Arol Shack Dissertation Awards for Outstanding Social Welfare Doctoral Students Announced

L–R: Kylie Evans, Tyrone Hamler, Fei Wang headshots

The PhD in Social Welfare doctoral program's Arol Shack Dissertation Award was established through donations from friends and alumni of the program along with a matching gift from Gigi Nordquist. The fund honors the many years of work and dedication that Arol Shack devoted to the doctoral program, its students and faculty members as the department assistant.

One to two awards are given each year depending on funds and the number of applications received. Funds are used to support the student’s work on his/her dissertation research. The expectation is that the work funded through this award will be completed by the end of the one-year grant award period. Full-time and part-time students who have an approved prospectus, a dissertation chair and have passed the Qualifying Exam, are eligible to apply. Any dissertation topic is accepted.

A faculty committee reviews the applications for the dissertation award and makes recommendations to the chair of the doctoral program based on the merits of the proposals and the financial needs of the applicant. Formal recognition of the award occurs at the graduate studies awards ceremony each spring.

This year's winners were announced on Dec. 17, 2021. Congratulations to the recipients of the 2021–22 Arol Shack Dissertation Award!

2021–22 Arol Shack Dissertation Award Winners

Kylie Evans

For her proposal, An Examination of Relational Resilience Among Adolescent Girls and Emerging Adult Women Exposed to Childhood Intimate Partner Violence.

Tyrone Hamler

For his proposal to investigate the prevalence and predictors of decisional conflict among non-dialysis dependent African Americans over the age of 50 who are diagnosed with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Fei Wang

For her proposal to examine primary caregiver’s stressors and depressive symptoms for those that provide care for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.


This story appeared in The Daily on Jan. 7, 2022.