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Uncanniness In Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, Seth L. Callor

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This thesis explores how Toni Morrison’s 1970 novel The Bluest Eye has a feature called the uncanny. Uncanniness, as originally explained by Sigmund Freud, is when something that was familiar becomes unsettlingly unfamiliar in a way that was likely once repressed. Other thinkers have since talked about how the uncanny is used in stories to question how their demographics are oppressed. Following their example, this thesis explains how The Bluest Eye is an example of using the uncanny to question harmful ways of seeing. Through demonstrating how The Bluest Eye uses obviously uncanny things like dolls and moves to more …

Sense Of Belonging And Self-Efficacy Of Women In Stemm At The University Of South Alabama, Emilie Dedeaux

Honors Theses

Despite decades of calls and initiatives to diversify science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEMM) disciplines, females are still more likely to leave STEMM career paths compared to their male peers, which is often depicted as a 'leaky pipeline'. Females in STEMM often report greater social alienation, greater selfdoubt, lower sense of belonging and academic satisfaction due to a mismatch in values in STEMM disciplines. STEMM values have traditionally been normed by cisheteronormative, white, male ideologies . While extensive research has focused on the barriers females experience in STEMM that reduce sense of belonging , less research has focused on …

Substance Use And Childhood Environment In Adolescent Head Injury: Examining The Effects Of Race, Jessica A. Phelps

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Adolescents participating in sports are at an increased risk of concussion, which is particularly important given the difficulties with cognitive function, emotion regulation, and impulsivity that may occur as a result of this brain injury. These symptoms can predispose adolescents to subsequent concussions, leading to further damage during a critical time in neurodevelopment which can result in mental health disorder development in adulthood. It is crucial to understand what factors may predispose youth to increased rates of concussion for these reasons. As such, this paper explored whether race/ethnicity, gender, grade in school, childhood environment, and risk-taking behaviors were associated with …

Book Review: More Historic Rural Churches Of Georgia, Austina Jordan

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Purgatory, Kat Mccormick

Bachelor of Fine Arts Theses

Artist Statement:

Purgatory is my exhibition of paintings and sculptures investigating the complex relationships between the self, the psyche, and the process of healing. Living with long-term and recurring mental health issues can breed despondency toward treatment when trial and error lead nowhere. Enduring instability seems no more difficult than endlessly trying to hold onto stability. I represent the stagnancy of this limbo between healing and devolving by painting in limited color. I create contrast through juxtaposing textures such as soft and sharp, and leaning into the differing intensities of phthalo green and tints mimicking raw canvas. Using self-portraiture in …

Transfigure, Madison Gaffney

Bachelor of Fine Arts Theses

Artist Statement:

Maddy Gaffney’s thesis exhibition, Transfigure, examines the passage of time through a mythical lens, exploring how the personification of fate, seasons, and lunar cycles can explain natural occurrences through visual narrative. Working in oil paint, Gaffney personifies elemental natural cycles as living figures, emphasizing the interconnectedness of humans and nature and how these cycles act as catalysts for transformation. Figures appear where they would not normally exist—within landscapes, across skies, and as embodiments of fate. Through large-scale oil paintings, Gaffney constructs immersive compositions that weave together myth, nature, and transformation, presenting time as a living, shifting force. Layered …

Side Of The Road, Jacob Van Langeveld

Bachelor of Fine Arts Theses

Artist Statement:

“Side of the Road” is a body of work about the local area and the places and objects I’m drawn to while driving. I aim to form a connection with Upstate New York, repurposing the elements that shape my visual and emotional experience into paintings that, in turn, mark moments in my life—similar to journal entries. These mostly medium-sized paintings are rooted in plein air practice. I drive, find an interesting subject, pull over, set up my gear, and begin working. In some cases, instead of painting on-site, I take a photograph and bring it back to the …

Sexual Violence, Rape Culture, And The Ethics Of Care In Promising Young Woman (2020), Blink Twice (2024), And Women Talking (2022), Naomi H. Fredgant

Film and Media Studies (MA) Theses

Evolving public discourse on rape and rape culture is reflected in contemporary cinema. This thesis analyzes Promising Young Woman (2020), Blink Twice (2024), and Women Talking (2022)—all directed by women—through the theoretical framework of the ethics of care, highlighting how these films expose the persistence of rape culture and the systemic failure of institutions to support victims of sexual violence. Drawing on scholarship about rape culture, this analysis shows how the rape myths and institutional gaslighting depicted in these films function to dismiss victims’ testimonies, mirroring broader patterns of invalidation. The films explore both individual and collective responses to sexual …

Hannah, Nora Brigid Monahan

Theses and Dissertations

Hannah is a contemporary adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, which reimagines Ibsen's heroine as a "stealth" (or undetected) transsexual woman living among the American conservative elite in Washington D.C. Newly married to George Taylor, a charismatic but financially strained far-right media personality, Hannah struggles to maintain the façade she has constructed when Eliot Loving, a volatile political streamer and figure from past, reappears in her life. Their collision, orchestrated by the manipulative power-broker Judge Brock, upends Hannah's sense of self and forces her into a desperate struggle for her own autonomy and security. In a deliberate subversion of …

Experiences Of Hispanic/Latine Graduate Students In Unco’S Audiology And Speech-Language Pathology Programs Within A Hispanic-Serving Institution Context: Qualitative Thematic Analysis From A Moderated Focus Group, Ashley Fuhrman

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Existing literature has examined workforce diversity in healthcare as a factor that may shape patient rapport and the delivery of culturally responsive, patient-centered care. Given the increasing demand for audiologists (AuDs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) with diverse and multilingual backgrounds, it is important to understand how graduate programs prepare students to serve linguistically and culturally diverse populations. This qualitative study examines the experiences of Hispanic/Latine graduate students in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), a recently designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The study explores students’ perceptions of training, support, and experiences in serving diverse populations. …

"Some Women Make It Look So Easy": An Analysis Of Jenny Offill's Fragmentary Novels And Their Critique Of Postfeminist Sensibility, Kimberly Crooks

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Jenny Offill’s novels Dept. of Speculation and Weather are each narrated by a woman who exists in a postfeminist era that insists upon the achievability of a happy work-life balance. Despite the lofty career aspirations now afforded to women, the protagonists find themselves burdened by the gendered responsibilities that disproportionately hold them responsible for domestic duties, childcare, and emotional labor. Both protagonists use a fragmented narrative style to convey their consciousness, and the texts are composed of hundreds of short fragments that include memories, self-reflections, philosophical musings, lines of poetry, fun facts, questions, and more. While the narratives do not …

Conversation Made 'Easy' In The Classroom: The Problem With Women's Education In Nineteenth Century New Jersey, Rebecca Bienskie Jackson

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Born in 1877, Rose McDonough grew up in Montclair, New Jersey. She learned French in a local school inside a Congregational Church, and by 1920 was a private teacher. This thesis recovers information about Rose McDonough’s life through a single archival object: Easy Conversations In French, by Gustave Choquet and published by New York’s George R. Lockwood & Son, in 1854. Housed in the Montclair History Center, Rose’s penciled marginalia is scattered throughout. Using book history as the primary methodology, this thesis reads the material object of the schoolbook, marks left by its reader, along with Census records, historic maps, …

"I Exist In Triple": Parisian Influence, And The Three-Way Split In James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room (1956), Paloma Lupino

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

James Baldwin's novel Giovanni's Room was received as a rebellion against his cohort of ex-patriate Black writers due to its entirely white cast. This thesis investigates how the Parisian influence of the Black writers in Paris served as inspiration for the creation of Baldwin’s second publication. The use of racial frameworks progresses the discussion of a different topic: queerness. Giovanni’s Room will be explored in the following ways: Paris as the internal environment of the novel and Baldwin's backdrop in the novel's creation, the conversation of ex-patriate Black writers, feminism, intersectionality, hygiene as queerness, and a three-way split of consciousness. …

In Praise Of Antony's Folly: The Triumph Of Foolishness In Shakespeare's Antony And Cleopatra, Michael Anthony Rombola

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Antony and Cleopatra has long been regarded as a play about shame. Underlying this reading there have been several assumptions, namely that Antony's shame is justified and that Cleopatra's influence is destructive. These beliefs are rooted largely in the historical treatment of Cleopatra, particularly that of Plutarch, who advanced the view that the Queen of Egypt destroyed a formerly great man. In this paper, I argue that the opposite is true: that Shakespeare's Cleopatra, far from destroying Antony, actually helps to liberate him from the tyranny of Roman expectation. In the course of my analysis, I examine two competing sets …

The Tones And Frequencies Of A Glockenspiel, Edward Czudak

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In this thesis, I will analyze the tones and frequencies of a glockenspiel based on the results of Warburton’s 1954 article, “The Vibration Of Rectangular Plates,” [12]. I will be measuring and modeling the frequencies of a glockenspiel and connect them with the analytical and expected numerical solutions. The solutions will be based on the plate equation along with the boundary conditions of a rectangle free on all edges. I will look at the high modes of vibration for the bars and their corresponding overtones in the acoustic spectrum.

An Invasion Of The Intimate Sphere: The Manipulation Of Libido Under Totalitarian Regimes, Elyssa Lucero

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This paper examines the temporal nature of libidinal control in the totalitarian systems represented in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. Arguing that the most enduring forms of domination operate through the reorganization of desire, the essay explores how regimes intervene in familial, romantic, and social attachments to redirect affective energy towards the state. Orwell depicts a primitive, reactive phase of control in which attachments are violently ruptured, whereas Huxley imagines an advanced system that operates through preemption, never allowing attachments to form. Drawing on Freud’s theory of redirected libido, Berlant’s theory of Cruel Optimism, Marxist …

Navigating Faith And Sexuality: Christian Pastors' Experiences In Providing Pastoral Care For Lgbtq+ Youth, Keith I. Raymond

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Within the Christian context, religion and sexuality are often cultural factors that shape the identity development of LGBTQ+ youth, with congregational stance (affirming, tolerant, non–affirming) and individual religiosity/spirituality serving as protective or risk factors (Crockett et al., 2018; Raedel et al., 2020; Yarhouse & Sadusky, 2021). Christian pastors’ theology, relational ministry approach, and pastoral skills influence how they engage with and care for queer youth, yet the professional ties between pastors and LGBTQ+ youth remain underrepresented in counseling literature. Guided by queer theory, this qualitative case study examined how Christian pastors understand and navigate pastoral care for LGBTQ+ youth within …

Is Design A Form Of Caregiving?, Sidney Jordan

Interior Design Capstones

This thesis challenges the traditional hierarchy of clinical architecture, which historically prioritizes patient outcomes while overlooking the practitioner’s human experience. By investigating whether environmental design can act as a form of caregiving, this research addresses the critical gap between the physiological demands of healthcare labor and the holistic needs of the people performing it. The project argues that burnout is not just a result of high-stakes medicine, but is actively produced by physical layouts and a workplace culture that treats providers as parts of a machine rather than valued individuals. The methodological framework utilizes a tri-layered approach to bridge the …

Designing For Emotion: Reframing The Design Of Cancer Care Environments Through A Cinematic Lens, Alexis Booher

Interior Design Capstones

This capstone explores how cinematic design principles and techniques can inform interior design to shape spaces that support emotional well-being and human connection. Focusing on cancer care spaces, the project addresses the inherently emotional nature of these environments, where emotional impact is often underemphasized in traditional healthcare design, highlighting a critical gap this project aims to address. Drawing from cinema and environmental psychology, this project analyzes how film constructs emotional experiences through visual techniques and translates these principles into the built environment in order to prioritize emotionally supportive design within cancer care spaces. The outcome demonstrates the potential of reframing …

Design For Death, Serena Domsic

Interior Design Capstones

Although cemeteries are the eternal final resting places for countless souls, the design and purpose of burial grounds are often rudimentary and their impact has turned obsolete throughout the years. Cemeteries have become forgotten in the community landscape and are perceived as sinister and morbid through the eyes of modern American culture. Because encounters with death have dwindled for most of the population, many people ignore developing their beliefs about death and how to cope with loss until they are in the midst of emotional distress. This capstone project proposes an enhanced cemetery design that engages the community so individuals …

Unity In Design: Life As An Immigrant In The Built Environment, Julia Sainz

Interior Design Capstones

In the United States, Latinx immigrant communities often face social and systemic challenges that contribute to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and displacement. While the built environment plays a critical role in shaping emotional and social well-being, architectural and interior design practices frequently overlook the lived experiences and cultural identities of these populations. This study explores how culturally responsive and participatory design strategies can foster safety, access, and empowerment for Latinx immigrants. By examining the intersection of migration, identity, and the built environment, this project proposes design as a tool for community resilience, cultural expression, and holistic well-being.

Where Do We Go: Rethinking Public Libraries, Emma Jouppi

Interior Design Capstones

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors contributing to the decline in public library visits and to identify practical strategies for increasing community engagement with library spaces. Public libraries have long served as accessible, inclusive environments for learning, technology access, and social connection. However, recent years have shown a decline in visitation, raising important questions about public perception, awareness, and accessibility. This research seeks to better understand how these factors intersect and what can be done to strengthen the role of libraries as vital third spaces within their communities.

This study aims to bridge the gap between …

Spring 2026 Title Of Blueprints For The Mind: How The Design Of Public Built Environment Impacts The Mental Health Of Youth, Faith Holton

Interior Design Capstones

Blueprints for the Mind investigates how public built environments influence the mental health of youth, with attention to rising rates of anxiety, depression. Through a multidisciplinary approach bridging environmental psychology, public health, interior architecture, and usercentered design, this project identifies the environmental factors shaping young people’s emotional well-being. Findings reveal that sensory conditions such as lighting, acoustics, layout, materiality, and predictability directly affect youth comfort, focus, and emotional regulation. Field research with students (ages 13–15) and an expert interview with licensed social worker Carmen Ortega-Cline further demonstrate that overstimulating, crowded, or unclear environments heighten stress, while semi-private, naturally lit, and …

Through The Lens Of Zoology, Madalyn Haun

Interior Design Capstones

Current zoo and sanctuary models often fail to meet the complex psychological, behavioral, and spatial needs of endangered and rehabilitated wildlife, resulting in chronic stress and welfare compromises. Beyond the Cage presents a transformation approach to zoological design, shifting the paradigm from entertainment-based displays to a “welfare-first” philosophy. This book argues that effective captive care requires expansive, species-appropriate habitats that facilitate natural behaviors, rather than merely simulating natural aesthetics. Through the lens of modern zoology, this work explores the implementation of groundbreaking exhibit re-creation, focusing on habitat enlargement, precise climate change control, and innovative environmental enrichment. A central pillar of …

Designing Across Generations: Bridging The Gap Through Ecclesiastical Architecture, Aurora Thompson

Interior Design Capstones

The purpose of this capstone project is to develop an intergenerational worship environment that reinforces a sense of unity and harmony among the generations through intentional design strategies. This work addresses the widening generational gap within religious communities and responds to the growing departure of younger generations who often feel unseen or disconnected within traditional church settings. By integrating generational preferences into the architectural and experiential components of the worship space, the project seeks to create an environment where all age groups feel represented, valued, and spiritually engaged. Situated within the context of increasing religious disaffiliation, this project highlights the …

A Gift For The Emperor DawāʾIr Al-ʿUlūm Wa-Jadāwil Al-Ruqūm, A Mediaeval Graphic Encyclopaedia Of The 19th Century, Juan Acevedo, Inês Bénard Da Costa

Abdou Filali-Ansary Occasional Paper Series

The recent discovery of a 19th-century Arabic manuscript in the Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon, initiated a period of intense collaboration between the Museum and the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, culminating in the 2023–24 exhibition ‘Power of the Word V: Circles of Knowledge.’ The first part of this article describes the manuscript, while the second part looks at its contents, a striking visual encyclopaedia, mostly from Safavid sources, entitled Tuḥfat al-Khāqān: Dawāʾir al-ʿUlūm wa-Jadāwil al-Ruqūm (A Gift for the Emperor: Circles of Sciences and Tables of Numerals). Its sections range from cosmogony and alphanumeric cosmology to geography, geomancy and the …

The Bridge, Bridgewater State University

the bridge

No abstract provided.

(De)Composing Transhumanisms: Fungal And Trans Ecologies In Jeff Vandermeer's Annihilation, Miles Nives Qapevewni Enriquez-Morales

English (MA) Theses

This thesis project analyzes the novel Annihilation (2014) by Jeff VanderMeer and situates the biologist’s transformation and transition in the book in a trans ecological framework. By expanding on foundational texts such as Jackson Jesse Nash’s “‘I Am Not Returning Home’: A Transgender Reading of Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation”, this paper argues that representations of fungus in Annihilation present a possibility for trans futurity rooted in transformation, ecological entanglement, and a rejection of binary thought. Additional articles from Transgender Studies Quarterly and A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies orient this fungal transformation in the larger framework of rejecting normative …

The Rise Of Romantasy: Female Desire, Monstrous Feminists, Fairy Tale Ideology, And Societal Panic, Rachel Stucki

English (MA) Theses

This thesis argues that the contemporary rise of Romantasy is not merely a publishing trend but a significant literary and cultural development through which female desire, agency, and subjectivity are being renegotiated. Tracing a historical continuum across Gothic horror, fairy tale discourse, and contemporary fantasy romance, I contend that patriarchal ideology has long constructed women according to a restrictive binary: either silent and compliant, or monstrous and punishable. Drawing on theorists including Jack Zipes, Barbara Creed, Cristina Santos, Maria Tatar, Louis Althusser, and Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock, this project examines how literary forms have both reflected and reinforced cultural anxieties surrounding …

Quality Control: A Process For Vendor Digitized Av Assets, Kathryn Reagan

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This poster delineates the process of quality control for vendor digitized audio-visual assets from congressional collections and examines the significance of this practice for archives more broadly. The steps outlined include selecting items from the collection inventory, preparing and reboxing for digitization, and rehousing the original materials when they come back from the vendor. The creation of a quality control checklist and evaluation of each item is examined more closely.     Likewise, the poster quantifies the scale of this project; Given the size of political collections, the items were sent to a vendor to be digitized as part of an NHPRC …