Meet The Thriving Research Team
Dr. Laurie Schreiner
Principal Investigator
An award-winning teacher and researcher, Dr. Schreiner's current research interests focus on student thriving and on transition issues in the sophomore year. Her recent publications include a feature issue of New Directions for Higher Education focusing on sophomores. She is co-editor-in-chief of the journal Christian Higher Education, and co-editor of Thriving in Transitions: A Research-Based Approach to College Student Success – a popular text on student thriving that is currently under revision as a second edition.
Dr. Eric J. McIntosh
Research Associate
Since 2007, Dr. McIntosh has been a contributor to The Thriving Project. He is animated by thriving among students of color and the connection of meaning making and spirituality to thriving. He supports the work of The Project by maintaining the TQ database, and serves as the point of contact for researchers and practitioners seeking to utilize the TQ tools. He continues to speak and write about student thriving along with his other interests in data analytics and student success in higher education.
Alex Jones
Research Assistant
Alexander H. Jones has been with the TQ team since January 2020. As a scholar, Alexander has published qualitative research, quantitative research, critical theory, spatial analysis, and economic theory. Most recently, he has been examining pathways to thriving among international students.
Annie Willmon
Research Team Member
Annie Willmon works at San Juan College, a Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution, in northwest New Mexico as an instructor of the Student Success class and as the coordinator for the college's leadership academy and management institute. She received her Master of Science degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University and has worked at colleges and universities from North Carolina to Alaska. Annie is a member of the 2017 Ph.D. cohort in Higher Education program at Azusa Pacific University.
Christi Watson
Research Team Member
Christi Watson teaches in Biola University's English Writing Program. She researches problems faced by historically-underserved student populations, as well as instructional design models exploring how writing practices transfer across disciplinary boundaries. Christi has also served as assistant co-director of the writing program and coordinates its Celebration of Student Writing. In addition to her work as scholar-practitioner, Christi enjoys travel, the beach, and spending time with her husband, Phil, and her two kids, Ally and Micah. Christi is a member of the 2017 Ph.D. cohort in Higher Education program at Azusa Pacific University.
Crystal Keetch
Research Team Member
Crystal Keetch serves as the Director of Registration & Academic Services at Indiana Wesleyan University. She has had previous roles within Residence Life and Student Development, as well as serving as an adjunct professor. Crystal also leads a leadership development program on her campus. She is in the 2016 cohort at Azusa Pacific University. Crystal’s dissertation topic will focus on how academic advising can affect student thriving.
Tami Martinez
Research Team Member
Tami Martinez is a seasoned educator and academic administrator who has worked in higher education for over 20 years. Currently, Tami is the Assistant Dean of the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts and a Senior Lecturer in Communication Studies at Indiana University South Bend (IUSB). Tami is a member of the 2016 cohort of the Higher Education Ph.D. program at Azusa Pacific University (APU); her dissertation topic will focus on faculty thriving.