Student of the Month
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January 2012 - Student of the Month - Nicole Heller
Nicole Heller, a Developmental Psychology Ph.D. student is the Graduate School's January Student of the Month.Graduate School: Where are you from originally?
Heller: Allentown, PennsylvaniaGraduate School: What undergraduate institution(s) did you previously attend?Heller: I attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio from 2004 to 2008 where I earned a BA in psychology and English prior to attending UMaine.Graduate School: Why did you choose to attend UMaine?Heller: I was drawn to the current research project being conducted by my mentor, Dr. Marie Hayes, examining the impact of prenatal methadone exposure on infants.Graduate School: What degree program are you pursuing?Heller: Ph.D. in Developmental PsychologyGraduate School: What are your plans after graduation?Heller: I hope to enter the professoriate at an institution where I can share my excitement about psychology with undergraduate students through both teaching and research.Graduate School: What do you consider your most important accomplishment here so far?Heller: I think the most important accomplishment for any graduate student is learning to juggle the demands of academia while still finding time to eat, do laundry and see our friends. For me, this year was especially challenging when I started teaching my own course while simultaneously taking classes and trying to keep up with research in the lab. I’m still standing so I consider that an accomplishment.Graduate School: What is the highlight of your academic experience so far?Heller: My interactions with students and faculty on campus as well as the people from the community who participate in my lab’s research. Because the students in my class are from such diverse backgrounds, I think I learn as much from them as they do from me. Additionally, my colleagues and the faculty in the psychology department make the long hours seem less tedious – I can always count on them for a coffee break and a laugh. Finally, working with women in recovery and their infants is an incredibly rewarding experience as is knowing that this research will have a profound impact on not only this sample of women and children but also the state of Maine.Graduate School: What is your favorite place on campus?Heller: Besides my office? I like hiding out in the stacks on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the library. Wells is also up there on my list of favorite campus places.Graduate School: What awards or other significant recognition (both on or off-campus) have you received since beginning your degree program?Heller: I've received the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Assessment Graduate Teaching Solo Instructor Award along with letters of commendation from the Psychology faculty for outstanding overall performance.Graduate School: What other important information about yourself would you like us to know?Heller: I am one of the Psychology representatives for GSG. -
December 2011 - Student of the Month - Daniela Veliz
Daniela Veliz, a Ph.D. student in Higher Education is the Graduate School's December Student of the Month. Graduate School: Where are you from originally?
Veliz: I am originally from Santiago de Chile.
Graduate School: What undergraduate institution(s) did you previously attend?
Veliz: I did my undergraduate in business administration at Universidad Finis Terrae in Santiago de Chile.
Graduate School: Why did you choose to attend UMaine?
Veliz: I came to Maine with my family in 2008. My previous experience working at the Office of International Students at URI (University of Rhode Island), helped me realize the tremendous opportunities of studying something related to higher education. UMaine offered an excellent program in higher education which I enrolled during my first year in Maine.
Graduate School: What degree program are you pursuing?
Veliz: I am in pursuing a Ph.D in Educational Leadership in Higher Education.
Graduate School: What are your plans after graduation?
My plan is to return back to Chile and work in an academic setting at a Chilean University and hopefully make a difference in higher education in my country.
Graduate School: What do you consider your most important accomplishment here so far?
Veliz: Graduating for the master program in Student Development in Higher Education here at UMaine has been one of the most important accomplishments for me so far. I think that as an international student studying in another country and in another language can sometimes be challenging, but at the same time rewarding when you know that you are passionate for what you do. I have also been very fortunate to work in different offices on campus (e.g. counseling center, career center) and in all of them I have learned valuable experiences and gained good friends.
As an international student pursuing a degree and conducting research in another country is definitely a plus for my career, however studying abroad made me appreciate the world from a different perspective which is a life long lesson.
Graduate School: What is the highlight of your academic experience so far?
Veliz: I strongly believe that quality of the program I am pursuing is definitely a highlight, in addition working with highly recognize faculty on my field is one of the best experiences that I could ask for. Currently, I am working on research for the Rising Tide Project and this experience has been a fascinating experience for me, not only in terms of academic experience but it has also provided me with a new way of looking at things.
Graduate School: What is your favorite place on campus?
Veliz: My favorite place on campus is all the green places you can find near the library especially during summer time.
Graduate School: What awards or other significant recognition (both on and off-campus) have you received since beginning your degree program?
Veliz: I have been awarded the international student scholarship.
Graduate School: What other important information about yourself would you like us to know?
Veliz: I love going camping with my family during summer time. Maine has great parks to visit and we really enjoy going to each of them when possible.
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November 2011 - Student of the Month - Kurt Rademaker
Kurt Rademaker, an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. student is the Graduate School's November Student of the Month.Graduate School: Where are you from originally?
Rademaker: I moved to Maine from Kentucky after working as an archaeologist in a lot of places in the U.S.
Graduate School: What undergraduate institution(s) did you previously attend?
Rademaker: I attended the University of Kentucky, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology in 1997.
Graduate School: Why did you choose to attend UMaine?
Rademaker: UMaine has one of the few interdisciplinary programs in the country where archaeology and earth sciences are combined – this kind of perspective is really effective for understanding the long-term evolution of landscapes and the relationship between people and their environments, both past and present – that is my main interest as a scientist.
Graduate School: What degree program are you pursuing?
Rademaker: I am in my final year as an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. student in Geoarchaeology. My home departments are Anthropology, Dept. of Earth Sciences, and Climate Change Institute.
Graduate School: What are your plans after graduation?
Rademaker: I hope to get a tenure-track professor position in a beautiful, rural area of the U.S. starting Fall 2012.
Graduate School: What do you consider your most important accomplishment here so far?
Rademaker: Realizing my own independent research in the remote Peruvian Andes is one of my most important accomplishments. My PhD dissertation field work has involved the discovery and excavation of the world’s highest-elevation ice age archaeological site - “Cuncaicha” is a rock shelter (shallow cave) at 4500 m (about 14,750 feet) elevation dating to about 12,500 years ago. The site is special because it stands to tell us much about environmental conditions in the Andes at the end of the ice age, the timing and process of human settlement of the Americas, as well as the evolution of humans’ physical capacity to live in high mountains.
Graduate School: What is the highlight of your academic experience so far?
Rademaker: I’ve gone on 12 field expeditions in the last eight years, and I would guess that during that time I’ve spent about two years of my life living in a tent in the high Andes, getting to know traditional Andean pastoralists, and working with fellow grad students from UMaine and other institutions. It’s been fun to assemble teams of people who have different interests and specializations and go to work solving common research problems. Also, I’ve been fortunate to teach courses in the Department of Anthropology. That has been very rewarding.
Graduate School: What is your favorite place on campus?
Rademaker: The college forest. I live in Old Town and walk to and from school every day with my dogs. I have the best commute in the world! I love to ski the trails in the winter.
Graduate School: What awards or other significant recognition (both on or off-campus) have you received since beginning your degree program?
Rademaker: I am proud to have received both national graduate student awards in Geoarchaeology in 2008 – the Society for American Archaeology Douglas C. Kellogg Award and the Geological Society of America Claude C. Albritton Award. I have written a lot of grant proposals while in grad school, and while I have not always been successful on the first try, I’m lucky to have received just about every small grant possible.
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October 2011 - Student of the Month - Amber Martinson
Amber Martinson, a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology is the Graduate School's October Student of the Month.Graduate School: Where are you from originally?
Martinson: I was born in San Diego, California, but my family and I moved to Maine when I was one and have lived here ever since. I always have to mention this caveat since “true Mainers” make it quite clear that you have to be born in Maine to be considered a Mainer. I lived in Old Orchard Beach prior to my coming to the University of Maine.
Graduate School: What undergraduate institution(s) did you previously attend?
Martinson: I attended the University of Maine and graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2008.
Graduate School: Why did you choose to attend UMaine?
Martinson: I decided to come to UMaine as an undergraduate after I had visited and toured other state universities nearby (e.g., UNH, UMass) and realized that the education offered at UMaine was just as good, if not better, than similar institutions for a fraction of the cost. I believe that I got a wonderful undergraduate education that fully prepared me for graduate school. My experiences at UMaine were so positive that I decided to stay at UMaine to pursue my doctorate in clinical psychology despite being offered positions at other competitive universities.
Graduate School: What degree program are you pursuing?
Martinson: I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (adult clinical track) under the advising of Dr. Sandra Sigmon. My research interests include trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, and how such factors relate to biological correlates of health.
Graduate School: What are your plans after graduation?
Martinson: Following my training at the University of Maine, I hope to attend an APA accredited clinical psychology internship program for one year, followed by a year (possibly two) of post-doc to obtain specialized experience in health psychology/behavioral medicine. My long-term goals are to continue conducting research on stress and health and teach in an academic setting and/or secure a position in a behavioral medicine setting.
Graduate School: What do you consider your most important accomplishment here so far?
Martinson: The dissertation process can be a daunting one and so I would have to say that designing and completing my dissertation proposal are perhaps my most important accomplishments thus far. I hope to continue to collect data for my dissertation over the 2011-2012 academic year and complete my dissertation soon after.
Graduate School: What is the highlight of your academic experience so far?
Martinson: The first time I ever presented my research at a national conference was a memorable experience—I was a first-year graduate student and attended the annual conference for the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies in Orlando, Florida. I’ve been able to present my research in similar venues in subsequent years, which have all yielded great experiences and memories.
Graduate School: What is your favorite place on campus?
Martinson: Since this will be my 8th full year at UMaine, I have acquired many “favorite places” on campus. I really like sitting outside on the benches/grass on the mall (weather permitting). The second and third floors of the library also come to mind. Of course, any place that offers food is always an easy favorite (e.g., Wells Commons).
Graduate School: What awards or other significant recognition (both on or off-campus) have you received since beginning your degree program?
Martinson: I have been the recipient of the Provost Fellowship Award; the Student Researcher Award, Women’s Issues in Behavior Therapy Special Interest Group, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies; the Presidential Teaching Fellowship Award; and have received two letters of commendation for overall performance in the Doctoral Training Program at the University of Maine.
Graduate School: What other important information about yourself would you like us to know?
Martinson: I really enjoy writing, music, softball, painting, and participating in local community and church activities. My husband, Tim, also attended UMaine as an undergraduate and is currently pursuing his second Master’s Degree in the Kinesiology and Physical Education program at UMaine.
