June doctoral recipients announced
July 17, 2000
KALAMAZOO -- Thirteen students (listed below) received doctoral degrees from Western Michigan University at the end of spring session in June.
Ten students received doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees, two earned doctor of education (Ed.D.) degrees and one received a doctor of public administration (D.P.A.) degree in 10 fields: applied economics; counselor education and counseling psychology; educational leadership; English; mathematics; mathematics education; political science; psychology; public administration; and sociology.
Allegra Shevahn Blake of 1215 Lay Blvd., Kalamazoo, earned a Ph.D. degree in English. The title of her dissertation was "Saint Venus (With Critical Introduction)."
Sheila Bluhm of 137 Balmoral Court, Kalamazoo, received a Ph.D. degree in sociology. The title of her dissertation was "Aging Beauty: The Adaptive Reconstruction of the Aging Process in Women." The daughter of Lois Bluhm and the late Charles E. Bluhm of Holland, Mich., she earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's degree from WMU.
Henry J. Bowers of 1285 Gunn Road, Oakland Township, Mich., earned a D.P.A. degree in public administration. The title of his dissertation was "Public Policy: Affirmative Action, Social Equity and Employment Patterns in Michigan's Construction Industry 1966-1997." A faculty member at Henry Ford Community College, Bowers earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Johnson C. Smith University and a master's degree in political science from the University of Detroit.
David C. Coffey of 15585 Channel View Drive, Spring Lake, Mich., received a Ph.D. degree in mathematics education. The title of his dissertation was "An Investigation into Relationships Between Alternative Assessment and Pre-Service Elementary Teachers' Beliefs About Mathematics." The son of Lauriann and Charles Coffey of Marquette, Mich., Coffey earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and computer science from Pepperdine University and a master's degree in mathematics education from the University of Michigan. Formerly the regional director of the Michigan Middle School Mathematics Reform Project, he has been named an assistant professor in the Mathematics and Statistics Department at Grand Valley State University.
Linda L. Eroh of 11495 Parr Road, Manchester, Mich., earned a Ph.D. degree in mathematics. The title of her dissertation was "Rainbow Ramsey Numbers." The daughter of Bob and Lois Hansen, she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from WMU. She has been named an assistant professor of mathematics at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh.
Darren Craig DeFrain of 657 Stewart, Morgantown, W.Va., received a Ph.D. degree in English. The title of his dissertation was "Utah Jazz, A Novel."
Jessica Purtan Harrell of 28855 Vassar, Livonia, Mich., received a Ph.D. degree in psychology. The title of her dissertation was "Affective Responses to Television Newscasts: Have You Heard the News?" The daughter of Dick and Gail Purtan of West Bloomfield, Mich., Harrell earned her bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and a master's degree from WMU. She is a psychologist/therapist at the Davis Counseling Center in Farmington Hills, Mich.
Jason F. Jagemann of 3140 Mill Creek Drive #5, Kalamazoo, earned a Ph.D. degree in political science. The title of his dissertation was "Mitigating the Defects of Pluralism: Interest Group Coalitions before the Supreme Court." The son of Frederick and Mary Sue Jagemann and the late Carol Jagemann, he earned his bachelor's degree from the State University of New York College at Potsdam and his master's degree from WMU. Jagemann has been named an assistant professor in the Department of History and Political Science at Norwich University in Northfield, Vt.
Michael Mamo of 1940 Howard St. #495, Kalamazoo, received a Ph.D. degree in applied economics. The title of his dissertation was "The Dynamics of Unskilled Wages: Analyses of Earnings Instability and Trends in the Low-Skill Labor Market in the United States."
Kathleen Lockman McGookey of 135 Lakeview Drive, Wayland, Mich., earned a Ph.D. in English. The title of her dissertation was "Whatever Shines: Poems." The daughter of James and Mary McGookey of Middleville, Mich., she earned a bachelor's degree from Hope College and a master's degree from WMU. Her first book of poems will be published next year by New Rivers Press.
Christina Minger of 60961 Kuhlmeyer Road, Centreville, Mich. received an Ed.D. degree in counselor education and counseling psychology. The title of her dissertation was "A Comparison of Beginning and Advanced Counselor Education Students on the Health Locus of Control Scale."
Tyler R. Tichelaar of 8 Stonegate Drive, Marquette, Mich., received a Ph.D. degree in English. The title of his dissertation was "The Gothic Wanderer: From Transgression to Redemption." The son of Richard and Nancy Tichelaar, he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Northern Michigan University. Beginning in the fall, he will serve as an adjunct professor in the Department of English at WMU. Thanks to a travel grant from WMU, Tichelaar will present a paper based on his dissertation at the first conference on Victorian novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton in London, England in July.
Dorothy J. VanderJagt of 159 Teasel, Comstock, Mich., earned an Ed.D. degree in educational leadership. The title of her dissertation was "Attitudes and Perceptions of Michigan School Administrators toward Female Administrators." The daughter of Stan and Pat Sagorski of Cedar Springs, Mich., she earned her bachelor's degree in education from Central Michigan University and a master's degree in educational leadership from WMU. VanderJagt is a teacher for the East Grand Rapids Public Schools.
Media contact: Jessica English, 616 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu