2011-2012 Student Leaders

The 2011-2012 Graduate Student Committee consists of the following students who are supervised by Dr. Linnenbrink-Garcia:

Senior Co-Chair
Jennifer McGee
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd. | College of Education, Room 283
Charlotte, NC 28223
Office: 704-687-8486 | Fax: 704-687-3493
jmcgee21@uncc.edu

Junior Co-Chair
Brittany Hott
George Mason University
College of Education and Human Development
4400 University Drive | Fairfax, Virginia 22030
bhott@gmu.edu

Graduate Student Council Senior Representative
Yin Wah B. Kreher
Syracuse University | School of Education
330 Huntington Hall | Syracuse, NY 13244
ywkreher@syr.edu 

Graduate Student Council Junior Representative
Angela Shelton
Temple University | College of Education
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue | Philadelphia, PA 19112
angi@temple.edu  | Office: 215-204-5195

Our Distinguished Graduate Student Committee Faculty Advisor is:
Lisa Linnenbrink-Garcia, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor | Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
Program in Education | Duke University
247 Soc Psych Bldg. | PO Box 90086
Durham, NC 27708-0086
919-660-5649 (phone) | 919-660-5726 (fax)
llinnen@duke.edu

Passports for AERA 2012

Since AERA 2012 is in Canada, we wish to remind you that you must have a passport to enter the country if you are not Canadian. If you do not already have one, you must acquire one. We apologize that we do not have detailed information on international passports. This post provides information on applying for U.S. passports. However, we have sourced out a link to information on visitor visas to Canada:

Visiting Canada - FAQs on visas and more

Currently it is taking 4 to 6 weeks for U.S. passport applications to be processed, but allowing for 10 weeks is a safe choice. Although the expiration date is listed on your passport, know that passports remain valid for ten years provided you were at least 16 years of age when it was issued. In addition, while passport cards are less expensive, unless you are driving to Vancouver, they will be worthless, as they are only valid for land border crossings. So if at this point you have determined you need a U.S. passport, here is what you need to do.

1. You must submit the DS-11 form (link below) in person if:

• You are applying for your first U.S. passport
• Your previous U.S. passport was issued when you were under age 16
• Your previous U.S. passport was lost, stolen, or damaged
• Your previous U.S. passport was issued more than 15 years ago
• Your name has changed since your U.S. passport was issued and you are unable to legally document your name change

This will cost $135 which can be paid via any of the four major credit cards, debit cards, checks/money orders made payable to "Department of State." Bring a form of picture id, two passport photos, and one of the following pieces of proof of U.S. citizenry: certified birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or certificate of citizenship.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html

The following links will help you determine places where you can apply for your passport in person.

http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/
http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/agencies/agencies_913.html

2. If you only need to renew your passport, you can do so by mail using the Form DS-82. You can visit the link below to fill out the paperwork, print, and sign it. You will mail this paperwork, your most recent passport, one new passport photo, $110 (which can be paid via any of the four major credit cards, debit cards, checks/money orders made payable to "Department of State"), and a marriage certificate or court order if your current name is different from what was recorded in your most recent U.S. passport.

https://pptform2.state.gov/?Submit2=Complete+Online+%26+Print

It costs an additional $60 to expedite the processing of your passport application, so it is better to be proactive now. We hope you are enjoying your summer. Don’t forget that the proposal deadline is July 22nd, only about a month away! 

Meet Stacey Bridges

Stacey Bridges is serving Division C as a campus liaison for Oklahoma State University. She is doctoral student in the School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology majoring in Educational Psychology. Stacey anticipates graduating in May. Her research interests include creativity, leadership, and teacher preparation practices. Most recently Stacey has been involved in examining the preparation of teachers to integrate arts curriculum in the classroom in order to improve professional development. Stacey has submitted several articles which are in review and has presented numerous times this year. In addition to her studies, Stacey volunteers at a local children’s museum and is an avid gardener. She wholeheartedly believes in making time for friends and family.

Stacey has been an active member of AERA for two years. Although she was unable to attend the annual AERA conference in New Orleans, she served as a panel reviewer. She has volunteered to serve as a panel reviewer for the 2012 Annual meeting Vancouver. Stacey reports that the best part about serving, and participating, in AERA Division C is the access to experts in the field. The division has newsletters, blogs, graduate student listservs, and opportunities to get involved at the annual meeting. Stacey has been able to find out about the latest research updates and network with both veteran researchers and other graduate students.

Stacey shared that her campus is hoping to foster a collaborative event involving Oklahoma State University members of AERA and the local Kappa Delta Pi Chapter. Stacey indicated that Foss and Waters’ Destination Dissertation: A Traveler’s Guide to a Done Dissertation has been quite beneficial during her doctoral studies. Stacey’s future goals include pursuing a career in the professorate as a professor of Educational Psychology at a research institution.

Greetings from Jenn and Yin!

Hi, how is everyone's summer going? We wanted to touch base with you and let you know we are already busy planning for the new year. Yin Wah Kreher, Senior Representative and I, Jennifer McGee, Senior Co-Chair, are taking over the leadership reins this year from our distinguished alums, Jonathan Bostic and Janice Hansen.

We will work in close partnership to increase graduate student opportunities for Divison C members and increase involvement. Please check back on this blog regularly to keep tab on Division C news and tips for the graduate study journey. We hope to profile a few of our Campus Liaisons each month and use the blog to keep you up to date on Division C happenings and tips for graduate students. Here's a little more about us:

Originally from Singapore, Yin taught English Language/Communication Skills for a stint and worked in a multimedia company as an English Language content specialist/CD-ROM instructional designer. In Syracuse University, she trained and practiced as an instructional technology consultant after graduating with a Master's in Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation in 2005. Going into her fourth year as a doctoral student, her research interests center on the following two broad areas: learning and performance improvement and research methodologies. Her dissertation study focuses on the design of instruction for cultural competence in health care professionals.

Jennifer is a fourth year doctoral student in Educational Leadership, Research, and Evaluation at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Before beginning her doctoral work, she taught agriculture for three years in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. With a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Agricultural Education, Jennifer has a love for all things green but, decided to focus on applying her analytical skills to addressing issues in all aspects of education. Jennifer currently works as an external evaluator on a Math Science Partnership grant that seeks to create standards-based elementary mathematics teachers. Her research interests include: STEM education, self-efficacy, and cognitive science. Her dissertation is a validation study of a newly created instrument to measure the mathematics teaching self-efficacy of elementary teachers.

Congratulations Adar Ben-Eliyahu, PhD!

"Education plays a central role in children's and adolescents' lives, and influences adulthood career success and well-being. It is therefore important to consider how children are motivated and self-regulate toward academic success, especially in preferred versus disliked topics".

Division C Graduate Student Council is proud to announce that Adar Ben-Eliyahu from Duke University earned a doctorate of philosophy in May 2011. Dr. Ben-Eliyahu studied Developmental Psychology and served as a campus liaison for two years.

During a recent interview, Dr. Ben-Eliyahu shared that the best part of serving AERA is getting to know different people and having the opportunity to discuss interesting and important issues. She is currently studying how the interplay of motivation and self-regulation influence different outcomes throughout the life span. Dr. Ben-Eliyahu attended the AERA conference this year and reported that she "loved New Orleans"! She has published and presented research in the areas of motivation and self-regulation.

Dr. Ben-Eliyahu enjoys yoga and painting. She is currently pursuing a position in higher education. Thank you for serving as a liaison. CONGRATS Dr. Ben-Eliyahu!

Writing A Successful Conference Proposal

Professional conferences, such as AERA, offer an opportunity to share research and network. Presenting at a conference is an excellent way to showcase your work and provides a means to gain valuable experience. The following are a few practical tips to assist with submission of a conference proposal.

1. Carefully Review the Conference Theme and Proposal Guidelines
Proposal requirements vary by organization. Some organizations require a 50 word abstract while others require a formal proposal and submission of a manuscript. Check the conference theme and proposal guidelines to ensure that your proposal is aligned with conference goals. The best proposal will be rejected if it does not meet the conference objectives. It is important to submit your proposal to the appropriate strand, special interest group (SIG), or division. If you are unsure, ask for clarification from a trusted faculty member.

2. Review Your Proposal Prior to Submission
Ensure that your proposal is free from writing mechanics errors and does not include any identifying information. Also, ensure that citations are correctly formatted. If the conference uses APA, the revised sixth edition is required. It is also important to pay careful attention to word count as writing over the limit may be a reason for your proposal to be rejected. Save your proposal number and any correspondence from the conference director.

3. Understand Submission Requirements
Many conferences require online submission. It is often helpful to draft the proposal in word, then cut and paste the sections into the document. Also, be mindful of the proposal deadline. A deadline of June 22nd could mean June 22nd at 11:59pm or June 22nd at 12:01am or June 22nd at 12:00pm. The best option is to submit early rather than deal with last minute technical difficulties that may arise.

4. Be Mindful of Your Commitment
Although commitments vary by organization, most require that if your proposal is accepted, you register for and attend the conference. While organizations generally understand if a catastrophic event occurs that precludes your attendance, submitting a proposal is entering into a “contract” to present.

5. Consider Options Available to Graduate Students
Many organizations offer options for graduate students. Explore and take advantage of these options. Conference attendance can become expensive. Explore funding options available through your university. Also, many conferences offer a discount for students, presenters, or those who agree to volunteer.