Doctoral Students Roslyn Bethea and Mariam Elias ’17, ’20MED, ’24PHD Receive Doctoral Dissertation Completion Grants from NC State Graduate School 

Two students in the NC State College of Education have been selected to receive a Doctoral Dissertation Completion Grant from the NC State Graduate School. 

As recipients of the grant, Rosyln Bethea, who is earning an Ed.D. in Community College Leadership, and Mariam Elias ’17, ’20MED, ’24PHD, who is earning a Ph.D. in the Learning and Teaching in STEM engineering and technology education concentration, will each receive funding of more than $10,000, have their tuition covered for the fall 2024 semester and have the opportunity to participate in peer sessions focused on writing support and dissertation draft feedback. 

“With this generous financial support, I am confident that I will be able to achieve my academic aspirations and successfully graduate this fall,” Bethea said. “This grant alleviates the financial pressures associated with completing my doctoral research and empowers me to concentrate wholeheartedly on producing top-tier work. I am profoundly grateful for this support and eagerly look forward to making the most of this opportunity to attain academic excellence.”

Being selected for the Doctoral Dissertation Completion Grant is a significant privilege that will have a lasting impact on my academic and personal life. It validates my research, allows for focused productivity, provides invaluable mentorship and supports the timely completion of my dissertation,” Elias said. “Balancing teaching, studying and motherhood has been challenging, but this grant provides the necessary support to succeed in all these areas.”

Bethea’s dissertation focuses on a community college’s one-college model, which is designed to bridge the gap between non-degree and for-credit programs by enabling non-degree students to earn credits that count toward future degrees. Her research, she said, aims to underscore the benefits of this more inclusive approach that provides all students with greater access to resources and opportunities for academic and professional advancement. 

Her dissertation advisor is Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs John Lee and her dissertation committee consists of Assistant Professor of Community College Leadership Devon Graves, Assistant Teaching Professor of Community College Leadership Catherine Hartman and Strategic Data & Technology Coach for Achieving the Dream Bobbie Frye. 

“My interest in this topic stems from observing the disparities in resources and opportunities between non-degree and degree students,” she said. “Despite their dedication and hard work, non-degree students often do not receive the same level of support, resources and recognition as their peers in degree programs.” 

Elias’ dissertation is exploring the lived experiences of technology and engineering teachers in higher education as they transition into online teaching and engage in online curriculum development. This research, she said, aims to address the growing need to understand the challenges and opportunities in online teaching following the pandemic, particularly in the context of curriculum design and delivery. 

Her dissertation advisor is Professor of STEM Education Aaron Clark and her dissertation committee consists of Associate Professor of STEM Education Cameron Denson, Assistant Professor of STEM Education Brian Matthews and Assistant Professor of Learning Design and Technology Shiyan Jiang. 

“I recognize the importance of investigating how technology and engineering educators navigate this transition, adapt their teaching methods and integrate engineering knowledge, pedagogy and context into online curriculum development,” Elias said.