Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Award
2023-2024
College of Business Administration
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Toufiq Nazrul
Doctor of Philosophy, Business Administration
Title: Religiosity and Executive Compensation Tournaments
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Adam Esplin
College of Education
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Charles m. Crouse
Doctor of Education, Educational Leadership and Administration
Title: The Cost of Student Mandatory Fees: An Examination of the Longitudinal Growth in Student Mandatory Fees at Four-Year Public Universities in Texas and Their Impact on Student Retention Rates
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Arturo Olivarez
Dr. Kenneth A. Dore III
Doctor of Philosophy, Teaching, Learning, and Culture
Title: Interpretations of Aesthetic Experience and its Enactment in High School Visual Arts Education
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Alyse Hachey
College of Engineering
Outstanding Thesis
Antonio Avila
Master of Science, Electrical Engineering
Title: Diverse Impacts of Commercial EV Charging Load Infrastructure on Electric Power Grid
Thesis Chair: Dr. Paras Mandal
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Luis M. Martinez Milian
Doctor of Philosophy, Materials Science and Engineering
Title: Manipulation of the Magnetic Properties of Van Der Waals Materials Through External Stimuli
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Srinivasa Rao Singamaneni
College of Health Sciences
Outstanding Thesis
Paulina R. Torres
Master of Public Health
Title: Examining the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Coping Behaviors, and Metabolic Syndrome in Mexican-American Men
Thesis Chair: Dr. Jeannie B. Concha
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Heather R. Vanderhoof
Doctor of Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Title: Mechanical Adaptations to Anterior Load and Fall Risks in Nulliparous Women with Simulated Gestational Weight Gain
Thesis Chair: Dr. Jeffrey Eggleston
College of Liberal Arts
Outstanding Thesis
Claudia I. Cota Navarro
Master of Arts, Experimental Psychology
Title: Examining the Effects of Acute and Chronic Stress on the Interrogative Suggestibility of Young Adults
Thesis Chair: April G. Thomas
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Jose M Flores Fuentes
Doctor of Philosophy, Rhetoric and Composition
Title: Border Soundscapes: Latinidad, Belonging, and Sense of Place in the Paso del Norte Region
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Lucia Dura
Archived Awards
College of Business Administration
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Jessica Felix Martinez
Doctor of Philosophy, Business Administration
Title: Online Food Delivery Platform Use by Restaurants
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Fernando R. Jiménez Arévalo
College of Education
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Manuela Alejandra Gomez
Doctor of Philosophy, Teaching, Learning, and Culture
Title: El Que No Tranza, No Avanza: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Mexican American Community College Students on the U.S.-Mexico Border in Becoming Philosophers
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Char Ullman
College of Engineering
Outstanding Thesis
Luis Daniel Ramirez-Burgueno
Master of Science, Electrical Engineering
Title: Addressing the Challenges of DCOPF Based Decision-Making Algorithms in Modern Power Systems
Thesis Chair: Dr. Yuanrui Sang
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Adeel Ashraf Malik
Doctor of Philosophy, Computer Science
Title: Continuous Risk Assessment for Large-Scale Cyber Systems
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Deepak K. Tosh
College of Health Sciences
Outstanding Thesis
Ali Mossayebi
Master of Science, Kinesiology
Title: Acute Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Blood Glucose and Energy Metabolism in Overweight/Obese Population
Thesis Chair: Dr. Sudip Bajpeyi
College of Liberal Arts
Outstanding Thesis
Mayra Alejandra Martinez
Master of Arts, History
Title: Invoking the Holocaust at the Border: Holocaust Museums,Commemoration, and Community Activism in the Southwest
Thesis Chair: Dr. Leslie M. Waters
Thesis Co-Chair: Dr. Yolanda Chávez Leyva
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr.John William Capps IV
Doctor of Philosophy, Psychology
Title: Demographic and Clinical Variables Associated with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Response in Depression: A Growth Mixture Modeling Study
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Osvaldo Morera
College of Business Administration
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. MD Raihan Uddin Chowdhury
Doctor of Philosophy, Business Administration
Graduated August 15, 2022
Title: CEO Power, Subordinate Executives’ Confidence and Ability, and Corporate Decisions
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Feixue Xie
College of Education
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Kristin Oberheide
Doctor of Education, Educational Leadership and Administration
Graduated May 14, 2022
Title: The International Student Border Commuter Experience: An Investigation on the Southern U.S. Border
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Rodolfo Rincones
College of Engineering
Outstanding Thesis
Travis Michael Moore Newbolt
Master of Science, Electrical Engineering
Graduated August 15, 2022
Title: Diverse Effects of EV Charging Infrastructure on Electric Power Distribution Systems
Thesis Chair: Dr. Paras Mandal
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Jacqueline Andrea Reyes
Doctor of Philosophy, Materials Science and Engineering
Graduated August 15, 2022
Title: Reflectance Spectral Characterization and Taxonomy Applications of Spacecraft Materials to Aid Space Situational Awareness
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Miguel Velez-Reyes
Dissertation Co-Chair: Dr. Heather Cowardin
College of Health Sciences
Outstanding Thesis
Jaime Alfredo Perales
Master of Science, Kinesiology
Graduated May 14, 2022
Title: The Role of Map Kinase Phosphatase-5 in Cardiac Adaptations to Endurance Exercise
Thesis Chair: Dr. Kisuk Min
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Georgina Sanchez Garcia
Doctor of Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Graduated August 15, 2022
Title: Trauma and Resilience among Migrant Children from Mexico and the Northern Triangle Enroute to the United States
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Mark W. Lusk
College of Liberal Arts
Outstanding Thesis
Marco Schinella
Master of Science, Intelligence and National Security Studies
Graduated December 11, 2021
Title: COLLIGE ET IMPERA: The United States Reengagement in Libya
Thesis Chair: Dr. Paul Ashby
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Carlos Portillo, Jr.
Doctor of Philosophy, Psychology
Graduated May 14, 2022
Title: Establishing the Construct and Concurrent Validity of Psychological Cumulative Stress and the Moderating Effect of Protective Factors to Drinking Outcomes
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Craig Field
College of Science
Outstanding Thesis
Joseph Lee McDaniel
Master of Science, Environmental Science
Graduated August 15, 2022
Title: Chihuahuan Desert Rock Pool Community Assemblages: Patterns of Taxonomic Diversity
Thesis Chair: Dr. Elizabeth Walsh
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Kenneth Ray Flores
Doctor of Philosophy, Chemistry
Graduated: December 10, 2022
Title: Achieving Safe Use of Advanced Materials in Drinking Water through Novel Nano Analytics and Enabling Electrification using Green Catalyst
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Jorge L. Gardea-Torresdey
College of Business Administration
Outstanding Thesis
Andrew Ryle
Master of Science, Economics
Graduated August 15, 2021
Title: Houston is on the Right Side of the Tracks
Thesis Chair: Dr. John Gibson
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Gabriel Moreno
Doctor of Philosophy, Business Administration
Graduated May 15, 2021
Title: Intraorganizational Adaptiveness: Conceptual and Empirical Examination of Salespeople's Adaptation Within their Firms
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Edward Ramirez
College of Education
Outstanding Thesis
Chelsea Elizabeth Lucas
Master of Arts, Education
Graduated December 12, 2020
Title: Mediations of Cogenerative Dialogues between High School Students and Scientists
Thesis Chair: Dr. Pei-Ling Hsu
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Azuri Lizeth Gonzalez
Doctor of Education, Educational Leadership and Administration
Graduated December 12, 2020
Title: Faculty Attitudes and Perspectives about Community Engaged Scholarship at an Engaged Institution
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Rodolfo Rincones
College of Engineering
Outstanding Thesis
Hector Cruz
Master of Science, Civil Engineering
Graduated May 15, 2021
Title: Digital Twin Technology Applications for Transportation Infrastructure – A Survey-Based Study
Thesis Chair: Dr. Soheil Nazarian
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Maryamsadat Shokrekhodaei
Doctor of Philosophy, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Graduated August 15, 2021
Title: Non‐Invasive in‐vitro Glucose Monitoring using Optical Sensor and Machine Learning Techniques for Diabetes Applications
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Stella Quinones
Dissertation Co-Chair: Dr. Robert C. Roberts
College of Health Sciences
Outstanding Thesis
Alexa Karina Mendoza
Master of Public Health
Graduated August 15, 2021
Title: Surveillance of Ticks and Associated Pathogens in Central Texas
Thesis Chair: Dr. Delfina Dominguez
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Michelle Del Rio
Doctor of Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Graduated May 15, 2021
Title: Stability of Blood Lead Levels in Children with Chronic Low-Level Lead Absorption
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Christina Sobin
College of Liberal Arts
Outstanding Thesis
Jessie Socorro Arellano
Master of Arts, Communication
Graduated December 12, 2020
Title: Who is Willing to Speak up and Why? Examining Individual and Organizational Predictors of Employee Voice Behavior in Higher Education Institutions
Thesis Chair: Dr. Yannick Atouba
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Nora Karina Rivera
Doctor of Philosophy, Rhetoric and Composition
Graduated May 15, 2021
Title: The Rhetorical Mediator: Understanding Agency in Indigenous Translation and Interpretation through Indigenous Approaches to UX
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Laura Gonzales
Dissertation Co-Chair: Dr. Lucia Dura
College of Science
Outstanding Thesis
Zachary John Buschmann
Master of Science, Physics
Graduated May 15, 2021
Title: The Developments for Efficient and Accurate DFT Calculations
Thesis Chair: Dr. Rajendra Zope
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Amanda Leane Labrado
Doctor of Philosophy, Geological Sciences
Graduated: May 15, 2021
Title: Geological Problems with Microbiological Solutions: Deciphering the Authigenesis of Calcite, Dolomite, and Native Sulfur in Salty Environments
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Benjamin Brunner
College of Business Administration
Outstanding Thesis
Felipe Francisco Mejia
Master of Science, Economics
Graduated December 14, 2019
Title: Residential Electricity Consumption in Las Cruces
Thesis Chair: Dr. Thomas Fullerton
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Farid Jahantab
Doctor of Philosophy, Business Administration
Graduated May 16, 2020
Title: A Social Network Perspective of Employee Overqualification to Outcomes Relationships in Workgroups
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Prajya R. Vidyarthi
College of Education
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Hilda Y. Sotelo
Doctor of Philosophy, Teaching Learning and Culture Graduated December 12, 2019
Title: Escritura Crítica Orgánica Para Deconstruir La Opresión Femenina: Propuesta Nepantlera A Redefifinir La Pedagogía De La Creación Literaria
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Josefina Tinajero
College of Engineering
Outstanding Thesis
Luisa A. Morales
Master of Science, Civil Engineering
Graduated August 15, 2020
Title: Relating Surface Resistivity to Corrosion of Rebar Embedded in Portland Cement Concrete
Thesis Chair: Dr. Soheil Nazarian
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Mayra C. Chavez
Doctor of Philosophy, Civil Engineering
Graduated December 14, 2019
Title: Assessing Spatiotemporal Exposures to Transportation Pollutants in Near-Road Communities Using AERMOD
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Wen-Whai Li
College of Health Sciences
Outstanding Thesis
Jordan A. Orozco
Master of Science, Speech Language Pathology
Graduated May 16, 2020
Title: Working Memory Performance in Spanish-English Bilinguals’ First and Second Languages
Thesis Chair: Dr. Pat Lara
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Juan Antonio Aguilera Mendoza
Doctor of Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Graduated August 15, 2020
Title: Associations of Traffic Related Air Pollution with Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Health Outcomes in At-Risk Populations from El Paso, Texas
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Wen-Whai Li
Dissertation Co-Chair: Dr. Leah D. Whigham
College of Liberal Arts
Outstanding Thesis
Denise Natalia Delgado
Master of Arts, Sociology
Graduated December 14, 2019
Title: Let’s Talk About What We Otherwise Risk Ignoring: Sexual Health Among Women Who Have Sex with Women
Thesis Chair: Dr. Ophra Leyser-Whalen
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Maria Guadalupe Vallejo
Doctor of Philosophy, Borderlands History
Graduated May 16, 2020
Title: On the Rio Grande: A Struggle for Land and Citizenship in San Vicente del Llano Grande, 1749-1930
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Jeffrey P. Shepherd
College of Science
Outstanding Thesis
Vanessa I. Navarro
Master of Science, Biology
Graduated August 15, 2020
Title: An Analysis and Representation in an Atlas Reference Space of Putative Appositions from Neurons Expressing Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating-Hormone with Neurons Expressing Hypocretin/Orexin or Melanin-Concentrating Hormone
Thesis Chair: Dr. Arshad M. Khan
Outstanding Dissertation
Dr. Yuejiao Xian
Doctor of Philosophy, Chemistry
Graduated: December 12, 2020
Title: Structural Characterization of Two Large Icosahedral DNA Viruses and Their Capsid Assembly Mechanisms
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Chuan Xiao
