The Dissertation Fund

Providing opportunities for people 
striving to make a real difference

Arol Shack Dissertation Award Past Recipients

2022-2023 Emily Miller (post-doc)

2021-2022 Tyrone Hamler (at University of Denver), Fei Wang (at University of Tennessee) and Kylie Evans (at Gannon University)

2020-2021 Weidi Qin (at the University of Wisconsin)

2007 – 2017 Meredith Francis, Arol Shack Dissertation Award ($500), 

2017-2018 graduate. She is on the faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Kristen Berg, Arol Shack Dissertation Award ($500), 2017-2018, graduate. On the faculty at Metro Health/CWRU School of Medicine.

Leigh Taylor, Arol Shack Dissertation Award, 2016-2017, graduated August 2017 and has a postdoctoral position at Yale University. Dissertation: "The mediating role of social support and self-efficacy on the relationship between trauma and substance use outcomes among low income women" . Has been out of the workforce.

Hyunyong Park, Arol Shack Dissertation Award, 2015-2016, Graduated May 2016 and had a postdoctoral position with the Family Medicine at CWRU for a year. He recently took a position as Assistant Professor in Social Welfare at Sungshin University in Korea. His Dissertation: “Patterns of Personal Networks and their Relationships to Treatment Outcomes among Women with Substance Use Disorders.” Lost contact with her but she returned to Korea.

Ching Wen Chang, Arol Shack Dissertation Award, 2014, Graduated May 2015. Her Dissertation: “Effects of Prenatal Risk and Early Life Care on Behavioral Problems, Self-Regulation, and Modulation of Physiological Stress Response in 6 to 7-year-old Children of Intercountry Adoption.” On the faculty at Taipei University.

Debra Hrouda, Arol Shack Dissertation Award, 2013, Graduated August 2014. Her Dissertation: “Factors Associated with Readiness for Treatment in a Sample of Substance-Dependent, Trauma Exposed, Incarcerated Women." Out of the workforce.

Amy Roberts, Arol Shack Dissertation Award, 2012, Graduated August 2013. Her Dissertation: “A Longitudinal Study of the Influence of Social Engagement on Quality of Life Among Older Adults Living in Senior Housing.” She is on the faculty at Miami University of Ohio

Susan Smalling, Arol Shack Dissertation Award, 2011, Graduated May 2012. Her Dissertation: “American Indians and Social Work Education: Addressing Issues of Recruitment, Retention, and Inclusion.” She is now on the faculty at St. Olaf College in Minnesota.

Heehyul Moon, Arol Shack Dissertation Award, 2010, Graduated January 2013. Her Dissertation: “The Effect of Incongruence about Care Values between Caregivers and Care Recipients with Early-Stage Dementia on Caregiver and Care Recipient Quality of Life: The Mediating Effects of the Negative Dyadic Relationship Quality.” On the faculty at the University of Louisville.

Karen Ishler, Arol Shack Dissertation Award, 2009, Graduated August 2013. Her Dissertation: “Pain and Psychological Distress in Middle-Aged and Older Married Couples.” Research Associate at CWRU, MSASS.

Marisa Allen, Arol Shack Dissertation Award, 2008, Graduated May 2010. Dissertation: “Steeping the Organization’s Tea: Examining the Relationship Between Evaluation Use, Organizational Context and Evaluator Characteristics.” RuOwns & operates a private program evaluation business.

Mandy Fauble, Arol Shack Dissertation Award, 2007, Graduated May 2009. Her Dissertation: How Maternal Childhood Maltreatment Negatively Impacts Children’s Mental Outcomes among Polysubstance Exposed Children. She is Director of Clinical Services at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.