Digital Commons Network^™

Pouring From An Empty Cup: A Qualitative Exploration Of Early-Career School Social Workers' Lived Experiences With Secondary Trauma, Chatelah D. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how early-career school social workers in public schools in Georgia described their lived experiences of secondary trauma. This study examined the contextual elements that contributed to secondary trauma. The findings may inform training for school districts to improve climate and culture, develop learning workshops, and create supportive systems for early-career social workers exposed to student traumas. Theories guiding this study included Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory and Bruce Biddle’s role theory. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory addresses the levels of influence on mental and physical wellness and their impact on human development. It …

Experiences Of Black Students With Disabilities Suspended For Violating A Zero-Tolerance Policy: A Transcendental Phenomenology, Lee Benedict

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology was to describe the experiences of Black students with disabilities suspended for violating a zero-tolerance policy. For this study, zero-tolerance policies were defined as rules and regulations put in place by a school system for which (alleged) violators must be suspended immediately with no administrative discretion. The theory that guided this study is geneticist Luigi Cavalli-Sforza and biologist Marcus Feldman’s cultural transmission theory (CTT), often called enculturation, which states that cultural elements such as attitudes, behaviors, beliefs and values are transmitted to individuals and groups. The central research question asked, what plausible evidence suggests …

Shared Experiences Of Parents With Gifted And Advanced Preschoolers: A Phenomenological Study, Shantoria Trijhan Edwards

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover the shared experiences of parents with gifted and advanced preschoolers at a preschool center. In this study, gifted and advanced preschoolers were defined as children aged 3–5 years old who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement based on performance on the Individual Student Assessment (ISA). The study adheres to Vygotsky’s social constructivism learning theory, which describes the social construction of reality and argues that the process of social interaction, cooperation, and co-constructed learning contribute to cognition. The central research question for this study was “What are the shared experiences of …

Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Diagnosis Of Emotional Disturbance, Kimberly Ginelle Mayfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, correlational study examines whether the number of adverse childhood experiences can predict a special education diagnosis of emotional disturbance. Emotional disturbance is one of the 13 disability categories included in the Individuals with Disabilities Act. More than 335,000 students in the United States are diagnosed with emotional disturbance. If one can find a between ACEs and a diagnosis of emotional disturbance, schools and policymakers can set up early interventions for students and parents. This study aimed to determine if the number (three or more) of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)s in early childhood could predict a special education diagnosis …

A Causal-Comparative Study: Teacher Efficacy With Students With Autism, Natasha Cassidy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study is to compare teacher self-efficacy among elementary, middle, and high school teachers of students with autism. Self-efficacy in teaching is the unwavering belief that a teacher can deliver highly effective instruction to foster positive learning outcomes in students with autism. Teachers confident in their abilities to accommodate the needs of students with autism can provide the necessary support, adjust their teaching methods, and create learning opportunities that promote the development of essential skills. The sample size included elementary, middle, and high school teachers from public schools across the northwest region of the United …

The Minutes Of The Marshall University Staff Council Meeting, April 2025, Marshall University Staff Council

Staff Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session Thursday April 17, 2025, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Acceptance of the Agenda

Approval of the Minutes (February 6, 2025)

Recognition of President Ed Montgomery

Remarks by the Chair of the Board

Remarks by the President

Updates by the Faculty Senate President

Updates by the Western Student Association President

Updates by the Graduate Student Association President

International Congress on Medieval Studies and Experiential Learning

Public Comments Regarding Action Items

Action Items

• Naming the New Valley Residence Hall “Golden Oaks” at “The Valleys”

Consent Item

• Personnel Report
• Curriculum Proposals
• Sale of BTR Parcel (Unit 30)
• Liquor Licenses – Multiple Events (July 10, 2025, August 7, 2025, November 7, 2025)
• Annuity …

2025 April 17 - From My Notepads Newsletter, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, Brian Noland

From My Notepads: A Newsletter from President Brian Noland

No abstract provided.

Cataloguing Shadow (Phaeophyscia), Rosette (Physcia), And Cryptic Rosette (Physciella) Lichens Of Carter Caves State Resort Park, Payton A. Offill, Allen C. Risk

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

A lichen is a composite, symbiotic partnership of a fungus and photosynthetic algae or cyanobacteria. These organisms provide stability to ecosystems through provision of nutrients and microhabitats to fauna and absorption of pollutants and large particulates in the air, serving as great indicators of environmental conditions. The purpose of this research was to document the diversity of three commonly encountered, though not easily discerned, foliose lichen genera found in Carter Caves State Resort Park: Phaeophyscia, Physcia, and Physciella. These three lichen genera are found to be small to medium sized, greenish grey, olive, or brown in color, and inhabit various …

An Introduction To The Sphecidae Of Eastern Kentucky, Dawn Barnett, Kyah Brinegar, Gracie Burdette, Sean O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Sphecidae are solitary wasps that can be used to assess biodiversity on a larger scale. Sphecidae are called solitary because they do not live in colonies but rather in dirt burrows, constructed nests, and existing cavities. Their behavior reflects their name as they rarely sting people and do not mind them much, as they commonly nest near or on human dwellings. Sphecidae occur worldwide and include four subfamilies: Sphecinae, Crabroninae, Nyssoninae, and Philanthinae. Of the 10,220 known species, 1200 occur in North America. Sphecidae prey on various invertebrates, including spiders, caterpillars, and bees. Members of the subfamily Sphecinae genera …

Diversity/Adaptations Of The Galapagos Land Snails (Bulimulus) On The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, M.E. Hargan, Charles Lydeard

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Galapagos Land Snails, scientific species name Bulimulus, are native to the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. There is varying climates and geography throughout the islands and these snails evolved and adapted to these variances. On our experience abroad trip, the goal was to find our selected animal we researched and try to prove whatever hypothesis we found to be correct. I researched and found that depending on the island/area the snails where their cones were shaped different from each other although they were the same species they had variances. I had set out to see if this …

2024-2025 Program And Abstracts Celebration Of Student Scholarship, Morehead State University. Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program.

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The 2024-2025 Program and Abstracts for the Celebration of Student Scholarship at Morehead State University held on April 16, 2025. A Showcase of Student Research, Scholarship, Creative Work, and Performance Arts.

Quantification Of Nicotine Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography & Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Marissa Blair, Emmalou Schmittzehe-Skarbek

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

In recent years, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), commonly known as electronic cigarettes (ECs), have gained popularity, particularly among adolescents (Cooper, 2022). • The core component of these devices is e-liquids which contain nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavoring, and other chemicals (Cheng, 2014; Sassano, et al., 2018). • The FDA regulates manufacturing, importing, packaging, labelling, advertising, promotion, sale, and distribution of ENDS, but they do not check the accuracy of reported information. • Studies have consistently shown that labelled nicotine concentration and actual concentration can range from as little as 35% less nicotine to as much as 52% greater …

Determination Of Synthetic Pesticide Concentration In Bodies Of Water In Rowan County Kentucky, Jacob Blevins, Emmalou Schmittzehe-Skarbek

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Synthetic pesticide usage is a relatively recent invention of industry that has been proven to have widespread biological effects. Many families of pesticides have unique properties including solubility in water and long half-lives. This ability to be soluble in water paired with a long half-life result in a pesticide that is perfectly suited to contaminate water designated for human or agricultural use. Solid-phase extraction is a preparatory technique of analytical chemistry in which a liquid sample is passed through a solid material that selectively retains compounds for further analysis. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography is an analytical chemistry technique that can quantify …

Introduction To The Paper And Potter Wasps Of Eastern Kentucky, Dawn Barnett, Kyah Brinegar, Gracie Burdette, Sean O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Wasps are a possible surrogate to measure biodiversity of an ecosystem because they can be extremely diverse, most requiring a very specific niche. Many factors such as surrounding vegetation, potential prey availability, and potential hosts impact presence and diversity of wasps; so, by observing different species in an environment biodiversity could be inferred. The Vespidae are Social Wasps and include six subfamilies. My research specifically covers two subfamilies: Paper Wasps (Polistinae), and Potter and Mason Wasps (Eumeninae). There are 25 genera with over 1000 species of paper wasps worldwide; 27 in North America, and 8 found in Kentucky. Potter wasps …

Introduction To The Social Wasps Of Eastern Kentucky: (Vespidae, Vespinae), Dawn Barnett, Kyah Brinegar, Gracie Burdette, Sean O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The subfamily Vespinae of the Vespidae, encompasses true hornets and yellow jackets. They are distributed throughout the Holarctic and Oriental regions. The subfamily includes 80 species globally, comprising three genera, the True Hornets (Vespa), Aerial Yellowjackets (Dolichovespula), and the Ground Yellowjackets (Vespula). Two species of Vespula Hornets occur in the U.S., only one occurs in Kentucky; Six species of Aerial Yellowjackets (Dolichovespula) occur in the U.S., four of which are in Kentucky, and thirteen species of Ground Yellow Jackets (Vespula) occur in the U.S., eight are in Kentucky. Vespinae are eusocial, meaning they have well defined castes of queens, workers, …

Inventory Of Lichens At Carter Caves State Resort Park-Tygarts State Forest, Carter County, Kentucky, Aliya Frisby, Allen C. Risk

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Lichen: a composite organism of fungi and algae/cyanobacteria Kentucky Total Lichen Specimens: 9,141 -All bordering states except for Indiana have >20,000 Their importance: Lichens can act as pioneer species, food sources in plant-scarce environments, agents of weathering, bioindicators of air pollution, and many species contain chemicals of medical interest (Rogers 2025).

A Catalog Of Diversity Of The Lichen Genus Cladonia Within Carter Caves State Resort Park, Carter County, Kentucky, Crecie Kelly, Allen C. Risk

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Lichens are a symbiotic organism consisting of two components: a mycobiont (fungus) and a photobiont (algae and/or cyanobacteria). These organisms play a significant role within the environment such as food resources, in practical uses such as dyes or medicine, and as environmental indicators. Current understandings of the lichens in Kentucky remain broad and incomplete. The purpose of this study is to catalog the diversity of the lichen genus Cladonia within Carter Caves State Resort Park (CCSRP), a park known for its high biological diversity. Cladonia has the highest macrolichen species richness in Kentucky. This genus of fruticose lichens can grow …

The Undertreatment Of Pain In Women, Abigail R. Schultz

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Pain is a prevalent reason for patients to seek medical care. Despite a high incidence of pain conditions, there is evidence suggesting that women, in particular, experience undertreatment of pain. The undertreatment of pain in women can contribute to long-term negative health effects and physical suffering. • The QSEN principles are the foundation to quality improvement research and implementation. Within this project, patient-centered care, safety, and evidence-based practice are incorporated to highlight the key focus of the need for women’s health advocacy and pain management

Detection Of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes In Bacteria Collected From The Triplett Creek Watershed, Heavenly Mays, Emily Morgan, Geoffrey W. Gearner

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Ongoing research in the Triplett Creek Watershed (TCW) focuses on assessing water quality and monitoring bacterial contamination. The spring 2024 sampling efforts aimed to evaluate bacterial density and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across multiple sites. To screen for AMR in bacteria, the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used. A total of 35 bacterial isolates were tested against multiple antibiotics. This revealed 26 isolates were resistant to Erythromycin, 32 isolates were resistant to Clindamycin, 2 isolates were resistant to Colistin, 7 isolates were resistant to Ampicillin, 4 isolates were resistant to Amoxicillin with Clavulanic acid, 2 isolates were resistant to tetracycline, 3 …

Comparative Analysis Of R-Cards And Idexx Quanti-Tray/2000 For The Detection And Enumeration Of Bacteria In Environmental Water Samples, Heavenly Mays, Emily Morgan, Geoffrey W. Gearner

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Kentucky Watershed Watch program, a non-profit that relies on the help of volunteers, trains Kentucky residents on proper analytical procedures needed to assess waterways near their homes. Volunteers can deliver samples to established labs for bacterial analysis or independently test sample sites’ pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature, and Escherichia coli levels. One of the ways the Watershed Watch program analyzes water quality is by using R-Cards, sample cards that contain a chromogenic medium useful for detecting and enumerating E. coli. These cards cost $1 each and are quite simple to set up, whereby one mL of sample site water …

Expectation Vs Reality: Attempting To Circularize Ch. Iv In Yeast Resulted In A Ch. Iv-Ii Fusion, Dylan R. Carroll, Blake D. Hoover, Megan S. Shirley, Adelyn J. Weaver, Mark T. Wilson, Melissa A. Mefford

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Chromosomes are structures that transmit genetic information from one cell to another during cell division • Eukaryotes, like humans, have linear chromosomes containing ends called telomeres that act as buffers to protect the genome • Loss of telomere sequences is associated with aging, and the activation of the enzyme telomerase is correlated with most cancers • Question: Why do eukaryotes have linear chromosomes?

Bryoflora Of Ed Mabry-Laurel Gorge Wildlife Management Area In Northeastern Kentucky, Teagan Pattinson, Allen C. Risk

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Bryophytes include liverworts, hornworts, and mosses - Ecological importance: primary colonizers, retain moisture in the environment, cycle nutrients, and act as bioindicators (McKnight et al., 2013) - Bryophytes have a dominant gametophyte life cycle phase and lack complex vascular tissue - Incredibly adaptable to a wide array of environments and can grow on almost any surface - The objective of this project is to document the diversity of bryophyte species in the Ed Mabry-Laurel Gorge Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Elliott County, KY - This WMA features narrow, deep sandstone gorges, creating a perfect environment for a diverse range of …

The Dawn Of A New Lappin: The Revision And Reorganization Of The Morehead State Archives, Ava Fluharty, June Lennex-Stone, Shelby Turner, Jennifer O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Geology Program has formal book, fossil, journal, map, mineral, and rock collections dating to the 1950’s. These specimens were donated by biological and physical sciences faculty prior to the 1960 hire of Dr. John Philley and greatly expanded upon by Drs. Philley, James Chaplin, Jules DuBar, and H.W. Straley III through the 1990’s. Prior to construction of the “C-wing” of Lappin Hall, the collections previously housed in laboratory classrooms in the path of the new corridor connecting the “B-wing” and “Cwing”, as well as those housed in the “A-wing” were boxed and stored in multiple temporary locations until new …

Evaluation Of Cutting Sizes And Sticking Cutting Times On Propagation Of Rosemary, Emma R. Miller, Emily B. Cobb, Alyssa F. Covell, Mary H. Jackson, Mollie K. Mayabb, Ace B. Shelby, Leo Shelby, Seaanna G. Skinner, Madeline Walsh, Ricky C. Young, Amy S. Collick, Alireza Rahemi

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a well-known culinary and medicinal herb in the Lamiaceae family, which is native to the Mediterranean area. It is a source of antioxidants and has several benefits for the body's health, such as antiinflammatory, anti-fungal activity, anti-aging, and support of the digestive system. Rosemary has several habit types: trailing, creeping, and upright; its flowers can be blue, violet, pink, or white. It could be propagated by seeds or by vegetative methods. Seedlings can show a high level of genetic diversity; therefore, vegetative propagation is used to keep the mother traits of the cultivars. One of the …

Imsaloquium 2025 Event Booklet, Student Inquiry And Research (Sir)

IMSAloquium Event Booklets

Cover designed by Aimanohi Imoukhuede, IMSA student,

Welcome to IMSAloquium, our annual, school-wide celebration of learning! This booklet contains abstracts for over 225 outstanding projects conducted by IMSA students in the 2024-25 academic year. The topics range from biomedical research to artificial intelligence, from history to the social sciences, and from business to entrepreneurship

Effectiveness Of A Gait Assessment Model In Enhancing Understanding And Learning In Healthcare Education, Seema Saini, Arsh Shikalgar, Neelam Tejani, Tushar J. Palekar, Praveen Kumar

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Traditional teaching models often fail to adequately convey the complexities of concepts such as gait analysis, a cyclic biomechanical process. This study introduces and evaluates a gait assessment system device as an educational model for healthcare students. The system aims to enhance learning through active experimentation with educators, focusing on teaching fundamental concepts like torque, potential energy, and kinetic movements. Methodology: A total of 80 fourth-year healthcare students specializing in physiotherapy participated in this study. The primary educational approach employed was the gait assessment model, designed to enhance understanding of basic biomechanical concepts such as torque, potential energy, and …

Comparison Of Cognitive Functions, Sleep Quality, Emotional State, Balance And Physical Activity Levels Of University Students According To Academic Success, Sevim Oksuz, Ozde Depreli, Aytül Ozdil, Gozde Iyigun, Ender Angın, Betül Fatma Bilgin, Ayşen Karaman

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study was planned to compare the level of attention, dual-task abilities, sleep quality, emotional state (anxiety, depression, stress), dynamic balance, and physical activity level in low and high-academic success university students. Method: A total of 134 international undergraduate students between the age of 18 and 25 (low academic success group n=67, high academic success group n=67) were recruited for this study. The Trail Making Test (TMT) – A and B was used for attention assessment, the TMT While Walking – A and B was utilized for dual-task performance, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was utilized to assess …

Examining Multiple Layers Of Course Materials Cost: Experiences Of Private College Students, Virginia Clinton-Lisell, Lindsey Gwozdz

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

Students in private, nonprofit (independent) higher education institutions, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged, often struggle with the costs of course materials like textbooks. However, much less is known about these students and how to assist them with these cost barriers compared to their peers at public institutions. It is also not well known how students perceive institutional course marking in which filters are available to identify courses based on the cost of their materials during registration. To address this lack of knowledge, students at four independent, private colleges (N = 316) were surveyed about their experiences with the cost …

A Levinasian Investigation Of Leaders Learning Humility, Spencer Fumio Yamada

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the development of humility in individuals and business organizations. Humility in business leadership has received increased attention in recent years; however, little is known regarding how individuals and organizations become more humble. The first article in this dissertation is a theoretical examination of humility and argues that the philosophy of ethicist and phenomenologist Emmanuel Levinas provides a theoretical lens by which the development of humility could be productively explored. Levinas argued that the human experience is based on the ethical responsibility that individuals have towards one another, providing a set of assumptions for an examination of professional …