CGS #GradImpact draws from member institution examples to tell the larger story of graduate education. Our goal is to demonstrate the importance of graduate education not only to degree holders, but also to the communities where we live and work. Do you have a great story to share about the impact of master’s or doctoral education? Visit the CGS website for more information

 

Archived GradImpact Stories
 

Leading Through Adversity

Kay Gomes Saul, Business Administration, University of Illinois – Gies College of Business

 

Finding a Path in Education

Lydia Gandy-Fastovich, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, University of Wisconsin--Madison

 

McNair as a Gateway to Research

Ariana Garcia, Higher Education, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

 

It Felt a Little Bit Like Fate

Ahjah Johnson, Student Affairs Higher Education, Miami University of Ohio

 

Minding the Gap

Diamond Cunningham, Public Health, Tulane University

 

Expanding Our Understanding of Suicidal Ideation in Sexual Assault Survivors

Ava Fergerson, Psychological Sciences, Western Kentucky University

 

Dismantling White Supremacy by Emphasizing the Diversity of the Ancient Past

Sanchita Balachandran, Preservation Studies, University of Delaware

 

Using Social Media As an Effective Education, Research, and Global Outreach Tool

Anne Hilborn, Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech

 

Understanding Mass Incarceration’s Adverse Effects on Families and Communities

Avon Hart-Johnson, Human Services, Walden University

 

Confronting False Narratives of American History

Allison Seyler, History, University of Maryland Baltimore County

 

Confronting Racism & Prioritizing Black Women

Erin Lee, Public Health, University of Washington

 

Better Understanding Disease Progression A Single-Cell at a Time

Sondrica Goines, Analytical Chemistry, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill

 

Shifting Research Priorities to Combat a Pandemic

Katarina Braun, Medical Scientist Training Program and Cellular and Molecular Biology & Gage Moreno, Cellular and Molecular Pathology, University of Wisconsin – Madison

 

For Country and Family

Tyler Mobra, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Oklahoma-Tulsa

 

Radical Experimentation and Emotional Leadership

Wayne Johnson, Management, Cornell University

 

Living Her Life for Others

Meghan Lowry, Social Work, University of Oklahoma-Tulsa

 

Mission Driven

William LaRose, Public Administration, Cornell University

 

Turning Trauma into Purpose

James Hentig, Biology, University of Notre Dame

 

Providing a Beacon of Hope for Veterans and First Responders

Nick Harnish, School of Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

 

Stages of Grief and Celebration

Leigh Marshall, MFA, University of Iowa

 

Can Fool’s Gold Help Provide Cleaner Drinking Water?

Andrew Shaughnassy, Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University

 

Empowering Community to Kickstart Rural Recovery

Fatima Morys Barrios, International Studies, North Carolina State University

 

Therapy Dog Helps Kids Expand Reading Paw-sibilities

Meghen Bassel, Media Specialist Program, University of West Georgia

 

Improving Mobility for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Ahad Behboodi, Biomechanics and Movement Science, University of Delaware

 

Pushing Boundaries and Changing Perspectives

Thoin Begum, Public Health, University at Albany, SUNY

 

Examining the Effects of Post-War Displacement on Women and Children

Monica Burney, History, Eastern Illinois University

 

An Advocate for Higher Education Equity

Theresa Hernandez, Urban Policy Education, University of Southern California

 

Better Living Through Chemistry

Kori Andrea, Chemistry, Memorial University

 

Using Traditional and Emerging Technology to Better Understand U.S. History

Ray Sumner, Anthropology, Colorado State University

 

Increasing Cooperative Impact through Community and Collaboration

Charlene Higgins, Community Development, University of New Hampshire

 

Mentorship is the Foundation of a Constructive Research Partnership

Truong Xuan Tran, Computer Science, University of Alabama in Huntsville

 

Identifying Sources of Stress in Children

Amy Schultz, Environmental Epidemiology, University of Wisconsin—Madison

 

Advocating for Diversity and Inclusion in STEAM Fields

Rebecca Long, Computer Science, Eastern Washington University

 

Creating Language Programs to Attract and Retain Multilingual Students

Nabila Hijazi, English Language & Literature, University of Maryland, College Park

 

Complicating a Binary Definition of Sex through Skeletal Studies

Alexandra Kralick, Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania

 

Understanding the Biology of the Nervous System

Megan Perkins, Neuroscience, University of Vermont

 

Linking Scientific Research to the Public Good

Rachel Owen, Natural Resources & Michael Hendricks, Political Science, University of Missouri—Columbia

 

Promoting Lifelong Health and Well-Being of Veterans

Kristina Sabasteanski, Occupational Therapy, University of Southern Maine

 

Improving Battery Performance while Maintaining Safety and Stability

Priyanka Ketkar, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware

 

Hoping Her Passion for Computer Science Goes Viral

Veronica Catete, Computer Science, North Carolina State University

 

Serving Others, Serving Science

Alisha House, Clinical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Cleveland State University

 

Finding a Path from Afghanistan to Materials Science

Jeffrey Brookins, Materials Science & Engineering, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

 

Environmental Science and Public Service

Phil Steenstra, Environmental Science, Washington State University

 

Veteran Continues Service by Studying Human Genetics

Raul Torres, Biomedical Sciences, University of California, San Francisco

 

Finding Community and Helping Society

LaVoya Woods-Dionne, Master of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

 

Mission First, People Always

Allene Osborn, Social Work, Eastern Washington University

 

Leader of the Pack

Lawrence Minnis, Animal Behavior & Cognition Lab, George Mason University

 

Managing the Competing Demands of Military Duty and Research in the Pursuit of a PhD

Joshua Pearlman, Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park

 

Developing Treatments and Prevention Methods for Tropical Disease

Rajiv Jumani, Cellular, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Vermont

 

Improving Mobility for Wheelchair Users through SMART Technology

Kelilah Wolkowicz, Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University

 

Advancing Innovation & Entrepreneurship by Helping New Businesses Get off the Ground

Michael Mahoney, Master of Product Innovation, Virginia Commonwealth University

 

Understanding the Effects of Natural Resource Extraction on the Habitats of an Endangered Species

Didik Prasetyo, Ecology & Evolution, Rutgers University

 

Researching the Possible Use of Plague and other Infectious Diseases as Biological Weapons

David Markman, Biosecurity and Infectious Diseases, Colorado State University

 

Contributing to a Better Understanding of the Place of North America in the Pacific

Madison Heslop, History, University of Washington

 

Studying the Forces that Move Mountains

Ellen Lamont, Geology, Oregon State University

 

Understanding the Relationship Between LGBTQ Individuals and Health Care Providers

Lindsay Toman, Sociology, Wayne State University

 

Revolutionizing Treatments for Cancer and Infectious Diseases through Gene Editing

Theo Roth, Biomedical Sciences, University of California, San Francisco

 

Identifying What Attracts Physicians to Underserved Communities

Teresa Zhou, Economics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

 

Examining the Relationships between Travel and Colonial Writing & Knowledge Production

Noah Patterson Hanohano Dolim, History, University of California, Irvine

 

Creating a Transatlantic Storytelling Group for Able-Bodied and Disabled Communities

Hailey Hughes, English, University of West Georgia

 

Taking a Multidisciplinary Approach to Better Understand Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Arezoo Movaghar, Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

 

Developing Novel Vaccines and Treatments against HIV and other Viruses

Yi Wen, Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Cornell University

 

Advocating for Solutions that Promote Public Safety and Rehabilitation

Ryan Gentzler, Master of Public Administration, University of Oklahoma-Tulsa

 

Promoting Technology Innovation in Africa by Empowering Young Girls to Pursue STEM Education
Unoma Okorafor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University

 

Establishing an Equal Playing Field for all People to Succeed
Garry Johnson, Entrepreneurship & Design, University of Delaware

 

Inspiring Generations of Students to Solve Real World Problems

Alyson Nelson, Educational Technology, Boise State University

 

Understanding How Viruses Affect Their Hosts

Lok Raj Joshi and Maureen Fernandes, Veterinary Microbiology, South Dakota State University

 

Science Isn’t Just Something that Happens in Labs

Arianna Soldati, Geological Sciences, University of Missouri

 

Finding Innovative Ways to Empower Women through Resource Development

Zubaida Bai, M.B.A., Colorado State University

 

A Veteran Brings the Parks to the People through Research and Outreach

Jessica Phillips, Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Sports Management, North Carolina State University

 

Research to Better Understand How Antidepressants Affect Fetal Development

Juan Velasquez, Neuroscience, University of Southern California
 

Music as a Path out of Poverty

Dafne Guevara, Musical Arts, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

 

Collecting Critical Data to Predict the Response of Earth’s Polar Ice to Climate Change

Nathan Kurtz, Atmospheric Physics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

 

Studying Animal Behavior to Determine How Personality Is Shaped

Peter Marting, Animal Behavior, Arizona State University

 

Using Satellite Data Images of the Arctic to Teach the Public about Climate Change

Zachary Labe, Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine

 

Educating the Public on a Decline in Marine Life through Art Installations

Jacquelyn Dale (JD) Whitman, MFA in Art, University of Iowa

 

Offering Support and Promoting Wellness for Pre and Post-Partum Women

Adriana Dyurich, Counselor Education, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi

 

Developing Advanced, Affordable Prostheses and Improving Quality of Life

Aadeel Akhtar, Neuroscience, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

 

Providing Clean Drinking Water and an Education to Rural Communities in Sub-Saharan Africa

Prosper Zongo, Political Science & International Relations, University of South Dakota

 

Improving Airfield Safety During Extreme Weather Using Renewable Solar Energy

Joseph Daniels, Civil Engineering, University of Arkansas

 

Supporting Inmate Rehabilitation by Studying the Connection between Brain Injury and Criminal Behavior

Kim Gorgens, Neuropsychology, University of Denver

 

Using Social Media as an Effective Education, Research, and Global Outreach Tool

Anne Hilborn, Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech

 

Highlighting the Importance of Art in Repressive Societies

Anna Rogulina, Art History, Rutgers University

 

Providing Clean, Renewable, & Sustainable Electricity to Sub-Saharan Africa

Mehrdad Arjmand and Aaron Olson, Engineering Mechanics, University of Wisconsin-Madison

 

Exponentially Improving Student Learning in Low-Income Districts

Jessica Bohlen, Education, University of West Georgia

 

Improving Access to Food Pantries for Food Insecure Populations

Matthew Schwartz, Social Work, University at Buffalo

 

Research to Better Understand and Prevent Suicide in Military Veterans

Lauren Forrest, Psychology, Miami University of Ohio

 

Discovering 2 Supermassive, Colliding Black Holes 750 Million Light-Years Away

Karishma Bansal, Physics & Astronomy, University of New Mexico

 

Protecting Firefighters from Toxic Exposures through Textile Chemistry

Chandler Maness, Textile Chemistry, North Carolina State University

 

Developing Innovative Natural Fabrics from the Fibers in Banana Stems

Joyce Nabisaalu, Design, Housing and Merchandising at Oklahoma State University

 

Preserving Art for the Education and Enrichment of Future Generations

Claire Taggart, Art Conservation, Winterthur/University of Delaware

 

How Ceramic Engineering Led to Cutting-Edge Inventions in Wound Care

Steve Jung, Materials Science & Engineering, Missouri S&T

 

Using Documentary Films to Mobilize Social Change

Mark Terry, Humanities, York University

 

Developing a Breakthrough for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer

James Froberg & Fataneh Karandish, Physics & Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Dakota State University

 

Understanding How Climate Change May Profoundly Impact an Ecosystem

Tim Maguire, Biology, Boston University

 

Building Community-Based Organizations for Violence Prevention and Education

Dorothy Johnson-Speight, EdD, Fielding Graduate University

 

Making Cloud Computing More Efficient, Reliable, and Secure

Masoud Moshref Javadi, Computer Engineering, University of Southern California

 

Using Art to Change People’s Perceptions and Increase Awareness for Sustainability

Joseph Blake, MFA, Dance, University of Washington

 

Becoming an Astronaut by Studying Life (Cave Slime) in Extreme Environments

Zena Cardman, Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University

 

Communicating Navajo History and Traditions through the Fine Arts

Dakota Mace, MFA, Design Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison

 

Innovation, Entrepreneurship Inspire Creativity: Growing Heart Tissue on Spinach Leaves

Josh Gershlak, Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

 

Diversifying Future Generations of Policy Leaders to Advance Culture of Health

Patrice Williams, Urban & Regional Planning, Florida State University

 

Developing Bioengineering Strategies to Combat Autoimmune Diseases

Lisa Tostanoski, Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park

 

Helping Aspiring Entrepreneurs Develop Impactful Local Ventures

Dustin Mix & Maria Gibbs, Venture Founders Program, University of Notre Dame

 

Research in Philosophy and Deep Brain Stimulation Could Help Parkinson’s Patients

Tim Brown, Philosophy, University of Washington

 

Transforming Flood Control Technology

Jorge Cueto, Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo

 

Revolutionizing Battery Technology by Lengthening Their Lifespans

Mya Le Thai, Chemistry, University of California, Irvine

 

Using Stories and Personal Narrative to Find Meaning and Establish Connections

Lanre Akinsiku, MFA, Writing, Cornell University

 

Protecting Our Food Supply while Reducing Use of Harmful Pesticides

Joseph Taylor, Entomology, Washington State University

 

Helping Indigenous Tribes Relearn Ethnobotany & Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Rick Flores, Environmental Studies, UC-Santa Cruz

 

Researching Community Factors to Improve Wellbeing of Senior Citizens

Jessica Finlay, Geography & Gerontology, University of Minnesota

 

Supporting the Deaf Community with Free Crisis Text Line and Counseling

Tiffany Bridgett, Clinical Psychology, Gallaudet University

 

Understanding the World Through History

Adam Stoddard, History, East Carolina University

 

Improving Women’s Access to Pre-Natal Healthcare & Maternal Support

Jisha Panicker, Public Health, Wayne State University

 

Improving Biological Education for Students with Disabilities

Andrew Hasley, Genetics, University of Wisconsin–Madison

 

Increasing Graduation Rates through Mathematics Education

Tracey Kiser, Teaching and Learning, Education Studies, University of California San Diego

 

Using Drones as Humanitarian Aid Tool

Ali Darwish, Computer Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham

 

Sharing Powerful Narratives of Military Experience through Performance

Gregory DeCandia, Dramatic Art, University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill