GradLife 601: Research and Beyond

In this episode of GradLife 601, host Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks to Abbigail Davis, an MSW and MPA candidate who is working in the Department of Leadership Studies. Davis is a graduate teaching assistant who earned degrees in both Social Work and Multidisciplinary Studies with minors in Womens and Gender Studies, Sociology, and Leadership Studies.

In this episode of GradLife 601, host Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks to Dr. Daniel Totzkay, an assistant professor in WVU’s Department of Communication Studies. Dr. Totzkay’s research is in health communication. His interdisciplinary and collaborative research has received the Civilian Service Commendation Medal from the United States Department of the Army and the Immunization Innovation Award from the WV Immunization Network. This fall, he became the interim Graduate Director for the Department of Communications Studies Graduate Program.

In this episode of GradLife 601, host Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks to Carrie W. Rishel, a professor in the School of Social Work WVU’s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. Rishel is the PhD program director as well as the Program Director of the Rural Integrated Behaviorial Health Training Program. Her research interests include child mental health and the relationship between child and maternal mental health. She has received numerous awards and grants for her research and teaching including the 2018 WVU Foundation Outstanding Teacher Award.

In this episode of GradLife 601, host Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks to Dr. Erin Carlson, an assistant professor in the Professional Writing and Editing program with WVU’s Department of English. Dr. Carlson has published 14 articles since her arrival to WVU 4 years ago, and she has received numerous grants and awards for her research, including a WVU Research and Scholarship Advancement Award, WV Humanities Council Fellowship, and a WVU Humanities Center Collaboration Grant. Her research centers on the relationships between place, technology, and power, focusing on how communities work together to address complex public problems through communication and community organizing.

In this episode of GradLife 601, host Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks to Sindupa De Silva, a PhD candidate in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at WVU’s Davis College. Former president of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS), Sindupa is a recent winner of the Three-Minute Thesis competition. His research focuses on evaluating anthropogenic watershed-scale land-use practices and their relationships with wetland ecosystems.

In this episode of GradLife 601, host Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks to Adelheid Heidi Crum, a doctoral student in higher education administration with the College of Applied Human Sciences School of Education. Her interests include bridging stronger connections between congregate, warship experience and higher education to help others find safe spaces through education.

In this episode of GradLife 601, host Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks to Fei Xia, a doctoral of music arts candidate in vocal performance at WVU.Fei has received a WVU Outstanding Merit Fellowship, in addition to numerous accolades outside the university.

In this episode of GradLife 601, host Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks to Swiger Fellow Aryaunna D. Mosley, a second-year Ph.D., studying human and community development with WVU’s Davis College of Agriculture Natural Resources and Design. Aryaunna talks about serving others and her post-doctorate plans of creating holistic transformation within underserved communities.

In this episode of GradLife 601, host Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks to Joanna Ridgeway, a graduate student in WVU’s, Department of Biology from Bunker Hill, West Virginia. Ridgeway talks about why she chose environmental conservation and a graduate degree in biology at WVU. 

In this episode of GradLife 601, host Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks to Benjamin Susman, a PhD student with WVU's Department of History. Benjamin most recently received a WVU Provost Fellow ad discusses his work in Appalachian health.

In this episode of GradLife 601, host Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks to Dr. Emily Groves, an assistant professor with Surgical Oncology, Colorectal Services at WVU Medicine. Dr. Groves discusses why she chose WVU Medicine and how oncologists have to have a sense of humor.

In this episode of GradLife 601, host Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks to Weirton, West Virginia native Mia Antinone, a fourth-year medical student at WVU’s School of Medicine. Mia talks about why she chose medical school at WVU, her studies abroad, and living a healthy lifestyle.

In this episode of GradLife 601, Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks with Dustin Purvis, PhD Candidate in English. Dustin talks about what brought him to graduate school, his interest in post-modern and experimental US fiction and his dissertation defense. 

In this episode of GradLife 601, Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks with Cameron Ferguson, a WVU law student and Department of English graduate. Cameron talks about how his knack for creative writing lead him to law school.

In this episode of GradLife 601, Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks with Christian B. Shockey, an MBA student in Political Science at WVU. Christian is a research assistant in the Bridge Initiative, Science And Technology Policy, where he works with West Virginia University faculty from multiple departments to draft a carbon dioxide removal policy maker guide for the state legislature.

In this episode of GradLife 601, Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks with Dr. Andrew Dacks, an associate professor in the WVU Department of Biology. Dr. Dacks’ research focuses on the mechanisms that allow the nervous system to modify sensory processing and motor output.

In this episode of GradLife 601, Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks with Danielle Mikolajewski, a Plant and Soil Science PhD student with WVU Davis College. Danielle talks about her chosen field of plant pathology, ecology, and how finding the right mentor set her on her current path. 

In this episode of GradLife 601, Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks with Mary Ann Samyn, an author with many awards for her poetry. Mary Ann talks about her writing style, how she got into poetry and her legacy as a poet.

In this episode of GradLife 601, Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks with Dariane Drake, who is in the doctoral program in higher education with WVU College of Education and Human Services. Dariane talks about being in the doctorate program and her studies in trauma and crisis and how that's impacting educational success in higher education.

In this episode of GradLife 601, Dr. Nancy Caronia speaks with Dr. Brian Popp, an associate professor and the director of Graduate Studies for WVU’s C Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry. Dr. Popp talks about his research into organic, inorganic and computational chemistry and how he uses graduate and undergraduate students in his research.