Digital Commons Network^™

2026-05-12 Minutes, Morehead State University. Staff Congress.

Staff Congress Records

Staff Congress meeting minutes from May 12, 2026.

Embracing Neurodiversity In The Workplace: Strategies For Human Resource Management To Foster Inclusion And Enhance Employee Well-Being, Sameer Ahmed

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Abstract

Objective: This literature review examines strategies for fostering the inclusion of neurodivergent individuals in the workplace with a focus on the role of Human Resource Management (HRM). Background: Neurodiversity refers to variations in neurological functioning and includes conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and others. Recognizing neurodiversity as a valuable form of human diversity can enhance workplace innovation and performance. Method: A comprehensive review of the recent literature on neurodiversity in the workplace was conducted by employing qualitative analysis techniques, including thematic coding, comparative analysis, and critical reflection. Results: Key findings encompass the …

Closing The Global Skills Gap: Employer Panels As Partnership Tools For Industry And Higher Education, Dean Campbell, Emily Workman

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

This paper explores how employer panels function as partnership tools to close the global skills gap between higher education and industry. As workforce demands shift toward adaptability, critical thinking, and intercultural competence, institutions must prepare students with both technical and soft skills. Guided by Communities of Practice and constructivist learning frameworks, two community college case studies—a metropolitan branch campus (BCCC) and a rural college (RCC)—demonstrate how employer panels support workforce readiness. Panels engaged employers, faculty, and students in discussions informed by pre-session surveys and industry insights, highlighting skills essential for navigating a globalized economy. Outcomes show that panels foster collaborative …

Generative Artificial Intelligence And Its Effects On The Creation, Distribution, And Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material, Grace Chitwood Hampton

Advanced Issues in Criminal Law: Sex Offenses

This paper examines the growing legal and constitutional challenges posed by AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in the United States. Tracing the evolution of federal child pornography laws from the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation Act of 1977 through the PROTECT Act and modern reporting statutes, the paper argues that existing legal frameworks were developed for an era preceding generative artificial intelligence and are ill-equipped to address fully synthetic yet hyper-realistic depictions of minors. Through analysis of key Supreme Court decisions, including Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, New York v. Ferber, and Miller v. California, the paper explores …

A Practical Leadership Guide For Student Organization President And Officers, Adrian Hernandez

Honors Capstones

This capstone project focuses on the development of a leadership playbook designed to support student organization leaders through practical guidance, organizational strategies, and leadership systems grounded in real experiences. The project was inspired by my experience serving as President of Pi Sigma Epsilon and the leadership challenges commonly faced within student organizations. Throughout my time in leadership, I observed how communication, structure, accountability, and organizational culture directly impacted the success and sustainability of organizations. These experiences motivated the creation of a resource that could help future student leaders navigate leadership responsibilities more effectively while building stronger and more sustainable organizations. …

Firm-Level Tournament Incentives And Social Decoupling: Evidence From The United States, Mohamed Khalifa, Ahmed Aboud, Soad Kh Ali

All Works

This study investigates whether tournament-based executive incentives exacerbate social decoupling. Using 4468 firm-year observations from S&P 500 firms between 2010 and 2022, we find that stronger tournament incentives are associated with higher levels of social decoupling. This association is stronger in firms without ESG-linked compensation, those facing higher product market competition, and those with greater board co-option. Additional analyses indicate that increased agency costs constitute an important channel. The analysis employs firm and year fixed-effects regressions and is supplemented by alternative decoupling measures, change-on-change analysis, instrumental variable estimation, and a Heckman two-stage model. This study advances the literature on executive …

The Role Of Ceo Biases And Heuristics For Large Firms’ Innovation, Cristina O. Vlas, Radu E. Vlas

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Do different CEO biases affect large firms’ innovation differently, and to what extent are these effects bounded by CEOs’ heuristics? In this article, we highlight overlooked antecedents, such as the biases imposed by CEO narcissism and self-monitoring and the heuristics driven by CEOs’ motivation (regulatory foci) for certain courses of action. We found that narcissistic CEOs differ from self-monitoring CEOs when it comes to innovation. We found that, for self-monitoring CEOs, these effects are conditioned by the individuals’ underlying promotion and prevention motivation, but this is not the case for narcissistic CEOs. These findings contour our understanding of the immutability …

The Data Movement In Professional Sports, Preston Dorand

Undergraduate Honors Theses

At the turn of the 21st century, technological advancement reshaped industries worldwide, including professional sports. Organizations increasingly adopted analytical frameworks, leveraging advanced software systems and performance metrics to inform and optimize decision-making on and off the field. Industry professionals frequently cite the film and book, Moneyball, as a cultural turning point that brought data driven methodologies to the forefront. Since that period, professional sports, especially baseball, have evolved from foundational sabermetric theory into a complex data ecosystem characterized by high-resolution tracking technologies, pitch modeling, player valuation systems, and matchup optimization models.

My thesis examined how sports organizations operationalized data-driven …

Technology’S Historical Impact On The Wealth Management Business And How Advisors Plan To Evolve Around Career Challenges Posed By Artificial Intelligence, Nick George

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The past few decades have molded our contemporary financial experiences and have forced financial advisors to plan for a career-altering pivot in the near future. Over the last fifty years, wealth advisors have seen dozens of incidents known as “extinction-level events”, described as the two-way path a consultant faces when new technological advancements occur. We used data collected from real-world financial advisors, client service associates, and academic publications to assess the next big turning point of the industry, Artificial Intelligence, and how it both differs and relates to other developments of this caliber within the industry, such as the rise …

The Role Of Cultural Contexts Within Marketing Strategies Of Experiential Tourism Across Countries That Rely Heavily On Tourism, Maren Bronson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Developing a cultural mindset requires awareness of one’s cultural background and recognizing that culture provides a broader framework for understanding the world around us (e.g. values, behaviors, and expectations). At the same time, tourism continues to expand globally, contributing approximately 10% of global GDP in 2025, serving as a major driver of economic growth for destination countries (WTTC, 2025). As destinations increasingly rely on international visitors, tourism marketing must satisfy the needs and wants of international tourists. This thesis reviews the literature on culture, marketing, and tourism to  examine how cultural contexts shape experiential tourism marketing strategies in tourism-dependent countries, …

Meeting The Moment With Ai-Employer Informed Education, Brent Terwilliger, John Faraca

Publications

As artificial intelligence transforms aviation, aerospace, and autonomy-related sectors, higher education must adapt to meet evolving workforce demands. This session shares emerging findings from a nationwide study led by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, focused on employer perceptions of AI adoption, responsible use, and workforce preparedness in domains including uncrewed systems, space systems, robotics, and advanced air mobility. Based on a structured survey and follow-up interviews, the presentation explores how organizations are using AI tools, from generative platforms to enterprise systems, and defining effective and inappropriate use in operational contexts. Participants will gain insight into critical concerns (e.g., data privacy, compliance, security, …

Green Building Certification And Global Warming: Between Environmental Performance And Greenwashing, Marcel Michalak

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the role of green building certifications in addressing global warming. The growing trend of pursuing certificates, such as LEED or BREEAM, can be perceived as a great symbol of resilience and desire to improve the quality of our environment. Unfortunately, in the majority of cases, developers or companies use sustainable labels more as a marketing tool than a real commitment to environmental effectiveness. This paper explores whether green building certifications effectively reduce global warming and how they may serve as tools for greenwashing. Chapter One lays the foundation for why green building certifications exist and why they …

Not Retirement, But A Rewiring And Fresh Perspectives Post-Dbs, Says Piyush Gupta [Interview With Business Times], Su Shyan Lee, Piyush Gupta

Oral History Collection

In an interview with The Business Times, SMU Chairman Piyush Gupta discussed topics ranging from meditation and conservation to the future of education. On his role at SMU, he emphasised his desire to help shape tertiary education and noted that the rise of AI makes it critical to rethink how we learn. Mr Gupta believes that in an AI-driven world, students must move beyond domain knowledge to focus on interpreting information, "connecting the dots," and engaging others with genuine empathy. He is supportive of a more experiential curriculum at SMU — one that focuses on regional exposure through internships and …

Foreign Direct Investment And Economic Growth: Assessing Mediation Role Of Financial Development.., Adam Salehe Kizigha, Ellinami John Minja, Neema Robert Towo

Business Management Review

This study examines the mediating role of financial development in the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic growth in low financial development (LFD) economies within the SADC region over the period 1991–2020. Using panel data techniques, including fixed effects estimation with Driscoll–Kraay standard errors and an instrumental variable approach, the analysis captures both the direct and indirect channels through which FDI influences economic growth. The findings indicate that, FDI exerts a positive and statistically significant direct effect on economic growth. More importantly, the results reveal a positive indirect (suppression) effect, whereby FDI mitigates the adverse impact of weak …

Financial Outcomes Of Digital Marketing, Jaihyun Jeon

Dissertations - ALL

Digital technologies have transformed how information about firms is created, disseminated, and interpreted in the marketplace. In particular, social media and artificial intelligence (AI) have introduced new channels through which marketing-related information reaches financial markets. Consumers increasingly share product experiences and opinions on social media, while firms communicate technological initiatives through corporate disclosures such as press releases. These developments have reshaped the information environment surrounding firms and influence how investors and financial analysts evaluate firm performance. In this dissertation, I examine how digitally mediated information originating from both consumers and firms affects financial market perceptions, contributing to research at the …

Systemic Employment Discrimination And Class Actions: The Extent Of Structural Litigation In The United States And Brazil, Ricardo Jose Macedo De Britto Pereira

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation explores class actions against systemic employment discrimination in the United States and Brazil, adopting a collective perspective that strengthens the enforcement of rights. The study also examines whether affirmative action can be implemented as a remedy without dividing groups or triggering resistance in political scenarios unfavorable to inclusive and diverse work environments. The focus is on institutional responses addressing structures of discrimination through procedural tools that advance reforms and prevent setbacks. The dissertation develops a political and legal theoretical background of collective rights, identifying unequal structures in society and pathways for reform, and examining employers’ authority, labor segmentation, …

Accounting In Action: The Examination Of Audit, Tax Policy, Economic Ideology, And Corporate Strategy, Luke S. Angle

Honors Theses

This thesis presents a comprehensive examination of financial reporting, auditing, tax policy, and corporate strategy through a structured series of case studies conducted over an academic year. The primary objective of this investigation is to develop an applied understanding of how accounting concepts function in real-world business environments and how financial information informs decision-making by investors, regulators, and corporate management. Each case study explores a distinct area of financial reporting, including the analysis of public company disclosures, the evaluation of regulatory developments, the consideration of economic ideology, and the assessment of strategic business decisions.

The methodology employed in this study …

The Paradox Of Perfection: Hidden Risks Of High-Performing Ai In Human-In-The-Loop Governance, Chen Zhong, Alper Yayla, Xueping Liang

Proceedings of the Cognitive Innovation Conference (CognoCon)

As AI systems achieve near-perfect accuracy in high-stakes decision-making domains, governance frameworks risk overlooking a critical paradox: superior AI reliability may render human oversight ceremonial rather than functional. This paper presents a theoretically grounded experimental research design to investigate Automation Complacency—the cognitive degradation of human vigilance triggered by sustained streaks of accurate AI outputs. Grounded in Dual-Process Theory and the competency trap literature, we hypothesize that consistent AI reliability shifts operators from analytical (System 2) to heuristic (System 1) processing, significantly impairing error detection when AI eventually fails. Using a simulated phishing detection task (N=200), we plan to test how …

Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Models, Ai Applications, Ai Business Transformation, Reza Vaezi

Proceedings of the Cognitive Innovation Conference (CognoCon)

This paper critically examines the prevailing approaches to AI ethics, arguing that current frameworks—focused on regulation, compliance, and risk mitigation—are insufficient for guiding increasingly autonomous and socially influential AI systems. It contends that ethical behavior in humans arises from morality that is rooted in human empathy, which AI lacks. By differentiating between morality (emotionally intuitive) and ethics (analytical and rule-based), the paper highlights the limitations of procedural ethics in AI, which operates solely in an analytical mode. The author proposes an alternative path for ethical AI through conscious empathic AI, suggesting that embedding empathic capacities could stabilize moral behavior in …

Llms Are Not The Answer Relevant Ai For Business Transformation, Christopher Simpkins

Proceedings of the Cognitive Innovation Conference (CognoCon)

AI hype is driving AI failure. Hype-driven focus on LLM-centric AI products – which in reality have few practical applications – is causing businesses to miss out on the real opportunities offered by the breadth of AI that is more relevant to their problems. In this position paper I provide a definition of AI that focuses on the kinds of problems AI can solve and a brief introduction to the broad field of AI. I then explain at a high level why LLMs fall short of their hype and always will, as a consequence of fundamental technical limitations. Within the …

When Humans Stop Thinking: Cognitive Offloading, Atrophy Risk, And The Design Of Human-Ai Intelligence, Pravinya Mandalapu, Adriane B. Randolph, Andrea Taylor

Proceedings of the Cognitive Innovation Conference (CognoCon)

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems proliferate across professional and everyday contexts, humans increasingly rely on these tools to perform cognitive tasks they once carried out internally. This phenomenon of cognitive offloading extends beyond the use of traditional aids like calendars or calculators, raising foundational questions about how deep reliance on AI reshapes human cognition itself (Risko & Gilbert, 2016). While offloading can enhance immediate task performance, emerging evidence suggests meaningful costs to memory retention, judgment quality, and creative autonomy (Burnett & Richmond, 2025; Risko et al., 2023). Drawing on seminal work by Cliff Nass and colleagues on media multitasking, task-switching, …

Agentic Implementation In Business Processes With Guardrails, Kunal Kumar

Proceedings of the Cognitive Innovation Conference (CognoCon)

Enterprises are increasingly adopting Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance automation in document driven workflows. However, their probabilistic behavior raises challenges related to governance, auditability, and regulatory compliance. This work proposes an agentic automation framework that integrates LLM-based cognitive services with Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to enable intelligent document processing while preserving determinism and traceability. The architecture separates probabilistic interpretation from deterministic execution, using LLMs for bounded information extraction and RPA for rule-based orchestration, validation, and audit logging. To mitigate risks associated with nondeterministic AI behavior, the framework incorporates guardrails such as structured prompting, confidence thresholds, human-in-the-loop review, and comprehensive …

Climate Policy Uncertainty And Housing Prices: Analyzing Bidirectional Transmission Across U.S. Metropolitan Areas, Sourav Batabyal, Alper Gormus

Finance and Economics

This study examines the relationship between climate policy uncertainty (CPU) and residential housing prices across U.S. metropolitan areas using the U.S. CPU index developed by Gavriilidis in 2021 and monthly S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, covering January 1991 to May 2024. Employing a Fourier-augmented Toda–Yamamoto causality framework that accounts for both abrupt and gradual structural breaks, we document significant CPU → housing prices transmission in multiple metropolitan markets, with bidirectional transmission dynamics emerging in Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, and San Francisco, as well as at the U.S. national level. The results reveal substantial spatial heterogeneity across various …

Education, Evaluation, And Impact Of A Delegation Learning Session In The Care Pair Model, Tiffany M. Whitney

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

The persistent nurse shortage is forcing the health sector to think about the way care is provided, and teams collaborate. One model, the Care Pair Model (CPM), pairs registered nurses (RNs) with nursing assistants (NAs) to distribute responsibility and provide patient care in a timely manner and with the best quality. Even though the model encourages working together effectively, many nurses still find it difficult to delegate to uncertainty, lack of confidence, or communication barriers. Improving these abilities is essential for fostering trust, ensuring a smooth workflow, and providing for patient and provider needs.

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) …

Monetary Policy Regimes And Commercial Real Estate A Comparative Analysis Of The Relationship Between Interest Rates And Capitalization Rates In The Post-Gfc And Post-Covid Periods, Brooke Matney

Honors Theses

This study analyzes the relationship between U.S. interest rates and capitalization rates within commercial real estate under different monetary policy regimes. Specifically, the research examines whether the relationship between interest rates and cap rates changed structurally between the post-Global Financial Crisis (GFC) period and the post-COVID tightening cycle. Using quarterly data from 2000–2025 obtained from Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), the study compares movements in the 10-Year U.S. Treasury yield and a constructed cap rate proxy derived from rental income and property price index data. Linear regression analysis was conducted across three monetary policy periods: the post-GFC expansionary environment (2010– …

A Compilation Of Accounting Studies And Analyses, Ashley Mason

Honors Theses

Over the course of two semesters in ACCY 420, under the instruction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson, my team and I were given a company and tasked with creating an operational plan and audit plan to account for the solution we developed. These case studies required us to research the topic and to also reflect on what we have learned in previous accounting classes. In each of these cases, my team and I researched the topics, proposed a solution, developed a presentation, and then argued our solution to a panel of accounting and business professionals. These experiences strengthened my public speaking …

A Compilation Of Accounting Case Studies, George R. Vandyke

Honors Theses

This thesis has been composed throughout the process of taking the Honors Accounting 420 class. This class spans two semesters and helps students understand certain aspects of financial accounting and related areas. These cases range from what may be involved in an audit to examining a company and how certain new laws may affect its business operations.

The information gathered for this was through group work and collaboration to achieve the common goal of completing each case. The cases varied from week to week, as well as the people with whom you would be working. This led to many different …

Analyzing Comtemporary Accounting Issues: Case Studies In Audit, Tax, And Financial Regulation, Diya S. Patel

Honors Theses

This thesis is comprised of five case studies that explore a range of contemporary issues in accounting, with a focus on auditing, financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and evolving role of accountants in a complex business environment. Dr. Victoria Dickinson assigned and advised the case studies throughout the Honors Accountancy 420 course. The case studies examine the analysis and interpretation of financial statements, emphasizing the identification of risk, the use of professional judgment, and the implementation of internal controls to ensure accuracy and transparency. Additionally, the case studies evaluate the growing impact of regulatory frameworks on businesses, highlighting both the intended …

Center For Manufacturing Excellence Capstone Project: Critter Catchers, Wilson R. Eatherly, Sophie C. Smith, Joyce W. Nkanor

Honors Theses

The Haley Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence annually presents seniors with the opportunity to do a capstone project that encapsulates their skills learned throughout undergraduate coursework. The interdisciplinary teams are made up of engineering, accounting, and business students. These students bring their skill sets together to come up with a business plan for the project they have been placed on. This team, Critter Catchers, chose to manufacture non-lethal animal traps meant to be a safe alternative to traps on the market that may injure animals. The trap was made primarily out of wood and operated by means of a pressure-triggered …

Cases In Accounting Contexts, Carson T. Kimble

Honors Theses

This thesis examines a series of eight applied case studies that explore contemporary issues in accounting. Rather than focusing on a single research question, this project is a broad set of accounting situations completed through a yearlong thesis class under the guidance of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. These cases explored technical skills, professional judgement, and analytical reasoning in the accounting profession. These cases required professional research, including analysis of financial statements, review of regulations, and evaluation of academic sources. The work also emphasized collaboration among classmates and application to real-world scenarios. The thesis explored a variety of challenges that accountants encounter …