Upcoming Announcements
This list of scheduled Ph.D. dissertation defenses is posted so that faculty and others may attend the defense. If you wish to attend, please contact the committee chair in advance as a courtesy.
Friday, March 13, 2026, 1:00 p.m.
IU School of Medicine
Microbiology & Immunology
Molly Elizabeth Lumnitzer
The transcription factor AFF3 maintains naïve CD8 T cell quiescence allowing for a robust immune response to viral infection
R3 C203
Chair: Martin Richer, Ph.D., 317-274-7874
Friday, March 13, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
IU School of Education
Urban Education Studies
Krystal Nicole Brand
Science for every student: Investigating the intersection of teacher beliefs and language practices in elementary STEM education for multilingual learners
ES 3138B
Chair: Craig Willey, Ph.D., 317-274-0159
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
IU School of Medicine
Microbiology & Immunology
Sarah Susan Gutch
Improving leukocyte recovery through physiologically relevant oxygen expansion after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
R3 C203
Chair: Maegan Capitano, Ph.D., 317-274-7555
Monday, March 23, 2026, 11:30 a.m.
IU School of Health & Sciences
Exercise Science
Corinthian Eero Borden Blythe
Well-being in health professions graduate students: Exploring the role Of physical activity, yoga, stress, and positive psychological factors in academic success
RG 2008
Chair: Kristine K. Miller, Ph.D., 317-278-1875
Monday, March 23 2026, 4:00 p.m.
IU School of Science
Biology
Olatundun Dupe Awosanya
Skeletal consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection across age and sex
R3 C303/C305
Co-Chairs: Melissa A. Kacena, Ph.D., 317-278-3482; Randall J. Roper, Ph.D., 317-274-8131
Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 3:45 p.m.
IU School of Health & Human Sciences
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Abdulaziz M Abbar Alanazi
Enhancing evidence based practice for emerging therapeutic modalities In rehabilitation, integrative, and preventive medicine
PE 151 or 161
Chair: Navin Kaushal, Ph.D., 317-278-9598
Friday, March 27, 2026, 1:00 p.m.
IU School of Medicine
Microbiology & Immunology
Alexander R. Maldeney
Metabolic and signaling regulation of B cell memory responses
R3 203
Chair: Wei Luo, Ph.D., 317-274-8042
Monday, March 30, 2026, 1:00 p.m.
Fairbanks School of Public Health
Biostatistics
Zanyu Shi
Application of explainable graph neural networks in drug and biomarker discovery for human diseases
HITS HS2070
Chair: Kun Huang, Ph.D., 614-596-2471
Thursday, April 2, 2026, 11:30 a.m.
IU School of Nursing
Nursing Science
Tiffany Carol Williams
Perspectives of nursing faculty regarding elements of international educational experiences that foster cultural humility in students
Virtual
Chair: Deanna L. Reising, Ph.D., 812-855-1728
Monday, April 6, 2026, 3:00 p.m.
IU School of Education
Urban Education Studies
Bonnie M Kulenkamp
Evaluating the impact of Indiana’s science Of reading legislation on urban elementary educators’ classroom instruction and educational equity: A critical discourse analysis
ES 3138B
Chair: Craig Willey, Ph.D., 317-274-0159
Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
IU School of Dentistry
Dental Science
Guillermo Enrique Tamayo Cabeza
Fluoride exposure assessment in pregnancy: From biomarker reliability to dietary predictors in a population using private unregulated water systems in the United States
DS 115
Chair: E. Angeles Martinez Miller, PhD, 317-908-5173
Monday, April 13, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
IU School of Science
Applied Earth Sciences
Raenah A. Bailey
Examining nutrient dynamics in an urban watershed through integrated modeling approaches: A case study of the upper White River watershed in Indianapolis, Indiana
SL 108
Chair: Gabriel Filippelli, PhD, 317-274-3795
Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 11:00 a.m.
Lilly School of Philanthropy
Philanthropic Studies
Afshan Zareen Paarlberg
Bridging access across immigration legal deserts: Understanding variations in nonprofit responses
Virtual
Chair: Patricia Snell Herzog, Ph.D., 317-274-4200
Thursday, April 23, 2026, 11:00 a.m.
IU School of Education
Urban Education Studies
India Tierra Scott
From classroom to career: Understanding impostor phenomenon in black women
Virtual
Chair: Cleveland Hayes, Ph.D., 317-274-6952
Thursday, April 23, 2026, 1:00 p.m.
IU School of Health & Human Sciences
Health & Rehab Science
Shaquitta Rena Dent
The use of center Of mass and center of pressure to understand balance during the sit-to-stand task in adults with upper limb loss or absence
RG 1132
Chair: NiCole Keith, Ph.D., 812-856-5093
Friday, April 24, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
IU School of Education
Urban Education Studies
Angel Samone McAllister
From high school to higher ed: Exploring first-year college students’ reflections on postsecondary choices through social capital theory
Virtual
Chair: Cleveland Hayes, Ph.D., 317-274-6952
Friday, April 24, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
IU School of Education
Urban Education Studies
Joshua Dorian Manlove
Being fully “This”: Using multiCrit to uplift the racialized life experiences of multiracial postsecondary students with two or more identities of color
Virtual
Chair: Cleveland Hayes, Ph.D., 317-274-6952
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