Spring/Summer 2012 Newsletter

Message from the Dean

Dean Hill

In recent months, the Graduate School has embraced the philosophy of “Elevate Your Education.” The staff has worked diligently to identify initiatives to support graduate programs, students, faculty, and prospective applicants to achieve excellence within graduate education. Graduating from Idaho State University with a graduate degree prepares you to be a skilled, proficient, accomplished, and impactful professional. On a professional level, you can engage in innovative and pioneering research, collaborate with renowned faculty, experience a learning environment that is transformative and engaged, gain knowledge and application skills that contributes to your field of interest, and develop a professional identity that is impactful and multifaceted. On a personal level, you can build lifelong relationships, develop an ability to navigate new experiences successfully, increase your intrinsic satisfaction, and create a professional life that complements and enhances your personal life.

In conjunction with the Office of Academic Affairs, the Graduate School was able to offer 43 travel grants for graduate students engaged in research. The financial support provided to graduate students totaled $30,000 for this academic year. The Graduate School is delighted to be able to support graduate students as they conduct innovative research that advances their professional fields. Other recent accomplishments include, developing an International Welcoming Booklet, chronicling the graduate experience across disciplines via video, updating our website to be more interactive, pursuing international recruitment with a trip to Nepal, and expanding our promotion and recruitment efforts. These accomplishments are just a few indicators of how we are working diligently to focus on excellence in graduate education as we invite the community to “Elevate Your Education” through our graduate programs.

This is an exciting time for the Graduate School because we are experiencing an increase in competitive applications for graduate programs, shepherding in a new era of leadership and innovation, and better identifying who we serve and what we do so we can provide more meaningful and impactful services to all of our stakeholders.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if questions or concerns arise. We are committed to enhancing our role in supporting ISU’s mission and also your experience in “Elevating Your Education.”

Be well,

Nicole R. Hill
Interim Dean

Reflection of Experience: What GATE Scholars Have to Say

Graduate Assistant Teaching Experience “GATE” Scholars program is designed to prepare students in the academic profession and teach them the full range of faculty responsibilities. When the program was introduced in the 2009-2010 academic year, the established goal of the program was to prepare “future assistant professors who have already begun to develop professional competence in teaching, research, and professional service.” To the graduate students, the “GATE” Scholar program is a valuable experience.

In regards to their experience, "GATE" recipients made the following remarks:

Rachel Rowan, a M.A. Sociology student stated: “My GATE experience will be something that I take with me into my future career. I have learned so much about higher education and faculty responsibilities. This experience has opened my eyes to what possibilities are out there, and what I am capable of attaining. Dr. Hill has been such a great mentor and I feel privileged to have learned for her. I would like to thank the Graduate School and my department for giving me this wonderful opportunity.”

Bryson Webber, a M.S. student in Geographic Information Science, of the GATE experience stated: “The GATE scholar experience has given me opportunities to learn how to be a better mentor to the students I am a teaching assistant for. It has also given me an insight into the challenges and benefits of being a faculty member at a University. This will prepare me for leadership in my feature career pursuits.”

Sean Sorensen, who is studying M.A. in Historical Resource Management, commented in regards to his experience commenting: "The GATE Program gives its participants an invaluable opportunity to engage with issues facing today's faculty in an educational setting. Students are able to study some of the current literature surrounding these issues and to engage in constructive discussion with one another and faculty mentors as they explore possible solutions to these issues. The program encourages students to seek new, collaborative methods for facing these issues as future faculty members."

Liang Yan, currently in the M.S. Chemistry program, stated: "I think GATE Program is a unique experience that provides me with new knowledge and better understanding of graduate study. In addition, this program has helped me as a teaching assistant to bring new ideas into my teaching and problem solving skills. Overall, these valuable experiences have enhanced my teaching and prepared me for pursuing advanced studies in science."

2012 Outstanding Student Award Recipients

Graduate School, Doctoral Candidate, Kai-yi "Clark" Huang, Tainan City, Taiwan: Huang earned a 3.67 grade point average and will receive a Ph.D. in education in Instructional Technology Design. He attained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, and a master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and a Master of Education degree in technology at Salem International University, W.Va. At ISU he has enjoyed creating instructional materials for the several colleges and academic departments, the Oboler Library, the ISU Instructional Technology Resource Center and the Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls. He published a paper "The Use of Second Life to Teach Physical Security across Different Teaching Modes," which was presented at the 14th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction in Florida. He said his dissertation was born out of the desire to see mathematics students succeed, and it included the creation of an online mathematics-learning module for college-level mathematics students. Huang said his favorite ISU professors were Jane Strickland, Dotty Sammons, Beverly Ray and David Squires. His was a member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, Chinese Student Association, International Student Association and Badminton Sports Club.

Graduate School, Doctoral Candidate, Chandrasekhar Potluri, Eluru, India: 24-year-old Potluri will graduate this summer with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering. He has a 3.84 grade point average. He has received both a graduate teaching assistantship and a graduate research assistantship. Potluri is a member of several organizations, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the ISU branch of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He is also ranked second in chess at the state level. Currently he is working as lead doctoral research assistant in an ISU smart prosthetic hand project funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. Potluri earned his master's degree in measurement and control engineering from ISU and his bachelor's degree from Andhra University in India. In the past two years he has made "significant contributions" in several engineering fields. He currently has 25 publications and has been selected as a research associate at the University of Connecticut. "I am blessed to have a great family to be with me in all situations," said Potluri of his parents and brother. Potluri's favorite thing about ISU is the friendly atmosphere between students and faculty. He was most influenced by professors Subbaram Naidu and Steve Chiu, both of whom he described as inspiring and supportive.

Misty M. Strain

Graduate School, Master's Candidate, Misty M. Strain, Moscow: Strain, 25, who has a 3.84 grade point average, will graduate with a Master of Science degree in Experimental Psychology this summer. Her honors at ISU include the 2011 Outstanding Experimental Graduate Student Award in the psychology department and National Institutes of Health and Sackler Institute travel awards to help pay for research presentations. She received an INBRE (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence) graduate research fellowship. Her extracurricular activities included being an officer in the St. John Catholic Student Center and a member of three professional society student groups.

Her favorite thing at ISU was "the awesome faculty…they have pushed me hard to think critically." Her most influential professor was Michele Brumley, who helped her discover her passion for research. Strain wrote and procured an undergraduate grant to examine the effects of tactile feedback during locomotor behavior and this study was recently published in Behavioral Brain Research. She completed an Idaho National Laboratory internship and spent a year in Sweden as an exchange student. After graduating from ISU, where she also earned her undergraduate degree, Strain will head to Texas A&M University this fall to pursue a Ph.D. in behavioral and cellular neuroscience.

Created by: Ms. Anna Siddoway & Ms. Rhonda Woodruff

"Share Your Experience" Contest Winners

1st place:

Kyle Jenks - Kindle Fire

Runner-ups:

David Doran - $50 Amazon Gift Card
Mckay Womack - $50 Amazon Gift Card

Spotlights

"Improving the water quality in Nepal is the goal of Idaho State University environmental engineering Professor Chikashi Sato, who has received a Fulbright Scholarship to teach and conduct research in Nepal for seven months."

"Idaho State University English professor Jessica Winston has been awarded a $50,400 fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities for the 2011-12 academic year."

"Idaho State University psychology students Misty Strain and Hillary Swann have recently have been awarded research grants and scholarships to conduct spinal cord research."

"The Idaho State University Division of Health Sciences awarded the Jeffrey A. Bartlome Memorial Research Grant ...to Elena Francisco, who is currently enrolled in the Master of Dental Hygiene program."

"Stephen Feit, professor and chair of the Idaho State University Department of Counseling, was honored with a Life Time Achievement Award from the Association for Counselor Education and Supervisions."

Keith Weber, director of the ISU GIS Center, and Bryson Webber, a Graduate Student, concluded in their study, "Besides protecting sheep and cattle from predators on Western rangelands, large breeds of livestock guardian dogs such as Akbash and Great Pyrenees may have other beneficial effects on the livestock they guard."

"Idaho State University audiology students have won the 2011 National Audiology Month Student Video Contest through the American Academy of Audiology."

Graduate Student Association

Annoucements:

Welcome to our new GSA Officers:

President: Ms. Anna Siddoway
Vice President: Vacant (Please contact siddanna@isu.edu if you are interested.)
Secretary/Treasurer: Ms. Nandini Iyer

Become a GSA Member

Become a fan on Facebook

Dates & Deadlines

June 1st, 2012

Deadline for Fall 2012 Non-Resident Tuition Waiver

June 22, 2012

Last day to apply for August 2012 Graduation

Final Programs of Study due for August 2012 graduation

Apply for Graduation HERE!

July 20, 2012

Last day for Summer 2012 Oral Exams

Contact Information

Graduate School
Idaho State University
921 South 8th Ave, Stop 8075
Pocatello ID 83209-8075

Phone: 208-282-2150
Fax: 208-282-4847
Email: graddean@isu.edu