Grant Recipients
School of Health and Human Services (SHHS)
2009 Undergraduate Research Award (URA)
Danielle Blais, Kinesiology: Sports Studies
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Heather Barber, Kinesiology
Project: Examining Burnout and Work-Related Stress in Intercollegiate Sports Information Personnel
Christina Coleman, Journalism & Sports Studies
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Heather Barber, Kinesiology
Project: Examining Burnout and Work-Related Stress in Intercollegiate Sports Information Personnel
Sarah Humphreys, Kinesiology: Sports Studies
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Heather Barber, Kinesiology
Project: Examining Burnout and Work-Related Stress in Intercollegiate Sports Information Personnel
Jeffrey Vanasse, Kinesiology: Sports Studies
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Heather Barber, Kinesiology
Project: Examining Burnout and Work-Related Stress in Intercollegiate Sports Information Personnel
2009 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) USA
Autumn Henley, Occupational Therapy
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Kerryellen Vroman, Occupational Therapy
Project: The Use of Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome to Assess Cognitive Functioning in Adolescents and Young Adults with Prodromal Symptoms of Psychosis
Kevin Koski, Kinesiology: Exercise Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Timothy Quinn, Kinesiology
Project: The Effect of Acute Endurance Exercise or Strength Training on Arterial Stiffness
Rachel Kralian, Kinesiology: Exercise Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Dain LaRoche, Kinesiology
Project: Visual Acuity, Balance Control and the Automaticity of Walking in Elderly
Erica Millett, Kinesiology: Exercise Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Dain LaRoche, Kinesiology
Project: The Effect of Ankle Strength and Stiffness on Range of Motion During Walking
Hailey Sullivan, Occupational Therapy
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Kerryellen Vroman, Occupational Therapy
Project: American Veteran Re-Integration into the Community Following Active Service: The Benefit of Community Activities
2009 International Research Opportunities Program (IROP)
Lindsay Bergmann
Research Site: Mbale, Uganda
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Gene Harkless, Nursing
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Mr. Denis Medeyi, Executive Director, TASO
Topic: A Qualitative Study of TASO's Voluntary Counseling and Testing Program in Rural Uganda
Amanda Randall
Research Site: Brisbane, Australia
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dain LaRoche, Kinesiology
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Mrs. Emma Dayman, Walk on in Brisbane, Queensland
Topic: Determining Neuromuscular Activation in Physically-Active Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Allison Reilly
Research Site: Melbourne, Australia
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Gene Harkless, Nursing
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Mr. John Willis, Project Manager, Australian Institute of Primary Care Topic: Acute Care Across Cultures in Australia: A Descriptive Study
Samantha Townsend
Research Site: Umea, Sweden
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Lou Ann Griswold, Occupational Therapy
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Ms. Michaela Munkholm, Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umea University
Topic: Emerging Practice: Collaborative Occupational Therapy Practice in School Settings
2008 Undergraduate Research Award (URA)
Julie Langevin, Communication Sciences & Disorders
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Timothy Bryant, Communication Sciences & Disorders
Project: The Study of the Obligatory Contour Principle (OCP) in English Language Perception
Nicole Spampinato, Social Work
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Melissa Wells, Social Work
Topic: Prevention and Treatment of Juvenile Offenses: The Perspective of Adults on Probation and Parole
2008 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) USA
Amanda Baum, Occupational Therapy
Faculty Mentor: Prof. C. Douglas Simmons, Occupational Therapy
Project: Social Skills and Intended Activities: Measuring Skill Differences in Everyday Activity Comparing Adults Both Experiencing and Not Experiencing a Disability
Amanda Bellerose, Communication Sciences & Disorders
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michael Fraas, Communication Sciences & Disorders
Project: Cognitive-Linguistic Outcomes Following Involvement in a Community-Based Day Program for Adults with Acquired Brain Injury
Sabrina Cote, Occupational Therapy
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Kerryellen Vroman, Occupational Therapy
Project: Healthcare Professionals’ Attitudes Towards People with Obesity
Samantha Townsend, Occupational Therapy
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Lou Ann Griswold, Occupational Therapy
Project: Evaluation of Social Interaction: A Comparison of Social Skills in Children With and Without a Disability
2008 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Abroad
Carly Marquis, Nursing
Research Site: Asamang, Ghana
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Gene Harkless, Nursing
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Dr. Samuel Adjei, District Director – Afigya Sekyere District
Topic: Caring for a Febrile Child at Risk for Malaria: Parental Decisions and Actions
2008 International Research Opportunities Program
Lauren Gurschick, Nursing
Research Site: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Gene Harkless, Nursing
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Lillian Maas-Garcia, Faculty of the Advanced Nursing Practice Master’s Program Rotterdam
Topic: A Descriptive Study of Team-Based Well-Child Care in the Netherlands
Amanda Hansell, Occupational Therapy
Research Site: Belmopan, Belize
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Kerryellen Vroman, Occupational Therapy
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Lindy Jefferys, Executive Director of the National Council on Ageing
Topic: Resident’s Perspectives in Elder Care Centers of Belize
2008 Research Presentation Grant
Karen Bailey, Kinesiology: Athletic Training
Project: Analysis of Effect of Bicycle Seat Height on the Electromyographic Activity of the Quadriceps and the Hamstrings
Conference: Eastern Athletic Trainers Association 60th Annual Meeting
Ashley Barbour, Nursing
Project: The Work Experience of Ashanti Midwives: Understanding Satisfaction & Challenges of Practice
Conference: Healthy People for a Healthy World
Shari Davis, Nursing
Project: Malaria Prevention Efforts: A Descriptive Study of the Afigya Sekyere District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
Conference: The International Nursing Research Conference
Emily Roberts, Nursing
Project: Nurses Performing Triage in Uganda: Decision-Making in Low Resource Settings
Conference: Eastern Nursing Research Society Scientific Sessions
2008 Honors Thesis Grant
Cara Ball, Communication Sciences & Disorders
Thesis: Comparing Different Forms of AAC Used by Blind Nonspeaking Children
Allison Lane, Nursing
Thesis: A Description of the Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Pain of Direct Entry Masters in Nursing Students and Baccalaureate Nursing Students
Margaret Peery, Nursing
Thesis: Cardiovascular Disease Knowledge, Risk Factor Identification, and Sources of Information Among College Students
2007 Undergraduate Research Award (URA)
Lia Barros, Nursing
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Pamela DiNapoli, Nursing
Topic: The College Athlete’s Perception of the Athlete’s Susceptibility to Alcohol Use
Helmi Churcher, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michael Fraas, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Topic: Enhancing Interdisciplinary Knowledge of Allied Health Students Through Community Programming Experience
Kimberly Stevens, Family Studies: Child Advocacy
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Elizabeth Dolan, Family Studies
Topic: Use of Child Care Subsidies Among TANF Clients
2007 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) USA
Karen Bailey, Kinesiology: Athletic Training
Faculty Mentor: Prof. John Miller, Kinesiology: Athletic Training
Topic: The Effect of Bicycle Seat Height Variation on Electrical Activity of Thigh Musculature
Adam Hernandez, Athletic Training
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Erik Swartz, Kinesiology
Topic: A Gender Comparison of Lower Extremity Landing Biomechanics Between Different Tasks: Implications in ACL Injury Research
Jay Hydren, Kinesiology: Exercise Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Timothy Quinn, Kinesiology: Exercise Science
Topic: Circuit Weight Training During the Postpartum Period: Impact on Milk Quality and Infant Acceptance
Danielle Laroche, Health Management and Policy
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Rosemary Caron, Health Management and Policy
Topic: Local Environmental Health Concerns: Improving Cooperation and Communication between Community Activists and Regulators in Addressing Environmental Health Concerns
Jamie Padham, Kinesiology: Exercise Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Timothy Quinn, Kinesiology: Exercise Science
Topic: The Effect of Aging on Running Economy
Katherine Steere, Communication Sciences & Disorders / French
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michael Fraas, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Topic: Impact of Communication on Quality of Life for Survivors of Brain Injury
2007 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Abroad
Shari Davis, Nursing
Research Site: Ashanti Region, Ghana
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Gene Harkless, Nursing
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Mrs. Victoria Bam, Nursing Dept. Allied Health Services
Topic: A Descriptive Study of Malaria Prevention Efforts in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
2007 Research Experience and Apprenticeship Program (REAP)
Megan Thunberg, Occupational Therapy
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Barbara T. Cooper, French
Project: Desoyner and Alboize’s La Traite des Noirs: An introduction to literary and historical research
2006-2007 Undergraduate Research Award
Laura Palombo, Kinesiology: Exercise Science
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Allison Sigler, Kinesiology
Topic: The Effects of Endurance Exercise on Running Economy 24, 48, and 72 Hours Post Exercise
2005-2006 Undergraduate Research Award
Jennifer Perkins, Nursing
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Gene Harkless, Nursing
Topic: The Health Care Experiences of International College Students
2006 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship – USA
Magdalen Balz, Communication Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michael Fraas, Communication Disorders
Topic: Development of a Five-Point Likert Scale to Evaluate Brain Injury Rehabilitation Facilities
Lindsey Wetteland, Occupational Therapy
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Barbara White, Occupational Therapy
Topic: Stress and Occupation: Analyzing the Relations Between Perceived Stress Levels and Occupational Repertoire
2005-2006 International Research Opportunities Program
Melissa Alves, Nursing
Research Site: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gene Harkless, Nursing
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jan Weststrate, Netherlands Centre for Excellence in Nursing
Topic: Pressure Ulcer Incidence in the Netherlands: A Nationwide Study
Talia Connery, Nursing
Research Site: Windhook, Namibia
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gene Harkless, Nursing
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Dr. Philippe Talavera, Ombetja Yehinga Organization
Topic: Arts & AIDs Prevention: A Study of Ombetja Yehinga as an Exemplar Program
Jennifer N. Herman, Nursing
Research Site: Swansea, Wales
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gene Harkless, Nursing
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Prof. Joy Merrell, University of Swansea
Topic: Well-Child Health Care Systems in Wales
Lisa M. Landry, Nursing
Research site: Beijing, China
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gene Harkless, Nursing
Foreign Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jin Ying, Peking Union Medical College
Topic: Perinatal Care in China: Practices and Experiences of Nurses and Families
2005-2006 Research Presentation Grants
Magdalen Balz, Communication Disorders
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Michael Fraas, Communication Disorders
Topic: A Cell with Glass Bars: Expressive Electronic Journal Writing: A Brain Injury Patient’s Freedom to Communication
Conference: American Speech-Language Hear Association. San Diego, CA
Cristina Joseph, Nursing
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Gene Harkless, Nursing
Topic: Participant observation of nurses caring for patients with dementia
Conference: Sigma Theta Tau International. Montreal, PQ
Sarah Metivier, Kinesiology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Erik Swartz, Kinesiology
Topic: Gender Differences in Landing Using Functional vs. Non-Functional Tasks
Conference: Eastern Athletic Trainers Association Annual Conference & Symposium. Philadelphia, PA
Chad Saindon, Health Management & Policy
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Tamara Martin, Health Management & Policy
Topic: Physical Best Program Increases in Children and Adolescnets Fitness to Healthy Levels
Conference: 2nd Scandinavian Pediatric Obesity Conference 2006. Malmo, Sweden