Congratulations to the graduate students and faculty honored with Graduate School Awards and participants of the Graduate Showcase of Scholarship and Creative Activities!

The awards and events highlight the important contributions that graduate students make to the JMU community.

Thank you to the faculty and students who support the Graduate Showcase and Awards as program planners, reviewers and members of the juries.

We are proud of the accomplishments of all our graduate students.

Graduate School Achievement Awards

Outstanding Dissertation Awards

Dr. Whitney Tate, Strategic Leadership Studies, Ph.D.
Committee Chair: Dr. Adam Vanhove

“Simultaneously Expecting Too Much and TooLittle: A Saga of Leader and Follower RoleExpectations”

Dr. Addison Walton, Music D.M.A. 
Committee Chair: Dr. Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy

“Corporeality in Choral Sound: Elements ofConsonant Diction Shaping Pre-ExpressivePresence, Perceived Clarity, and Expression inEnglish-Language Choral Music”

Outstanding Thesis Awards

DaNae Peterson, Communication and Advocacy
Committee Chair: Dr. Melissa Alemán 

“The voices of Black motherscholars: Navigatingacademia, motherhood, and beyond”

Neleiah Richardson, Psychological Sciences, M.A. 
Committee Chair: Dr. Jessica Salvatore

“Investigating Aromantic Stigma”

Civic Engagement Award

Dr. Tonka Williams, Nursing Practice, DNP 

Community Engagement Award

Barnabas Suva, Strategic Leadership Studies, Ph.D. 

Dr. Anna Showalter, Music, D.M.A. 

Innovation Award

Corrinn Ford, Occupational Therapy, M.O.T.

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship
& Creative Activity Awards

Graduate student presenters were awarded top honors from a jury of faculty.

Top Oral Presentation

Katherine Cooper​
Biology, M.S.​

“Epigenetic analysis of thedeveloping vertebrate retina”

Iorver Ikeseh​
Studio Art, M.F.A.​

“Belonging: JMU Project 50”

Top Poster Presentation

Wendy Kinyeki​
Adult Education/Human ResourceDevelopment, M.S.Ed.​

​“Leadership and WorkplaceBullying: A Narrative Exploration ofEmployee and Bystander Experiences​”

Graduate Student Association Impact Awards

Outstanding Graduate Student Award

Iorver Ikeseh
Studio Art, M.F.A.

Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award

Dr. Tabitha Coates
Department of Learning, Technology, andLeadership Education