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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 March 2026</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">Monday, March 2, 2026, 11:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Keith Brown</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The School Principal and Teachers’ Perspectives on Kindergarten Readiness: A Descriptive Case Study
<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Nate Templeton<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 3:00 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Bailey Ayers</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Mental Versus Physical Effort: Weighing the Decision to Offload<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Lacy Krueger<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 10:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Michael Miles</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Blank Screens: Visualizing Cultural Expressions Through the Tyler Texas Black Film Collection<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Karen Roggenkamp<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 1:00 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Melinda Berry</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Navigating College Success: A Qualitative Study on Basic Needs Insecurity and Support Interventions Among First-Generation Community College Students<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">Thursday, March 5, 2026, 10:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Kendal Shelton</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Dual Enrollment Experience-Exploring African-American Students Insights and Persistence in High School Through College: A Narrative Inquiry<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">Thursday, March 5, 2026, 1:30 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Trisha Evans</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Changes in Exclusionary Discipline Rates and Disciplinary Disproportionality Over Time in Texas independent School Districts<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Danna Beaty<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Monday, March 16, 2026, 10:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Robert Burrier</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Motivation to Stay Motivation to Leave-Administrator Perceptions of Teacher Attrition and its Effect on Student Outcomes in a South Texas Border School District<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Danna Beaty<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Monday, March 16, 2026, 10:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Justin Bolton</u></b>, Proposal Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Impact of Inquiry-Based Learning on Critical Thinking and Problem Solving in Elementary Science Education: A Mixed-Methods Study<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Laura Slay<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, March 16, 2026, 11:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Cheryl Evans</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Evaluating Professional Identity Development in School Counselors: The Role of the Texas Evaluation Model for Professional School Counselors, Third Edition<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Zaidy MohdZain<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Monday, March 16, 2026, 1:00 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Sharon Hendon-Lewis</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Secondary Teachers’ Perceptions of Professional Development Aimed to Assist Black Male Adolescents Who Struggle in Reading<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Tami Morton<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Monday, March 16, 2026, 1:30 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Jennifer Sanchez</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Burned Out and Moving On: Does Psychological Capital Affect Principal Burnout and Intention to Leave?<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">Monday, March 16, 2026, 3:00 pm, Talbot Hall Room 146, <b><u>Melissa Kamp</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Intersection of Literature and Activism in Selected Works of Elizabeth Garver Jones, Mary Heaton Vorse, and Edith Franklin Wyatt<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Karen Roggenkamp<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 10:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Shannon McFadden</u></b>, Proposal Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Educators are Human, Too: Educators Perspectives on Stress, Well-Being, and Organizational Supports When Supporting Trauma Impacted Students<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Peter Williams<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Graduate Council Representative: Dr. Zaidy MohdZain<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 1:00 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Halie Welsh</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Factors That Influence Early Childhood Well-Being<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Kendra Saunders<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 2:00 pm, 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">Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 2:00 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Candice Hardin</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Early College High School as a Platform for Promoting Post-Secondary Readiness Amongst Underrepresented Populations<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Danna Beaty<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Monday, March 23, 2026, 1:00 pm, Zoom, <b><u>Reynolds Ballotti</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>AI Assistance and Meta-Cognitive Calibration<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Shulan Lu<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Monday, March 23, 2026, 2:00 pm, 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 Toward Inclusive Identification 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">Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 10:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Katie Nisbet</u></b>, Final Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Workforce Degrees with an Emphasis in Humanity<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">Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 9:00 am, Zoom, <b><u>Taylor Norris</u></b>, Proposal Defense<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>An Exploratory Case Study of an Urban Texas School that has Achieved Proportionate Discipline Removals for Minority Students<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Major Advisor: Dr. Peter Williams<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Graduate Council Representative: Dr. Julia Meszaros<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>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></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@01DCA70A.6F341CB0" alt="TAMUC logo"></span></a><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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