I’m honored to have been ask to serve on a whole slew of thesis committees this year. With the term coming to a rapid close (just 5 more weeks), defense season is in high gear.
Over the next five weeks (plus), I’ll hear about a lot of interesting research. I hope to share more with you as the students finish. But in the meantime, here’s a glimpse and a link to the students’ blogs, twitter feeds, etc. so you can keep up with their work… if you’re so inclined. These are some pretty smart students – both grads and undergrads – and anyone would be lucky to have them as part their team.
Leona Laurie: Blog and Twitter
Leona’s master’s thesis for the School of Journalism and Communication looks at how Web 2.0 is changing traditional marketing and, specifically, the 4 Ps. She’s looking at two media companies – one more traditional and one less so – and how the marketing mix is changing. Leona is spoken for, by the way, so you’re too late to hire her. 🙂
Lindsey Durrell: Blog and Twitter
Lindsey is in our Honors College at the University of Oregon. Her thesis is looking at a specific case study of blogger relations; looking at the broader issues that are played out in the blogosphere and in public relations every day and then applying them to a particular case.
Emily Tormey: Blog and Twitter
Emily’s research is looking at how nonprofits can (or should) use special events to attract younger donors. Emily, also an Honors College student, is interested in event planning, but specifically wants to work with a nonprofit to plan events that really make a difference. I know this research will serve her well!
Nick Cummings: Blog
Nick, also an Honors College student, is looking at which uses and gratifications virtual worlds fulfill for their users. A gamer and resident of Second Life, Nick has a unique perspective and I’m looking forward to learning about his results.
Windy Hovey
Windy, a master’s student, focuses her research on how nonprofits can use social media to cultivate relationships. She’s looking at a particular nonprofit that uses blogging, video and Flickr and talking to people inside and outside the organization to learn how it works for them.
So, as you can see by the time summer rolls around, I’ll be that much smarter. I’m looking forward to helping these students finish and learning a lot in the process.
Comments
4 responses to “A Big Pile of Theses”
Kelli, thank you so much for spotlighting us! You were certainly an inspiration for me as a teacher and I’m so glad to read, for all your future students’ sake, that your heart is still tied to teaching 🙂 And I want to credit you for your infinite wealth of knowledge of nonprofits and social media which has already been a tremendous help to my research.
-Windy
Well… I don’t know about “infinite.” 🙂
Thanks for the comment, Windy. Whatever role I’ve played, it’s been my pleasure. I’m really excited to read your work.
Kelli,
Thanks for the mention on your blog! I’m honored to have you as an adviser, as well. I knew that you had a few other advisees, but I didn’t know you had five! It’s really interesting to see how all of our research topics are different, yet very similar. I guess that’s why we chose you as an adviser!
If anyone is interested in how a sports team can engage bloggers, read this article (which inspired my case study): http://washingtontimes.com/article/20071023/SPORTS04/110230081/1005/SPORTS
Kelli,
Thanks for the plug/encouragement! I had no idea you had so many theses; you must certainly have your bedtime reading material cut out for you for the next month. I’m very much looking forward to presenting all my research to you and the rest of my committee. I just hope I can do my topic justice ’cause I think it’s pretty neat stuff.
-Emily