11:15 a.m. Sunday, May 3, 2026 Centrum, Knutson Campus Center
Welcome .....................
Dr. Meredith Wagner Director of Graduate and Post Baccalaureate Education
Presentation of Candidates ... Provost Susan Larson
Names read by Lisa Sjoberg Dean of Academic Services and Operations
Please hold your applause until all degrees in each group have been conferred.
Closing Dr. Wagner
Dr. Kristen Ford, Program Director, Health and Physical Education Concentration
Dr. Cassandra Glynn, Program Director, Teaching and Learning Concentration World Language Instruction
Allyson Cundy — Health and Physical Education Concentration
“Distraction to Direction: Cell Phone Policy Impacts in Secondary School”
Advisor: Dr. Cassandra Glynn
Benjamin Gilbertson — Health and Physical Education Concentration
“What’s In Your Invisible Backpack”
Advisor: Dr. Kristen Ford
Elijah Orton — Health and Physical Education Concentration
“Media portrayal of teachers in outlets ranging from liberal to conservative”
Advisor: Dr. Anne Walker
Edwing Yair Gelvez Portilla — Health and Physical Education Concentration
“Enhancing Early Literacy Through Movement: Integrating Movement Into Spanish Phonics Interventions in Spanish Dual Language Setting”
Advisor: Dr. Kristen Ford
Faysal Ahmed Ege — Teaching and Learning Concentration
“Cultural and Religious Integration In a Personal Finance Classroom: Building a Culturally Sustaining Curriculum for East African High School Students”
Advisor: Dr. Jill Watson
Lauryn Raquel Sabers — Teaching and Learning Concentration
“Implications of virtual labs versus physical labs on student learning outcomes in science education: A comprehensive literature review”
Advisor: Dr. Donald Krogstad
Connor Schoborg — Teaching and Learning Concentration
“High School Students’ Perspectives on Career Readiness and Exploration Activities: A Qualitative Case Study in Central Minnesota”
Advisor: Dr. Teri Langlie
Lucas Blesser — World Language Instruction
“Integrating Identity Texts to Support Karen Students’ Identity Development”
Advisor: Dr. Anne Walker
Marwa Sorour Borghol — World Language Instruction
“Digital and Multimedia Technology in Arabic Language Class for NonNative Speakers”
Advisor: Dr. Jill Watson
Lourain Eggart — World Language Instruction
“Teaching Humor Through Content Based Instruction in the World Language Classroom”
Advisor: Dr. Fanny Roncal Ramirez
Maureen Lynn Frame — World Language Instruction
“Assessing Intercultural Communicative Competence in the Middle School World Language Classroom”
Advisor: Dr. Allison Spenader
Greta Gieseke — World Language Instruction
“Authentic Songs as Interpretive Texts in the World Language Classroom”
Advisor: Dr. Alexander Korte
Pawku Hser — World Language Instruction
“Motivations and Barriers to Reclaim The Karen Language”
Advisor: Dr. Cassandra Glynn
Ibrahim Hassan Hussein — World Language Instruction
“Acculturation challenges and intracultural bullying: Experiences of Somali Americans and New Somali Refugee Students”
Advisor: Dr. Cassandra Glynn
Minji Joy Kim — World Language Instruction
“Unplugged and Immersed - A CBI/PBL Curriculum Unit for Novice Korean Learners at Sup sogui Hosu, the Korean Language Village”
Advisor: Dr. Brandon Locke
Maxwell Kivi — World Language Instruction
“Abriendo ojos y corzones: Fostering Global Citizenship through Teaching about Cuba in the Spanish Classroom”
Advisor: Dr. Cassandra Glynn
Ashley Rose Dalbec Mach — World Language Instruction
“Going Global in the French Language Classroom: Cultivating Social Justice Skills Through Francophone Diversity”
Advisor: Dr. Gay Rawson
Nue Nu — World Language Instruction
“Exploring the Impact of Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten Karen Culture and Language Classroom”
Advisor: Dr. Cassandra Glynn
Brittany Rassett — World Language Instruction
“Beyond the 90% Target: How World Language Teachers Prioritize Relationships Over Benchmarks”
Advisor: Dr. Cassandra Glynn
Htoo Ku Wah — World Language Instruction
“Examining the Role of Digital Storytelling in Primary-Level Karen Language Instruction”
Advisor: Dr. Anne Walker
Chayeng Yang — World Language Instruction
“Hmong Youth’s Cultural Involvement in the Community”
Advisor: Dr. Anne Walker
Nhouchee Yang — World Language Instruction
“The Effects of Hmong Language Loss on Hmong Youths’ Identity and Relationships”
Advisor: Dr. Jill Watson
Elaine Elizabeth Eller Young — World Language Instruction
“Whose Language Counts? World Language Teacher Prior Content Knowledge and Perceptions of Black American English”
Advisor: Dr. Jill Watson
Dr. Jennifer Hawkinson, Program Director
Kathleen Henderson — Music Education
“The Impact of Mindfulness on Student Music Performance Anxiety”
Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Hawkinson
Nicholas Larson — Music Education
“A Resource Guide for Changing-Voice Adolescent Singers”
Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Hawkinson
Morgan Ashley Vosburgh — Music Education
“Musical Creativity Among 5th Grade Orchestra Students”
Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Hawkinson
Dr. Marcia Regina Santiago Scarpin, Program Director, Business Analytics
Dr. Meredith Wagner, Program Director, Nutrition
Justin Kloster — Business Analytics
“Predicting Player Value in MLB”
Advisor: Dr. Marcia Regina Santiago Scarpin
Collin Larson Thompson — Business Analytics
“Comparing Leadership Theories in Organizational Settings: A Leadership Diagnostic Framework”
Advisor: Dr. Tim O. Peterson
Gillian Wilkins — Business Analytics
“The Impact of Geopolitics and Trade Policy on U.S. Corn Exports”
Advisor: Dr. Marcia Regina Santiago Scarpin
Estelle Rose Brewer — Nutrition
“From Needs Assessment to Intervention: Developing an Evidence-Based Nutrition Curriculum for Collegiate Athletes”
Advisor: Dr. Meredith Wagner
Anna Monico — Nutrition
“Malnutrition Screening and Rescreening in Oncology Care: Assessing Practices to Inform Intervention”
Advisor: Dr. Meredith Wagner
Katherine Elizabeth Perrier — Nutrition
“Interdisciplinary Interests Among Oral Health Professionals in Collaboration with Registered Dietitians”
Advisor: Dr. Meredith Wagner
Dr. Kelli Gast, Program Director
Ronda Bursell — Clinical Social Work
“Screentime and Early Childhood Development”
Advisor: Dr. Kelli Gast
Miguel Garcia III — Clinical Social Work
“The Power of Rapport: Reframing Education Through a Critical Lens”
Advisor: Dr. Karen Arnold Truax
Vanessa Johnson — Clinical Social Work
“The Importance of Inclusion for Children with Autism”
Advisor: Dr. Karen Arnold Truax
Devin O’Harra — Clinical Social Work
“The Misrepresentation and Governmental Erasure of Indigenous Native American Veterans: Barriers to Care within the VA Healthcare System”
Advisor: Dr. Karen Arnold Truax
Mason Plante — Clinical Social Work
“Education for Coaches and Trainers: Mental Health”
Advisor: Dr. Kelli Gast
Elise Prosser — Clinical Social Work
“VA Homeless Services Referral Pathway”
Advisor: Dr. Karen Arnold Truax
Hailey Raan — Clinical Social Work
“Enhancing Mental Health Competency in the Emergency Department for Providers Working with Veterans”
Advisor: Dr. Karen Arnold Truax
Samantha Rogstad — Clinical Social Work
“Integrating Youth Mental Health Support Through Activity-Based Engagement: A Three-Week Workbook”
Advisor: Dr. Karen Arnold Truax
Amy Joyce Sample — Clinical Social Work
“Holding Space for Educators: A Reflective Supervision Approach to Trauma-Informed Practice”
Advisor: Dr. Kelli Gast
Kylee Sanders — Clinical Social Work
“Cannabis Use and Psychosis: Understanding Risk and Reducing Harm”
Advisor: Dr. Karen Arnold Truax
Anna Afrah Samuel Vesta — Clinical Social Work
“Mental Health Challenges and Interventions for Refugee Populations”
Advisor: Dr. Karen Arnold Truax
Toni Vorvick — Clinical Social Work
“Trauma-Informed Practice Within Schools”
Advisor: Dr. Kelli Gast