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Graduate Student Day Honors Research, Dissertations and Promise

Drexel students mingle at this year's Graduate Student Day.

It’s been a big year for graduate students at Drexel — and not just because this was the first time in Drexel history that master’s and doctoral students were formally organized under one institution. 

The Graduate College was officially launched in the beginning of this school year under the leadership of James Herbert, PhD, inaugural dean of the Graduate College, executive vice provost and professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. During its inaugural year, the Graduate College moved into its new home on the third floor of Main Building, where graduate students across disciplines flock to drink free coffee and converse on comfy seats.

They also had a chance to socialize at 300 events hosted for graduate students this year, including lectures, dinners and volunteer opportunities. The Graduate College and Drexel’s Student Life as well as the Graduate Student Association (GSA) and its 30 active daughter organizations collaborated to put on these events.

One of the final events of the year was the 2016 Graduate Student Day on May 16 at Mitchell Auditorium in the Bossone Research Center. A special ceremony was held to honor students for their hard work and achievements over the course of this past academic year. It was also an opportunity for students who are graduating and those who are continuing to study at Drexel to reflect on what they’ve experienced and how that will help them in their future endeavors.

“When you do a teaching assistantship and you’re teaching a classroom, you’re getting ready to talk to the public. When you write your dissertation, you’re getting ready to write your own papers or your own play, book or novel. When you’re doing research papers and doing research in the lab, you’re really getting ready to solve all of your life problems and approach them with the idea that there is a solution out there,” said Adam Fontecchio, PhD, vice dean of the Graduate College, professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering and director of the Center for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning Excellence (CASTLE), during the ceremony.

The Graduate College recognized outstanding teaching, research and potential impact with Graduate Student Excellence Awards. Additionally, GSA awarded faculty, staff, mentors, teacher assistant and organizations at the event.

The recipients of those awards are listed below:

GRADUATE STUDENT EXCELLENCE AWARDS

OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION

Mathematical Sciences and Engineering

  • Maria Lukatskaya, PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering

Physical and Life Sciences

  • Lauren Jablonowski, PhD, Biomedical Science; School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Social Sciences

  • Tyson Mitman, PhD, Communication, Culture and Media; College of Arts and Sciences

OUTSTANDING PROMISE

Arts and Humanities

  • Chelsea Myers, MS, Digital Media, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Mathematical Sciences and Engineering

  • Boris Dyatkin, PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Xiang Ren, PhD, Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, College of Engineering

Physical and Life Sciences

  • Nancy Parfitt Hondros, MS, Art Therapy, College of Nursing and Health Professions
  • Bryan Spinelli, PhD, Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions

Social Sciences

  • Justin Carone, MS, Science, Technology and Society; College of Arts and Sciences 

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

Arts and Humanities

  • Erica Kleinman, MS, Digital Media, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Mathematical Sciences and Engineering

  • Sergey Smolin, PhD, Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Yuriy Smolin, PhD, Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering

Physical and Life Sciences

  • Courtney Butowicz, PhD, Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions
  • Emily Werner, MS, Nutrition Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions

Social Sciences

  • Elizabeth Nicholls, PhD, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Derek Parrott, MS, Science, Technology and Society; College of Arts and Sciences
  • Jared Wilson, PhD, Finance, LeBow College of Business

TEACHING ASSISTANT EXCELLENCE

Continuing Excellence

  • Mohammad Bolhassani, Civil and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering

Teaching Excellence

  • Bita Alizadehtazi, Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Christopher Brown, Physics, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Alex Cohen, Marketing, LeBow College of Business
  • Victoria Grunberg, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Marko Jacovic, Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Sarah Lovett, Food Science, Center for Hospitality and Sport Management
  • Pedro Edson Martins, Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Daryl Omire-Mayor, Biomedical Engineering; School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
  • Sarah Rody, Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Hoori Rafieian, Marketing, LeBow College of Business
  • Katie Jo Sunday, Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Edward Waddell, Biology, College of Arts and Sciences

GSA AWARDS

Graduate Spirit

  • Harshvardhan Agrawal, College of Engineering
  • Kiana Hardy, Dornsife School of Public Health
  • Arjita Rai, Dornsife School of Public Health
  • Ryan Robinson, College of Engineering
  • Kathleen Rowe, Dornsife School of Public Health

Outstanding Faculty

  • Jerald Fagliano, Dornsife School of Public Health
  • Doug Porpora, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Michael Ryan, College of Engineering

Outstanding Staff

  • Jay Bhatt, University Library
  • Stephen Cox, Philadelphia Alliance for Minority Participation
  • Maggie Gordon, Student Life, Center City
  • Kayli Moran, Student Services, School of Public Health
  • Bridget Lynch, Arts and Entertainment Enterprise
  • Danielle Swan, Arts and Entertainment Enterprise

Excellence in Mentoring

  • The Graduate College of Drexel University

Most Active Organization

  • Dornsife School of Public Health Student Government Association (SGO)

Most Popular Event of the Year

  • National Public Health Week

Best New Organization

  • Global Health Forum (GHF)

Most Community Oriented Organization

  • Coalition for Health Advocacy through Multidisciplinary Problem Solving (CHAMPS)

Most Collaborative Organization

  • International Graduate Student Organization (IGSA)

Most Socially Active Organization

  • Mechanical Engineering Graduate Association (MEGA)

Most Improved Organization

  • Environmental and Occupational Health Club (EOH)

Most Academically Active Organization

  • Drexel IEE Graduate Forum (DIG)

Most Inclusive Organization

  • Drexel Black Graduate Student Union (DBGSU)