On Monday, October 19, 2020 Thad Wilhelm, Ph.D. candidate in the Curriculum and Instruction program successfully defended his dissertation on "Making Real-world Connections in High School Mathematics: The Effectiveness of a Professional Development Program in Changing Teachers’ Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices." Dr. Wilhelm’s committee members are Dr. Thomas Edwards, major advisor; Dr. Kenneth Chelst; Dr. Shlomo Sawilowsky; Dr. S. Asli Ozgun-Koca; and Dr. Jeremy Rickli.