedical sciences - "Chemopreventives, a Critical Factor in Reducing the Economic Burden of Cancer."
The Virginia Council of Graduate Schools promotes the benefits of graduate education to the commonwealth of Virginia. VCGS is composed of 13 public colleges and universities from across Virginia: Christopher Newport University, College of William and Mary, George Mason University, James Madison University, Longwood University, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Radford University, University of Mary Washington, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia State University and Virginia Tech.