Hanna Craig, Ph.D., M.S., B.S., is a medical writer and editor with 20 years of writing and research experience in numerous scientific fields. She holds post-graduate degrees in systematics and molecular toxicology, as well as post-doctoral fellowships in neuroendocrinology and bioinformatics. She writes, edits and proofreads technical reports, scientific manuscripts, grant proposals, materials for CME accreditation and clinical study reports (CSR) for pharmaceutical industry. She has authored numerous highly technical publications and grant proposals, in many biological fields and with an emphasis on biotechnology. On these grants she has served both as co- and principle investigator. Additional experience includes computational biology, scientific advisory, database curation and annotation, web content writing, patent application writing and statistical design and analysis.

Her general areas of interest include: bioinformatics, molecular biology studies, virology, vaccinology, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurology, oncology, toxicology and pharmacology.

Hanna has served on graduate student committees, and has advised and assisted graduate students with dissertations and academic publications. She has also served on scientific advisory boards to assist in bioinformatics design and tool development, and has her own bioinformatics software development business. She has published book chapters, has authored and co-authored many peer-reviewed scientific articles, as well as other works on medical and scientific websites.

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Margaret Eaton,  BA,  Religious Studies; MDiv; PhD, biblical studies. Her dissertation topic was on the way an aspect of Hebrew stylistics was translated into the Greek of the Septuagint. She also has qualifications in linguistics and is writing a book on conversational strategies in the Hebrew Bible.

She is a distance educator in theological education and a translation consultant with the World Bible Translation Center. 

Courses taught: Classical Hebrew; Old Testament issues, such as oral tradition, literature, history, exegesis, theology; Koine Greek; New Testament issues; history; exegesis; theology.
 

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Debra Fisher, M.S.Ed, B.A., is president and owner of an independent education, learning, and communications consulting company that serves both individual graduate learners and institutions of higher education. When working with graduate learners, Debra perceives her role as that of a personal writing coach and academic advisor, providing guidance and encouragement during the prospectus, proposal, analysis, and publication phases of scholarly writing. Whether helping clients brainstorm a researchable thesis; providing theoretical guidance relative to research focus and/or positional development; recommending structural and organizational revisions to enhance the clarity and cohesion of an argument; or editing for grammar, mechanics and punctuation, she customizes her services to meet the specific needs of her clients. More than achieving the completion and committee approval of a scholarly manuscript, clients appreciate Debra’s emphasis on the development of skills that help them communicate effectively using all the techniques of good writing—skills that serve them well beyond their graduate program. Debra has enjoyed coaching-advising relationships with hundreds of learners who represent a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, and all have been awarded their graduate degrees.

Debra graduated summa cum laude (B.A.) with double majors in English and education from Grand Canyon University, a Christian liberal arts university in Phoenix, Arizona. With a minor in philosophy, critical thinking permeates all her work. She received her M.S. in education from Capella University with a specialization in instructional design for online learning, and she is presently pursuing her Ph.D. in educational leadership for higher education.

"With Debra for a writing consultant, I have benefited from both the art and craft of her natural abilities and professional commitment to excellence. Not only is she an insightful visionary who perceives the completed project as it takes shape, she exemplifies the best in teacher as coach, guiding progress toward the author's desired goals. She possesses exceptional communication skills, a wealth of knowledge about educational theories and practices, and a work ethic that places a high priority on the quality and timeliness of service. In short, she delivers with the utmost integrity.”

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Les Foxman has been a public relations professor at Utah State University and the University of Utah. He received his Ph.D. in journalism and mass communication (MLA) from Ohio University.

He empathizes with those undertaking extensive writing projects, and he is willing to help writers meet the challenge at virtually any stage of the writing process — from selecting topics to framing good research questions to organizing content and to presenting results and conclusions in clear, detailed language. He is comfortable in a fairly wide realm of topics, which extend beyond public relations, including journalism history, popular culture, criticism, integrated marketing communication, public policy issue management, crisis communication, and media message planning and management for organizations.

Article: From basic proofreading and copy editing to ghostwriting: What services the author can expect and what those services cost.

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Val Gerard, MA, PhD in Biology

Editor/Writer, Science and Medicine

Val Gerard retired in 1999 after 30 years as a scientist and professor.  With a strong record of publications and successful research funding, she now uses her skills to help others achieve similar successes.

Scope:  biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, botany, cell biology, chemistry, developmental biology, ecology, environmental policy, environmental science, evolutionary biology, genetics, geography, geology, marine science, mathematical modeling, medicine, molecular biology, oceanography, physiology, veterinary medicine, zoology, and related fields.

Academic Editing/Writing Experience:

• Science and medical editor and writer since 2001.
• Past and current clients from Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Patagonia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, the U.K., the U.S., and Venezuela.
• High rate of client success with manuscripts submitted to scientific and medical journals, and with grant proposals to various funding agencies, including NIH and NSF (largest successful grant to date, $120 million).
• Assists clients in developing written materials for commercial websites, brochures, etc.
• Specializes in organization, interpretation, and clear presentation of complex information.
• Helps clients improve their own writing skills for future projects, including non-native English speakers.
• Provides rapid turnaround.  Helps you submit your grant proposal, manuscript, book, chapter, or report on time.
• More than fifty publications (see publication list, below) and one million dollars worth of successful grant proposals of her own.
• Past experience as associate editor and/or reviewer for over two dozen scientific journals, including Science, and government funding agencies.

DONE!!! The paperwork is signed and submitted, the after-defense party has been held, and I am feeling very good!!! As far as congratulations go - you deserve MUCH credit. Thank you once again, Val. That mock defense was incredibly helpful, as at least 2 questions were nearly word-for-word! Your assistance with the talk was also of great benefit, as [my advisor] said that it was one of the best defense presentations he had ever witnessed! I can put this project on the 'finally finished' pile. Your help in all this has been pivotal. I will never forget it. I have never—in my life—ever—received such targeted, useful professional advice, and productive feedback. It has been a true pleasure working with you, and learning a new way of writing and putting together a scientific story." Successful Ph.D. candidate in Ecology, U.S. 2007 (contact information on request)

"I had completely given up on the Masters, I emailed my tutor again this week and he said he would chase it up. He has just emailed back saying it has not only passed but been awarded a distinction! I owe this to you over and over, I would have given up but you just kept pushing me on."  M.Sc. in Medical Education, UK, 2009 (contact information on request)

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For research proposals (Methods Chapter), Tom provides technical assistance in the following ways: helping set up the research design, reviewing surveys, assistance in selecting appropriate statistical tests, helping determine needed sample sizes (power analyses), helping develop operational definitions; developing hypotheses/research questions; measuring constructs; and tutoring students in the understanding and usage of appropriate research and statistical terminology.  Tom often edits the Methodology Chapter to ensure that the purpose statement, research questions, the hypotheses, the data gathered, and the statistical approaches are in accord.  

For data analysis projects (Results Chapter), Tom’s provides ethical assistance that does not conflict with your university’s plagiarism and academic integrity policies.  Tom will first have a brief free consultation with the student’s thesis/dissertation advisor and gain the appropriate permission before any formal work is conducted.  After securing written permission, Tom can provide any of the following services: create suitable SPSS files, help prepare the dataset for analysis, run relevant statistical tests or teach the student how to do it themselves, provide tutoring in the interpretation of SPSS output, and provide generic examples of how SPSS output could be transformed into APA style tables and narrative.  After the student has the draft of the Results Chapter, Tom can then provide technical editing to ensure the findings are presented in a clear, accurate and compelling manner. 

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Jeff Karon is a writer, teacher, and consultant who has helped students and professionals for over twenty years. He has edited, revised, and proofread publications that include reports, theses, dissertations, textbooks, proposals, essays, stories, and articles. His Ph.D. is in English (MLA) with a specialization in Rhetoric and Composition, a choice that signals his devotion to clarity and power in language. Prior to his years as an English professor, he studied and taught philosophy, critical thinking, and logic, publishing in these fields as well as in literary studies. He also is a published poet and essayist; he was a finalist in the Sandhill Review/St. Petersburg Times 2010 essay contest.  He has led writing and editing workshops for students, teachers, business people, and artists. Currently, he is leading creativity workshops and developing ways to build honor in the classroom and workplace.

As a writer and teacher, he believes that we should strive for excellence by practicing effective and fair techniques at all times. He has combined a life-long interest in the martial arts with writing: if you choose to work with him, he will ensure that your writing is powerful, not merely competent.

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Melody Lark earned a Ph.D. in political science and education, M.A. in international studies (politics and policy), MBA in finance and marketing, and BA in economics and administrative studies. She also earned two accredited certificates in adolescent substance abuse treatment. Lark has advised more than 80 doctoral students.

She focuses on: 1. Content (lyrics), which addresses the introduction; thesis, hypothesis, or research questions; literature review and synthesis; data collection, coding, analysis; literature review and synthesis; implications; recommendations; and conclusions. 2. University Guidelines, which includes the title page, abstract, level headings, tables, charts, citations, quotations, and references. 3. Mechanics and Style (rhythm), which includes grammar; word usage; punctuation; spelling; sentences that are active, clear, complete, concise, interesting, and relevant; smooth transitions for flow; and scholarly tone.

Topics: business, economics, education, ethics, government (international relations, law, policy, politics, programs) health, human resources, human services, philosophy, qualitative and quantitative research/statistics, substance abuse (enforcement, prevention, and treatment programs)

Scope of service: content editing; copyediting; hypotheses; thesis statements; research questions; data instruments (data collection, retrieval, coding, analysis, interpretation); research implications; recommendations; conclusions; proposals; longitudinal data analysis; cross sectional data analysis; defense preparation; report writing; grant writing.

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Suzanne Manness,  Ph.D., is an English professor who teaches APA, MLA, Chicago/ Turabian, Harvard, AMA, and AAA documentation styles in her research writing classes. She has edited many college textbooks and professional articles and has extensive experience in editing, proofreading, and formatting theses and dissertations. She specializes in proofreading and formatting articles for APA journals. She is known for a special ability to help international / ESL students, her attention to detail, and her quick turnaround time. She is popular among Nova, Capella, and Walden students.

"Suzanne, You did an excellent job editing my dissertation. Your experience and  thoroughness were obvious from the beginning. Your knowledge of APA 5th edition, Nova Southeastern University dissertation guidelines, and 
your commitment to quick turnaround are just a few of your many talents. I have highly recommended your editing services to my colleagues.
PS -- [RG] just emailed me. My dissertation has been accepted!"

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Ronald B. Marks, PhD was a marketing professor, now retired from the University of Wisconsin. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri - Columbia, with a major in Marketing and minor in statistics. During his thirty year career, he taught undergraduate and graduate market research and multivariate statistics amongst other courses. He made extensive usage of SPSS, Minitab, and LISREL in both teaching and research. His research credentials in the use of multivariate statistics are evidenced in articles, such as: "A Structural Equation Model of Predictors for Effective Online Learning," Journal of Management Education, 29 (4), August, 2005 and "Psychometric Evaluation of the ADAPTS Scale," Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, Vol. XVI (4) (Fall, 1996, 53-56)

He attended seminars in "Multivariate Statistics" at the University of Colorado and "General Structural Equation ("Lisrel") Models," (Introduction and Advanced) at the Inter University Consortium for Political and Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He also conducted similar faculty seminars in Multivariate Statistics at the University of Wisconsin.

In counseling dissertation students and business clients, his experience is that "a problem well defined is half solved." Or as Tom Peters suggested in his best-selling book on management, "if you don't know where you are going, you are likely to end up somewhere else." That is, no matter how arcane the statistics employed, they will never compensate for poorly stated hypotheses and literature review. Hence, when consulting with students, he helps them first develop lucid, operational hypotheses and then determines which statistical methods to use, rather than the converse.

Scope: multivariate statistics, behavioral sciences, marketing research, research design, SPSS, Minitab, structural equation modeling (LISREL), survey research, web-based surveys, quantitative methods, correlation, ANOVA, MANOVA, multiple regression, discriminant analysis, factor analysis, methodology chapter editing, nonparametric tests (such as chi-square or Mann-Whitney U Test), statistical application to social science data (e.g. psychology, sociology, economics) and business data (e.g. finance, business, and marketing), can aid with set-up of data files, analysis of sample characteristics, can also help develop persuasive Power Point presentations for oral defenses or business presentations.

"Using Ron was the best decision we made about our graduate research project. While we knew the field of anesthesia, none of us were statisticians and we struggled greatly in making sense of our data. Ron simplified everything and had most of our questions answered within 48 hours of our initial request. Excellent service and quality."

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Jim McDonough, PhD enjoys helping students and young professionals plan research, organize it, evaluate the soundness of the argumentation, and write and rewrite the English until it is publishable, and, sometimes, to publicize it.

He also enjoys helping persons with Ph.D.s prepare their dissertation or other research for publication by university presses and trade publishers.

Subjects taught in original language: Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Greek comedy, Greek tragedy, Greek and Roman drama, Greek philosophy, Menander. 

Subjects taught in English translations: mythology, religion, ancient history, slavery, feminism, ancient art, classical tradition, medicine (language and history), English composition, English literature (the classics), urban studies, musicology.

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Elizabeth L. Pearman, Ph.D. designs surveys, analyzes data using SAS and SPSS, develops research designs, and is a qualitative design and qualitative analysis consultant. She teaches masters- and doctoral-level research methods, qualitative methods, program evaluation, statistical programming, and lifespan development. She has served on 25 dissertation committees and has consulted with another 40+ doctoral students on design, statistics, statistical programming, and conceptualization.

She can make statistics understandable, will help you develop and edit your methodology chapter, assist you in understanding your data, help you with formulating your research questions, and guide you from the conceptualization of your dissertation/thesis to the defense so you will learn and understand your data, results, and study.

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Elana Shippen, P.E., is a licensed professional engineer in mechanical engineering with 22 years of experience, including 14 years in the aerospace industry with the Boeing Company, where she worked as an engineering manager and lead project engineer in their commercial airplanes program. She has a very strong background in mathematics, engineering, technical communication, and project management.

Elana completed the Technical Writing and Editing Certificate Program at the University of Washington in 2001. She is experienced with various style manuals.

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Christine D. Tomei, PhD,  was a professor in departments of Foreign Languages and Literatures. She is currently working in academic research. Her book, Russian Women Writers (Garland Press, 1999) met with widespread critical acclaim and has become a standard reference in the field. It was also awarded the Heldt Prize for Best Book in 1999.

She has assisted graduate students at all levels in the preparation and presentation of research for over 10 years, with considerable success. Some of her students/advisees have gone on to win awards themselves.

She is proficient in MS-Office, including Powerpoint, Excel and Access, and has created documents in these formats for many purposes.

Courses taught: Freshman humanities, general education, English as a second language, Russian language; Russian romanticism & realism, women in Russia and the U.S.S.R., the silver age in Russia, Soviet socialist realism, Soviet film, nineteenth-century literature, Russian intellectual history, twentieth century, Russian literature, nineteeth-century Russian literature, Russian folklore.

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Barbara von Diether has an Ed.D. from Brigham Young University and was the graduate research and writing coordinator at Utah State University for 12 years. She counseled over 300 students a year who were seeking help with the graduate process, and published a Publication Guide for Graduate Students (Utah State University Press, 1980).

She was the final editorial review for theses and dissertations from 54 departments. She has an M.Ed. from Utah State University in education technology. President of the Utah Conference of the American Association of University Professors, she met with the Board of Regents and college and university presidents to resolve faculty conflicts. She wrote grants for research funding that supported graduate students.

"You were absolutely correct!! My advisor accepted my proposal after I incorporated your changes and recommendations and it is now in the hands of my committee. When I finish Chapters 4 and 5, I will contact you – I very much appreciate your guidance and counsel. It changed a frustrating situation into a success!"

"I did it! I passed! It was an unconditional pass from all faculty members!  The head of my department said it was one of the top 3 defenses he has ever seen and probably one of the most professional presentations ever... and he has been doing this for over 20 years!!!  Talk about feeling good!!!! I am so very happy!!!"

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