LAURA PERNA, PH.D. CURRICULUM VITAE
Courses Taught, Advising and Mentoring

Advising: Dissertation Direction (* indicates chair, + indicates member)
+Sherlin, J. (2001). Understanding the persistence of first-generation students through path modeling.
+Pitre, P. (2002). College choice: A comparison of 9th grade African American and White high school students’ predisposition for college attendance.
+Rivera-Alicea, B. E. (2002). Cognitive complexity and levels of biculturalism among Hispanic higher education administrators.
*Titus, M. A. (2002). An examination of the influence of institutional context on persistence rates at four-year colleges and universities: A multi-level approach. (Co-winner of 2003 EDPL Dissertation of the Year award)
+McCarthy, S. (proposal defense: February 2003). Testing Baldridge's political model: A case study of the Asian American studies program at the University of Maryland College Park.
*Vest, J. (proposal defense: June 2003). The role of Maryland community colleges in addressing the state's teacher shortage: Benefits and costs of implementing the elementary and secondary associate of arts in teaching degrees.
+Cohen, B. A. (proposal defense: October 2003). New teacher socialization and teacher induction: An exploratory analysis and discussion.
+Kelly, R. (proposal defense: October 2003). Principles, values, and stories in ethical decision-making for senior student affairs administrators.
+Ruff, L. (proposal defense: July 2004). Accelerating the development of critical thinking skills and dispositions in first-year college students: Infusing critical thinking instruction into a first-year transitions course.

Advising: Master’s Seminar Paper Direction
Dunfey, W. (2000).

Dahra, A. (2001). Are we asking the right questions in the correct way? Evaluating psychometric properties of the beginning student survey.

Madia, M. (2001). Dollars and sense: Understanding college costs and developing a common reporting methodology.

Thorp, E. (2001). The potential impact of early intervention programs in reducing gaps in college enrollment at each stage of the student college enrollment process.

Brown, T. (2003). Grass roots lobbying: The University of Maryland’s attempt to battle budget cuts.

Welton, A. (2003). The college enrollment process of low-income high school students.

Hibbert, T. (2004). Are we on the same page? Investigating the discrepancy between high parental expectations and low college enrollment of African American children.

Lisella, S. (2004). Returning from abroad: The effects of reverse culture shock and the associated challenges faced by study abroad students.

Mentoring
Faculty Mentor of the Year, Graduate Student Association, Department of Education Policy & Leadership, University of Maryland, College Park, 2003.

ASHE/Lumina Foundation for Education 2003 Dissertation Fellowship Mentor.

Kristan Venegas, University of Southern California. "College admission and financial aid pathways: Low-income Black and Latino urban pre-college students in college preparation programs." Dissertation director: Dr. William Tierney

ASHE/Lumina Foundation for Education 2004 Dissertation Fellowship Mentor.

Kimberly Rogers, Pennsylvania State University. "Federal student financial aid and postsecondary education: How the receipt and composition of financial aid packages influence the sub-baccalaureate degree and certificate attainment of low-income students." Dissertation director: Dr. Donald Heller

Return to Vita