MASTER'S THESIS:
Advisor-Dr. Margaret Wang, Professor, Psychological Studies in Education
Executive Director, Laboratory for Student Success, The Mid-Atlantic Regional Educational Laboratory at Temple University Center for Research in Human Development and     Education            
“ Case Studies of Two School Reform Efforts: ALEM in Trenton, NJ and the Clustered Learning Community in Philadelphia, PA”
This disjointed ethnographic study observed the effects of two reform efforts on two urban elementary schools. One effort concentrated on decentralization and the other on pedagogical transformation. Suggestions to combine the two efforts into educational transformation were suggested.

GRADUATE RESEARCH

“Collaborative Learning as a Strategy to Combat Illiteracy in Urban America”
An action research project of a reading buddies program at a Philadelphia elementary school showed that as the first graders developed reading skills, they also reduced the national illiteracy rate.  Additionally, the fifth graders showed remarkable gains in leadership and self esteem.

“Clustered Learning Communities: A look at a Philadelphia Elementary School Effort at School Reform”
This case study of the Clustered Learning Community Reform effort in Philadelphia illustrated strong arguments for decentralized educational administration and holistic learning, with across the board increases in academic achievement scores.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Mentor - Dr. Ronald Taylor, Director of Developmental Psychology, Temple University
“The Psychological Effects of a Common Cultural Education on a Multicultural Student Population”
This study questioned the psychological effects of imposing a common culture education on a multicultural student population and found that those of the dominated and underrepresented groups suffer low self esteem and feelings of invisibility and unimportance and thereby, underachievement.
Presented at the Penn State University Ronald McNair Faculty-in-Training Conference, State College, PA

Mentor - Dereic Dorman, Director, Ronald McNair Faculty-in-Training Program, Temple University
“The Quest for Multicultural Inclusion in Temple University’s Intellectual Heritage Program”
This study proposed the inclusion of culturally diverse texts in Temple University’s Intellectual Heritage courses to promote the development of attitudes and behaviors that are appropriate for living in a culturally diverse society.
Presented at the National Ronald McNair Faculty-in-Training McNair Conference in Delevan, Wisconsin

“A Comparison of Family Styles on Academic Achievement in American Children”
This study examined the difference in family styles in relation to the academic achievement of American students and suggested that each group in the targeted populations look into increasing direct involvement in the child’s schooling to insure academic achievement.

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