Students discuss their research during the 2023 Doctoral Student Research Poster Symposium
Lee University’s Helen DeVos College of Education will host the 3rd Annual Doctoral Student Research Poster Symposium in the Mayfield Annex Fine Arts Gallery on Wednesday, April 24, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The symposium will feature students from Lee’s Doctor of Education, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy programs.
“This symposium is an opportunity to foster cross disciplinary discussions on campus and to build networks between faculty, colleagues, and graduate students within the field of professional practice,” said Dr. Roy Y. Chan, assistant professor of education and director of graduate studies in education at Lee. “We believe this university-wide, graduate student-led conference highlights the diversity of research from a Christian worldview perspective that will positively impact the church, community, and the East Tennessee region.”
Dr. Debbie Murray, Lee provost and distinguished professor of education, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker.
The research poster symposium allows faculty members, staff, and students to meet the doctoral students at Lee and to bring together colleagues, friends, family, and community members interested in graduate education.
Presenters include Hannah Barnett, Andrew DiPastena, Robert England, Brandon Holt, Tamara Milanovic, and Ghalysa Swann from the PhD program; Erin Hattabaugh, Michelle Helie, Shalee Lastoria, Susan Rodriguez, and Ryan Swartzentruber from the EdD program; and Silvia Kozak from the DNP program.
“Our faculty, staff, and students look forward to this year’s event,” said Dr. Brandon Rodgers, director of graduate studies in counseling and assistant professor of MFT at Lee. “We’ve had several remarkable research studies conducted over the course of this past year, and our PhD students are excited to share their dissertation research and passions with our academic community and beyond.”
The event is co-hosted by the EdD program, the DNP program, and the PhD in MFT program.
"The School of Nursing appreciates the opportunity for our DNP students to gain academic experience in presenting their scholarly work at the poster symposium and to collaborate with other doctoral students across campus,” said Dr. Julie Campbell, director of graduate studies in nursing and assistant professor of nursing at Lee.
Dr. Murray joined the Lee faculty in 1980 as an assistant professor of education. She served as dean of the Helen DeVos College of Education, director of graduate studies in education, director of the teacher education program and chair before being promoted to vice president for academic affairs in 2013. As a faculty member, she was a winner of the Lee’s Excellence in Advising Award and was selected as Alumnus of the Year from the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in 1997.
"I look forward to joining our doctoral students in the upcoming poster symposium,” said Dr. Murray. “In the previous two years the presentations have been exceptional, and I know this year will be no different. Our doctoral candidates are focused on excellence in their studies and research, and they are ready to share their findings with expertise and passion.”
The EdD Program in Professional Practice seeks to develop passionate and empathetic educational leaders through the practice of ethical action, redemptive service, and responsible citizenship in the church, community, and the world. The program was developed by faculty in the Lee University HDCOE and Local Education Agency partners.
The DNP Program offers a terminal degree that prepares graduates to practice at the highest level of nursing and lead change through translational research. Students benefit from Lee’s distinctive programming related to rural, global, and disaster healthcare, with the integration of a Christian worldview.
The mission of the Lee University MFT Doctoral Program is to prepare leaders in the marriage and family field that serve the underserved through Christian organizations and their surrounding communities. The core priorities of the program are to develop each student to become an innovative clinician, a proficient educator, a systemic supervisor, and a pragmatic researcher.
This event is free and open to the public.
For more information about Lee’s EdD program, visit leeuniversity.edu/academics/graduate/edd/.
For more information about Lee’s DNP program, visit leeuniversity.edu/academics/nursing/dnp/.
For more information about Lee’s MFT doctoral program, visit leeuniversity.edu/graduate/ and click “Graduate Studies in Counseling.”
For more information about the symposium, contact Graduate Studies in Education at 614-8544.