Grad students honored with Dean's Citation Awards

The Graduate School recognized more than 40 graduate students with Dean's Citation Awards during a celebration December 9 in Loosemore Auditorium on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. 

The students were recognized for outstanding academic performance; each recipient was given a certificate of recognition and a graduate honors cord.

Graduate students can be nominated by faculty and staff, advisors, a graduate program director, a department chair or a school director. The nominees are reviewed by the dean of Graduate Studies in consultation with others involved in graduate education; final selection is made by the dean.

Academic Excellence in the Degree Program 

Seidman College of Business

• Danica M. deWaha, accounting

• Nicole A. Hunter, business administration

• Jennifer A. McMahan, taxation

College of Community & Public Service

• Meredith J. Welsh, health administration

• Veronica S. Minard, philanthropy and nonprofit leadership

• Julie K. Mavis, public administration

College of Education

• Paul E. Bylsma, higher education

• Kelsey N. Younkin, school counseling

Padnos College of Engineering & Computing

• Christopher A. Taylor, computer information systems

College of Health Professions

• Kerry A. MacDonald, occupational therapy

• Allison L. Desautels, physician assistant studies

• Ana C. Thrall, speech-language pathology

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

• Divyaa Srinivasan, cell and molecular biology

• Amanda J. Lawrence, communications

• Robert B. Chapman, English

Kirkhof College of Nursing

• Julie A. Bulson, nursing (doctorate)

• Megan E. Pashnik, nursing (master's)

Outstanding  Master's Thesis 

College of Education

• Tiffany L. Steele, higher education

Padnos College of Engineering & Computing

• Rahat Sultana, engineering

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

• Devin N. Jones, biology

• Meagan N. Treadway, cell and molecular biology     

• Stacey L. Fitzpatrick, English

Outstanding Final Project 

College of Community & Public Service

• Emilia C. Wall, health administration

• Katie L. Erickson, public administration

College of Education

• Cynthia C. Bartman, higher education

Padnos College of Engineering and Computing

• Roland P. Heusser, computer information systems

• Camila Penaloza, computer information systems

Kirkhof College of Nursing

• Katherine E. Hoffhines, nursing (master's)

Outstanding Publication 

College of Education

• Ja’Kia Marie, higher education

Padnos College of Engineering and Computing

• Robert L. Esser, engineering

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

• Deborah K. Dila, biology

Excellence in Service to the Community or Profession

College of Community & Public Service

• Marcus A. Manders, health administration

College of Education

• Stephanie N. Hallgren, literacy studies

College of Health Professions

• Blake D. Geschke, physician assistant studies

Excellence in Leadership and Service to GVSU 

Seidman College of Business

• Adil T. Shah, accounting

College of Community & Public Service

• Jerome Obligado, health administration

• Shinyoung Park, public administration

College of Education

• Katherine A. Mueller, literacy studies

College of Health Professions

• Samara G. Spotts, physician assistant studies

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion at GVSU

College of Education

• Cynthia C. Bartman, higher education

College of Health Professions

• Brett J. Stacer, physician assistant studies

MAGS Distinguished Thesis Nominees

College of Education   

• Theresa D. Lyon, higher education  

Padnos College of Engineering and Computing

• Ravi Bhatta, engineering