UM-Flint Graduate Students Display Research at State Capital

Graduate students from colleges and universities throughout Michigan — including two from the University of Michigan-Flint — recently participated in Michigan Graduate Education Day at the Capitol in Lansing.

More than 50 graduate students displayed their graduate research, and discussed with legislators a variety of issues affecting the state. The event is held to highlight the importance of graduate education in Michigan, and the impact it will have in years to come on the economy and quality of life in the state.

Representing UM-Flint were Jessica Sloan who is working on an MS in Health Education, and JoAnn Harderer, RN, BSN, who is in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.

Sloan's research is titled: Sleep Quality Mediates the Relationship between Fear of Crime and Mental Health. Her research indicates the frequency of sleep problems partially mediated the relationships of fear of neighborhood crime to stress and depressive symptoms in a countywide health survey. Fear of crime also had a unique direct relationship with stress.

"It was wonderful to see what other graduate students are researching," said Sloan. "This is a way for us to demonstrate to our legislators the importance of graduate education in Michigan." 

Harderer's research will seek evidence about the effects of expressive visual arts while receiving chemotherapy and perception of caring and healing. With approximately 5 million patients receiving chemotherapy, there is a need for a perception of caring and healing.

Nearly 21,000 master's degrees and 5,200 doctorates were awarded last year by Michigan's private and public colleges and universities.

The event is presented by the Michigan Council of Graduate Deans.