Digital Commons Network^™

Reflecting Their Gaze: Resisting Distorted Perceptions Of Self And Other As Object, Francesca F. Harman

Dance (MFA) Theses

This thesis is an investigation into ways of seeing, constructions of otherness, objectification, influences on self-perception, and most urgently, how artists can resist objectification through the affirmation of their own subjectivity. Drawing from scholarship in feminist theory, performance studies, visual culture studies, and film theory, this thesis engages the writing of thinkers such John Berger, Jean-Paul Sartre, bell hooks, Rae Langton, Ann Pellegrini, Martha Nussbaum, and Coco Fusco. This thesis critically examines the way in which comparison, perceived lack, and fear of the Other contribute to constructions of identity. Distorted perception is at the root of objectification, and often leads …

Rediscovering The Hidden Nan Yumiao (Mysterious Rain), Katherine E. Nettles

Dance (MFA) Theses

This thesis explores complex themes of becoming, belonging, and how they shape identity through the perspective of transracial adoption. The investigation draws from personal experiences, cultural texts, and nature vs. nurture research. Combining self-reflection with scholarly sources allows for a broader picture of adoption trauma rather than a fixed bias. The author's research considers the circumstances surrounding adoption, including birth parents giving their child up due to social, economic, legal, or political constraints. This thesis examines finding a place of belonging in public, in community, in family, and in society. This concept of belonging has different meanings based on people's …

"That She May Bear On My Knees:" An Adoption Ritual In The Hebrew Bible, Claire Ellen Hobbs

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Striving For Greater Equity And Access For Neurodivergent College Music Students, Rhoda Bernard

Faculty Works

An increasing number of neurodivergent individuals are enrolling in colleges and universities, where they often encounter a wide range of challenges, such as ableist attitudes, policies, and practices, emotional distress, and academic struggles. This Commentary examines issues of equity and access for neurodivergent higher education music students through discussion and analysis of two initiatives at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The recommendations of neurodivergent researchers and neurodivergent higher education community members are employed as a critical lens for these initiatives, and as a framework for the field.

How Can University-Community Partnerships Strengthen Food Literacy To Improve Food Access And Food System Resilience In Rhode Island?, Jocelyn Furtado

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Nearly two out of every five households in Rhode Island experience difficulties accessing adequate and nutritious food, falling into the category of food insecure. While it is not the responsibility of a sole organization to reverse this complex systemic issue, collaborative efforts are a step toward combating food insecurity and systems resilience through improving food literacy. When accomplished within a community, adequate food literacy can combat food insecurity. To the same effect, food insecurity may cause a lack of food literacy. To hone in on the relationship of food literacy as it relates to food insecurity and food systems resilience, …

Development And Validation Of A Music Teacher Candidate Assessment, Phillip Hash

Faculty Publications - Music

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Music Teacher Candidate Assessment (MTCA), a rubric-based tool for evaluating student teachers in music classrooms. Factor analyses of scores issued by university supervisors (USs), cooperating teachers (CTs), and student teachers (STs) supported construct validity, explained 53.5% of the variance, and revealed two subscales: Pedagogy (I) and Professionalism (II). Concurrent validity resulted from a strong correlation (r_s = .83) between evaluators’ rubric averages and holistic ratings of performance. Inter-factor correlation (r = .65) confirmed discriminant validity. All groups exceeded the α ≥ .80 threshold for acceptable internal …

Undergraduate Voice Students’ Understanding Of The Vocalize And Its Purpose, Natalie H. Bazemore

Honors College Theses

This research discusses undergraduate voice students' understanding of vocalizes and their purpose. To discuss this subject, a vocalize has been defined along with its purpose analyzed. By discovering what methods voice teachers are using to prescribe vocalizes tells us how they are educating their singers on developing technical singing skills. This research was collected through a survey conducted in Qualtrics and was shared via social media voice teacher forums and collegiate music settings. This 5-10 minute long survey included participants that are either undergraduate voice students or undergraduate voice teachers. The teachers and students completed different surveys, both asking about …

Existential Intelligence: A Survey Across The Ages--As Well As My Ages, Howard Gardner

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Advance Publication Archive

Written in response to Branton Shearer’s (2026) paper on existential intelligence and existential reasoning, this paper argues that due to the lack of evidence of neural specialization and a developmental trajectory, pondering existential questions is best understood as philosophical thinking, rather than a distinct intelligence. The paper reflects on the status of existential thinking within the author’s framework for multiple intelligences. It traces the criteria originally used to identify the author’s seven intelligences, the later admission of naturalist intelligence, and the provisional consideration of pedagogical and existential intelligences. The paper explains why the labels “spiritual” and “religious” intelligence have been …

Racial Discrimination And Racial Identity Among Asian College Students: The Moderating Role Of Interdependent Self-Construal, Foong Yan Lee, Qianyi Wang, Eunseon Gong

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

The current study examined the moderating role of interdependent self-construal in the relationship between perceived racial discrimination and racial group identification among 130 Asian college students at a U.S. institution. Using moderation regression analyses, results indicated that perceived racial discrimination was associated with lower racial group identification, and this relationship was significantly moderated by interdependent self-construal. Specifically, racial discrimination was negatively associated with racial group identification among students reporting lower levels of interdependent self-construal, whereas this association was not significant among those with higher interdependent self-construal. These findings suggest that individual differences in self-construal shape how Asian college students interpret …

The Factorial Structure Of The Positive Thinking Scale Among Graduate Students (A Case Study Of Tabuk University), Mohammed Abdullah Asiri, Hissah Suliman Albalawi

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

The aim of the research was to identify the factorial structure of the Positive Thinking Scale among graduate students, using confirmatory factor analysis, the level of positive thinking among graduate students, and the differences in the dimensions of positive thinking among graduate students, according to two variables: (gender and specialization). To achieve the research objectives, a descriptive analytical approach was used, and a scale was designed consisting of 36 items distributed across five dimensions (optimism and positive expectation, self-discipline and control of higher-level mental processes, mindfulness, critical thinking, and unconditional self-acceptance). The scale was applied to a stratified random sample …

Maslow’S Hammer: The Problem Of Scientism And The Philosophy Of Science In Maslow’S Later Work, Richard Grego

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Advance Publication Archive

This paper examines how Abraham Maslow’s concern with the pervasive intellectual and cultural influence of scientism shaped his philosophy of science and anticipated contemporary discourse on the nature of scientism. Although he never articulated a thorough, formal, or systematic philosophy of science, Maslow’s conception of science’s nature and scope is evident through the course of his work, and it was shaped by his concern with the emerging influence of scientism. The prominent intellectual status science has enjoyed since the Enlightenment has made scientism a powerful influence on postmodern intellectual and popular culture that is currently the subject of a wide …

Creating The Role Of Passerby And Stationmaster In The Cherry Orchard, Selwyn Ofori

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This paper will serve as a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting. It is a detailed account of Selwyn Ofori's artistic process in creating the role of Passerby and Stationmaster in Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard staged at Ted Paul at Minnesota State University, Mankato in Spring 2026. This thesis entails the actor's analysis from pre-production till performance in five chapters, namely: pre-production analysis, historical and critical perspective, journals, post-production analysis, process development, and appendix. The sources of my research are also recorded in the works cited.

Pillpetz: A Smarter Way To Encourage Medication Adherence In Children, John H. Begley

CMC Senior Theses

Medication adherence is usually framed as a problem of patient behavior, but this thesis argues that it is equally a problem of design. Children who take daily medication face barriers that adults often do not: developing executive function, dependence on caregivers, shifting school and home routines, privacy concerns, and stigma around being perceived as different. The standard prescription bottle, by contrast, was designed primarily for dispensing efficiency, safety, and accidental ingestion prevention—not for sustained daily use by a developing child.

This thesis proposes PillPetz, a smart pill case and digital companion that uses routine, play, dose confirmation, and caregiver-connected support …

Goods, Practices, Excellence, And The Law: Steps To An Internal Theory Of Value, Rowan Gray

CMC Senior Theses

Practices are the coherent and complex social activities we spend much of our lives engaging in. This category encompasses everything from figure skating to wine-tasting to friend relationships. We gain immense value from participating in practices, and philosophers have articulated a number of accounts for where the value emerges from and how we can best experience it. Many of these theories are ‘externalist’, because they posit that value is incidental to practices and emerges from outside of them.

In contrast, this thesis will argue that the value in practices is internal to each practice. The value comes from each practice’s …

The Jamaica That Dreams: A Normative Application Of Developmental Theory, Tamoy Pitt

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis examines Jamaica’s persistent underdevelopment through Martha Nussbaum's normative application of the capabilities approach as per her conception in Creating Capabilities. Through this approach, the paper will argue that Jamaica’s underdevelopment is a result of the failure of its domestic institutions to provide all citizens with the substantive freedoms and capabilities necessary to live lives of dignity. Originally detailed by Amartya Sen in his book Development as Freedom, the capabilities approach posits freedom as both the means and ends to development while rejecting contemporary approaches to development such as GDP, Utilitarianism, or Rawlsian resource-based approaches as insufficient frameworks for …

Crisis Communication In The Influencer Era: A Crisis Response Analysis Of Poppi And Alani Nu, Meredith E. Staley

Honors College Theses

As social media continues to reshape modern public relations practice, beverage brands like Alani Nu and Poppi offer relevant examples of influencer-driven communication and crisis response. This honors thesis compares and contrasts these brands following two major crises: Poppi’s influencer vending machine campaign and the health concerns and backlash surrounding Alani Nu’s energy drinks. Despite the well-known prevalence of these brands, there is little scholarly research examining their crisis communication strategies. Guided by Situational Crisis Communication Theory, this study uses a combination of social and news media content analysis to evaluate how each brand responded to its respective crisis. Each …

Who We Are Together: Identity Negotiation In Different-Orientation Relationships, Justin Tackett

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

viii Abstract This qualitative study explored how partners in different-orientation (dif-orientation) relationships experienced and navigated identity across the five frames of the Communication Theory of Identity (CTI): personal, enacted, relational, communal, and material. Dif-orientation relationships, romantic partnerships where individuals identify with different sexual orientations, represent a form of intercultural communication involving partners from distinct sexual orientation communities who must negotiate different cultural frameworks regarding sexuality, relationships, and identity expression. Despite growing recognition of diverse relationship configurations, little research currently examines how partners in these relationships manage identity gaps, or misalignments between different frames of identity, and what communication strategies they …

The Social Role And Significance Of Religion For Ukraine Today – Historical Dynamics And Current Contributions, Olena Svysiuk

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The paper delivers an analysis of Ukrainians’ religious worldview, tracing its development and transformation under historical, social and political influences. The contribution of the main Christian denominations − Orthodoxy, Greek-Catholicism and Protestantism − to national identity-building, the shaping of moral values, social cohesion and civic engagement is outlined. The work highlights how religion is deeply entwined with Ukrainian traditions, spirituality, and political life, serving as both a moral compass and a catalyst for social change. It also points to the churches’ social ministry − humanitarian, educational and psychological support − during the full-scale war. The involvement of religious institutions as …

Interplay Of Religion And Stagecraft: Orthodox Christianity And Islam In Russian Foreign Policy, Samet Okan, Askar Akimkhanov, Karlygash Borbassova, Rysgul Ospanova

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Religious factors have increasingly been acknowledged as significant components in the field of international relations, with scholars emphasizing the evolving paradigms involving religion and the rise of faith-based diplomacy. In the context of Russia, the intricate interplay between the state and both Christianity and Islam is particularly pertinent, given the nation’s multifaceted religious landscape. This paper explores the influence of religious elements in shaping the foreign policy of the Russian Federation. More specifically, it clarify the roles of the Russian Orthodox Church and Islam as pivotal components in the formation of Russia’s foreign policy strategies. Additionally, this study provides insights …

From The History Of The Arrival Of The True Cross In Georgia, Giorgi Sosiashvili, Aleksandre Mgebrishvili Prof. Dr.

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article explores the complex historical and theological narratives surrounding the arrival of the True Cross—the Life-Giving Wood—in Georgia, as preserved in medieval Georgian chronicles and ecclesiastical writings. Drawing upon primary sources such as the Conversion of Kartli, the chronicles of Leonti Mroveli, Nikoloz Gulaberidze, and Arsen Ikaltoeli, as well as later accounts by Prince Teimuraz, Niko Dadiani, and Platon Ioseliani, the study reconstructs the multi-layered tradition of how fragments of the Holy Cross were brought from Byzantium to Kartli during the reign of King Mirian. According to these sources, Emperor Constantine the Great and Queen Helena dispatched to Georgia …

Place-Branding In The Japanese Agricultural Industry: A Discourse Analysis Of National, Prefectural, Municipal, And Producer Perspectives, Miyu L. Owada

Pomona Senior Theses

This essay is a case study of place-based agricultural branding in Japan, particularly in the sub-urban context of Mitaka City, Tokyo. Shifting the focus from rural revitalization models typically studied in this field, this study brings sub-urban landscapes into the conversation. Although existing studies assume a top-down policy is implemented for agricultural branding in Japan, the study assesses to what extent this structure holds true for the Mitaka context, comparing narratives across four tiers: the national Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), the prefectural Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), the municipal Mitaka City and Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) Tokyo Musashi …

Lake As Body: Ecofeminism And Animacy At The Great Salt Lake, Shae Barber

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Water shapes cultural, social, and ecological systems. Yet, dominant economic, political, and academic frameworks often treat water as a backdrop or passive resource, ignoring it as an active participant in meaning-making and relationship-building. Viewing water as “nonliving” obscures how it participates in and co-creates relationships, limiting understanding about impacts of and responses to climate change and environmental degradation.

This thesis takes a mixed-methods and participatory approach including semi-structured interview, photovoice, and participatory mapping to examine relational practices between environmental advocates and the Great Salt Lake, a desiccating saline lake in Utah, U.S. As the lake continues to decline, dominant Western …

Shaping Shakespeare: How American Shakespeare Festivals Adapt Shakespeare’S Texts In The Twenty-First Century, Paul Jacques

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Shakespeare’s continued importance in American festival settings stems from adaptive and collaborative processes. In this study, adaptation refers to any reinterpretation of Shakespeare's works for contemporary contexts, while collaboration refers to the combined creative efforts among artists and institutions. These processes, including reinterpretation, modernization, and partnership, propel performance and underpin Shakespeare festivals. Such festivals play a central role, balancing cultural prestige with institutional sustainability by prioritizing long-term viability and financial health. At the same time, festivals respond to local audiences' beliefs and interests. Instead of presenting static versions, these institutions continually interpret, revise, and adapt the canon, the authoritative collection …

Understanding The Impact Of Psychosocial Barriers On Colorectal Cancer Knowledge In Emerging Black Men, Chelsey Mcgill, Maria D. Thomson, Caroline Kuno, Emmanuel Taylor, Kimberly Lawrence, Alison J. Patev, Arnethea L. Sutton, Ruth Nyagaka, Oxana Palesh, Larry D. Keen Ii

Research and Infrastructure Service Enterprise (RISE) Faculty Publications

In the United States, Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and the third leading cause of death among non-Hispanic African American/Black (henceforth Black) men. Inadequate CRC knowledge leads to missing early warning signs, delaying prevention and increasing risk. Emerging adulthood (18-25) is a key period for building healthy behaviors and addressing barriers to CRC knowledge in addition to understanding attitudes and practices to CRC screening. Psychosocial barriers - including social support, medical mistrust, and perceived racial discrimination - contribute to the lack of CRC knowledge among older Black men, yet emerging adult Black men remain …

Pastors In Crisis: A Proactive Prayer Life As A Measure Against Pastoral Burnout, Seth W. Hinrichs

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Doctor of Ministry project examines the relationship between a proactive prayer life and pastoral burnout among senior pastors in Converge North Central churches. Addressing the increasing prevalence of burnout in vocational ministry, the study reframes burnout as a fundamentally theological issue rather than merely a psychological or organizational problem. Drawing on the work of Ray Anderson and others, the project argues that burnout reflects a misalignment between a pastor’s lived theology—particularly in identity, calling, and dependence on God—and the realities of ministry practice. The research integrates biblical-theological reflection, a review of contemporary literature, and quantitative field research through a …

Sexual Politics Of The Anglo-American Relationship In 1942: A Case Study Of The United States V. Travis Hammond Court-Martial, Catherine Campbell

Honors Theses

On August 10, 1942, American private, Travis B. Hammond, was on trial for accusations of rape against a 16-year-old British girl, Maureen Thomson. This would mark the first American court martial case tried on British soil. This trial was preceded by the issuing of the United States (Visiting Forces) Act of 1942 (VFA) on August 6, 1942, which granted the United States military exclusive jurisdiction over their soldiers. When the Act was first given to Parliament, it was looked at in disdain as being wholly without precedent and antithetical to the norms within Britain. However, the importance of maintaining a …

Crafting The “Greatest Classics” Of Girlhood: Advice Columns, Diaries, And The Emotional Lives Of American Teenage Girls, 1918-1939, Kylee Violet King

Honors Theses

“Crafting the ‘Greatest Classics’ of Girlhood: Advice Columns, Diaries, and the Emotional Lives of American Teenage Girls, 1918-1939” explores how American teenage girls who came of age between 1918 and 1939 used writing as a form of expression. As a response to the heightened anxieties—the “storm and the stress”—that was caused by the social structure of the era, teenage girls used writing in advice column letters and diaries as a form of self-fashioning, self-reflection, and self-therapy to discuss courtship, dating, and romantic relationships. Additionally, depending on the medium, writing acted as a form of advice seeking and community support. Writing …

A Ministry Manual For Supporting Pastoral Transitions: Addressing The Emotional And Spiritual Needs Of Clergy And Their Families, John Tucker

Dissertations

Pastoral transitions represent spiritually significant yet often under-supported moments in the life of clergy, congregations, and ministry networks. While leadership change is frequently framed in theological language emphasizing divine calling and institutional continuity, insufficient attention is given to the emotional, relational, and familial dimensions of these transitions. This Doctor of Ministry project examines the spiritual and emotional impact of pastoral transitions within African American church contexts, with particular attention to clergy wellbeing and systems of care.

This study employed a mixed-methods research design integrating quantitative survey data with qualitative semi-structured interviews. Survey instruments were distributed to pastors affiliated with The …

No One Told Their Story: Acculturation, Faith Formation, And Belonging In Multicultural Congregations Led By African American Pastors, Alicia L. Partee

Doctor of Ministry

The search for meaning, identity coherence, and belonging often intensifies when individuals cross cultural boundaries. Faith communities can serve as sanctuaries for identity renegotiation, but congregations may also reproduce the social distance and exclusion found in the broader society. This dissertation addresses a scholarly and pastoral gap at the intersection of acculturation and Christian faith formation, and more specifically how identity, belonging, and spiritual formation are negotiated within multicultural congregations led by African American pastors in San Jose, California, and similar contexts.

Drawing on acculturation research in psychology, sociology, and anthropology, this study examines how culturally diverse newcomers experience culture …

Binding The Strongman: Understanding And Disarming Society's Anxious Systems, Jacob Eugene Osborne

Doctor of Ministry

Binding the Strongman seeks to address an underlying problem at the heart of western evangelicalism, an idolatry which contemporary Christianity has become enmeshed in as it relates to political figures, cultural influencers, and unhealthy spiritual leaders. The NPO examines how evangelicals engaged in politics are encountering barriers to spiritual growth largely due to systemic social and spiritual leadership issues caused by their position in a relational system that is experiencing chronic anxiety.

Binding the Strongman addresses underlying dynamics at the heart of every Christian, such as the unhealthy emotional systems they are prone to rely on as systems of truth, …