Dissertation defense schedule

Dissertation Defense Details

  • Videoconference Set Up
  • Tips for Effective Videoconference Dissertations

Submitting your Announcement of Public Defense of the Dissertation

Update: 09-01-21

Defenses may be held entirely in person so long as all university protocols are followed regarding such gatherings.  Hybrid defenses are also allowed, where some attendees are in person and others online, or the defense may take place entirely online.  The dissertation chair has the discretion to approve the option, but is asked to be sensitive of requests for remote attendance.

Create a Videoconference via Teams: If a hybrid or entirely online defense is held, the student will be responsible for setting up the virtual defense through the required platform, Microsoft Teams. 

  • Review tips on creating and managing webinars in Microsoft Teams. 
  • Please have the Dissertator send out invitations to those they would like to attend the session. Encourage the invitees to download the software or app of the platform being used in advance so they have a chance to troubleshoot.
  • Functionality is better over the apps than over web browsers. Chrome and Firefox are optimal if using a desktop or laptop browser. 
  • Videoconference dissertations should be scheduled 30 minutes before the scheduled defense time, allowing the dissertator and their audience ample time to troubleshoot and be acclimated to the virtual space. 
  • Include videoconference link and other meeting details in multiple communication so that it can be easily accessed by the invitees.  
  • For Microsoft Teams, become familiar with the additional features, including the "Poll" capabilities, which not only helps lighten up the event, but allows people to send encouragement to the dissertator.  
  • Advisors should begin with a brief explanation for the audience for how to use the platform. The most important reminder is to tell invitees to mute themselves unless they are speaking to reduce ambient noise and other distractions. Be sure to ask invitees if they are familiar with how to do this and if not, feel free to walk them through the mute feature. If there are audio issues, it can be helpful to turn the video off.
  • Advisors should record the session for the person defending as a memento for this occasion. This is a recommendation and optional. 

2022 Dissertation Defense Schedule 

March

Jorndan Stiede

Program: Clinical Psychology Ph.D.

Dissertation Director: Douglas Woods

Date/Time: March 1, 2023, 11:30a.m.

Defense Location: Microsoft Teams Link

Dissertation Title: "A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Pilot Trial of Online-Delivered Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics-Enhanced"

Hossein Nejadi Koti

Program: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dissertation Director: Edwin Yaz

Date/Time: March 2, 2023, 3:00p.m.

Defense Location: Engineering Hall Room DL 354 or Microsoft Teams Link

Dissertation Title: "Computationally Efficient Analysis and Optimization of Induction Motors"

Jacqueline Schram

Program: Educational Policy and Leadership

Dissertation Director: Robert Lowe

Date/Time: March 2, 2023, 3:00p.m.

Defense Location: College of Education, SC 124A

Dissertation Title: "Those Who Came Before: Learning from Native American College Alumni About Walking the Path of Persistence"

Zoua Pa Vang

Program: Chemistry, Ph.D.

Dissertation Director: Joseph R Clark

Date/Time: March 6, 2023, 11:00a.m.

Defense Location: Todd Wehr Chemistry Room 306

Dissertation Title: "Exploring New Techniques For Precision Deuteration of Alkenes and Alkynes"

Donald Ryan

Program: Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering

Dissertation Director: Patrick McNamara

Date/Time: March 10, 2023, 12:00p.m.

Defense Location: Engineering Hall 221

Dissertation Title: "Electrocoagulation for Treatment of Disinfection Byproducts, Organic Matter, and Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances"

Isabelle Horvath

Program:  Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering

Dissertation Director: Anthony Parolari

Date/Time: March 22, 2023, 12:00p.m.

Defense Location: Engineering Hall Rm 236 or Microsoft Teams Link

Dissertation Title:"Urban Water Quality: Socio-Economic Distribution of Stream Degradation, and The Influence of Climate On BMP Performance"

Peter Spaulding

Program: English Ph.D.

Dissertation Director: Dr. John Curran

Date/Time: March 23, 2023, 2:00p.m.

Defense Location: AMU 163

Dissertation Title: "Milton's Learning: Complementarity and Difference in Paradise Lost"

Christopher Geiser

Program: Exercise and Rehabilitation Science

Dissertation Director: Kristof Kipp

Date/Time: March 24, 2023, 7:00a.m.

Defense Location: AHPRC 2nd Floor Media Room, 733 N. 12th St, Milwaukee, WI 53233 or Microsoft Teams Link

Dissertation Title: "Generalized Joint Hypermobility and Lower Extremity Musculoskeletal Biomechanics in Female Athletes"

Ruth Engbers

Program: Nursing

Dissertation Director: Abir Bekhet

Date/Time: March 24, 2023, 9:30a.m.

Defense Location: Microsoft Teams Link

Dissertation Title: "Examining Relationships Among Nursing Students' Views of Suffering, Positive Thinking, and Professional Quality of Life"

Jannea Thomason

Program: English

Dissertation Director: Dr. Ben Pladek

Date/Time: March 24, 2023, 3:00p.m.

Defense Location: Marquette Hall Room 105 or Microsoft Teams Link

Dissertation Title: "The Development of the Conceptive Plot Through Early 19th-Century English Novels"

Kiswendsida Kere

Program: Civil Engineering

Dissertation Director: Qindan Huang

Date/Time: March 27, 2023, 2:00p.m.

Defense Location: Engineering Hall, room DL 354

Dissertation Title: "Probabilistic Models Development and Risk Management Strategies for Pipelines with Anomalies"

Waqar Ahmed Khan

Program: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ph.D.

Dissertation Director: Nathan Weise

Date/Time: March 27, 2023, 4:00p.m.

Defense Location: Engineering Hall DL154 or Microsoft Teams Link

Dissertation Title: "Design and Advanced Model Predictive Control of Wide Bandgap Based Power Converters"

Sarah Olejniczak

Program: Educational Policy and Leadership

Dissertation Director: Dr. Jody Jessup-Anger

Date/Time: March 30, 2023, 10:00a.m.

Defense Location: Schroeder Complex 113F

Dissertation Title: "Trauma Exposure and Resident Assistants: A Study of Meaning Making"

 

April

Devansh Saxena

Program: Computer Science

Dissertation Director: Michael Zimmer

Date/Time: April 3, 2023, 9:00a.m.

Defense Location: Microsoft Teams Link

Dissertation Title: "Designing for Responsible AI-Assisted Practices for the Public Sector: A Case Study of the U.S. Child Welfare System"

Charitha Gunawardana

Program: Civil Engineering, Ph.D.

Dissertation Director: Walter McDonald

Date/Time: April 3, 2023, 10:00a.m.

Defense Location: Microsoft Teams Link

Dissertation Title: "Evaluating the Impact of Land Use Changes, Drivers of TMDL Development, and Green Infrastructure on Stream Impairments"

Wenkai Guan

Program: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dissertation Director: Cristinel Ababei

Date/Time: April 3, 2023, 10:30a.m.

Defense Location: Microsoft Teams Link

Dissertation Title: "Algorithm-Architecture-Hardware Co-Design in Computing Systems: From Chip Multicore to the Cloud"

May

Aaron Jones

Program: Biological Sciences

Dissertation Director: Deanna Arble

Date/Time: May 17, 2023, 1:00p.m.

Defense Location: Wehr Life Sciences, Room 111

Dissertation Title: "Breathing around the clock: novel circadian and light-driven mechanisms that govern daily breathing behavior in mice."