Digital Commons Network^™

Hazardous Alcohol Use And Chronic Pain Co-Occurrence And Comorbidity Rates: A National Study Of Veterans Affairs Primary Care Patients, Dezarie Moskal, Jacob L. Scharer, Jennifer S. Funderburk, Joseph W. Ditre, Gregory P. Beehler

Voices of Service Symposium

Hazardous alcohol use (HAU) and chronic pain are each common among U.S. veterans and are associated with poorer health outcomes when they co-occur. Primary care plays a central role in the identification and management of both conditions. However, national estimates of their co-occurrence and related comorbidity burden are limited. Accordingly, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HAU and chronic pain and compared comorbidity patterns in a national Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care sample.

This national retrospective VA electronic health record study included 3,900,633 veterans aged 18+ seen in primary care between July 2022 and December 2023. HAU was …

Considerations For Statewide Coordination Of Veteran Services In New York, Zachary Bridgewater, Mary Rachel Keville, Vincent Delsignore, Gilly Cantor

Voices of Service Symposium

New York State (NYS)'s large military-connected population has faced challenges in accessing the plethora of post-service resources available from federal, state, and community agencies. A 2021 IVMF and Maxwell School landscape analysis of county veteran service officers found veterans navigating a fragmented system of care, unequal access to resources based on rurality, high demand for certain services, geographic funding inequities, and inconsistent service coordination. The report recommended a statewide, integrated system with a single entry point that harnesses existing resources, close gaps, and ensure access for all veterans across the state.

To advance this goal and other efforts enhancing coordinated …

Developing A Veteran Reintegration Ecosystem For Ukrainian Universities: Syracuse University As An Exemplar Model, Tetiana Pohorielova, Emily Rabinowitz, Ken Marfilius, Dessa Bergen-Cico, Stacy Hawkins, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

This poster outlines the development of a comprehensive Veteran Reintegration Ecosystem for Ukrainian universities, using Syracuse University as an exemplar. In collaboration with experts across public health, social work, and behavioral science, the project addresses the urgent need to support the influx of Ukrainian veterans through structured institutional frameworks. The proposed ecosystem focuses on three critical pillars: behavioral health and wellbeing, workforce and economic integration, and institutional capacity and coordination. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between military service and civilian life, fostering national resilience and postwar reconstruction in Ukraine.

Navigating High-Stakes Transition: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Study Of The Information Experiences Among Green Berets During Military Transition, Christian Teodoro, Ken Marfilius

Voices of Service Symposium

Transitioning Service members face a complex mix of challenges as they transition back to civilian life, including the need to make sense of career-related information while renegotiating identity, belonging, trust, and purpose. Often overlooked, however, is the informational side of that experience and how leaving the military, either voluntarily or involuntarily, impacts one's ability to judge relevance, evaluate credibility, and act on guidance when familiar military structures no longer exist. This is especially true for our nation's elite U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers. Special Forces are mission-driven and possess highly distinct character traits that allow them to perform effectively under …

The Impact Of Traumatic Event Exposure On Ptsd, Depression, And Anxiety Among Veterans, Casie Daum, Emily Rabinowitz, Ken Marfilius, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Background: Psychiatric disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety are highly common and debilitating conditions among veterans. Exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) such as active combat, blast exposure, close calls, and witnessing injury or death during military service may be a significant risk factor for the development and maintenance of psychiatric conditions. This analysis sought to examine the extent to which individuals with PTE exposure related to military service had different levels of psychiatric symptoms. Method: A sample of 266 veterans were recruited using Prolific, an online research panel service. Participants completed the Primary Care PTSD Screen …

Substance Use Disorder Severity And Suicide Risk Among U.S. Veterans: Evidence For A Severity-Based Risk Gradient, Hunter J. Pyke, Grant H. Ripley, Emily Rabinowitz, Victoria E. Carlin, Dezarie Moskal, Joseph W. Ditre, Ken Marfilius

Voices of Service Symposium

Background: U.S. Military veterans are at disproportionate risk for suicide. Substance use disorders (SUDs) are prevalent and are strongly associated with suicide risk among veterans, yet less is known about whether increasing SUD severity is associated with greater risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among veterans. Methods: Data were drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) 2021-2024 and included (n = 9,172) veterans. Analyses utilized survey weights to produce nationally representative estimates. Logistic regression tested associations between SUD severity (classified consistent with DSM-5 criteria for substances endorsed during the previous year; 0=no SUD (< 2 criteria), 1=mild (2-3 criteria), 2=moderate (2-5 criteria), 3=severe (≥ 6 criteria)) and odds of (1) past-year suicide ideation (SI), (2) suicide planning (SP), and (3) suicide attempt (SA), adjusted for age and sex. Results: Findings indicated that 3.7% of veterans endorsed SI, 1% SP, and 0.5% SA. Additionally, 10% endorsed symptoms consistent with mild SUD, 4% moderate SUD, and 3% severe SUD. The prevalence of SI increased from 2.4% among veterans without SUD to 16.7% among those with severe SUD. In adjusted models, compared to veterans without SUD, severe SUD was associated with higher odds of SI (AOR=6.00, 95% CI: 3.82–9.43, p < .001), SP (AOR=10.40, 95% CI: 5.06–21.37, p < .001), and SA (AOR=15.26, 95% CI: 6.22–37.42, p < .001). Discussion: SUD severity was associated with progressively greater odds of suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts among U.S. veterans. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors increased in a graded pattern across SUD severity levels. Future work should elucidate the temporality of such relations to identify whether SUD severity precedes suicidal thoughts and behaviors, or alternatively, if suicidal thoughts and behaviors may precede increases in SUD severity. Results support integrated screening and intervention efforts targeting substance use and suicidality among veterans.

Recent Alcohol Use Moderates The Relationship Between Psychological Distress And Daytime Sleepiness Among Military-Connected Students, Treston Pulley, Emily Rabinowitz, Grant H. Ripley, Qiuxi Huang, Stephen A. Maisto, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction: Sleep difficulties are prevalent among college students and especially among veteran and military-connected students (VMCS), who face unique stressors related to military service and campus life. Alcohol use is common in both military and university settings, and many students use it as a sleep aid, especially when dealing with symptoms of psychological distress. However, alcohol use disrupts sleep quality and contributes to next-day fatigue. Research has shown that psychological distress is strongly linked to both alcohol use and sleep problems, although little research has examined how these factors jointly relate to sleep among VMCS. This study examined associations between …

Conducting A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis To Examine The Prevalence Of Ptsd, Depression, Anxiety, And Aud Among Student Veterans And Military-Connected Students, Matthew Soukup, Emily Rabinowitz, Hunter J. Pyke, Holly Schmidt, Treston Pulley, Ken Marfilius, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction: Student veterans may be at increased risk for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder due to the combined demands of military reintegration and academic transition. However, reported prevalence rates vary substantially across studies, and existing reviews do not provide pooled quantitative estimates. Meta-analytic prevalence estimates are needed to generate precise, disorder-specific benchmarks that can guide screening, prevention, and intervention efforts in higher education settings. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to estimate the pooled prevalence of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) within this population. Utilizing the CoCoPop framework (Condition–Context), a …

Examining Tobacco Use Among Student Servicemembers And Veterans: The Unique Role Of Hazardous Duty Exposure, Holly Schmidt, Victoria E. Carlin, Emily Rabinowitz, Joon Kyung Nam, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction: Student servicemembers and veterans (SS/V) use tobacco products at higher rates than the general college student population. These students face unique stressors during and after military service, which may influence their health behaviors, including tobacco product use. One such stressor is hazardous duty exposure, as previous research indicates that veterans with riskier deployments and greater deployment stress are more likely to engage in tobacco use. However, no prior research has examined the relationship between hazardous duty exposure and tobacco use among SS/V. Method: Participants included 4,626 SS/V who completed the 2023-2025 National College Health Assessment (NCHA) III. Participants were …

Democracy At Work And The Promise Of Dignity: Worker Cooperatives And The Experiences Of Workers Of Color, Isabella "Leila" Thomas

Undergraduate Theses

The United States faces profound wealth inequality which has also disproportionately disadvantaged people of color in terms of economic security. This study investigates how participation in worker cooperatives, which provide higher wages and greater worker benefits on average, impacts worker-members of color. The study draws on qualitative interviews with worker members from largely minority-led cooperatives. It explores how the key cooperative principles of democratic decision-making, autonomy, and community engagement can counteract marginalization. This paper fills significant gaps in research on workplace dynamics by applying Blustein & Allan (2025)'s recently formulated dignity-at-work framework to an alternative, democratized workplace model rather than …

Street-Level Bureaucrats In Public Higher Education: The Ethical Obligations To Support Psychologically At-Risk Students, Michael Turtz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

To fill the gap in the current literature, the purpose of this dissertation was to explain how and why Street-Level Bureaucrats (SLBs) in public higher education helped psychologically at-risk students during the pandemic. This qualitative study was intended to examine the role of SLBs in public higher education as it relates to their utilization of administrative discretion when advising psychologically at-risk students. In addition to administrative discretion, this dissertation also explored the role of ethical obligations and the use of a therapeutic lens when SLBs are faced with some of the most difficult situations for which they were not equipped …

Complex Systems Mapping Of Fiscal Growth Dynamics At Strategic Maritime Chokepoints Using Time-Series Slopes, Rahul Balamurugan, Preethi Nanjundan, Avichal Sharma

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

This study examines how maritime and trading states allocate public resources between defence, health, and economic growth around three strategic chokepoints the Strait of Malacca, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Suez Canal. The analysis extends the classic “guns versus butter” framing by treating defence and health spending as co-evolving components of an interconnected fiscal-growth system. Using World Development Indicators data (1999-2024), trend slopes are estimated for military spending (% of GDP), healthcare spending (% of GDP), and GDP growth (annual %). Two derived indicators are computed, a defence-to-health slope ratio (military slope/health slope) and a fiscal-balance proxy (health slope …

Goals And Budgets: An Exploratory Study Of Sequencing In Budget Simulation Engagement, Frankline Muthomi

Public Administration Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to examine how the sequencing of budget simulations influences the alignment between priority goals and budgetary decisions. Drawing on behavioral perspectives, the study posits that two simulation sequences—goal setting to budgeting (default) and budgeting to goal setting (alternative)—shape individuals' budgetary responses, particularly the proximity between a program's total cost and the corresponding budgetary allocations. Design/methodology/approach This study employs a quasi-experimental research design using Balancing Act modules that enable participants to articulate their priority goals and corresponding resource allocations. Adult Americans (aged 18 and above) were recruited through an online crowdsourcing platform and randomly …

The Hypocrisy Of The Wizards—A Proposal To Correct Incentives In Higher Education Loan Financing, Caden Benedict

School of Public Policy Capstones

This paper explores the origins of the student loan debt crisis and proposes tying university incentives to graduates' repayment plans and disclosing median earnings for degrees before students apply. Specifically, while there are numerous factors explaining why the price of education has increased dramatically since the 1970s, this paper proposes solutions that will specifically target university moral hazards by requiring universities fund: (1) the current subsidies to federal student loan repayments under income-driven plans as the House of Representatives intended before the Senate removed "risk-sharing," and (2) bankruptcy law discharge amounts. Moreover, requiring universities to disclose the median earnings of …

Ai Exposure And The Future Of Work: Tasks, Skill Demand, And Education, Erik Vasilauskas, Michael Horrigan

External Papers and Reports

No abstract provided.

Administrative Burden: The Hidden Costs Associated With Participating In The Department Of Veterans Affairs’ Disability Compensation Process, Christopher Anthony Campagno

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has characterized the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) as a procedural success, citing reductions in remand rates and increases in grant rates. However, VA’s reporting on AMA performance has generally focused on adjudicatory outcomes and has not addressed the administrative burden costs veterans incur while navigating the disability compensation process. Although current scholarship documents administrative burden in other public programs, little empirical work has examined how it manifests in VA’s disability compensation process. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to examine how veterans describe the learning, psychological, and compliance costs they experienced …

A Multiple Case Study: Communicating Uncertainty In Intelligence Community Analytic Judgments, Donald S. Terry Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) analysts face incessant challenges in expressing and explaining uncertainty (dependent variable) when communicating analytic judgments to their clients. IC analysts theorize and apply estimative language and levels of confidence in their analysis, and then it is received by decision-makers, ultimately having an impact on policy making. Historic case studies of the pre-war intelligence assessment of Iraqi WMD, the operational and diplomatic outcome of the 2011 raid on UBL, and the intelligence surprise of COVD-19 reflect the impact that uncertainty has on strategic analysis. Data is collected from primary sources, coded, and interpreted to survey ideas and …

Ethical Artificial Intelligence In Public Administration: Public Perception And Challenges In Implementation, Jacob V. Rogers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into public administration offers opportunities to improve efficiency and decision-making. However, it also poses significant ethical challenges, such as bias, transparency, and accountability, which directly affect public trust. While previous studies have examined the technical and ethical aspects of AI, there is still a gap in understanding how these issues impact public perception and the effectiveness of AI-driven government services. This dissertation addresses this gap by exploring public perceptions of AI use in government, focusing on ethical concerns and their link to trust. It uses a quantitative survey to analyze participant responses, identifying patterns and trends …

Bureaucracy And Management Of Conflicts In The Federal System Of Ethiopia: Institutional And Elite Level Analyses, Abadir Haji

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative case study examined how civil servants and bureaucratic institutions serve as mechanisms for managing interethnic conflicts between the Oromia and Amhara regional states. While earlier research has explored the institutional design of Ethiopian federalism in relation to conflict, it has largely overlooked the dual roles of civil servants and the capacity of their institutions to resolve conflict. The study utilized the framework of cooperative intergovernmental relations within a federation, combined with Max Weber’s principles of bureaucracy, to examine how civil servants and bureaucrats handle conflicts in the regions studied. Data were collected through interviews, focus groups, and document …

Navigating The Thin Blue Line And Single Parenthood: An In-Depth Exploration Of Police Officers’ Experiences In Highlands County, Florida, Stress Reduction, And Work-Life Balance, Courtney Lashae Hamilton Toney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The present study examined how the demographic of single parent police officers reduced and coped with stress, whether coping mechanisms utilized were effective or not, changed overtime, and whether the coping mechanisms were influenced by personal factors and leadership within their departments. This study took place in Highlands County, Florida with a sample size of 13 participants. The participants responses were captured through in-depth semi-structured interviews within this qualitative descriptive study. Majority of participants described how their coping mechanisms changed over time to better their lives or the lives of their family. The changes were affected mostly by their children …

Intersecting Determinants Of Health: Correlating Food Insecurity And Sleep Deprivation Across Southern Adventist University Demographics*, Heaven Robles, Jesica Paralafox Ramirez, Kimberly Mongare, Joshua C. Jenkins, Melany Castillo, Philip Chen Dr, Aaron Corbit Dr

Campus Research Month

For university students, social determinants of health such as food security and sleep patterns heavily dictate both health outcomes and academic success. Using a cross-sectional study design, statistical analyses will be conducted using the Jamovi software platform to compare mean sleep durations and food access scores across multiple academic departments and ethnic demographic groups. The study evaluates four primary hypotheses: (1) Consistent food access positively correlates with sleep quality; (2) Food security and sleep metrics vary significantly across academic departments; (3) Systemic ethnic disparities exist in food accessibility; and (4) Underrepresented ethnic groups experience a compounded burden of food insecurity …

Regulating Dogs Or Protecting Industry? A Critical Analysis On The Animal Welfare Act And The Federal Oversight Of Commercial Dog Breeding In The United States, Ava Knight '26

Honor Scholar Theses

To evaluate whether existing federal laws adequately protect the welfare of dogs, this research relies on publicly available inspection records and enforcement data from the United States Department of Agriculture and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA, APHIS), federal oversight reports from the United States Department of Agriculture and Office of Inspector General (USDA, OIG), and data collected by animal welfare organizations including Humane World for Animals and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). These sources expose how current regulations function in practice and reveal gaps in oversight that allow harmful breeding conditions to …

Does What Happens In Vegas Increase Pedestrian Safety? A Longitudinal Study On The Effectiveness Of Pedestrian Bridges, Jalen Paulos, Joaquin Miguel Del Mundo, Brock Wentz, Janel Pietryga

Department of Orthopaedics Faculty Research

Urban populations continue to rise and the frequency that pedestrians are exposed to vehicular traffic continues to increase. The result is an increase in automobile versus pedestrian collisions. This study aims to determine the efficacy of pedestrian bridges in reducing the rates of automobile‒pedestrian collisions. Data for all automobile versus pedestrian collisions and injuries from July 1997 through December 2023 at four distinct intersections along Las Vegas Boulevard were retrieved from the Nevada Department of Transportation. These sites were chosen because of their historically high rates of automobile versus pedestrian incidents and the construction of pedestrian bridges at three of …

Systemic Poverty Amongst Puerto Ricans In New Jersey, Karen M. Acevedo-Quintana

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Puerto Ricans account for over 20% of Hispanics in New Jersey. It is estimated that 27.8% live below the poverty line. The poverty rate amongst this community is higher than the state average. Prior to this study, no known study examined what advocates for improving socioeconomic conditions amongst Puerto Ricans in New Jersey believed were the barriers to and/or facilitators of reducing poverty. The purpose of the generic qualitative study was to identify and analyze the perceptions of expert advocates regarding the current barriers to and/or facilitators of reducing poverty amongst Puerto Ricans in New Jersey using interpretivism through the …

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: March 2026, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

Employment rose by 178,000 in March, while the overall unemployment rate held steady at 4.3 percent, with notable job gains in health care, construction, and transportation and warehousing. Veteran unemployment declined slightly to 3.9 percent, though younger veterans continued to experience higher unemployment rates than older veterans and their nonveteran peers. Male veteran unemployment fell, while female veteran unemployment rose and remained above that of nonveteran women. Unemployment trends varied across racial and ethnic groups, with some veteran subgroups showing higher rates than their nonveteran counterparts, though these monthly estimates can fluctuate significantly.

Gender-Based Violence And Botswana's Constitutional Failure To Protect Women's Rights, Cameron Mcdonald

Immigration and Human Rights Law Review

Gender-based violence (“GBV”) remains a pervasive human rights issue throughout Botswana. When it comes to gender equality, Botswana’s dual constitutional and customary legal system is a paradox. Despite its commitment to equality and nondiscrimination, Botswana’s Constitution allows customary courts to discriminate freely to preserve traditional practices that disadvantage women. These traditional practices affect women’s right to property, inheritance, marriage, legal representation, and personal safety. Customary law continues to constrain women’s right to economic autonomy and access to justice, leaving many women dependent on the men who abuse them. As a result, many Batswana women experience structural discrimination in both their …

The Myth Of The Immigrant As A Criminal: Rhetoric, Otherness, And The Legal Construction Of Danger, Katerina Fernandez

Immigration and Human Rights Law Review

The figure of the “criminal immigrant” occupies a central place in contemporary U.S. immigration discourse, shaping public perception, enforcement priorities, and legal doctrine. Yet a substantial body of empirical research consistently demonstrates that immigrants—both documented and undocumented—commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens. This Note examines why the narrative of immigrant criminality persists despite this evidence and how it influences the development and operation of immigration law. It argues that “immigrant” functions not only as a legal category but also as a socially constructed marker of Otherness, encompassing perceived differences in race, language, culture, and religion. Through this lens, …

The Expanding Digital Border: Ai, Surveillance, And The Fight For Justice, James Chesser

Immigration and Human Rights Law Review

As artificial intelligence transforms the mechanisms of immigration control, the modern border has become a digital filter—one governed less by geography and more by code. This Article examines the legal, technical, and ethical implications of AI-driven systems now central to global border enforcement, including biometric surveillance, algorithmic risk scoring, and predictive profiling. It explores how states use these technologies not only to manage irregular migration, but to compete for global talent—constructing migration regimes that reward capital and compliance while eroding transparency, due process, and equality.

Through an international and comparative lens, the piece highlights the expansion of algorithmic decision-making across …

Florence S.T.C. Building Starts, Birmingham News

Documents

Student health at Florence State Teachers College to be enhanced with new gymnasium for the school

The Impact Of Police Corruption On National Security In Liberia, Yontonson Deddeh Kollie Kesselly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African countries are grappling with policies and laws to mitigate widespread police corruption. However, for decades, corruption within the police force has drawn intense criticism from citizens. Prior research has indicated that state officials are likely to benefit from police corruption, including bribery, thereby undermining Liberia's economic and social stability and prosperity. The issue that prompted this research is that despite extensive police reforms in Liberia’s national police, corruption cases remain prevalent, raising national security concerns. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to investigate Liberians' perceptions of the impact of police corruption on national security in Liberia through …