Graduate College Award recipients

Celebrating excellence at UNI

Even with the challenge of remote learning, teaching, and meetings to finish out the 2020-2021 Academic year, the faculty and students at the University of Northern Iowa have continued to work hard and dedicate themselves to innovative research and education. Though we can't shake hands and greet each other in person, the Graduate College would like to take a moment to celebrate excellence in graduate education at UNI. Congratulations to our award winners.

Division of Graduate Studies

Graduate Assistant First Award

This award recognizes Graduate Assistants who excel in commitment, initiative and engagement in their program and at UNI. Supervisors are encouraged to nominate Graduate Assistants who demonstrate consistent abilities to overcome obstacles, show optimism, coordinate work, and embody high standards throughout their time at UNI.

Recipients (A-I)

  • Allison Freeman
  • Anna Rogers
  • Aweke Tadesse
  • Carissa Cummings
  • Dominique Kornely 

Recipients (J-Q)

  • Jacki Smith
  • Kristin Mossman
  • Lauren Galvin
  • Morgan Petersen
  • Natalie Ross

Recipients (R-Z)

  • Payton Smith
  • Rachel Koop
  • Raelynn Murhpy
  • Rand Khalil
  • Shae Etherington

    ‌

Outstanding Faculty Awards

Outstanding Faculty Awards are granted to distinguished graduate faculty who showcases excellence in teaching, scholarship and research.

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Dr. David headshot
Dr. David I. Hernandez-Saca

Outstanding Graduate Faculty Teaching Award

Special Education

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Dr. Tracey Headshot
Dr. Grant Tracey

Distinguished Scholar Award

Languages and Literatures

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Dr. Larimer
Dr. Christopher W. Larimer

James F. Lubker Faculty Research Award

Political Science

Outstanding Dissertation Award

First Place

Dr. Belinda Creighton-Smith

  • Title: A study to explore linkages between reports of institutional racial oppression, internalized racial oppression, and self-efficacy in African American youth in predominately white colleges and universities (PWIS)
  • Program: Department of Health, Recreation, and Human Services
  • Advisor: Dr. Christopher R. Edginton
Read it here
Second Place

Dr. Robert Griffin

  • Title: Grading and equity: Inflation/deflation based on race, gender, socio-economic and disability statuses when homework and employability scores are included
  • Program: Department of Educational Psychology, Foundations, and Leadership Studies
  • Advisors: Dr. Timothy Gilson
Read it here

Outstanding Master's Research Paper Award

First Place

Julia Logan

  • Title: A study to explore linkages between reports of institutional racial oppression, internalized racial oppression, and self-efficacy in African American youth in predominately white colleges and universities (PWIS)
  • Program: Department of Health, Recreation, and Human Services
  • Advisor: Dr. Christopher R. Edginton
Read it here
Second Place

Jose Salinas Herrera

  • Title: Grading and equity: Inflation/deflation based on race, gender, socio-economic and disability statuses when homework and employability scores are included
  • Program: Department of Educational Psychology, Foundations, and Leadership Studies
  • Advisors: Dr. Timothy Gilson
Read it here

Outstanding Master's Thesis Award

First Place

Yiyi Zhang

  • Title: Evaluating livelihood vulnerability of farming communities to winter storms in Iowa​
  • Program: Geography
  • Advisor: Dr. Bingqing Liang
Read it here
Second Place

Sydney Cindrich

  • Title: Through their eyes: Exploring the relationship between college females' body perceptions and recreation center messaging
  • Program: Kinesiology
  • Advisors: ​Dr. Kimberly Hurley
Read it here

Outstanding Creative Master's Thesis Award

First Place

Seth Thill

  • Title: Stained glass, synthetic web: The simultaneous rise and fall of something person
  • Program: Creative Writing
  • Advisor: Dr. Jeremy Schraffenberger
Read it here