Dr. Jon F. Harrison with Sydella Blatch

Sydella Blatch
School of Life Sciences
Ph.D. Biology

Blatch designed and obtained funding for the Shades Multicultural Mentoring program in which minority graduate students in the sciences can serve as mentors for their undergraduate peers. Sydella is a graduate of the Preparing Future Faculty program, and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. She's been a teaching assistant in the School of Life Sciences, a co-president of the Black Graduate Student Association of ASU, has worked extensively with the Minority Access to Research Careers Program at ASU, and is frequently invited to participate in panels and workshops to encourage African American students to attend college or graduate school. "Getting a doctoral degree will allow me to pursue my career plans to become a college professor and administrator," says Blatch. She has accepted a position as a post-doctoral fellow with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), doing research in an epigenetics lab.

Benjamin Campbell
School of Life Sciences
Master of Science Biology

While at ASU, Campbell studied conservation biology and behavioral ecology. His research focused variations in territoriality among red squirrels in geographically separate populations. He had been active in community service projects (Habitat for Humanity, Appalachia Service Project), but was intrigued by the prospect of teaching and working with youth. He mentored students at Chandler High School as part of the GK-12 program funded by the National Science Foundation. "I think it's important to develop a scientifically literate society, and I think everyone should be concerned about conservation and sustainability," he says.

Campbell has accepted a position teaching high school biology at The Episcopal School of Texas (TMI) in San Antonio.

Sarah Gershon
PH.D. Political Science

Gershon was awarded the Graduate College Dissertation Fellowship (2007-2008). "In addition to allowing me the time to finish my dissertation, I believe the fellowship helped me in the job market," says Sarah.

Her dissertation was titled Communicating Through the Media: A Study of Female, Latino and African American Representatives. She has accepted a tenure-track position as an assistant professor of political science at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Jacqueline Wauneka
Wynora Bekis
Doctor of Education
Educational Administration and Supervision

Bekis is currently an elementary principal in the Navajo Nation. "I am looking out for the best interest of my Navajo children and families," she says. "I know the educational needs of our children and plan to speak on their behalf."

Wauneka is the first in her family to receive a Doctorate. "My goal is to continue to be a Principal and to one day be a Superintendent," she says. "My goal is to improve the quality of education on the Navajo reservation. We can no longer accept high drop out rates, illiteracy, students failing AIMS, and so on. We have much to offer our Navajo students. We need to set high standards and reach those standards."

Jacqueline Wauneka (left) and Wynora Bekis

Harper Piver
Master of Fine Arts, Dance

"My graduate experience has allowed me to grow as an artist, a scholar, and a person and in doing so it widened my options, opened many doors, and changed my perception of my own capabilities," says Piver.

While at ASU, she participated in Preparing Future Faculty (PFF), received the Outstanding Graduate of the Year award, and the Herberger College of the Arts Faculty Emeriti Association Fellowship. "Participating in PFF allowed me to learn about academic careers while enhancing my practical knowledge of getting an academic job, getting tenure, and determining which type of institution would be right for me," she says. "Through partial funding from the Graduate College I was able to travel to present at an international conference in my field in Paris last summer."

Kristine Reich
Juris Doctor
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

With a passion for law and a desire to contribute to the public good, Reich served as the president of the College of Law Pro Bono Board, coordinated ASU law students in numerous community service projects, including legal aid for homeless and crime victims; free assistance in tax, disability and elder law; and advocacy against domestic violence and child abuse.

She has accepted a position at ASU as Director of Pro Bono Programs and Student Life, where she hopes to increase the legal services ASU students provide to the community.

See our profile of Kristine Reich.

Dr. Mark Lussier and Jennifer Santos

Jennifer Santos
Ph.D. in English (Literature)

Santos was awarded the Graduate College Dissertation Fellowship (2007-2008), which she says was "invaluable in the completion of my dissertation." She has also received the University Graduate Scholar Award (2003-2006) and Dean's Graduate Scholar Award (2003-2004).

"I'm grateful that ASU supports teaching as well as research," says Jennifer. "I was honored to win the 2004-2005 CLAS Dean's Distinguished Teaching Award and feel privileged to be named by students in the "Faculty and Staff 'Positive Influences'" section of Arizona State University's Graduating Senior Report Card."

She will join the faculty at Virginia Military Institute as an Assistant Professor of English this fall.

Nathan Wilkens
Ph.D. Geological Sciences

Wilkens examined the evolution of ancient ecosystems by studying animal fossils, plant fossils, sediments and the geochemistry of ancient land-based environments to determine how the ancient living system interacted. He focused his research on several well-preserved desert oases near Moab, Utah, to gain a better understanding of living environments and preservation situations in the Early Jurassic period.

His dissertation was titled Paleoecology of Early Jurassic Navajo Sandstone Interdune Deposits. See our profile of Nate Wilkens.