BY

following work would not be possible without the devotion and support of my husband and best friend, Dave. I believe it’s customary to thank advisers, mentors, committee members, and faculty first—but the honest truth is—I probably would not have had the opportunity to work with these wonderful people if it weren’t for my husband, and his unwavering emotional, mental, and financial support. I’m eternally grateful to him for allowing me this opportunity to selfishly pursue my academic desires one final time. I sincerely thank him for his constant encouragement, love, and patience. Through the last three years I have had the absolute honor (and pleasure) to work with amazing individuals. I will forever appreciate my adviser, Dr. Joanne Slavin. I cannot thank her enough for everything she taught me, for the many and varied opportunities she gave me, and for the flexibility and support she continually offered. I thank her abundantly. I also thank my committee members—Dr. Catherine Kotz, Dr. Carrie Earthman, and Dr. Will Thomas—for their time, insights, and unique perspectives. I especially thank Dr. Thomas for his patience and insistence that I could really use SAS. To thi