Graduate College Selects 2021-2022 Outstanding Mentor and Master’s Thesis Awards Recipients

The Texas State University Graduate College has selected its 2021-2022 Outstanding Mentor and Master’s Thesis Awards recipients.

Jennifer Irvin

Dr. Jennifer Irvin, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is the recipient of The Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award. This award recognizes a faculty member who has had extraordinary success in mentoring graduate students. 

Dr. Irvin’s areas of interest include the use of electroactive polymers in applications, templating for improved performance of electroactive polymers, and dominant ion transport processes in electroactive polymers. With her research and impact on her colleagues and students, Dr.Irvin received very thoughtfully written letters which described in detail the tremendous positive impact of her mentorship.

She has also been recognized for her teaching and research by receiving the 2012 Chemistry & Biochemistry Department Teaching Award and the 2010 Cottrell College Science Award, Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement.

Hailey Collord-Stalder, who earned a Master of Arts with a major in anthropology, is the recipient of The Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Life and Biological Sciences.  Her thesis, Digital Microscopic Methods for Sharp Force Trauma in Burned Human and Nonhuman Remains, was directed by Dr. Nicholas P. Herrmann, professor in the Department of Anthropology. 

Bonnie Stice, who earned a Master of Arts with a major in professional counseling, is the recipient of The Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Social Sciences, Education, and Business.  Her thesis, The Lived Experiences of College Sugar Babies: A Consensual Qualitative Research Study, was directed by Dr. Paulina Flasch, assistant professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology.

Michelle Myers, who earned a Master of Science with a major in applied sociology, is the recipient of The Graduate College’s Outstanding Non-traditional Thesis / Project Award.  Her applied project SARAH San Antonio: Evaluating Permanent Supportive Housing Outcomes, was directed by Dr. Toni Watt, professor in the Department of Sociology. 

As the winners of these competitions, Dr. Irvin will receive $2,500 to be paid into a research account, while Hailey, Bonnie and Michelle will each receive $500 for their work and research.  All four will be recognized at The Graduate College’s award ceremony next April.  The Graduate College has also entered the recipients into the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools’ respective competitions.