teaching)fellows:)2015—2016) andrea meluch) · teaching)fellows:)2015—2016) colleen dragovich)...
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Teaching Fellows: 2015—2016 Andrea Meluch
Anuj Gurung
Introduc?on Advice
Cleveland, Ohio
Ph. D. Candidate: College of
Communica?on and Informa?on
Andrea’s research focuses on the i n te r sec?ons o f hea l th and organiza?onal communica?on, par?cularly in pa?ent experiences in healthcare organiza?ons. Her disserta?on examines communicated social support to cancer pa?ents. When she is not busy with research, teaching, or GSO, she enjoys spending ?me with her family and two dogs. She also enjoys sewing and “flipping” old furniture and an?ques.
It is very easy to get overwhelmed by school work and new responsibili?es that graduate students have. Staying on task and on schedule is very helpful. Also, try to get involved and have some fun while you are in school. GSS and Graduate Studies have a lot of ac?vi?es and events for grad students to par?cipate in to make the most of their graduate experience!
Kathmandu, Nepal
Ph. D. Candidate: Poli?cal Science
Anuj would like to say “Namaste” to all new graduate students. He is from the magnificent city of Kathmandu in Nepal. As a doctoral student working for the Center for Applied Conflict Management and the Department of Poli?cal Science, Anuj is interested in various facets of conflict analyses -‐ especially interna?onal migra?on, refugee crises, and group iden??es. His hobbies include sma]erings of reading, jogging, and roo?ng for FC Barcelona ("visca barca").
One of the key challenges in graduate life is ?me management, especially aber core courses are done. As graduate students, we don many different hats, and ?me commitment can be challenging. Priori?zing your schedule, being adaptable, and carving out free ?me will be important in the long run. Welcome to the Kent State family!
Introduc?on Advice
Teaching Fellows: 2015—2016 Colleen Dragovich
Indira Sultanic
Introduc?on Advice
San Diego, California
Ph. D. Student: Educa?onal Psychology
Colleen grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio. She is working on her Ph.D. in Educa?onal Psychology in the EHHS Department here at Kent State. Although it seems that Ed. Psych. is in the Psychology department, it's not! Her academic interests include learner mo?va?on and feedback, metacogni?on, and gamifica?on. Outside of her studies, Colleen enjoys traveling, reading, and ea?ng good food.
Find what you want to do, what works for you, and don't give up. Throughout your graduate studies and possibly your career, you will face difficul?es, late nights, and rejec?on. Remember why you wanted to complete a graduate degree in the first place, do some soul-‐searching, and dig in! My family has a saying, "Buck up!" which is to say "Pick yourself up and get back on your horse!" Be tenacious!
Konjic, Bosnia-‐Herzegovina
Ph. D. Candidate: Transla?on Studies
Indira received her M. A. in Spanish Transla?on from KSU and earned her B. A. from Bluion University. Her current research interests include: medical interpre?ng and transla?on, t r an s l a?on and i n te rp re?ng pedagogy, curriculum design and development, language access, language industry, diaspora and cultural transla?on. Indira is also the front woman of a local band, Indira & Guppy Jo. She’s an avid runner, occasional yogi, wannabe tennis player, foodie, and lover of cheese.
As for the ?ps for success, in the words of her dear friend, and former GSO Teaching Fellow, Cadey Korson, “Plan your work, and work your plan.” The graduate experience is exci?ng, overwhelming, and can some?mes feel very isola?ng. Having a plan with clear goals is the easiest way to move forward . S tay connected with family and friends, and make sure to find things that fulfill your life outside of academia.
Introduc?on Advice
Teaching Fellows: 2015—2016 Julien Roland
Kenton Butcher
Introduc?on Advice
Bordeaux, France
Ph. D. Student: Transla?on Studies
Coming to you straight from Bordeaux, France—by way of Ibadan, Nigeria—Julien is a third-‐year Ph. D. student in Transla?on Studies. He is a goofy over-‐analyzer, a sarcas?c dreamer, and an embracer of contradic?ons. When he is not studying or teaching (or grading), Julien can be spo]ed at Scribbles, devouring novels (and/or muffins). He worships Chimamanda Adichie and Meryl Streep.
Your world can easily become one-‐dimensional: same department, same schedule, same people. I think it is important to do a few things to spice things up a bit. Join an organiza?on, go to a Cavs game or a yoga class… and keep in touch with people you met at GSO (graduate student socials are a great way to do that)!!! GSO is a unique opportunity to meet people with diverse interests and backgrounds.
Athens, Ohio
M. A. Student: Literature
Kenton received B. A.s in English and Mass Communica?ons from Miami University in 2009. He spent five years teaching English as a second language in Shijiazhuang, China, and he hopes to pursue a teaching career upon gradua?on. In his spare ?me, he enjoys cycling, reading, music, and traveling with his wife, Ka?e.
I would say, “Don’t panic,” but that would be hypocri?cal as I panic all the ?me. So, instead, I’ll say “Find a healthy way to manage your stress.” As obvious as it sounds now, I lost sight of this during my first semester; I drank copious amounts of coffee and ate far too many doughnuts. Taking care of yourself mentally and physically will help you to produce be]er work, teach be]er lessons, and enjoy your graduate experience in general.
Introduc?on Advice
Teaching Fellows: 2015—2016 Kristen Traynor
Lorriane Odhiambo
Introduc?on Advice
Youngstown, Ohio
Ph. D. Candidate: Poli?cal Science
Kristen is from Youngstown, Ohio. She is a doctoral candidate in poli?cal science with a focus on poli?cal communica?on and human rights. She enjoys spending ?me with her family, going to concerts, hiking, and traveling as much as possible.
Find a good way to manage your ?me. It is difficult to balance your roles as a graduate student, researcher, teaching assistant, and/or family member or significant other. However, it is important to remember that your personal life and well-‐being are just as important as your scholarly achievements.
Nairobi, Kenya
Ph. D. Candidate: College of Public
Health
Lorriane’s research focuses on environmental health i ssues, s p e c i fi c a l l y t h e r e d u c ? o n environmental factors’ impact on different popula?ons both locally and g l oba l l y . T h i s i n c l ude s interven?ons for water-‐related diseases and respiratory condi?ons. Her teaching experience has greatly influenced her decision to con?nue teaching in addi?on to her research pursuits. She likes art (drawing),, boxing, and playing basketball.
I would advise new graduates to iden?fy their area of focus earlier on in their program and start working towards networking with professors, researchers and colleagues in that area of study. Gerng some experience in their chosen area will help them decide whether it is the right choice. Also, one should always seek opportuni?es that get him or her out of their comfort zone. Welcome, and all the best in your graduate studies!
Introduc?on Advice
Teaching Fellows: 2015—2016 Loubna Bilali
Maja Bajac-‐Carter
Introduc?on Advice
El-‐Jadida, Morocco
Ph. D. Candidate: Transla?on Studies
Loubna would like to say to all new students, “Marhaba!” (Hello in Arabic). Her research interests r evo l ve a round l oca l i z a?on , terminology management, corpus-‐based research, and transla?on pedagogy. She loves swimming, cycling, all racquet sports, and wri?ng. When not busy working, she enjoys reading biographies and watching mo?va?onal speeches and documentaries.
My advice to all graduate students is to have a goal and invest everything you have to get it. Stay focused, get your priori?es straight, and make sure to lead a balanced and healthy school life. Enjoy learning more about your discipline and don’t forget to take the ?me to socialize with other grad students, a]end the different campus events, visit the rec center or discover the Kent area. Welcome to Kent State!
Belgrade, Serbia
Ph. D. Candidate: College of
Communica?on and Informa?on
Maja came to Kent State by way of Dallas, Texas, where she completed her M. A. Her academic interests are many, but her passion is in gendered images in popular culture and sports. Specifically, she is interested in portrayals of women and men in movies, comic books, literature, and sports. Travelling and physically challenging adventures are some of the things she likes to do outside of school. Maja supposes she is an adrenaline junkie when she is not teaching.
I cannot s t ress enough the importance of taking care of oneself while in school. Work can get overwhelming, and we oben forget about our own needs, so do not hesitate to take a breather when you need one. Talk to your family and friends oben, it will help you maintain your sanity. Also, do not leave anything for the last minute. I have learned that the hard way! Break up your work in chunks and complete it so you can take quality breaks and recharge.
Introduc?on Advice
Teaching Fellows: 2015—2016 Murat Dagistan
Mayagul Satlykgylyjova
Introduc?on Advice
Ankara, Turkey
Ph. D. Candidate: Educa?on, Health
and Human Services
Murat received his B. A. and M. A. from Hace]epe University, Ankara in 1995 and 1998, respec?vely. He has worked in several universi?es and mul?na?onal ins?tu?ons. Murat has also conducted numerous academic presenta?ons and workshops in local and interna?onal conferences and ins?tu?ons. His research examines the language learning experiences of Chinese and Arab students in American culture.
When you pursue a graduate degree, at first you might be scared. Don't think that you are a coward because this fear is part of our existence. You came here from miles away, leb your home and loved ones behind, to do a study for the good of humanity. Believe it or not, whether you see it that way or not, only brave people embark on a journey like this. There is nothing wrong with being a Don Quixote in this world, aber all.
Balkanabat, Turkmenistan
Ph. D. Candidate: Cultural Founda?ons
of Educa?on
This is Maya’s 5th year in her Ph. D. program. Currently, she is wri?ng her disserta?on and studying the construc?on of iden?ty in female students from Turkmenistan. Maya’s work examines impact of educa?on abroad on Turkmen women by studying how each develops a t r a ve l i n g s e l f t h r ough ( un ) inten?onal distancing, rejec?ng, merging and adop?ng the signs, prac?ces and ins?tu?ons o f Turkmenistan and/or the U. S. to rework the worlds they are living in.
For me the biggest challenge in my Ph. D. program was finding a topic that I was passionate about. I changed my topic several ?mes, thus I did more work than was necessary. If I knew for certain which line of inquiry was suitable for me during the ?me while I was taking courses, I would be much be]er prepared for the lonely disserta?on wri?ng process. Think about your interests early so that you can build and strengthen your topic with the help of many intellectuals and peers.
Introduc?on Advice
Teaching Fellows: 2015—2016 Rajilakshmi Ghosh
Naser Madi
Introduc?on Advice
Kolkata, India
Ph. D. Candidate: Curriculum and Instruc?on
Raj completed her M. S. in Biology at Kent State in 2009. She is passionate about teaching science by inquiry, where students and teachers are ac?vely involved and learning occurs through direct experiences. Raj loves cooking, reading cookbooks (and trying out new recipes), and taking her boys to the park whenever the weather is good!
It is okay to feel li]le overwhelmed. But you are not alone here and the university, with its wonderful resources (including the people here) are here, right by your side and ready to help. So, if you need something or if you are unsure about something, don't hesitate to ask ques?ons. You can start this prac?ce here with your GSO leaders -‐ please let us know if you need anything!
Amman, Jordan
Ph. D. Student: Computer Science
Naser is pursuing a Ph. D. degree in Computer Science. He is interested in the field of computa?onal cogni?on, and brain computer interface. When he is not studying, he likes to play flamenco guitar or bike around Kent.
My advice for new graduate students is to focus on developing the ability to produce and recognize important research ideas on their own, because acquiring this skill is essen?al for a successful career in the future away from advisors or mentors. The second piece of advice is to balance work and life, and remember graduate students are allowed to have fun, too!
Introduc?on Advice
Teaching Fellows: 2015—2016 Sanjoy Paul
Samuel Boateng
Introduc?on Advice
Susnigoria, India
Ph. D. Candidate: Physics
Sanjoy is from a village near Calcu]a, India. He is a doctoral candidate in Physics, and his experimental doctoral disserta?on focuses on organic semiconductors and devices. He wants to work in the area of organic photovoltaics to research low cost, clean, and renewable energy. Besides pursuing his own research, Sanjoy wants to teach physics to the next genera?on.
Prepare and get organized early, make a schedule and follow it, stay tuned with your classes, and do not wait un?l the examina?ons knock at your door. Hard work, proper organiza?on, careful planning, and ?me management are important factors to be successful. Besides your studies and work, it is also important to spend part of your ?me relaxing with your friends and family.
Greater Accra, Ghana
M. A. Student: Ethnomusicology
Samuel is the last of three siblings in a family of five. He is a second year M.A. Ethnomusicology student whose research focuses on the changing tradi?ons and perspec?ves in Ghanaian popular music as well as its implica?ons on social, poli?cal and religious life. Outside of class, Samuel enjoys listening to and playing jazz music, performing with his jazz and Afro-‐pop band, as well as composing for different kinds of ensembles. Samuel hopes to teach music and compose for film.
Opportuni?es may arise from a]ending conferences, wri?ng and submirng good papers in class, and networking—all of which and more wi l l add up to making your experience as a graduate student a memorable and enriching one. Secondly, do not hesitate to ask for help when you need it. There are many resources available that are present just for you: use them. Lastly, the first few weeks may be hard but know that “this too shall pass,” so press on!
Introduc?on Advice
Teaching Fellows: 2015—2016 Shakhnoza Yakubova
Samyak Moktan
Introduc?on Advice
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Ph. D. Candidate: Higher Educa?on Administra?on
In 2009, Shakhnoza received her M.A. in Higher Ed. Administra?on from KSU and also has an M.A. in Linguis?cs. In 2010 she founded and directed a nonprofit organiza?on, Academic Resource and Career Consul?ng Center, to educate and counsel secondary and high school students in rural Kazakhstan. In her spare ?me, she enjoys outdoor and mee?ng people across cultures.
Explore your passion. Graduate school is the perfect place to further discover your talents and reflect on your current goals. Schedule ?me off, and meet new people. Enjoy the journey!
Kathmandu, Nepal
M. A. Student: Communica?on
Studies
Samyak is from the beau?ful and culturally rich country Nepal. Her hometown is Kathmandu, which is also the capital and the largest city in Nepal. Her studies focus on Global Communica?on. She also has an interest in learning about social iden?ty, feminist movements, and parasocial rela?onships. Samyak is a huge Harry Po7er fan and likes to believe that she knows everything about it. Lastly, she is an animal lover and likes to raise her voice against animal abuse.
My advice for the new graduate students would be: Don’t feel afraid to ask ques?ons. The more you ask, the more you learn. Don’t skip your breakfast; it is the most important meal of the day. Work hard, explore, socialize, and make the most of what you get. There is no ?me like the present
Introduc?on Advice
Teaching Fellows: 2015—2016 Tanesha Walker
Stephanie Vincent
Introduc?on Advice
Akron, Ohio
Ph. D. Candidate: Counselor Educa?on and Supervision
Tanesha is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Ohio and has been licensed for two years. Her research interests include cultural percep?ons within student-‐teacher rela?onships, couples counseling, interpersonal rela?onship considera?ons, and minority issues within counseling. She enjoys volunteering in her local community, sports, and trying new outdoor ac?vi?es.
My advice to new graduate students would be to take care of yourself! Self-‐care is extremely important in naviga?ng through a graduate degree. Get involved and work hard, but don't take on too much. Listen to your body and know when to take ?me out to enjoy yourself.
New Castle, Pennsylvania
Ph. D. Candidate: History
Stephanie likes to call herself a Kent State “lifer,” as she received her undergraduate and Master’s degrees in history here at KSU before star?ng her Ph. D. Her current research interest is in United States business h i s tory and her d i sserta?on compares three major American po]eries and their fight to survive in the la]er half of the 20th century. When she is not wri?ng or gearing up for her first GSO, she enjoys cross-‐s?tching, scrapbooking, and unwinding with a good book.
It is perfectly normal to feel a li]le overwhelmed some?mes, but you never have to go through the stress alone. Find an advisor, a coworker, a fellow student, or a loved one to lean on when things are rough, chances are they have gone through the same thing themselves and will be happy to listen. And don’t be afraid to take a day off now and then – indulging in a full day (or even weekend) of your favorite ac?vi?es can be a great refresher when things are tough.
Introduc?on Advice