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2025 Craft Academy Senior Send-Off Program, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Communications and Marketing Publications Archive

The Morehead State University 2025 Craft Academy Senior Send-Off Program from May 9, 2025.

Trust-Related Health Beliefs In Medical Systems Among Black Americans Since Covid-19, Monique Johnson Dixon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

COVID-19 highlighted the longstanding systemic and structural racism that produced poor health outcomes in Black communities. Black minorities in the United States were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with less access to health resources, low vaccine rates, and mistrust of healthcare providers and organizations. This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) explored trust-related health beliefs with medical systems among Black Americans since COVID-19. The study explored the trust-related health beliefs through the six constructs of the health belief model—perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived barriers, perceived benefits, cues to action, and self-efficacy. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews of six participants who …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Teachers' Perceptions Of School Security Measures, Rozetta Michelle Isaac

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the lived experiences of six middle school teachers who provided their perceptions of school safety measures at their work locations. This phenomenological qualitative study aimed to examine whether the participants feel safe while at work. The theoretical framework that guided this study was PET (Punctuated Equilibrium Theory) which focuses on policy change over time. Participants were given a survey questionnaire to answer. The survey questionnaire contained open-ended survey questions. The survey was utilized in lieu of in-person interviews (due to COVID -19 restrictions). Participants were asked open-ended questions about their experiences and perceptions regarding school safety measures. …

Hospital Organizations’ Obligation To Promote Spiritual Well-Being Among Nurses: Development Of A Normative Ethical Argument, Michael Jordan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents an innovative strategy to promote the support of nurses' spirituality within hospital organizations. By focusing on the spiritual well-being of nurses by hospital organizations, with a natural extension into nursing schools, the approach aims to enhance nurse’s ability to protect their own spirituality, provide comprehensive spiritual care to patients, and increase nurse moral resilience. By investing in nurses' spirituality and spiritual growth, hospitals can potentially increase job satisfaction among nursing staff, improve patient care outcomes, and create a more holistic healing environment for both nurses and patients. As the nursing shortage continues and the number of nurses …

Race, Racialization, & Rehabilitation: Intersectional Insights Into The Cuban Revolution’S Campaign To Eliminate Prostitution, Alyssa Garcia

PALARA: Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association

No abstract provided.

For The Marginalized: A Purposeful Path To Social Work, Sarah Christina Stenseth Mathias

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

In For the Marginalized: A Purposeful Path to Social Work, I reflect on the journey that led me from education into social work, grounded in a commitment to advocacy, ethical practice, and systemic change. Using my experiences in a therapeutic day-treatment school setting, I integrated trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches with evidence-based practice to support marginalized students navigating mental health challenges, systemic barriers, and educational inequities. My portfolio highlights growth across the Five Elements of Advanced Integrated Practice, focusing on self-reflection, social justice advocacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, research-informed practice, and leadership. Throughout this journey, I remained anchored in the belief that …

Who Do You Want To Become?, Taylor Greene

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Mass Shooting Perceptions, Public Mental Illness Stigma, And Social Media Use: A Regression Analysis, Kayla Cross

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental illness is frequently associated with mass shootings in news media, which can result in negative stigma among individuals diagnosed with mental illness. While mental illness and mass shootings have been explored previously, social media perceptions have not yet been examined in relation to mental illness stigma and mass shootings. The purpose of this study was to examine public mental illness stigma, mass shootings, and perceptions through social media in a correlational study subjected to regression analysis. The theoretical framework for the study was based on Tajfel and Turner et al.’s theory of social identity and intergroup behaviors. The analysis …

The Nil Ripple Effect: How Name, Image, And Likeness Reshapes Student-Athletes, Mental Health, And Fan Perception, Jaleah Walker

Honors Theses

The NIL Ripple Effect: How Name, Image, and Likeness Reshapes Student-Athletes, Mental Health, and Fan Perception examines the shifting dynamics of college athletics and how these changes affect student-athletes, fans, and institutions. The study explores the consequences of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and its effects on student-athletes' mental health and fans’ perception. Through interviews with athletes and analysis of current policies, this research highlights the mental, financial, and competitive pressures that NIL places on student-athletes. While NIL provides financial opportunities, it also demands brand management, public visibility, and performance consistency, often leading to heightened stress. Additionally, this study …

Disability Lectures, Panel Discussion Improve Medical Student Attitudes, Knowledge In Sd, Keely Walker, Eric Kurtz

Scholarship Pathways Program

Despite growing recognition of persons with disabilities (PWDs) as an underserved population, healthcare disparities persist, often exacerbated by provider misconceptions and lack of training. This study evaluated the impact of a two-part educational module consisting of a didactic session and a panel discussion with individuals with disabilities focused on healthcare students’ knowledge and comfort in caring for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). Conducted at the University of South Dakota, the sessions included pre- and post-surveys assessing attitudes, confidence, and perceived competencies. Results from 35 participants, primarily medical students, showed statistically significant improvements in 11 of 13 measured domains, …

Associations Of Muscular And Cardiovascular Fitness Variables With Cardiovascular Disease In Older Adult Athlete Populations, Lauren T. Zick

Honors Thesis

This data analysis examined associations between cardiovascular and muscular fitness indicators and the presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older adult athletes. Using cross-sectional data from 1,110 participants aged 50 and older who completed the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE) at state-level Senior Games events, we evaluated both objective performance metrics and self-reported exercise behaviors. Cardiovascular measures included systolic blood pressure (SBP), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and body mass index (BMI). Muscular fitness was assessed through grip strength, maximum walking speed, and chair stand time. CVD status was defined as the presence of two or more self-reported cardiovascular …

An Intervention To Empower People To Confront Sexism, Rebecca Grace Drake

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Even though sexist comments and behavior occur frequently in everyday life, people do not often confront the individuals who are responsible. However, interpersonal bias confrontations can be powerful tools for reducing expressions of bias and norm setting. The current studies tested an intervention designed to increase confrontations by harnessing theory and research on what holds people back from confronting. We designed a half-hour intervention consisting of engaging and evidence-based videos on confronting bias and self-reflection exercises to increase personal relevance. The module aimed to boost confronting by intervening at multiple points of the decision-making process by increasing recognition of sexism, …

Linking Geographic Distribution And Niche Through Estimation Of Niche Density, Tad Dallas, Cleber Ten Caten

Faculty Publications

1. The availability of suitable niche space constrains where species can occur geographically. This tie between niche space and geographic space is crucial when estimating species geographic distributions in a changing climate. However, specific combinations of climatic conditions may be overrepresented in geographic space, highlighting the potential disconnect between climatic niche area and geographic range size.
2. We develop a niche density estimator that accounts for the geographic availability of climatic niche space, relate this to traditional estimates of niche area and explore how these niche estimates are related to species geographic range size.
3. To do this, we use data on over …

Is Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion More Expensive At Quaternary Care Centers? An Application Of Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing, Jay Trivedi, Advith Sarikonda, Adam Leibold, D. Mitchell Self, Nikolaos Mouchtouris, Steven R. Glener, Ashmal Sami, Kavantissa M. Keppetipola, Emily Isch, Joshua Pelta-Heller, Srinivas Prasad, Ashwini Sharan, James Harrop, Alex R. Vaccaro, Ahilan Sivaganesan

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Hospital setting is postulated to be a key driver of cost variation for neurosurgical procedures. Limitations in contemporary costing methodologies have led to the development of time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC). This study applies TDABC to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) to compare intraoperative costs at quaternary care centers versus satellite hospitals affiliated with the same health network.

METHODS: Nine hundred and fifty-eight ACDF cases performed at two quaternary care hospitals (n = 806) and six satellite hospitals (n = 152) were reviewed. Process maps were created to map the intraoperative episode, and TDABC methodology was used to calculate …

Understanding The Treatment Experiences Of African American Women, Kimberly La'sharne Hillery-Bottorf

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women experience trauma at disproportionately higher rates than any other group, yet limited studies focus specifically on African American women with self-reported co-occurring substance use disorder and PTSD and their experiences in seeking and remaining in outpatient treatment. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how this group defines trauma, its impact on their treatment experiences, and the sociocultural factors that influenced their decisions to seek help and remain in treatment. The research questions posed asked about the experiences of African American women over 31 years of age with co-occurring substance use and PTSD, how they …

Economic Development In Cartersville, Ms: A Case Study Of A Non-Profit Organization's Community Development Projects, Mckenzie B. Perkins

Honors Theses

The Mississippi Delta Region has long faced significant economic, educational, and health challenges and a steady population decline since the 1940s. In response, community development projects have emerged as powerful tools to promote health, well-being, and social mobility. This thesis investigates the impact of community development initiatives in Cartersville, MS, focusing on the dental clinic, educational programs, and the economic development center established by a non-profit organization. Through the lens of community development theories, the research explores how community leadership, particularly partnerships between EverHope Ministries and Cartersville leaders, is pivotal in addressing health disparities in historically marginalized populations. By engaging …

Tackling Social Stigma: An Ethical Obligation In Healthcare Intervention To Involuntary Childlessness, Persis Naumann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The stigma associated with involuntary childlessness has negatively affected health and well-being for several decades. This situation is particularly exacerbated for women within the Tamil socio-cultural context, resulting in feelings of shame, neglect, denial, isolation, and constituting a significant barrier to long-term access to healthcare services. Although advancements have been made in the provision of biomedical care, the psychosocial support remains inadequately addressed. Moreover, there are currently no healthcare interventions that specifically target the stigma associated with this issue, which hinders open communication with healthcare providers, delays necessary treatments, and adversely impacts overall health outcomes. The central thesis of this …

A Clinical Review Of Suicide Risks In Dermatology, Rahib K. Islam, Victoria T. Tong, Shari R. Lipner

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Patients with visible skin diseases, including acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis, face heightened risks of psychological distress, depression, and suicidal ideation, often exacerbated by social stigma and reduced quality of life. This review explores the intersection between dermatology and suicide, highlighting the psychosocial impact of visible skin conditions and the controversies surrounding treatment-related risks, including isotretinoin and biologic exposure. Current evidence suggests that while isotretinoin has been historically linked to mood changes, robust studies do not support a direct association with suicide. Incorporating mental health screenings into dermatological practice is essential for early identification and management of at-risk patients. By …

Case Studies Of Racism As A Force Of Ruin, Bassie Chin

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

The connection between racism and the physical environment can be seen in the segregation, disenfranchisement, discrimination, and fear which, as culturally defining attitudes, become baked into where, why, and when cities develop. Strict neighborhood boundaries from previous redlining, decaying infrastructure from a waning tax base, and entire villages which have been wiped out speak to racism’s extreme power as a force of corrosion. This paper discusses how racism contributes to the creation of ruins as a method of artificial decay.

In order to examine the effects of racism on infrastructure in different contexts, case studies of three different American cities …

Nigeria's Retirement Pension System And Elderly Poverty, Tonyesima Furro

Journal of African Policy Studies

This study examines the nature of Nigeria's contributory retirement pension system. It shows that the government took monthly payroll deductions from the incomes of retirees and deposited in said retirement funds. Prior to retirement, retirees would receive a severance package of a lump-sum payment of a few months to a few years' earnings. They were assured that their regularly scheduled monthly disbursement would be remitted to their designated bank accounts. But due to the cumbersome bureaucratic procedures, many pension claimants were unsuccessful in receiving their benefits before death. The study reveals that the nation's pension administration system is characterized by …

2025 Persimmon Creek - Full Journal, Beth Keefauver, Wayne C. Robbins

Persimmon Creek

Persimmon Creek runs through the Susan B. Jacobs Arboretum, an oasis of nature in the center of our dynamic and thriving campus community at the University of South Carolina Upstate. My colleague Wayne Robbins and I were recently tasked with bringing back the student-edited literary journal formerly known as Writer’s Inc. Dr. Marilyn Knight stood at the helm of Writer’s Inc. for nearly twenty years, and when she retired, the journal left with her. We thought it would be an opportune time to pay homage to the legacy of Writer’s Inc. by renaming and reimagining our home department’s literary journal. …

The Democratization Of Coaching And Development Through Peer Coaching In Groups, Richard E. Boyatzis

Engaged Management ReView

People want and need development at work and in life. The cost of typical development activities limits access to those in powerful or higher status positions. In addition, the efficacy of training programs in organizations and higher education as developmental activities have shown relatively poor results in terms of sustained, desired change. The effects of coaching seem more promising, but it is highly labor intensive and therefore costly. Peer coaching in groups (PCGs) offers a potentially efficacious developmental activity at no or very low cost to organizations or individuals. PCGs can be used throughout the world and invite participation regardless …

Residential Proximity, Duration, And Health-Related Quality Of Life: Insights From The Fernald Cohort, Sara Burcham, Wei-Wen Hsu, Sharon L. Larson, Phd, Jack Rubinstein, Susan M. Pinney

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

The impact of living near environmental contamination on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is not well understood. This study examined the impacts of the residential proximity (RP) and time spent near a former Department of Energy uranium processing facility (located in Fernald, Ohio) on the surrounding community’s HRQoL outcomes. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the data collected from participants using the Short Form-36 survey at the time of the enrollment in the Fernald Medical Monitoring Program (n = 7957). Mental and physical component summary scores (MCS and PCS, respectively) were computed for each participant. The scores were compared …

Facilitating Design Of Effective, Scalable Digital Mental Health Care, Himanshu Mahesh Patil

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

This thesis tackles the challenges of designing effective, scalable digital mental health care solutions by integrating psychological research with human-computer interaction (HCI) principles. An exploration of self-care technologies (SCTs) for mental health is conducted to highlight challenges to comparative analysis, like fragmented research outcomes. Two research questions are posed to investigate how mental health interventions can be designed to be effective and overcome practical challenges to implementation. A theoretical framework in clinical psychology is adapted to bridge the gap between psychology and HCI. A methodology for conducting standardized, structured comparative analysis of mental health interventions is identified. The identified method …

Regional Variations In Maternal Mortality, Infant Mortality, And Infants With Low Birth Weight: Implications For Sub Sahara Africa And Gender-Sensitive Policies, Guang-Zhen Wang

Journal of African Policy Studies

The paper examines regional variations in maternal mortality, infant mortality, and percentage infants with low birth weight in relation to economic development, gender equality, and women's rights by using data obtained from 137 developing countries (or areas). The 137 developing countries are divided into six regions: sub-Saharan Africa (N=45), Arab states (N=20), East Asia/Pacific (N=28), South Asia (N=9), Latin America/Caribbean (N=33), and Southern Europe (N=2). To examine regional variations, this paper is divided into four parts. The first part discusses regional variations in maternal mortality, infant mortality, and infants with low birth weight across and within regions. Part two focuses …

The Inescapable Ideology: How Third Cinema And Afrofuturism Can Change The Future, Daniel Silver

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther films brought the genre of Afrofuturism to a mainstream audience. Afrofuturism seeks to reclaim a past that was stolen by Western colonial and imperialist powers; because that past has been erased, it must be imagined in fiction. Afrofuturistic stories are then used to address issues in the present and look towards a better future. This paper examines how those stories are told using the words and symbols of the dominant ideology in society. It uses Althusser’s theory of Ideological State Apparatuses, Gramsci’s concept of cultural hegemony, and Solanas and Getino’s understanding of the Third Cinema movement, …

Content Analysis Of U.S. State-Level Legislation Impacting Gender-Affirming Practice In Schools, Ashton Keys, Isabel C. Farrell, Amanda Dediego, Caroline Schreder, Kyle Neal, Whitney White

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

In recent years, there has been an increase in legislation that limits access to resources and affirming environments for LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States. This research aimed to identify trends in legislation at the state level impacting gender-affirming school counseling services in the United States. This study represents a content analysis of 225 pieces of state-level legislation from 2023 affecting LGBTQ+ youth in schools. Legislation largely created limitations on use of affirming pronouns for youth in school, availability of appropriate restrooms and changing facilities for transgender and gender expansive youth, and curriculum in schools addressing gender and sexuality.

The State Of Sexuality Counseling Training In Counselor Education, Amber L. Pope, Matt B. Siroty, Stefan Vasic, Julia Lancaster

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Sexuality counseling training remains underdeveloped and lacks standardization across counselor education programs in the United States. We examined the integration of sexuality counseling in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) programs. Out of 191 CMHC programs, 45% offered a standalone course and only 15.2% required one. We also performed summative and latent content analyses on the course descriptions to review the primary content of sexuality counseling courses. Content analysIs revealed course content largely focusing on sex positivity and inclusivity, though invalidating and potentially stigmatizing language persists. We conclude with implications for counselor education and future directions for research.

A Sex-Positive, Contextual Approach To Children’S Sexual Development, Ben T. Willis, Leah G. Talarico, Amber Pope

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Sexuality is a multifaceted topic that many counselors feel under-equipped to handle with their clients. Working with sexual aspects is often avoided, especially with younger clients. The purpose of this conceptual article is to provide a framework for understanding and working with children on sexuality-related topics. A positive, contextualized approach to sexuality is offered to understand, assess, and intervene with different developmental levels. We conclude with a case study to demonstrate application of the contextualized model in family counseling.

Cover And Table Of Contents, Institute On African Affairs

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.