Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Interactive Read-Alouds On Students’ Literacy Development, Kaitlyn Hill

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined how multicultural interactive read-alouds support first-graders’ literacy skills and cultural awareness. Multicultural literature was used to conduct interactive read-alouds to first-grade students. A look across all data sources suggested three main themes that occur throughout the research study. These themes included student engagement and questioning, making connections by experiencing culture through an authentic lens, and developing cultural awareness and empathy for those who are different. It was evident that incorporating multicultural literature into classroom instruction had a positive impact on students’ literacy development and cultural awareness. The data suggested that these multicultural texts supported the students’ development …

Racial Differences In Global Satisfaction At A Predominantly White Regional Comprehensive University, Philip B. Mason, Michelle Petrie

Teacher-Scholar: The Journal of the State Comprehensive University

In the face of tightening state funding and increased reliance on tuition and growing enrollment, regional comprehensive universities continue to focus on the retention of students. Underserved students continue to represent areas of growth in college enrollment at regional comprehensive universities; yet these students are often at the highest risk of attrition. Overall institutional satisfaction is among the most useful indicators of student persistence, but research demonstrates that students of color report lower levels of overall satisfaction than their white counterparts. Scholarship on college student persistence documents several variables that predict higher retention, progression, and graduation rates among students. Research …

Social Thought From The Ruins: Quixote’S Dinner Party, David A. Westbrook

Books

Through stories, conversations, and essays, this book pursues interwoven critical and philosophical inquiries into the nature of the contemporary in the North Atlantic, asking how are we to live as intellectuals, individually and in community? Social Thought From the Ruins: Quixote’s Dinner Party is the product of informal discussion and academic work done over the last two decades among an international group of social scientists. An extended critique of academic life today and the context of our own thinking, this book interrogates aspects of our modernity, with its pervasive sense of crisis and uncertainty, and the difficulty of thinking clearly …

Stress Management Is ‘In The Cards’ For Farmers And Ranchers: The Mental Wellness Conversation Curriculum, Alison L. Brennan, Katharine Sutphen, Parker T. Webb, Michelle U. Grocke-Dewey

Journal of Extension

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers need practical, culturally appropriate stress management resources. The Mental Wellness Conversation Curriculum (MWCC) is a novel approach to health promotion that relies on community facilitators to share stress management information using a customized deck of playing cards organized around specific wellness themes. We implemented and evaluated two facilitator trainings in 2023. Training participants reported increases in relevant knowledge, as well as improved confidence about leading mental wellness events. The MWCC is currently being adapted for use with additional, diverse audiences. Future research should explore the implementation and impact of this innovative health promotion modality.

Exploring The Visibility Of Mission, Vision, And Values In Allied Healthcare Education, Matthew Vraa

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: This study investigated the visibility and accessibility of mission, vision, and values statements on websites of entry-level allied health care programs (occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology). The primary objective was to determine the ease of locating these statements on program websites and how their visibility varies by program characteristics.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 300 randomly selected accredited programs (100 per profession) across the United States. Each program’s website was evaluated to determine the visibility and accessibility of its mission, vision, and values statements, defined by their presence within two clicks of the homepage. …

Transformative Pedagogy: Going Beyond An Inclusive Curriculum, Heather Mcnamee

Feminist Pedagogy

This critical commentary argues that approaches toward inclusion in higher education, particularly within curriculum design, are insufficient for creating true systemic change. While efforts to include marginalized voices in humanities curricula indicate some progress, the foundational frameworks continue to center privileged perspectives, relegating marginalized voices to mere additions rather than centralizing them. Drawing on examples from history, social studies, and anti-violence work, this commentary contends that higher education must move beyond inclusion and toward a reimagining of curriculum that critically examines and dismantles the power structures underpinning knowledge production. The commentary emphasizes the need for a curriculum that not only …

De/Colonizing Education Research With Lessons From The Field, K. Kayon Morgan

Feminist Pedagogy

Academia is a reproductive site of settler colonialism (Mayorga et al., 2019) with practices and systems that exclude diverse identities. For universities to become more inclusive spaces, we must dismantle colonialist ideologies. One way is to consider alternative research approaches (Smith, 2021). This paper presents narratives from lessons in the field of research and teaching. The narrative encourages faculty and students to disrupt the status quo and normalize de/colonized research approaches in academia (Bhattacharya, 2021).

The Cohort Space As Experienced By Latina Doctoral Students, Tiana Bierwert

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This phenomenological study explores how Latina Doctoral Students experience cohort spaces within graduate programs, focusing on the gendered and racialized challenges embedded in these environments. Utilizing pláticas as a culturally grounded method and guided by a Latina Feminist Phenomenological framework, this research examines how cohort models—which are often designed to foster support and collaboration—can instead exacerbate marginalization for students at the intersections of race and gender. Drawing on the conceptual frameworks of White Space and Counterspace, the study interrogates how cohort environments can operate as sites of exclusion and surveillance, where dominant norms are reproduced and where Latina Doctoral Students …

Scholars And Changemakers: The Vital Role Of Graduate Students In Campus Women's Centers, Kate J. Freeman, Amber Byrd Ndukwe

Journal for Women and Gender Centers in Higher Education

On college campuses, Women’s Centers serve as a safe space for many marginalized students, faculty, and staff members across campus. These Centers are active spaces that serve a wide variety of individuals including graduate students who play multifaceted roles that are essential to the Center’s work. These students contribute significantly to the functioning of the Center while also gaining professional and personal development from their involvement. In this article, we reflect on our own experiences as two graduate students working within a campus-based Women’s Center while simultaneously integrating literature on the function of graduate students within these spaces. Employing a …

Exploring Identity And Seeking Belonging: Diverse Students’ Experiences With A Campus Women’S Center, Sarah Tucker Jenkins

Journal for Women and Gender Centers in Higher Education

Women’s and gender equity centers (abbreviated as women’s centers) were first established in U.S. universities in the 1960s and currently number in the multiple hundreds across all types of higher education institutions in the country. Women’s centers play a vital role in providing high impact, culturally responsive student engagement; however, research on women’s centers is often informal and infrequent, leading to a dearth of knowledge about the efficacy of student engagement efforts. Women’s centers, and the feminist movement from which they arose, have historically excluded the voices and experiences of women of color and other marginalized identities. While centers are …

Innovative Instagram Education: A Tool To Prevent Relationship And Sexual Violence, Allie Moore, Tillie Powell, Jillian Mcbane, Ollivia Webster, Chris Linder

Journal for Women and Gender Centers in Higher Education

During the 2024 Fall semester, at the McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention at the University of Utah, our team solidified an educational plan to create Instagram posts on topics related to relationship and sexual violence. The Instagram Educational Series Programming consists of weekly posts addressing the primary prevention of relationship and sexual violence on the @uofucvp Instagram. This educational series aims to break down research and complex ideas to make them accessible to a wider audience. The posts with the most engagement address more complex topics. People’s thinking starts to shift when we address topics in a way that is …

Integrasi Accera Pare Bagi Kehidupan Masyarakat Parigi Dalam Membangun Solidaritas Peserta Didik, Inas Tahirah, I Komang Astina, Yuswanti Ariani Wirahayu

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Accera pare is a harvest party of the Parigi Village community which is held as a form of gratitude of the farmers for the gifts given by God for being given a smooth harvest. The purpose of this research is to explore the meaning of the accera pare ceremony for the people of Parigi Village and the integration of accera pare in building students' sense of solidarity. The research method used descriptive qualitative with ethnographic approach where the data were analyzed by domain analysis, taxonomy, components and cultural themes. Data sources were obtained through participant observation and in-depth interviews. The …

Illinois Model Programs Of Study Guide: Health Sciences, Education Systems Center

Reports, Analyses, and other Publications

First published in October 2020. Significantly revised in September 2024 to incorporate updated labor market information. An update in April 2025 included minor corrections. In August 2025, two new sections were added: key terminology and the relationship between concepts.

Illinois Model Programs Of Study Guide: Human And Public Services, Education Systems Center

Reports, Analyses, and other Publications

First published in October 2022. Significantly revised in April 2025 to incorporate updated labor market information. Key terminology and relationship between concepts sections added in August 2025.

Illinois Model Programs Of Study Guide: Education, Education Systems Center

Reports, Analyses, and other Publications

First published in October 2020. Significantly revised in October 2022 to reflect credentialing changes, and in September 2024 to incorporate updated labor market information. An update in April 2025 included minor corrections. In August 2025, two new sections were added: key terminology and the relationship between concepts.

Increasing Implementation Of The Comfortable Cafeteria Program To Promote School-Age Children’S Mental Health And Well-Being, Reinecka Mondesir, Angela Labrie Blackwell Phd, Otr

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Every Moment Counts (EMC) is a positive mental health promotion initiative that offers several initiatives to create inclusive environments that support student participation and emotional well-being throughout the school day. Comfortable Cafeteria, part of EMC, fosters positive mealtime experiences supporting peer interaction, emotional regulation, and inclusion. Many SBOT practitioners lack the resources to implement Comfortable Cafeteria, despite its benefits. This capstone project addresses the need for practical tools to help school-based occupational therapy (SBOT) practitioners integrate the Comfortable Cafeteria program into daily practice. Using the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, the project developed and disseminated an interactive, evidence-based video …

The Impact Of Family Violence On Bullying Behaviour Among Secondary School Students In Ilorin Metropolis, Oyedotun Dolapo Ilori, Patrick O. Akerele, Ifeoluwa Blessing Michael

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

Family violence remains a significant social issue with far-reaching consequences for adolescents, particularly in shaping their behavioural tendencies, including bullying. This study examines the impact of family violence on bullying behaviour among secondary school students in Ilorin Metropolis, which comprises three Local Government Areas (Ilorin South, Ilorin West, and Ilorin East). The study adopts a descriptive survey research design to assess the extent to which exposure to family violence influences students' bullying behaviours, while also considering the role of peer influence. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 417 students from both public and private secondary schools in Ilorin …

2025 Fall Convocation Program, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Communications and Marketing Publications Archive

The 2025 Morehead State University Convocation Program from August 13, 2025.

An Exploratory Study Of Soft Skills Development Expectations In Two-Year Generation Z College Students, Kelli Hallsten Erickson

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

Workplace demands around competent demonstration of soft skills have been steadily increasing; therefore, institutions of higher education have started focusing attention on instilling these skills within their student populations. The latest generational cohort to enter college and the workforce, Generation Z, has only recently begun to be studied for the impact of its members’ attitudes towards work and how those might change employer expectations around soft skills. A research gap exists, however, regarding students in Generation Z attending two-year schools and which soft skills they feel are most valuable to their future careers. This study sought to explore those attitudes …

Clickbait Economics: When Narratives Outshine Fundamentals, Esther Eisenstat

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

No abstract provided.

Eco-Humanitarianism: A Political Ecological Framework For Humanitarian Resilience, Roksanna Keyvan

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

No abstract provided.

Development Analysis Of South Africa: Potential Impacts Of The Democratic Alliance’S Presence In The New Coalition, Mitchell Susswein

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

No abstract provided.

Addressing Psychosocial Barriers To Participation In People Experiencing Homelessness: An Occupational Therapy Workshop, Preston Bender, Steven M. Gerardi, Lacey Spark

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Despite the occupational therapy (OT) profession's emphasis on holistic, person-centered care, many OT practitioners and students report feeling a lack of self-efficacy and preparedness to navigate the complex psychological, social, and systemic barriers that hinder occupational participation in people experiencing homelessness (PEH). This capstone project aimed to address the perceived unpreparedness among clinicians through the creation of an 8-hour interactive educational workshop aligned with Experiential Learning Theory. The content is grounded in the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and informed by the Bridging the Transition from Homelessness: A Social Justice Framework (BTTF), trauma-informed care (TIC), harm reduction, and diversity, equity, …

Caught In The Crossfire: Navigating Institutional Neutrality Amidst Campus Controversy & Competing Demands, Jamie Herman, Sally Moore

Prindle Faculty and Staff Publications

When controversies arise, colleges and universities often find themselves in the crossfire of heated debates over institutional neutrality. Some institutions claim neutrality to distance themselves from controversy and defuse tensions surrounding sensitive issues. However, when institutions choose not to engage—whether through nonresponse or by stating they will make no response—they may inadvertently suggest that their current position is neutral, a premise many dispute (A. Ford, 2024). How should higher education institutions (HEIs) navigate the various demands they face to either act or maintain neutrality? Moreover, once institutional leaders understand these competing pressures, how should they respond? This paper has two …

Caregiver Training Program For Optimal Recovery Of Neuro Accidents: An Occupational Therapy Approach, Bennie L. Huitt Jr., Jennifer Featheringham, Cassandra Nelson

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Caregivers of individuals recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or experiencing onset of dementia often are provided limited education and support after discharge, negatively impacting confidence and recovery outcomes. The Caremaster program was designed to bridge the educational gap between occupational therapists in the clinical setting and caregivers in the home settings through accessible online modules, support groups, and in-person demonstrations. Module topics included understanding neuro accidents and role of the caregiver, returning home (transition and adaptation), ADLs and Mobility, returning to roles, and social reintegration. This program aims to guide future development of scalable, community-based caregiver education that …

Paradoxical Forms Of Scientific Heroism When Responsibly Conducting Research, Theresa A. Thorkildsen

Heroism Science

The Stanford Prison Experiment is widely known for offering insight into the responsible conduct of research as well as how prisoners and prison guards fall easily into potentially harmful roles. As the principal investigator of the study, Philip Zimbardo became a polarizing figure in the social sciences -- both celebrated as a pioneering hero and criticized for ethical shortcomings -- while consistently engaging with his critics throughout his career (Zimbardo, n.d.). Highlighting Zimbardo’s influence on the protection of human research participants, this article uses details from Zimbardo’s self-reflections and insights on the paradoxes of heroism to convey how research personalities …

Helping Bipoc, Women, And First-Generation Students Maximize The Value Of Unpaid Internships, Ted Thornhill, Nicole Torres, Christina Van Wingerden

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Internships and practicums are a required component of nearly all degree programs in human services and its subfields—and most are unpaid. These unpaid positions often have a disproportionate impact for BIPOC and first-generation students, especially women—many of whom are economically disadvantaged and must work to support themselves and sometimes their families. Increased student activism, non-profit campaigns, and journalistic accounts show student frustration over their unpaid labor. Despite the righteousness of these students’ cause, the reality is that the implementation of an equitable, robust, and sustainable nationwide system of paid internships, in the near-term, is politically impracticable. Given that most human …

Enhancing Client Intake Efficiency In The Removal Defense Program: A Nursing-Led Quality Improvement Initiative, Johnny Linares, Julia Tran Ngo, Daniel Orea, Atheana Yadira Lopez

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project focuses on optimizing the intake process for the Removal Defense Program at a nonprofit immigration legal office serving asylum-seeking clients. The existing intake relied on unstructured, phone-call-based intake interviews that gathered incomplete information, leading to inconsistent documentation, reduced efficiency, and significant client processing delays. A structured, multilingual, and multiplatform new-client admission protocol coupled with the implementation of a client-facing resource guide for waitlist clients were co-developed and implemented using the Lippitt Change Theory framework. Utilizing a mixed methods approach, the study involved staff interviews and observational assessments with staff members from the program. Baseline intake process …

Under What Conditions? A University Pathway Program Evaluation, Michael Burke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As U.S. universities face a declining domestic applicant pool, commonly referred to as the “enrollment cliff,” international student recruitment provides a practical strategy for offsetting domestic enrollment shortfalls. One such strategy for increasing international student enrollment is through the establishment of university pathway programs that grant conditional admission to international applicants who fail to meet English language proficiency requirements but are otherwise academically admissible. As a baseline program evaluation, this study utilized a quantitative methods approach employing logistical regression analysis to determine if incoming standardized English language proficiency test scores, English as a Second Language (ESL) course GPA, and student …

Transactional And Autocratic Leadership In Practice: The Case Of Trump’S Attempt To Redefine Birthright Citizenship, Ruolan Huang, Liwei Fang, Jingzhe Zhang, Anna Zaldivar

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This case study investigates how President Donald Trump's autocratic and transactional leadership style influenced the conception, implementation, and social impact of the 2025 executive order seeking to revoke birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. This study employs the case study approach and applies thematic analysis of public documents, legal texts, and media reports. The study identifies five major themes, including autocratic leadership and executive overreach, racialized policy implementation, media manipulation, legal resistance, and a broader crisis of democratic legitimacy. The findings suggest that while the executive order aims at framing a legal structure, it disproportionately affects marginalized immigrant communities, …