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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><b>TO: All Graduate Faculty and Doctoral Students<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><b>FROM: Dayla Burgin<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><b> Admissions Supervisor/Doctoral Degree Coordinator</b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>RE: Schedule of Proposal Defenses & Final Defenses for October 2025</u></b><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 10:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Laura Little</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Virtual School Principals’ and Teachers’ Perceptions of Essential Leadership Practices in the Virtual Environment: A Descriptive Qualitative Study<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Teresa Farler<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thursday, October 2, 2025, 2:00 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Brian Lenhart</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>How Military Leadership Experience Translates Into Successful Higher Education Leadership: A Phenomenological Study<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. David Tan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Friday, October 3, 2025, 2:00 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Chen-An Butler</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Lived Experience of Non-Traditional Students CDA Courses at a Large Suburban Community College in Texas<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. David Tan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Monday, October 6, 2025, 2:00 pm, Mesquite ISD, <b><u>Linda Goodwin</u></b>, Proposal Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Preconceptions of Education by Pre-Service Teachers: Anxiety, Stress, and Self-Efficacy<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Sherri Colby<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Graduate Council Representative: TBD<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Monday, October 6, 2025, 4:30 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Brandon Johnson</u></b>, Proposal Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>A Quantitative Study on the Effect of Restorative Practices on Discipline Among Black Students in Secondary Schools<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Mack Hines<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Graduate Council Representative: Dr. Jessica Udry<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 9:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Kayla Sparks</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>A Qualitative Study of Educator Perceptions on the Implementation of Restorative Practices<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Peter Williams<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 11:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Marie Maxwell</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Literacy Teacher Educators’ Knowledge About Developmental Dyslexia<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Julia Persky<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 1:00 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Michael Colvin</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Leadership for a Culturally Relevant Classroom: Exploring Practices for Increasing Student Performance Outcomes in the Middle School Classroom<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Danny Beaty<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Friday, October 10, 2025, 10:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Stephen Leverette</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Student Perceptions of Dual Credit in Relation to College Preparedness and Success in First-Year College Students<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. David Tan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Monday, October 13, 2025, 10:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Donna Freeling-Blackburn</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Identity and Math Achievement in African American Male Secondary School Students in STEM Programs<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Mack Hines<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thursday, October 16, 2025, 10:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Jayson Douglas</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Wah Dem Tek Wi Fah: A Case Study on Second Generation Jamaican Student Activist Challenging Institutions and Shaping Change<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Dimitra Smith<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thursday, October 16, 2025, 10:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Lindsay Orr</u></b>, Proposal Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Leader Perceptions and Competencies that Lead Gifted Programs Towards Inclusive Practices<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Danna Beaty<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Graduate Council Representative: TBD<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thursday, October 16, 2025, 12:30 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Catherine Thurman</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Academic Choices Influencing Completion Rates for Developmental Math Students: A Logistic Regression Study<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Dimitra Smith<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thursday, October 16, 2025, 2:00 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Brian Beck-Smith</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Using a Spiral Intervention to Lessen the Mathematics Achievement Gap in an AP Precalculus Classroom: A Mixed-Method Study<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Melanie Fields<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Friday, October 17, 2025, 8:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Jennifer Hudson</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>A Phenomenological Study Exploring Full-Time Non-Tenure Faculty Perceptions of Mattering and Engagement<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Leslie Ekpe <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Monday, October 20, 2025, 10:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Amanda Roberts</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Education Investments and Student Success: Analyzing the Relationship Between School Funding and Math Achievement<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Karyn Miller<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Monday, October 20, 2025, 11:00 am, On campus, <b><u>Teresa Perez</u></b>, Proposal Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Workplace Experiences of Neurodivergent Licenses Professional Counselors<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Ajitha Kumaran<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Graduate Council Representative: TBD<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Monday, October 20, 2025, 11:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Allicia Saldana</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>A Comparison Study of Hispanic Students’ College Readiness in Public High Schools and Charter Schools in Texas’s Lower Rio Grande Valley<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Mack Hines <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thursday, October 23, 2025, 10:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Ryan Maycock</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Lived Experiences of Male Foreign Born Faculty in the Council for Accreditation of Counseling Programs and Related Educational Programs<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Ajitha Kumaran<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>**If you are a faculty member or a student and want to attend a defense, please contact the Major Advisor<o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:#00386C">Dayla Burgin, BS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F5352">Admissions Supervisor<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F5352">Doctoral Degree Coordinator</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F5352">The Graduate School | McDowell Business Administration, Room 142<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F5352;text-transform:uppercase">P: 903.886.5167</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F5352"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F5352">Mail:</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F5352"> P.O. Box 3011, Commerce, TX 75429</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F5352">Ship:</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F5352"> 2600 S Neal Street, Commerce, TX 75428<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F5352"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#4F5352">Students please include your CWID in every email</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F5352"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#4F5352"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Apply Texas: <a href="https://www.applytexas.org/">
<span style="color:blue">ApplyTexas - Applicant Home Page</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Doctoral application
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">packet: <a href="http://www.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/documents/doc_packet.pdf">
<span style="color:blue">http://www.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/documents/doc_packet.pdf</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:26.25pt"><a href="https://www.tamuc.edu/"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="250" height="33" style="width:2.6041in;height:.3437in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01DC2DF7.D97137C0" alt="TAMUC logo"></span></a><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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