Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of The Veteran & Military Learning Scholars Program (Su-Vmlsp): An Immersive, Experiential Learning Community For Veteran & Military-Connected Students, Emily Rabinowitz, Dezarie Moskal, Ken Marfilius, Dessa Bergen-Cico, Stephen A. Maisto, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction: The Syracuse University Veteran & Military Learning Scholars Program (SU-VMLSP) is an immersive, cohort-based initiative designed to expand access to veteran and military studies through experiential learning, structured mentorship, and community engagement. A collaborative effort of the Center for Health Behavior Research & Innovation and the IVMF Veteran & Military Behavioral Health Collaborative, SU-VMLSP supports and engages student veterans, military-connected students, and students with academic or professional interests in veteran and military populations. Methods: The program is structured around three core pillars: interactive seminars, immersive research engagement, and community-centered cohort development. Scholars participate in discussion-based seminars focused on veteran …

Beyond Displacement: Ai-Related Job Loss And Time To Re-Employment, Megan E. Williams, Eric Dahlin

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This study examines whether workers who lose jobs to AI experience longer unemployment than those displaced for other reasons. Using OLS regression with demographic and occupational controls, results show that, on average, AI-displaced workers find new employment slightly faster. Although these differences are not statistically significant, they suggest AI-related job loss may not uniquely affect reemployment.

Babies And Borders: Political Determinants Of Population Policies In The European Union, Lauren A. Mchenry

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This research examines the political conditions under which pronatalist policy and restrictive immigration policy are implemented. Using the Nationalism Populism Database and World Population Review data, I classify different countries based on levels of populism and nationalism and determine countries’ levels of immigration restriction and pronatalism. I use a Most Similar Systems Design case study to compare the different policy outcomes of Spain and Italy. I find that populism is predictive of immigration restriction, while nationalism is predictive of pronatalist policy.

The Death Penalty & State Executions In The Mountain West, 1976 - 2024, Mia Tschan, Sydney Mitchell, Yiselle Olivas Ruiz, Dre Boyd-Weatherly, Olivia K. Cheche, Kristian Thymianos, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Criminal Justice

This fact sheet presents 1976-2024 data on the death penalty and state executions in the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah. The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) report, “State Execution Rates,” includes data on the 36 states that have conducted state executions and the 38 states, federal government, and military institutions that imposed the death penalty between 1976 and 2024. This fact sheet focuses on cumulative executions, executions per capita, and executions per death sentence in each Mountain West state.

Where Do Policy Demanders Come From? Protestants And Party Formation In The Antebellum Period, John W. Compton

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

The early 1830s were years of intense religious fervor, when well-organized moral reform movements seemed destined to remake the political landscape. Curiously, however, the party system that emerged from this period was premised on the exclusion of moral issues from party politics. How did the early Jacksonian Democrats and Whigs manage to construct an essentially amoral party system during a decade marked by large-scale moral reform movements? And why did the resulting system unravel in the mid-1850s? Answering these questions requires shifting the focus from party activists and elected officials to organized religion. Specifically, I show that the nation's largest …

Law School News: Rwu Day Of Law And Justice Showcases Powerful Combinations At The Statehouse 4-9-2026, Jordan J. Phelan

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

A Data Model For Coordinated Care, Zachary Bridgewater, Maggie Southwick, Billie Jo Lenning, Mary Rachel Keville, Gilly Cantor

Voices of Service Symposium

Coordinated care is a service delivery paradigm that connects health and human service organizations via a shared referral platform managed by care navigators (i.e., coordinators). Referral technologies have proliferated to support this work, but the absence of data collection standards has produced a technology environment where platforms compete on not only their designs and features but on their underlying data models too. Understandably, these distinct data models arise from varying funder and customer pressures. The result, however, is a fragmented data landscape where users and creators of different platforms have different views of the issues faced by communities.

To address …

Ethics And Interventions In Substance Abuse Treatment For Military Service Members, Ken Marfilius, Allyson Donovan

Voices of Service Symposium

Substance use disorders (SUDs) among military service members and veterans remain critically underdiagnosed. Ethical barriers such as stigma and fear of career repercussions contribute heavily to this gap in treatment-seeking behavior. Culturally informed, evidence-based interventions, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing, are essential to addressing SUDs within this population in an ethically grounded manner.

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 …

Medication Nonadherence And Social Participation For African American Adults With Low Vision, Shakeda Mcghee, Mary Jan Greer Phd, Otr, Jaimee Fielder

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The concept of this capstone is to analyze how quality of life (social participation, health management) is affected in adults ages 18-55 with low vision/blindness with conditions to include diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts.

Integrating Zotero With Your Writing: From Research To Publication – Hslic Workshop Apr 2026, Evelyn Wang

HSLIC Faculty and Staff Instructional Resources

This HSLIC workshop presentation provides a practical, step‑by‑step guide to integrating Zotero into the research and writing workflow. Topics include installing and configuring Zotero and the Zotero Connector, collecting references from databases and web pages, organizing items with collections, subcollections, tags, and PDF attachments, inserting citations and generating bibliographies in Microsoft Word and Google Docs, managing and annotating PDFs, handling title case versus sentence case, detecting and merging duplicate records, and using advanced features such as Zotero sync, group libraries, collaboration tools, custom citation styles, and ZoteroBib.

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 …

Military Justice Meets Experiential Learning: The U.S. Air Force Court Of Criminal Appeals Outreach Project, Anna Lupardo, Elizabeth Kubala

Voices of Service Symposium

Syracuse University College of Law partnered with the U.S. Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals (AFCCA) to create an experiential learning opportunity for law students centered on a real military appellate case. The AFCCA, based at Andrews Air Force Base, reviews courts-martial convictions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and can affirm, modify, or overturn sentences. The featured case, U.S. v. Reese, involved a USAF airman in Germany charged with offenses related to a vehicle accident and improper breathalyzer use. Two Veterans Legal Clinic students briefed the case as amici for the appellant--both of whom will go on to …

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 …

Identifying Major Sources Of Leptospira Interrogans In San Juan Bay And Río Grande De Loíza Estuaries Of Puerto Rico, Logan Mccullers, Dave Bachoon

Biology Theses

This study evaluated the presence of pathogenic Leptospira interrogans, potential carriers, and environmental factors influencing their occurrence in the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE) and Río Grande de Loíza (RGDL) watersheds of Puerto Rico from 2024–2025. Detection of this pathogen from water samples was performed using the lipL32 PCR assay. The likely hosts of L. interrogans were determined using fecal source tracking (FST) assays for human (HF-183), canine (BacCan-UCD), equine (HoF597), and rat mitochondrial DNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene (RatMt) markers. In 2024, 91 samples were collected (March: 50; June: 41), and in 2025, 124 samples were collected …

Bridging Libraries And Classrooms: Co-Teaching For Student Success, Joy Urbina, Isabel Baca

Librarian Conference Presentations

An instructional librarian and writing professor describe their collaborative approach to co-teaching. Learn how integrating information literacy with writing instruction strengthens students' critical thinking and research skills and discover practical strategies from this successful cross-disciplinary partnership.

Critical Minerals In A Critical Time, Parker J. Peterson, Sophia Budge, Brooks Miner

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This study evaluates U.S. positioning in rare earth mineral (REM) supply chains by analyzing global mine concentrations and trade alignments. While the U.S. ranks second in production, its critical vulnerability lies in processing, where China controls 60–80% of global capacity. Strategic investment and allied partnerships are essential for long-term supply chain resilience.

Where's Our Water? Invasive Saltcedar's Thirsty Trek Across The Shoreline Of Lake Mead, Mia R. Morgan, Joseph Penrod, Ruth Kerry

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

The prolonged megadrought in Southern Nevada has exposed thousands of acres of former lakebed at Lake Mead, creating an expanding frontier for the invasive shrub Tamarix ramosissima, commonly known as saltcedar. This hardy, non-native species rapidly colonizes the receding shoreline, siphoning up to 200 gallons of water per plant daily and outcompeting native vegetation. Utilizing high-resolution satellite imagery from 2020 and 2025, this research found that saltcedar coverage within a 5 km radius of the lake increased by approximately 76.7%.

Analysis of the spatial data indicates that while the total area of infestation has exploded, the average distance of …

Law School News: Roger Williams University School Of Law Receives Historic $4 Million Gift From Mark Mandell To Establish Premier Trial Advocacy Center 4-9-2026, Hillary Lima, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Finding Belonging In A Religious Dominant Society: Religion Among African Migrants In Türkiye, Garrett L. Wride, Stacey A. Shaw

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

As global migration increases each year, so does the need to understand the crossroads between inclusion, wellbeing, and religion. The experience of African migrants living in Türkiye presents itself as a unique case to study migrant wellbeing. Using quantitative and qualitative analysis, this study shows that African migrants in Türkiye belonging to the religious minority have lower scores of wellbeing and social support. Findings point to the need for policy makers and mental health practitioners to ensure migrants can access their religious communities.

Budgets Vs. Bullets: Divergent Effects Of Economic And Security Threats On Nationalism, Mary Moody

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Existing literature argues that the presence of threats increase levels of (patriotic) nationalism. However, there are different kinds of threats, whose presence may instead reduce nationalist and isolationist attitudes. We argue that economic threats will raise levels of nationalism, while security threats will decrease nationalism and increase internationalism. We find that, across Europe, those who were more concerned about economics as a result of the Ukraine War were more Eurosceptic and nationalist, whereas those who were more concerned about security had an increased desire for European cooperation. In an original survey experiment in Poland, we find that a treatment priming …

Organizing To Engage: A Framework For Conflict Strategy, Paul Mason Carpenter

Dissertations

Conflict strategy can be exceedingly complex. While many of the basics are simple, even the simple can be highly complicated to execute. The Schlieffen Plan in World War I appeared straight forward, but execution was a great deal more complex. It failed and the result was years of trench warfare.  In addition, leaders entering conflict may not fully appreciate the full context, its effect, and the need for a long term result--a better state of peace.

Strategy and tactics may be challenging to transform as an engagement evolves. In addition, strategists must often commit to courses of action within very …

Workforce Dynamics In Michigan’S Upper Peninsula: Trends, Shocks, And Projections Through 2030, Iryna V. Lendel, Chloe Wieber, Sevrin Williams, Gerrit Anderson, Lee Adams

Upjohn Institute Technical Reports

This report examines the economic and workforce dynamics of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.) through 2030, highlighting the region’s ongoing transition during population decline, workforce aging, and structural labor shortages. Despite these pressures, the U.P.’s labor force remains relatively stable due to increased participation among older workers, partially offsetting declines in prime-age cohorts. The region’s economy is highly specialized, with strong concentrations in extraction, construction, and production industries—sectors that offer high wages but are vulnerable to cyclical economic downturns.

Using a combination of demographic analysis, occupational data, and industry projections, the study identifies significant skill overlap across key industries, suggesting potential …

Workforce Dynamics In Michigan's Upper Peninsula: Trends, Shocks, And Projections Through 2030, Iryna V. Lendel

Presentations

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is navigating a complex economic transition shaped by demographic change, workforce aging, and sectoral concentration. While the region has experienced long-term population decline, its labor force has remained stable due to rising participation among older workers. At the same time, the U.P.’s economy remains highly concentrated in extraction, construction, and production industries. These industries offer strong wages but are sensitive to economic cycles.

This presentation highlights key findings on workforce structure, industry specialization, and the region’s capacity to respond to potential shocks, including major employer closures. Evidence shows substantial skill overlap across industries, creating opportunities for worker …