A&M Ph.D. Program Alumni - JMU Graduate Psychology

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Current Careers and Dissertation Topics

Career data for program alumni
Name Current Career Grad Year and Dissertation
Robin D. Anderson Department Head, Graduate Psychology
Professor of Graduate Psychology
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
ander2rd@jmu.edu
Graduated: 2001
Dissertation
: Stereotype Threat: The Effects of Gender Identification on Standardized Test
Performance
Carol L. Barry Senior Psychometrician
American Board of Surgery
cbarry@absurgery.org
Graduated: 2010
Dissertation: Examining Change in Motivation Across the Course of a Low-Stakes Testing Session: An Application of Latent Growth Modeling
Susan K. Barnes Assessment Specialist/Independent Consultant
Graham,NC
barnessk@jmu.edu
Graduated: 2010
Dissertation: Using Computer-Based Testing with Young Children
Bozhidar M. Bashkov Manager of Research
IXL Learning
San Mateo, CA
Email: bbashkov@ixl.com
Graduated: 2015
Dissertation
: Examining the Performance of the Metropolis-Hastings Robbins-Monro Algorithm in the Estimation of Multilevel Multidimensional IRT Models
Katie Busby Director, Institutional Research
The University of Mississippi
Oxford, MS
kbusby@olemiss.edu
Graduated: 2005
Dissertation
: Validity Study of the Leadership Attitudes and Beliefs Scale III
Hilary Campbell Assistant Director, Assessment, Accreditation, & Accountability, Education Programs
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
campb2hl@jmu.edu
Graduated: 2007
Dissertation
: Invariance of the Modified Achievement Goal Questionnaire Across College Students with and without Disabilities
Jaime Cid Psychometrics Manager
Educational Testing Service
Princeton, NJ
jcid@ets.org
Graduated: 2009
Dissertation
: Using explanatory item response models to examine the impact of linguistic features of a reading comprehension test on English language learners
Christopher M. Coleman Associate Director of Institutional Effectiveness
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL
cmcoleman6@bama.ua.edu
Graduated: 2013
Dissertation: Effects of Negative Keying and Wording in Attitude Measures: A Mixed-Methods Study
Nicholas A. Curtis Director of Assessment
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
Graduated: 2018
Dissertation
: A new paradigm for improvement: Student-faculty partnership in learning outcomes assessment
Amanda Dainis Research Scientist, CEB/SHL
Chantilly, VA
Measurement Consultant
Graduated: 2008
Dissertation
: Methods for Identifying Differential Item and Test Functioning: An Investigation of Type I Error Rates and Power
Susan L. Davis-Becker Founding Partner
ACS Ventures, LLC
sdavisbecker@acsventures.com
Graduated: 2005
Dissertation: Achievement Goal Orientation Across the College Career: A Latent Growth Analysis
Megan France Consultant
meganfrance@icloud.com
Graduated: 2011
Dissertation: Construct Validity Evidence for University Mattering: Evaluating Factor Structure, Measurement Invariance, and Latent Mean Differences of Transfer and Native Students
Kelly J. Foelber Rewley Measurement Scientist
American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
Philadelphia, PA
KFoelber@ABIM.ORG
Graduated: 2017
Dissertation
: Using multiple imputation to mitigate the effects of low examinee motivation on estimates of student learning
Keston Fulcher Executive Director of the Center for Assessment and Research Studies
Professor of Graduate Psychology
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
fulchekh@jmu.edu
Graduated: 2004
Dissertation
: Towards Measuring Lifelong Learning: The Curiosity Index
Mandalyn Gilles Director of Assessment and Planning for SEES
Old Dominion University
mgilles@odu.edu
Graduated: 2015
Dissertation: Extending an IRT Mixture Model to Detect Random Responders on Non-Cognitive Polytomously Scored Assessments
Megan Rodgers Good Assistant Professor of Graduate Psychology/ Associate Assessment Specialist
James Madison University,
Harrisonburg, VA
good2mr@jmu.edu
Graduated: 2015
Dissertation
: Improving Student Learning in Higher Education: A Mixed Methods Study
Makayla Grays Institutional Research Specialist
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, CT
Graduated: 2013
Dissertation: Measuring Motivation for Coursework across the Academic Career: A Longitudinal Invariance Study
Nikole Gregg Research Scientist
HumRRO
Nikole works remotely
ngregg11@gmail.com
Graduated: 2021
Dissertation
: Getting caught up in the process: Does it really matter?
Sara Lambert Gutierrez Manager, Research & Development
CEB Global
sara.gutierrez@cebglobal.com
Graduated: 2009
Dissertation
: Examining the Psychometric Properties of a Multimedia Innovative Item Format: Comparison of Innovative and Non-Innovative Versions of a Situational Judgment Test
Heather D. Harris Statistical and Data Science Consultant
Solstice Studios,
Hollywood CA
Heather works remotely from Rockville, MD
heather@harris.works
Graduated: 2018
Dissertation
: The influence of covariate measurement error on treatment effect estimates and numeric balance diagnostics following several common methods of propensity score matching: A simulation study
Jerusha Henderek Senior Psychometrician
National Board of Medical Examiners
Philadelphia, PA
jerusha.henderek@gmail.com
Graduated: 2015
Dissertation
: Addressing Serial-Order and Negative Keying Effects: A Mixed-Methods Study
Emily R. Hoole Head of Client Engagement-Europe
Center for Creative Leadership
United Arab Emirates
hoolee@ccl.org
Graduated: 2005
Dissertation
: Integrating and Evaluating Mathematical Models of Assessing Structural Knowledge: Comparing Associative Network Methodologies
Madison Holzman Research Scientist
Curriculum Associates
Billerica, MA
Madison works remotely from Harrisonburg, VA
MHolzman@cainc.com
Graduated: 2018
Dissertation: Evaluating rater effects in the context of ethical reasoning essay assessment: An application of the many-facets rasch measurement model
S. Jeanne Horst Director of Research
CommonLit
Washington, DC
Jeanne works from home in Harrisonburg, VA
jeanne.horst@commonlit.org
Graduated: 2010
Dissertation: A Mixture-Modeling Approach to Exploring Test-Taking Motivation in Large-Scale Low-Stakes Contexts
Jessica N. Jacovidis Research Associate
Inflexion
Eugene, OR
Jessica works remotely from Harrisonburg, VA
jnjacovidis@gmail.com
Graduated: 2017
Dissertation
: Evaluating the performance of propensity score matching methods: A simulation study
Jilliam N. Joe Senior Director of Research
LEAP Innovations
Chicago, IL
jilliamjoe@gmail.com
Graduated: 2008
Dissertation
: Using Verbal Reports to Explore Rater Perceptual Processes in scoring: An Application to Oral Communication Assessment
Mary M. Johnston Psychometrician
American Board of Emergency Medicine
East Lansing, MI
mary.m.johnston@gmail.com
Graduated: 2016
Dissertation
: Applying solution behavior thresholds to a noncognitive measure to identify rapid responders: An empirical investigation
Andrew T. Jones Director of Psychometrics
American Board of Surgery
Philadelphia, PA
ajones@absurgery.org
Graduated: 2009
Dissertation
: Using the Right Tool for the Job: An Analysis of Item Selection Statistics for Criterion-Referenced Tests
Cassandra Jones Director of Assessment
Montgomery College
Rockville, MD
Cassandra.Jones@montgomerycollege.edu
Graduated: 2009
Dissertation
: Nonresponse bias in online course evaluations
Daniel P. Jurich Manager
National Board of Medical Examiners
Philadelphia, PA
jurichdp@gmail.com
Graduated: 2014
Dissertation
: Assessing Model Fit of Multidimensional Item Response Theory and Diagnostic Classification Models using Limited-Information Statistics
Pamela K. Kaliski Senior Measurement Scientist
American Board of Internal Medicine
Philadelphia, PA
pkaliski@abim.org
Graduated: 2009
Dissertation
: An Empirical Demonstration of Direct and Indirect Mixture Modeling When Studying Personality Traits: A Methodological-Substantive Synergy
James R. Koepfler Senior Analytical Consultant
SAS
Cary, NC
james.koepfler@sas.com
Graduated: 2012
Dissertation: Examining the Bifactor IRT Model for Vertical Scaling in K-12 Assessment
Xiaojing "Jadie" Kong Senior Research Scientist 
Pearson Educational Measurement
Sunnyvale, CA
jadie.kong@pearson.com
Graduated: 2007
Dissertation
: Using Response Time and the Effort-Moderated Model to Investigate the Effects of Rapid Guessing on Estimation of Item and Person Parameters
Jason P. Kopp Quantitative Researcher
Facebook
Seattle, WA
koppjp@gmail.com
Graduated: 2014
Dissertation: The Treatment of Missing Data when Estimating Student Growth with Pre-Post Educational Accountability Data
Abigail Lau Cahill Professional Lecturer in Educational Leadership
George Washington University
Washington, DC

Adjunct Graduate Faculty
James Madison University
Cahilla@gwu.edu
Graduated: 2009
Dissertation
: Using a mixture IRT model to improve parameter estimates when some examinees are amotivated
Rory A. Lazowski Associate Research Scientist 
The College Board
Newtown, PA
rlazowski@collegeboard.org
Graduated: 2001
Dissertation: A meta-analytic tutorial and a narrative review on motivation interventions in education
Susan M. Lottridge Senior Director, Automated Scoring
Cambium Assessment
Sue works remotely from Harrisonburg, VA Susan.lottridge@cambiumassessment.com
Graduated: 2006
Dissertation
: Comparing the Relative Measurement Efficiency of Dichotomous and Polytomous Models in Linear and Adaptive Testing Conditions
Ross E. Markle Founder, Managing Director
DIA Higher Education Collaborators
Nashville, TN
ross@diahighered.com
Graduated: 2010
Dissertation: Examining the Bricks and Mortar of Socioeconomic Status: An Empirical Comparison of Measurement Methods
Kimberly “Becca” Marsh-Runyon Director of New Product Development
Educational Testing Service
Philadelphia, PA
krm.marsh@gmail.com
Graduated: 2013
Dissertation: The Effects of Item and Respondent Characteristics on Midpoint Response Option Endorsement: A Mixed-Methods Study
BJ Miller Director of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment
National Defense University
Washington, DC
bj.miller.civ@ndu.edu
Graduated: 2007
Dissertation
: Unfolding Analyses of the Academic Motivation Scale: A Different Approach to Evaluating Scale Validity and Self-Determination Theory
Thai Ong Psychometrician
National Board of Medical Examiners
Philadelphia, PA
tong@nbme.org
Graduated: 2019
Dissertation:  Are all cognitive items equally prone to position effects? Exploring the relationships among item features and position effects
Christopher Orem Director of Institutional Research
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
oremcd@jmu.edu
Graduated: 2012
Dissertation: Demonstrating Validity Evidence of Meta-Assessment Scores Using Generalizability Theory
Christopher R. Patterson Postdoctoral Fellow for the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health at the University of Iowa Graduated: 2023
Dissertation: Observing how College Students Process Culturally Responsive Test Items
Beth Perkins Research Fellow
AAC&U Washington, D.C.
Beth works from home in Harrisonburg, VA bperkins@aacu.org
Graduated: 2021
Dissertation: Does Coding Method Matter? An Examination of Propensity Score Methods When the Treatment Group is Larger Than the Comparison Group
Sue Pieper Coordinator of Assessment, E-Learning Center
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ
Sue.Pieper@nau.edu
Graduated: 2003
Dissertation
: Refining and Extending the 2 x 2 Achievement Goal Framework: Another Look at Work-Avoidance
Andrea Pope Associate Research Scientist
Curriculum Associates
Andrea works remotely from
Washington, DC
Graduated: 2020
Dissertation:
Evidence-Informed Programming in Student Affairs: A Mixed Methods Study Examining Behaviors, Perceptions, and Barriers Related to the Use of Theory and Research in Program Development
Caroline Prendergast Psychometrician
American Board of Surgery
Caroline works remotely from Harrisonburg, VA
Graduated: 2022
Dissertation:
Learning Improvement at Scale: Improving Rhetorical Awareness in a First-Year Writing Program
Shelley Ragland Psychometrics Manager
Western Governers University
Salt Lake City, UT
shelley.ragland@wgu.edu
Graduated: 2010
Dissertation: An Evaluation of a New Method of IRT Scaling
Barbara E. Rowan Owner/Consultant
All Things Research
Macon, GA
barbara@allthingsresearchllc.com
Graduated: 2010
Dissertation: Comparability of Paper-and-Pencil and Computer-Based Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Measures in a Low-Stakes Testing Environment
Javarro Russell Senior Director
MCAT
Washington,  DC
j.a.russell06@gmail.com
Graduated: 2011
Dissertation: Development and Validation of the Preservice Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching Items (PMKT): A Mixed-Methods Approach
Courtney B. Sanders Institutional Research & Planning Analyst
University of California, Office of the President
cbeasand@gmail.com
Graduated: 2017
Dissertation
: Student engagement and post-college outcomes: A comparison of formative and reflective models
Paulius Satkus Associate Psychometrician
Graduate Management Admission Council
Reston, VA
Graduated: 2022
Dissertation
: The Use of Complex-structure Items in Multi-stage Testing
Derek Sauder Psychometrician
American Board of Internal Medicine
Philadelphia, PA
derekcsauder@gmail.com
Graduated: 2020
Dissertation: Can Auxiliary Information Improve Rasch Estimation at Small Sample Sizes?
J. Carl Setzer Lead Psychometrician
Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA)
Washington, DC
carl.setzer@aicpa-cima.com
Graduated: 2008
Dissertation
: Parameter Recovery of the Explanatory Multidimensional Rasch Model
Kara Siegert Special Assistant to the President; Institutional Effectiveness & Assessment
Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD
kmowens@salisbury.edu
Graduated: 2005
Dissertation
: Cyberspace Versus Face-to-Face: The Influence of Learning Strategies, Self-Regulation, and Achievement Goal Orientation
Kristen L. Smith Learning Research Manager
MacMillan Learning
Kristen works remotely from Charlottesville, VA.
kristenlynnsmith@gmail.com
Graduated: 2017
Dissertation
: Integrating implementation fidelity and learning improvement to enhance students’ ethical reasoning abilities
Alan B. Socha Assistant Director for Assessment
University of Maryland
Washington, DC
asocha@umd.edu
Graduated: 2014
Dissertation: An Investigation of the Effects of Complex Items on Augmented Subscores
Elisabeth M. Spratto Research Scientist
HumRRo
Monterey, CA
lspratto@humrro.org
Graduated: 2018
Dissertation
: In search of equality: Developing an equal interval Likert response scale
Scott N. Strickman Associate Psychometrician
Pearson
Scott works remotely from Jacksonville, FL
scottstrickman@gmail.com
Graduated: 2017
Dissertation
: You only live up to the standards you set: An evaluation of different approaches to standard setting
Matthew S. Swain Psychometrician
American Board of Internal Medicine
Philadelphia, PA
MSwain@ABIM.org
Graduated: 2015
Dissertation
: The Effects of a Planned Missingness Design on Examinee Motivation and Psychometric Quality
Peter Swerdzewski Director of Research
Curriculum Associates
Billerica, MA
pswerdzewski@cainc.com
Graduated: 2008
Dissertation
: Should We Worry About the Way We Measure Worry Over Time? A Longitudinal Analysis of Student Worry During the First Two Years of College
Melinda Taylor Senior Research Scientist II
Northwest Educational Association (NWEA)
Melinda works remotely from Austin, TX
taylor.melinda@gmail.com
Graduated: 2009
Dissertation
: An Application of Generalizability Theory to Evaluate the Technical Quality of An Alternate Assessment
Amy Thelk Assistant Dean for Accreditation, Assessment, and Accountability
College of Education, James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
thelkad@jmu.edu
Graduated: 2006
Dissertation
: Examinee Awareness of Performance Expectations and its Effects on Motivation and Test Scores
Kathryn N. Thompson Testing and Psychometrics Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Talented Youth, Johns Hopkins University Graduated: 2023
Dissertation: A Novel Examination of None-Of-The-Above as it Influences Examinee Item Responses
G. Thomas Waterbury Research Scientist
HumRRO
Monterey, CA
twaterbury@humrro.org
Graduated: 2020
Dissertation: RISE and Shine: A Comparison of Item Fit Statistics for the Rasch Model
Laura M. Williams Manager, Program Assessment
Western Governor's University
Salt Lake City, UT
l.williams@wgu.edu
Graduated: 2015
Dissertation: The Effect of Examinee Motivation on Value-Added Estimates
John Willse Principal Data Scientist, Udemy
John works remotely from the Greensboro, NC area
John.willse@udemy.com
Graduated: 2002
Dissertation
: Controlling Computer Adaptive Testing's Capitalization on Chance Errors in Item Parameter Estimates
Anna Zilberberg Educational Program Manager
Pearson Evaluation Systems
Cambridge, MA
Graduated: 2013
Dissertation: Students' Attitudes toward Institutional Accountability Testing in Higher Education: Implications for the Validity of Test Scores