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Doctoral Dissertation Defense: Nicole Dear

Wed, May 6, 2026 1:00 PM at GEO, Rm. 105

Nicole DearA doctoral dissertation defense is scheduled for Nicole Dear on the following date and time:

Title: The Covid-19 Pandemic as a Maternal Health Threat Magnifier: Spatial and Spatiotemporal Patterns of Covid-19 and Place-Based Vulnerabilities on Pregnancy Outcomes and Prenatal Care Utilization in Michigan

Day and Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Location: GEO, Rm. 105

If you would like a copy of her defense, please contact Nicole at dearnico@msu.edu.

Details of the defense are as follows:

The defense will consist of two stages:

First stage: In-person or by Webinar (30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the dissertation research):

Anyone, including faculty, students and staff, is welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor.

Second stage: In-person or by Zoom (Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions):

Faculty are welcome to stay for this stage. Graduate students and other non-committee members (e.g., family and friends) CANNOT attend the second questioning stage.

Successful completion of the defense and approval of the dissertation will be determined by a majority vote of the dissertation committee:

Committee Members:

  • Sue Grady, Chair, Michigan State University
  • Igor Vojnovic, Michigan State University
  • Andrew Finley, Michigan State University (Forestry)
  • Zhehui Luo, Michigan State University (Epidemiology & Biostatistics)