The thesis is an intellectual and practical learning experience providing students the opportunity to conduct original research and to engage in what it means to be a scholar-practitioner. The thesis consists of 3 classes, 6 credit hours; a committee, including the supervisor and two faculty members who all must be satisfied with the student’s work; and the thesis defense; not to mention numerous meetings, and a great deal of reading, writing, thinking. The Timothy W. Herrmann Distinguished Thesis of the Year Award is an annual recognition of an excellent thesis often characterized by a unique methodological design, a topic that addresses an important problem, and scholarship that makes a significant contribution to the field of higher education.

The Department of Higher Education and Student Development is proud to recognize one individual from each graduating class for his or her exceptional master’s thesis.