February 27, 2013

SUNY Empire State College Graduate Students Showcase Research

Left to right: Cassandra Boucher-Kjelland, Mary Zlotnick, Tai Arnold, acting dean, School for Graduate Studies, Suzanne Shafer, Jennifer Fuller

Left to right: Cassandra Boucher-Kjelland, Mary Zlotnick, Tai Arnold, acting dean, School for Graduate Studies, Suzanne Shafer, Jennifer Fuller

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Feb. 27, 2013) Four students from the SUNY Empire State College School for Graduate Studies, Mary Zlotnick, Jennifer Fuller, Cassandra Boucher-Kjelland and Suzanne Shafer, were selected to have their research highlighted as part of the event “Boosting the Power of SUNY and CUNY: A Celebration of Graduate Research.”

“Student research is an essential component of graduate education at Empire State College,” said Acting President Meg Benke. “The presentation posters serve as windows into the research by the college’s students and reflect the strength of their work. I am very pleased that Empire State College graduate students were selected as part of the showcase for research across SUNY and CUNY.”

“In recent years, the academic world has come to better understand the importance of student research and creative activity in education,” said SUNY Trustee and Faculty Senate President Kenneth P. O’Brien, an associate professor of history at the College at Brockport. “Student research brings faculty and students together in close working relationships dedicated to solving problems, both intellectual and practical, and creating new knowledge. By collecting student research together in one place from many different campuses with different missions, we are able to appreciate the extraordinary value that public higher education adds to the communities of New York.”

About the Graduate Students’ Research

Mary Zlotnick, who is working toward a Master of Arts in Social Policy, is presenting “Adapting for the Senior Population: Can the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) be a solution for Saratoga Springs, New York?” Zlotnick’s research advisor is Edward Warzala, Ph.D. and her faculty mentor is Margaret Tally, Ph.D.

Jennifer Fuller, a student in the college’s Master of Arts in Teaching program, is presenting “The Effect of Teacher Questioning Practices on Class Participation and Engagement.” Fuller’s research advisor and faculty mentor is Elizabeth Bradley, Ph.D.

Cassandra Boucher-Kjelland, who is working toward a Master of Arts in Social Policy, is presenting, “Increasing Accessibility to Health Care through Government Reforms: the History, Politics and Policies of Health Care Reform in the United States.” Boucher-Kjelland’s research advisor is Barry Eisenberg, Ph.D. and her faculty mentor is Margaret Tally, Ph.D.

Suzanne Shafer, working toward a Master of Arts in Social Policy, is presenting “Implementation of Best Practices in Court Processes to Achieve Permanency through Reunification for Youth in Foster Care Faster.” Shafer’s research advisor is Roxana Toma, Ph.D., and her faculty mentor is Meredith Brown.

The event was sponsored by the SUNY University Faculty Senate in partnership with the faculty of the City University of New York, and took place in well of the Legislative Office Building on Tuesday, Feb. 26. Members of the state legislature and visiting public had the opportunity to view a selection of student posters that highlight the landscape of public higher-education graduate research.

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Media contact: David Henahan, director of communications

518-587-2100, ext. 2918

David.Henahan@esc.edu