| College | Department | Graduate Ambassador | Short Biography |
| Arts and Sciences | Anthropology | Tina Thomas | Martina Thomas is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Biocultural Medical Anthropology. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Montevallo. She completed her M.A. in anthropology at the University of Alabama. She is the recipient of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Fellowship. Her research interests include obesity, body image, HIV/AIDS, stigma and identity among minority populations. She is a first-generation college student and is originally from Brooklyn, New York. |
| Arts and Sciences | Biological Sciences | Marleshia Hall | Marleshia Hall is a 2006 graduate of Stillman College. After teaching junior high school for one year, she furthered her education earning a masters degree in Biology from the University of Alabama in 2009 and in Human Environmental Sciences in 2010. Currently she is pursuing a PhD in Biology from the College of Arts and Sciences. She takes pride in teaching as she has had the opportunity to serve as adjunct instructor for the both the University of Alabama and Shelton State Community College. She is a 2007-2009 National Science Foundation Bridge to the Doctorate Fellow and a 2011-2013 Ronald McNair Graduate Fellow. |
| Arts and Sciences | Chemistry | Melody Kelley | Melody Kelley earned her undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Wayne State University in 2007. As an LSAMP, UNCF-Merck, and NSF Fellow, she is pursuing her doctorate degree in Chemistry at UA. She is originally from Detroit, MI and has a 4 year old daughter. |
| Arts and Sciences | English | Jolynn Amrine Goertz | Jolynn Amrine Goertz earned her B.A. in English at John Brown University and her M.A. in English at Queen’s University Belfast. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in English, focusing mostly on Irish and Native American literature. Jolynn is a Graduate Council Fellow. She is married to Ben Goertz, and has lived in Tuscaloosa for two years. She is originally from Oakville, Washington. |
| Arts and Sciences | English | Kedra James | Kedra James received her undergraduate degree in English with a minor in Journalism at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi. Kedra earned her Master of Arts in English at Kansas State University. Currently, she is a fourth-year doctoral student in English (with specialization in Composition, Rhetoric, and English Studies) at the University of Alabama. She is from Itta Bena, Mississippi, the heart of the Mississippi Delta. |
| Arts and Sciences | Gender and Race Studies | Jessica Trull | Jessica Trull recieved her BA here at The University of Alabama and is currently pursuing her MA in Women|s Studies. Jessica currently works in the Women|s Studies program as a GTA. Her thesis research will examine the visual representation of women sports journalists in the media, uncovering the links between gender construction, beauty ideals, and violence against women. Jessica is from the rural town of Carrollton in Pickens County, Alabama. |
| Arts and Sciences | Gender and Race Studies | Jolyon Greene | Jolyon recieved his BA in History here at UA. He is currently pursuing his MA in Women|s Studies with an anticipated graduation date of May 2012. Currently Jolyon works with the Crossroad Community Center here on campus as a graduate assistant. Jolyon has extensive experience in public relations, media, and marketing. |
| Arts and Sciences | Political Science | Gina Miller | Gina recieved her BA in Communication and Information Sciences in 2004 from The University of Alabama. She recieved her MA in Political Sciences in 2006 and is currently pursuing her PhD in Political Science. Her emphasis is on International Relations, Compartitive Politics, and Public Administration. Gina currently serves as a GTA for the Department of Political Science |
| Arts and Sciences | Political Science | Laura Sojka | Laura received her BA from Ohio University in 2008 majoring in Honors Tutorial College Theatre and minoring in both Political Science and History. She went on to receive her MA in Political Science in 2010 from Ohio University. She is currently pursing both a Master|s in Public Administration and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Alabama. Her Primary concentration is on policy analysis and American politics. Laura is also working to receive a certification in women and gender studies. Laura is currently a graduate teaching assistant in the political science department. Her most recent presentation was for the Mississippi State Political Science Association Conference entitled: "Public Education as Public Responsibility: A Case Study Evaluation of the Indianapolis Public Schools." Her paper "Evaluating the Impact of Legislature Composition and Partisanship on Women Candidate’s PAC Contributions" has been accepted to the Southern Political Science Association Conference. |
| Arts and Sciences | Political Science | A.K. Shauku | A.K. Shauku is a graduate of Defense Language Institute with a diploma in Korean Studies. After serving as a U.S. Army intelligence specialist in Korea, he earned Bachelor’s Degrees in Economics and Philosophy from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. A.K. is studying Law, Political Science, and Economics through UA’s joint J.D./PhD program. His research interests include Constitutional Law, as well as the intersection of law, politics, and economics. |
| Arts and Sciences | Psychology | Debra Chen | Debra Chen earned her Bachelor of Science in Bio-Psychology at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Debra is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Psych-Law at the University of Alabama. She is originally from New Jersey. |
| Arts and Sciences | Psychology | Latrice Vinson | Latrice Vinson earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Clinical Geropsychology at The University of Alabama, and she is the recipient of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Fellowship. Latrice is originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. |
| Arts and Sciences | Psychology | Ernest Wayde | Ernest Wayde received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Computer Science from the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Ernest is currently pursuing his Ph.D in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Alabama. Ernest is from Minnesota. |
| Arts and Sciences | Psychology | Krystal Hedge | Krystal Hedge earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Fordham University, and her Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology at the University of Denver. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Clinical Psychology at The University of Alabama in the Psychology-Law concentration. Krystal serves as the American Psychology-Law Society|s Campus Representative for The University of Alabama. She is originally from New York. |
| Arts and Sciences | Psychology | Gabrielle Smith | Gabrielle received her BA in Psychology from Spelman College in 2010. She is currently working on her PhD in Social Psychology here at UA. Her thesis for her MA is entitled "The Role of Racial Identity and Social Support in High-Poverty African American Neighborhoods". Gabrielle maintains a graduate teaching assistantship with the department of Psychology. |
| Commerce and Business Administration | Economics, Finance & Legal Studies | Richard Arnatt | Richard received his BA in Mathematics from the Open University in the UK as well as a Master of Mathematics. Richard went on to receive a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Alabama. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Finance here at UA with an expected graduation date of 2015. Richard was the winner of the Insurance Institute of London Diploma in Financial Planning Prize 2009 and is currently a Graduate Council Fellow for the academic year of 2011-2012. Richard has worked in the financial industry for over 20 years. |
| Commerce and Business Administration | Information Systems, Statistics & Management Science | Belleh Fontem | Belleh Fontem earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Communications Engineering at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany and a Masters in Industrial Systems/Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Cambridge, UK. Belleh is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Operations Management at The University of Alabama and is currently a Graduate Council Fellow. Belleh is originally from Yaounde, Cameroon and is fluent in English, French and German. |
| Education | Edu Studies in Psych, Research Methodology & Counseling | Yangxue Dong | Yangxue Dong earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Henan Institute of Education in China. And she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the University of Alabama. Yangxue is from China. |
| Education | Edu Studies in Psych, Research Methodology & Counseling | Marsha Simon | Marsha graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Spanish from Grambling State University in 2008 and then an MS in Developmental Education in 2010. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Educational Research through the College of Education. Marsha has over 8 years of experience teaching in the secondary education system. She is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and Golden Key Honor Society. |
| Education | Edu Studies in Psych, Research Methodology & Counseling | Austin Pickup | Austin received his BA in History from Western Kentucky University in 2008 and went on to obtain his MA in Secondary Education/Social Studies here at UA in 2010. Currently Austin is a PhD student in the Educational Research Department in the College of Education. Austin has over 4 years experience working in the secondary education system and 3 years experience working in higher education. He currently works as a graduate assistant for the Graduate School at UA. |
| Education | Educational Leadership, Policy & Technology Studies | E.J. Waldron | EJ received his BA in History from Samford University in 2003 and went on to obtain his MA at UAB in 2005. EJ is currently pursuing a PhD in Higher Education Administration here at UA. His expected graduation date is May 2013. EJ has worked both in the community college environment as well as the four year college and university environment for over 5 years and has experience in the political spectrum having worked as a congressional aid for Congressman Spencer Bachus in 2001. |
| Education | Educational Leadership, Policy & Technology Studies | Carmen Winter | Carmen received her Diploma Inform. in Computer Scinece from the Polytechnic University in Augsburg, Germany. She then received her MS in Secondary Education (Computer Applied Technology) from the University of Alabama College of Education. Carmen is currently pursuing her PhD in Instructional Technology from the College of Education and her expected graduation year is 2013. She has over 16 years in the field of research and technology and 5 years teaching in the higher education setting. Carmen teaches as an adjunct professor at the University Reutlingen in Germany during the summers. Her area of expertise is in knowledge management, databases, process optimization, and coaching and training concepts. |
| Education | Educational Leadership, Policy & Technology Studies | Jean Swindle | Jean is currently pursuing her PhD in Educational Leadership at the College of Education at UA. Before returning to the USA to complete her doctorate Jean was the General Director for the Faith Christian School in Asuncion, Paraguay. Jean received her BA in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business at Coker College in SC and went on to receive her MA in Secondary Education from UA. While Jean received her MA from UA she was working in Asuncion, Paraguay, as teacher and middle school administrator at Asuncion Christian Academy, experiencing first-hand one of the College of Education''s international programs. Prior to entering education, she served as a US diplomat and has extensive experience in international relations, international education, and international programs. She is fluent in Spanish has served as a simultaneous translator at various conferences and conventions in South America. |
| Education | Educational Leadership, Policy & Technology Studies | Kendrick Traylor | Kendrick D. Traylor is currently a doctoral student at UA pursuing his Ed.D in Higher Education Administration. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan. Kendrick also earned his Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Science degree in Organization and Management from Capella University. Kendrick is a commissioned Army Officer with 21 years of service, receiving his commission as a second lieutenant from the Michigan Military Academy in 1995 and has served three combat tours in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm-Saudi Arabia in 1990-1991 and twice in Operation Enduring Freedom- Afghanistan in 2004-2005 and 2009-2010 respectively. Kendrick is currently serving in the Alabama Army National Guard as a Logistics Plans officer and an Army ROTC instructor at the University of Alabama. Kendrick is originally from Lisman, AL. |
| Education | Educational Leadership, Policy & Technology Studies | Puneet Gill | Puneet Gill is a native of Tuscaloosa, AL and is a doctoral student in Instructional Leadership, with an emphasis in social and cultural studies. She graduated with a B.S. in Biology, M.A. in Secondary Education and an Ed.S. in Secondary Science Education at the University of Alabama. Puneet has taught in the city and county schools and is currently working as a graduate assistant in the department of instructional leadership. She hopes to remain in academia as a professor/researcher. |
| Education | Educational Leadership, Policy & Technology Studies | Jeena Owens | Jeena Owens earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Master of Science in College Student Personnel Administration from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. Jeena is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership at The University of Alabama. She is a Ronald E. McNair Fellowship Scholar recipient. Jeena is from Buffalo, New York. |
| Education | Educational Leadership, Policy & Technology Studies | Maegan Slaten | Maegan Slaten is a doctoral student from Somerville, Alabama pursuing a Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership with an emphasis in Instructional Technology. She graduated with her B.S. degree in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama in December 2006 and with a master’s degree in Elementary Education in May 2008 (both from The University of Alabama). Currently a kindergarten teacher at Southview Elementary, Maegan hopes to eventually teach future teachers how to integrate technology into their elementary curriculum. |
| Engineering | Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) | Huiying Zheng | Huiying Zheng earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering at Shanghai University of Electric Power in Shanghai, China. She was a member of the torch relay of the 2008 Olympic Games as the representative of college students all over China. She is an UA Graduate Council Fellowship recipient and pursuing a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in solar energy. |
| Engineering | Metallurgical and Materials Engineering | Nicholas De Leon | Nicholas De Leon earned his Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field at the same institution. He is a McNair Fellow and is from Coral Springs, Florida. |
| Engineering | Metallurgical and Materials Engineering | Derrick Stokes | Derrick received his BS in Physics at Jackson State University in 2010. He is currently obtaining his MS Metallurgical Engineering and his PhD in Materials Science from UA. His expected graduation date is May 2014. Derrick is currently a graduate research assistant for the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. He is analyzing the development of Ti-TiA13 Metallic-Intermetallic Laminate Composites (MLC|s) for structural, defense, and aerospace applications. Derrick has extensive presentation experience with his most current presentation being at Corning Incorporated Research Conference in Corning NY August 2011. |