Digital Commons Network^™

Transforming Public Services For Stem Students And Faculty, Tessa Withorn, Robert Detmering

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Despite institutional priorities to expand STEM education and research activity, some academic libraries struggle to engage faculty and students in these disciplines with library resources and services. This column shares and reflects on how strategic liaison librarianship can address the needs of STEM programs at a large, public university. Implementing new services around research impact and data management and building fruitful connections with STEM researchers has reinvigorated and increased engagement with the library. In the future, a team-based liaison model shows promise for sustaining relationships and forging new paths that communicate the value and impact of the library.

Chinese Communist Party Infiltration Of U.S. Pacific Islands: Protecting American National Security Through Defending Strategic Pacific Assets, Contessa Amedore

Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy

Many Americans picture the U.S.’s Western most border to be the coast of California. However, when threats have historically formed in the Pacific, U.S. Pacific Island territories have served as the nation’s first line of defense. Today, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have slowly but ambitiously deployed new age or ‘unrestricted’ warfare tactics against the United States and allies in their long awaited plan to assume global hegemony. Their illegal infiltration and psychological operations have gone past Taipei and reached American soil in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. This paper examines how the (CCP) uses unrestricted warfare …

Cv: Philip Blankenship (Behavioral Neuroscience), Philip Blankenship

Psychology Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

“Home.”: A Trauma-Informed Children’S Book Exploring Secure Attachment For Children In Foster Care, Keeli Langford

Undergraduate Theses

Estimates suggest 6% of U.S. children (nearly half a million) will be placed in foster care at any point between their birth and eighteenth birthday (Turney & Wildeman, 2017). This population of children is subject to multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; Turney & Wildeman, 2017). Such ACEs include parental divorce, parental incarceration, parental abuse, a household member with a psychological disorder, violence exposure, or a household member grappling with substance use. Exposure to childhood ACEs can negatively affect children behaviorally, emotionally, socially, and academically (Lawrence et al., 2006; McGuire et al., 2021). Research indicates youth in foster care are more …

The Impact Of Microaggression Exposure On Emotional Reactivity And Distress Following An Emotionally Provocative Movie Scene, Gwendolyn Jefferson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative study explored how past experiences with racial microaggressions affect emotional reactions to racially charged media and whether factors like age and gender influence that response. Using Minority Stress Theory as a guide, 183 African American adults completed the Racial and Ethnic Microaggressions Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory before and after watching a racially provocative film clip. The first analysis found no direct link between microaggression exposure and emotional change. However, further testing with analysis of variance showed that people with higher exposure reported much stronger emotional distress than those with lower exposure, F(1,180) = 38.12, p < .001, η² = .175. When demographic factors were added in a hierarchical regression, the model became significant, F(7,175) = 2.06, p = .036, R² = .076, showing that age (β = .086, p = .009) and gender (β = 1.505, p = .039) influenced emotional responses. Thus, older African American women showed the strongest distress, suggesting that the combined effects of race, gender, and age increase vulnerability to racial stress. These findings support the idea that racial trauma is complex and shaped by overlapping social identities. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive mental health support, inclusive media portrayals, and greater awareness of generational and caregiving stress among African American women. By showing how overlapping identities shape emotional well-being, this research advances social change through empathy, reduced stigma, and institutional accountability, encouraging equity-driven practices that foster racial healing, fairness, and psychological resilience across communities.

The Lived Experiences Of Imposter Syndrome Among Women Of Color Professors In Higher Education, Adrianna Marie Hooker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the unique challenges faced by women of color professors in higher education, who often experience imposter syndrome due to systemic barriers and underrepresentation. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of how these professors experienced and made meaning of imposter syndrome in academic settings. The central research question examined the meaning of imposter syndrome among women of color professors in higher education. This study was grounded in intersectionality and self-determination theory, which provided frameworks for understanding how multiple identities influenced feelings of inadequacy and professional identity. Participants included 12 women of …

Intimate Partner Violence: Serving Heterosexual Male And Same-Sex Victims, David Welch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an ongoing social problem across nationalities, cultures, socioeconomic statuses, sexual orientations, and genders. Historically, research into IPV has focused on the heterosexual female victim and male perpetrator paradigm, including identifying the root causes of this phenomenon and appropriate treatment models. There is a distinct gap in the current literature addressing how therapists in the psychological community approach working with heterosexual male and same-sex victims of IPV, beginning with case conceptualization. To explore the unique case conceptualization considerations of therapists as they encounter heterosexual male and same-sex IPV victims in their practice, a general phenomenological research …

[Project Insight] Spatio-Temporal Analysis Of Domestic Violence In Puerto Rico, Phyllis Muniu

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Analyzing Urban Space-Use Of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus), Szandra A. Péter, Zehidul Hussain, Solena Kronstedt, Amira Roess, Jennifer Mullinax, Travis Gallo, Taylor Anderson

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Military Academic-Scientific Production In Times Of Generative Ai: Ethical Boundaries And Challenges For Strategic Stability, Arlindo J. Barros Junior, Rômulo F. Santos, Weslei J. Batista

Journal of Peace, Conflict, and Security Studies

The adoption of emerging and disruptive technologies, which includes Artificial Intelligence (AI), has driven profound transformations across various sectors and in human behavior in recent years, permeating nearly all fields of knowledge. In this context, the use of AI as a tool to support academic-scientific production cannot be considered an exception. Additionally, there is a growing need for AI literacy for its users, for regulation and for the establishment of criteria to ensure these technologies are employed ethically and responsibly. In light of this global trend, the Brazilian Army has been seeking ways to regulate, manage, and optimize the use …

Staff Education To Enhance Nurse Practitioner Competency In The Identification And Management Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder In An Outpatient Clinic, Obioma Linda Okeke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project was a quality improvement initiative focused on enhancing nurse practitioners’ (NPs’) competency in the identification and management of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The practice problem identified at the local project site through organizational feedback and observation was the inconsistent use of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) screening tool across NP encounters. The practice-focused question for this project was: In NPs in an outpatient clinic setting, how does staff education on GAD-7 and clinical guidelines influence their knowledge, confidence, and consistent use of anxiety screening practices? The purpose of this doctoral project …

Michigan Academician Volume 50, Issue 1

Michigan Academician

2025 Michigan Academy Conference abstracts.

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The National Professional Development Policies And Mathematics Performance In Guyana, Nicola Marcia Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Ministry of Education in Guyana has focused on improving primary students’ performance in mathematics; however, low student performance persists. The problem addressed in this study was the limited understanding of how Guyanese primary teachers used the national professional development policies (NPDP) to address the low performance of students on the Math National Grade 6 Assessment (MNGSA). Grounded in Bandura’s social cognitive theory and Senge’s systems thinking theory, the purpose of this study was to explore Guyanese primary teachers’ perceptions of their successes and challenges using the NPDP to address the low performance of students on the MNGSA. For this …

Think Piece: Urban Echoes: How The New Historiography On Cities Is Reframing Our Understanding Of Mao’S China, Taoyu Yang

Asia Pacific Perspectives

Despite the conventional portrayal of the Chinese revolution as a predominantly peasant-oriented movement, cities emerged as critical arenas for the Chinese Communist Party’s project of modernization and class restructuring during Maoist period (1949–1976). Over the past decade, scholarly attention has increasingly turned to the urban dimensions of the early years of the People’s Republic. This think piece addresses how recent scholarship on cities offers new analytical insights into our understanding of Maoist China by focusing on six recently published monographs. Themes to be discussed in this essay include the contested and evolving notion of socialist modernity, the transformative effects of …

Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress And Moral Injury In Adult Male Incarcerated Individuals, Cyrelah Jeanee Raynor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Underutilizing trauma-informed approaches in correctional rehabilitation has had detrimental consequences, particularly for gang-involved populations. Theories of personality, responsivity, and stress suggest that gang-affiliated individuals, shaped by coercive environments, may develop psychological reactions such as fear, guilt, and moral shame that contribute to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and moral injury (MI). This study examined whether gang role, psychopathy, and perpetration predicted PTSD and MI among 70 incarcerated adult males. Participants completed the Moral Injury Outcome Scale (MIOS), the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP). Two hierarchical regressions were conducted. In the PTSD model, only education …

Communicating The Truth-Telling And Space-Making Of Black Women In Higher Education: A Trap Feminist Study, Chazman Deira Mckoy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation adopts a “for Black women, by Black women” approach to examine how Black women’s lived experiences and performances of racialized gender become communicative acts of agency as they navigate the intersecting challenges of race and gender within pedagogical contexts.

Grounded in Black Feminist Pedagogy and expanded through Trap Feminism, this study celebrates the complexity of racialized gender performances and theorizes them as intentional communicative acts of resistance. These acts not only confront dominant ideologies but also create ongoing spaces for truth-telling, spaces where Black women can reframe how their stories, labor, and brilliance are recognized in academic contexts …

Why The Irish Don’T Eat Offal, Niall Toner

European Journal of Food Drink and Society

In the past fifty years or so, the diverse and colourful displays of animal offal and organ meats that used to be seen in butchers’ shop windows in Ireland, as well as in the UK and America, have all but disappeared. In Ireland, which has seen a gastronomic renaissance in more recent times, these traditional foodstuffs appear to have been slow to return to our plates. But have offal and organ meats a place in the future of the cuisine, and can the increased consumption of offal and organ meats, produced locally, contribute towards a more sustainable food production system, …

“Add What You Think Proper”: Exploring The Culinary Narrative Of Newbridge House Through The Cobbe Recipe Book (1806–1838) And Archive, Cathal Dowd Smith

European Journal of Food Drink and Society

Newbridge House, in north County Dublin, was built in 1747 by Archbishop of Dublin, Charles Cobbe to designs by prominent architect James Gibbs. Having arrived in Ireland in 1717, acquiring land and ecclesiastical promotion, Cobbe settled in north Dublin and built a house in the Palladian vision for his family. In 1755 his heir and sole surviving son Thomas married Lady Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Beresford, daughter of the 1st earl of Tyrone. Together Thomas and Lady Betty assembled an art collection at Newbridge, extending the house for that purpose. Included in that extension were more bedrooms, but, importantly here, increased servants’ …

Factors Affecting Public Knowledge About Ocd Mental Health Literacy, Lauren Angell, Aleena Babu, Jimmy Dumont, Lauren Masapollo, Kaitlyn Silva

The Graduate Review

This research project aimed to examine how varying portrayals of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) influence public mental health literacy (MHL). Our research questions focused on the impact of multidimensional vs single portrayals of OCD on OCD MHL, as well as the influence of certain sociodemographic factors on OCD MHL. Additional exploratory questions were investigated and aimed to explain the relationship between OCD MHL and media, as well as OCD MHL and education levels. To investigate these questions, the study employed a combination of experimental and survey-based methods. By fostering greater awareness of misinformation about OCD, the study not only aimed to …

Religion's Role In Shaping Psychopathological Narratives, Andrea Gonzalez Mendoza

The Graduate Review

Understanding the interplay between religion and psychopathology is essential for clinicians navigating the complexities of mental health diagnosis and treatment. This paper explores the nuanced relationship between belief systems and diagnostic frameworks, shedding light on how religious beliefs influence the perception, assessment, and treatment of mental disorders. Drawing upon historical and current-day research, this paper examines how religious interpretations shape the presentation and understanding of psychopathological symptoms. In doing so, this paper argues that psychopathology cannot be understood without considering the influence of religion on its conceptualization. The latter is illustrated by looking at historical diagnostic patterns and how they …

The Perceptions Of Foster Care Alumni Who Are Recipients Of Pandemic Aid, Ashley Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened challenges for young adults transitioning from foster care to independence. Research shows that foster care alumni faced barriers in education, employment, housing, and health due to limited support networks. Yet, little is known about how emergency policies, such as the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021, affected them. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of foster care alumni who received financial aid through the Act. The research question: What were the experiences and perceptions of foster care alumni (aged 18-26) who received funds via the CAA of 2021 during …

Ethnobotanical Surveys And Morphological Analysis Of Medicinal Plant Names In Lɔ́Mɔngo (Lomongo) C60 At The Elandisha Mavaolo Protected Area In Northeastern Democratic Republic Of Congo, Jean-Baptiste Grodya Musafiri, Jean-Bosco Njango Ngonda, Reddy Shutcha Ehata, Charles Kumbatulu Sita, Chrispina Alphonce, Helene B. Mavar Manga Sodila

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The aim of this research is to contribute to the documentation of Lomongo, a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In this study, we focused on two morphological aspects of medicinal plant names in Lomongo: nominal morphology and morpho-syntax. To collect data, we engaged with two categories of informants: primary informants (traditional healers) and secondary informants (native Lomongo speakers). Ethnobotanical and ethnolinguistic surveys were conducted in the “Elandisha” Mavaolo area through participant observation, semi-structured interview guides, audio recordings, and photographs. The plants identified were documented in situ with the assistance of botanists from "Matiti-Lisanga," an interdisciplinary …

What Is In A Plant Name? A Semantic Analysis Of Indigenous Plant Names Among The Yao Of Southern Tanzania, Julius John Taji

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This study investigates the meanings conveyed by indigenous plant names among the Yao of Masasi, southern Tanzania, whose native language is Chiyao (Bantu, P21). The study specifically explores what plant names communicate beyond functioning as tools for labelling and identifying. The data for the study were collected through semi-structured interviews and jungle-walk-and-identify methods and they were analysed using the framework of onomastics, particularly the area of phytonyms. The sample of the study consisted of nine native speakers of Chiyao from three villages in the Masasi District in Tanzania, namely Chiwata, Kanyimbi and Mkululu. The findings show that indigenous plant names …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

The Historical Shift On Depression: Psychoanalysis To Neuroscience, Melina Kehtar-Navaz

The Bear Counseling Collective

Depression, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, has been an important subject for the collaboration between psychologists, medical doctors, and beyond. Over the past century, our understanding of depression has undergone a transformation from theory-driven insights of psychoanalysis to the biological and brain-based medical and cognitive models that currently dominate research in the field. In the early 20th century, psychoanalysts like Sigmund Freud proposed an original definition and cause for depression, including components of unconscious conflicts. Today, with advancements in neuroscience and biological psychiatry, depression is a disorder of the brain that is affected by multiple components of …

Learning And Satisfaction, Ainsley Smith

Scholars Week

Learning and Satisfaction

Motivation, especially in the world of psychology, is quite the broad and overarching term that relates to various aspects of life. Whether it be motivation in the workplace, classroom, sports, or relationships, our intrinsic and extrinsic motivations drive us to do our best on what we set forth to accomplish. Although there is extensive research on methods of learning in correlation to motivation as well as levels of satisfaction impacting these levels, there has yet to be much exploration into the impact an emotional component or personal connection may have on these factors. The purpose of this …

Witnessing A Wounded World: A Theology Of Ecological Trauma, Timothy A. Middleton

Theology

A crucial intervention at the intersection of ecotheology and trauma theology

We are in the midst of a global ecological crisis. At times, the scale of the suffering involved can be hard to fully comprehend. The whole planetary ecosystem feels out of kilter. Meanwhile, trauma theorists, and society at large, have become increasingly aware of the incidence of trauma in a growing variety of contexts. In Witnessing a Wounded World, Timothy Middleton asks what might be gained by viewing ecological suffering through the lens of trauma.

By bringing concepts and methodologies from trauma theology to bear on questions that …

The Predictive Power Of Social Engagement On Psychological Outcomes Among College Students, Allison J. Gamble

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Worsening mental health among college students post-COVID is a growing national health crisis. Grounded in Cacioppo’s evolutionary theory of loneliness and Feeney and Collins’ thriving through relationships theoretical perspectives, the purpose of this study was to explore the degree to which social interaction and social support predicted psychological outcomes among undergraduate students. Survey responses from over 74,000 undergraduate students who completed the ACHA-NCHA survey for Fall 2019, 2021, and 2022 were analyzed. The surveys included the Kessler 6 screening for non-specific mental illness, the Diener flourishing scale, and questions to assess the number of hours spent in categorically-sorted social situations …

Artificial Light At Night Can Worsen Competitive Outcomes Between Native And Invasive Grasses, Shannon M. Murphy, Kylee Grenis, Anna A. Sher

Biological Sciences: Faculty Scholarship

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is an important global disturbance that affects community dynamics, but how it affects species interactions, such as competition, is not well understood and needs investigation. In plant communities, some exotic-invasive plant species seem to be facilitated by ALAN, which may alter competitive outcomes with native plant communities and promote invasion. Despite these intriguing results, whether ALAN affects competitive outcomes between native and invasive species is understudied. Here we tested how ALAN affects competitive outcomes between two native prairie grasses and two grasses that are exotic-invasive in North America. We planted each native species with a …

Public Housing Professionals Perspectives On Mobile Food Unit Location And Accessibility For Children, Antoinette Lashurn Simpson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor nutrition is a major contributor to death in the United States, and residents of public housing face disproportionate challenges in maintaining adequate nutrition. Public housing is the nation’s oldest housing subsidy program, providing more than one million units for millions of residents, many of whom are women, minorities, and unmarried individuals with incomes below the poverty line. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore public housing professionals’ perspectives on using a mobile food unit located within housing communities to help reduce food insecurity. Feminist intersectionality theory provided the framework for this study, emphasizing how overlapping systems …