Digital Commons Network^™

Seeing Through The Incense Smoke: Understanding The Meanings Of Ancestral Rites In Vietnam For The Sake Of A Pastoral Approach In Christian Mission, J.P. Cima

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Cima, J.P. “Seeing Through the Incense Smoke: Understanding the Meanings of Ancestral Rites in Vietnam for the Sake of a Pastoral Approach in Christian Mission.” Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2025. 285 pp.

The veneration of ancestors at family altars has long been a defining feature of everyday Vietnamese life that poses a critical missiological problem for Christian mission in Vietnam. May Christians participate in ancestral veneration rituals? Current and historical responses to this question, among Protestants and Catholics alike, have not been uniform. Moreover, many responses have been based on assumed or oversimplified understandings of the rites’ meaning which recent …

Transnational Methodological Engagements With Artistic Narratives: Challenging Hierarchies And Building Community, Lauren Stetz

The Qualitative Report

Through the analysis Violence Against Women Art Map Project, a publicly accessible online platform that utilizes data visualization to understand the contextual complexities of violence against women (VAW), this article explores how comics and narrative artworks can be utilized to provide voice on sensitive or controversial subject matter, challenge accepted societal hierarchies and norms and build community. Considering social media as a transnational dialogic space, graphic works within online spaces can provide qualitative researchers with the potential to expose the multilayered and entangled experiences of individuals across cultures and to interrupt frequently silenced issues that often go unwitnessed and unspoken. …

The Role Of Criminology In The Courtroom, Nia Mehroke

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

Criminology and expert witness testimony play a crucial role in modern-day court proceedings. Scientific data and insights utilized in criminology can assist with seeking justice and fairness. This essay aims to provide a basis for the history of criminology and define the practice. It will explore the evolution of criminology practices and how theories have developed that are still utilized today. Furthermore, it will discuss criminologists’ many contributions as expert witnesses, including the role of ethics that criminologists must follow in court. Some key ideas presented include the methodologies criminologists use to present evidence and what standard criminologists must follow …

Exploring The Experience Of Embodiment Of Diverse Leaders, Susan Lynn Flaming Yeats

Dissertations

The experience of embodiment is a complex phenomenon that spans a range of feelings: a sense of connection to one's physical body, a sense of capability to accomplish certain physical acts, an attunement to self-care behaviors, a connection to desire, and inhabiting the body as a subjective site (Piran, 2016). This can be a complicated experience for leaders who hold multiple intersecting identities (Hill et al., 2016). As new medical therapies promise radical weight loss possibilities, the experience of embodiment has taken on a new layer of complexity (Giorgis, 2024). For fat leaders who are also women of color, sexual …

Leading Through Crisis: San Diego County Schools' Response To The Social Emotional Needs Of All Students, Johana Bielma

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented school closures, forcing administrators to take decisive action to radically change the educational system. The imperative to switch to remote learning transformed the dynamics of teaching and learning, leading to both immediate and long-term academic and social emotional consequences for all stakeholders. When schools reopened, administrators faced the challenge of reintegrating students into in-person learning while addressing the pandemic’s lasting effects on academics, mental health, and school safety. While academic regression was evident, the extent of students’ emotional struggles was less anticipated. Many students exhibited increased irritability and mental health issues such as depression …

Reimagining Pedagogies Of The Prison Yard: Using Ethnotheatre To Embody Transcarceral Conocimiento, Mabelle Reynoso

Dissertations

Latinxs make up 40% of California's population but account for 45% of the prison population and 47% of the jail population (Sawyer, 2023). Their overrepresentation in carceral custody not only impacts the individual but also affects families and communities by limiting access to social, political, and educational capital and agency. In response to gaps in research specific to the collateral impact, this interdisciplinary arts-based qualitative study highlights the experiences of five formerly incarcerated Latino men who participated in an Arts in Corrections playwriting class during their time in a California state prison. This study foregrounds their knowledge as cuentistas (storytellers), …

Culturally Affirming Independent School Board Governance: Centering The Experiences Of Independent School Board Members Of Color, Christopher S. Dennis Phd

Dissertations

As schools become more diverse, K–12 independent school boards benefit from diversity (Jernigan et al., 2010; Tolbert Smith, 2022). This study examined the narratives of independent school board members of color (BMOC) across the United States’ racialized history of education (Anderson, 1988; Omi & Winant, 2014). The study used a survey (n = 23) and interviews (n = 9) based on Helms’s (1996) racial identity theory and Booth-Bell et al.’s (2021) board governance theory. This multiple case study examined survey responses of BMOC from 17 schools governed by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Nine respondents were …

Advancing Equity In Financial Aid For Black Students: A Document Analysis Study Of Student Equity Plans In California Community Colleges, Edwina Williams

Dissertations

This study examined how California Community Colleges (CCCs) constructed financial aid discourse in Student Equity Plans (SEPs) and assessed whether these strategies mitigated or perpetuated racial disparities for Black students. Previous scholarship identified racial inequities in financial aid systems and explored how equity planning documents addressed race; yet, the influence of institutional discourse on financial aid access remained underexamined. This study contributed to the literature by applying critical race hermeneutics (CRH) to examine how SEPs outlined financial aid strategies, with particular attention to the framing of work–study opportunities and the extent to which the SEP intended to employ race-conscious approaches. …

Japan’S “Other”: An Investigation Into Nihonjinron’S Influence On Japanese Society, James Novello

Senior Theses

This thesis explores nihonjinron's - a post-war genre of literature concerning what it means to be Japanese - possible influence in Japanese society by examining the prevalence of foreigner stereotypes among the Japanese public. Through examining Harumi Befu's "Hegemony of Homogeneity," Japanese textbooks, entertainment media, private rent housing discrimination, and a survey on immigration sentiments, there is correlational evidence suggesting nihonjinron beliefs may still prevalent in Japanese society.

Maybe It Really Is Those Damn Phones, Sarah F. Garvin

Honors Projects

Technology is an integral part of modern life and has extended into elementary classrooms where one-to-one device programs have become the norm. While technology can increase accessibility to education, its widespread integration in learning environments raises concerns about its long-term impact on students and teachers. This research critically examines gamified learning applications and technology use in elementary education, questioning whether they enhance learning, curiosity, and problem-solving skills. A qualitative methods approach was employed, using surveys and interviews conducted with educators in Seattle Public Schools to assess the effects of technology-driven instruction. The resulting data were analyzed through thematic analysis to …

"La Vida Es Un Carnaval": An Exploration Of Cuban Identity And Nostalgia Through Dance/Movement Therapy - A Community Engagement Project, Maria Fernanda Mendez Mendoza

Expressive Therapies Theses

“La Vida Es Un Carnaval” is a community engagement project and thesis that explores how identity and nostalgic resilience show up through dance/movement therapy with Cuban immigrants living in the United States, specifically Massachusetts. This project brought together six Cuban-born participants, ages 26 to 67, each with their own unique migration stories; from the Rafter Balsero Crisis of 1994, to the “Wet-Foot/Dry-Foot” policy, and family reunification. Through a mix of in-person and online sessions, participants explored their experiences using intermodal activities including dance/movement therapy techniques, conversation, journaling, artwork, and music. Themes of cultural pride, “Cubanía” – Cuban-ness, culture shock, and …

Respectability, Code-Switching, And Expression: Examining The Experience Of Black Expressive Arts Therapists Through A Sociolinguistic Lens, Darrien Bush

Expressive Therapies Theses

This literature review explores how the linguistic phenomenon of code-switching can be applied to expressive arts and expressive arts therapy to describe the experience of Black expressive therapists. The review outlines the evolution of the term, reasons why individuals switch codes, and how this affects their experience. The understanding of code-switching is then examined in expressive arts and the expressive arts therapy field. A history and understanding of code-switching in Black communities is also explored, connecting Black experiences of code-switching and expressive arts therapy programs. A discussion suggests that culturally relevant practices are implicitly discouraged due to dominant expectations. Future …

Hope In Times Of Helplessness: A Literature Review On The Queer Art Of Resilience And Melancholia Via The Expressive Arts, Andrew Crowthers

Expressive Therapies Theses

This thesis explores the intersection of Queer resilience, expressive arts therapy, and community-building practices within marginalized communities – particularly focusing on how Queer communities have utilized art as means of survival, perseverance, and legacy in times of struggle. Queer communities have consistently turned to artistic gestures of expression as a way to not only resist oppression, but to also preserve collective memory and identity. In a world experiencing heightened stress, disconnection, and violence, finding ways to maintain hope is critical.

Through the lenses of trauma-informed expressive arts therapy, Queer aesthetic sensibility, and Queer melancholia, this paper examines how artistic practices …

Exploring Predictive Factors For Enabling Behavior In Family Members Of Those With Problematic Substance Use, Joseph Lemieux

Counseling and Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the underpinning driving forces for enabling behavior in affected family members with loved ones engaged in problematic substance use. With improved clarity and understanding of the variables predictive of enabling behavior, clinicians may be able to treat family members with improved precision and efficacy. Specifically, this study inquired about the relationship between enabling behavior and several variables, including (a) trauma, (b) ethnicity/race, (c) gender, (d) social support, (e) household income, and (f) age. This study surveyed 100 participants identifying as affected family members. Surveys were completed online and consisted of …

Beyond The Exam Score: An Examination Of The Kenyan Education System, Its Reforms, Inefficiencies, And Impact On Individuals And Society At Large, Olivia M. Pederson

Honors Projects

In Kenya, secondary education plays a decisive role in shaping students’ university and career opportunities as well as their social mobility. The national exam, Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), acts as a key gateway to higher education and employment. The quality and accessibility of education for Kenyan youth, however, has been impacted by systemic inefficiencies ranging from underfunding and disparities in resource allocation to an exam-centric curriculum. This study takes a qualitative approach, using both purposive and convenience sampling to gather data through a questionnaire sent to university students and adults that have graduated from a Kenyan secondary school. …

Evaluating The Opportunities And Limitations Of Social Enterprises In Addressing Period Poverty In Rural India, Abigael Hartlieb

Senior Theses

Social enterprises play a significant role in advancing social justice and global health by employing innovative strategies to address health disparities within underserved communities. Period poverty, defined as the lack of access to feminine hygiene products, represents a global health challenge. Social enterprises have emerged as a tool to combat this issue in several countries, including India, but face barriers in widespread implementation in rural areas. This study evaluates the opportunities and limitations social enterprises have in combating period poverty in rural India with a focus on Goonj, a New-Delhi based social enterprise dedicated to bridging the gaps of resources …

Organizing In The Hybrid Media System: Local And International Organizing In The Metoo Movement, Jenna Dole

Sociology ETDs

Movements today are operating in a hybrid media system, in which activists negotiate the use of traditional and social media. Although most of what we know of the MeToo movement comes from studies of the #MeToo campaign and online organizing, the movement has its foundations in local organizing and in the wake of the viral campaign additional local organizing efforts took place. Using semi-structured interviews with leaders of a local MeToo organizing group and Facebook posts from this local group and a large, international MeToo Facebook group, this study explores the role of local organizing coming out of an international, …

Shifting To A Culture Of Inclusion By Design: Applying A Mixed-Methods Approach To Advance Accessibility Of Public Health Emergency Information & Communication Technology, Jessica L. Franks, Erin Vinoski Thomas

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience inequities in access to timely, accurate, and understandable information and communication technology (ICT), which increases risk for public health emergency (PHE)-related health disparities and impedes opportunities to achieve optimal health. This study assessed federal COVID-19 webpage accessibility levels and explored existing knowledge of and experience with filing accessibility complaints for federal ICT among adults with IDD. Through a mixed-methods approach, we evaluated compliance with accessibility standards for 18 federal agencies’ COVID-19 webpages (study 1) and interviewed 16 adults with IDD about experiences accessing federal webpages and filing accessibility complaints (study 2). We …

Analyzing The Influence Of Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women And Girls (Mmiwg) Cases And Their Impact On Society, Ivy J. Anderson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This research paper analyzes the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) cases and how this issue is continuously impacting society. Through the process of thematic analysis, the social media platform Reddit was analyzed on how social media plays a role in spreading awareness on this topic.

The Connection Between An Unequitable Distribution Of Care Responsibilities And A Widening Gender Nutrition Gap In Latin America, Alexis Nicole Bodlak

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The notion of care refers to activities that satisfy the basic needs of existence and reproduction. Within rural communities, care work such as the production and preparation of food contributes to food security at the household level. Care work supports the paid workforce, allowing workers to focus on commercial productive activities that generate economic income in rural communities. Women perform 6.3 to 29.5 more hours per week than men in unpaid care work, reducing their time for income-generating activities and personal nutrition management. Affecting their economic independence and ability to access and consume nutritious food. Studies show that in food-insecure …

Queens Of Chaos: How Adhd Affects The Experience Of Motherhood, Ashley Marie Murray

Educational Studies Dissertations

Historically, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) research and public perception have centered on hyperactive young boys, overlooking how the condition manifests in women, particularly mothers. As diagnostic understanding improves, increasing numbers of women are receiving ADHD diagnoses in adulthood, shedding light on the intersection of ADHD symptoms and gendered social expectations, including the ideals of motherhood. This hermeneutic phenomenological study explores how ADHD affects the lived experience of motherhood through in-depth interviews with five mothers across North America. Findings reveal significant challenges in executive functioning, emotional regulation, time management, and self-perception, exacerbated by societal expectations of maternal competence. Participants describe the …

Negotiating Migration In The Mediterranean: A Comparative Study Of Morocco And Italy’S Border Policies And Their Humanitarian Impact On Irregular Migrants, Shennel Ep Henries

Master's Theses

Serving as both a barrier and a bridge that connects Africa and Europe, the Mediterranean is today the focal point of global controversies around migration, where humanitarian interests balance against border policing and meet securitization policies. This thesis examines the questions: How do irregular migrants adapt, interpret, and maneuver around securitized Moroccan and Italian migration policies, and what do their strategies tell us about the relationship between humanitarianism and securitization in Mediterranean bordering processes? Drawing on qualitative evidence, including expert interviews with organization employees and volunteers in Morocco and Italy (Fondazione Solidarietà Caritas, Nosotras Onlus, and Caritas Maroc), field observation, …

Mothers Who Homeschool: Experiences In Rural California, Kiah Combs

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of mothers who homeschool

their children in the rural location of Shasta County, California (CA). This research was

guided by three research questions: 1) In what ways is the act of homeschooling a form

of resistance to existing power structures for mothers in a rural region in CA? 2) How

does the process of providing a homeschooling education for their children influence

mothers’ perceptions of themselves as confident and capable? 3) In what ways does

homeschooling allow mothers to offer their children an educational experience which

meets their unique needs …

Lack Of Access To Education And Economic Opportunities As Root Causes Of Youth Migration From The Western Highlands Of Guatemala, Alvaro Quinteros Gonzalez

Master's Theses

This thesis examines how the relationship between limited access to education and economic opportunities contribute to the migration of young people out of this region. The qualitative research addresses two main questions: a) What challenges do young people in the Western Highlands of Guatemala face in accessing the education system and employment opportunities? And b) How does the lack of education and economic opportunities influence young people’s decision to migrate? Three focus groups were conducted with young individuals from the western highlands, and six semi-structured interviews were held with stakeholders and organizations working in this region.

The thesis concludes that …

Reason And All My Senses: Surveying The Post Enlightenment Frame Of Reason Through Contemporary Philosophy, Cognitive Psychology, And Cognitive Linguistics, Joshua T. Lowe Rev. Dr.

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

This dissertation argues that Christian theology and practice are aided and enriched by a more complete understanding of reason by surveying recent studies and views in theology, philosophy, cognitive psychology, and cognitive linguistics. Since the Enlightenment, Christian theology has assumed widely the Enlightenment model of human reason as ideally acontextual, that is, free from constraints of contexts, and therefore universal, that is, applicable in all contexts. Recent developments from a variety of perspectives challenge this model of rationality. Some challenge the acontextualism of the Enlightenment understanding by showing how it arose from and depends on a context, and that context …

Exploring Extension Agents' Understandings Of Local And Resilient Food Systems, Hannah Dankbar, Brooke Matusko

Journal of Extension

Currently, there is a focus on bolstering local food systems to support overall food system resilience. Local and resilient food systems, though related, are distinct concepts. Their use in food system development is complicated by varying interpretations. Data from a survey of North Carolina Extension agents, a group of food system practitioners, identified a range of definitions of these terms. The results underscore the complex landscape of local food system development and identify a need to build on conceptual understandings within the Extension community and establish shared understandings within food system development efforts.

Faculty Roles And Responsibilities Supporting Extension Health Initiatives: Suggestions To Maximize Campus-Field Partnerships, Christine A. Fruhauf, Maria Delgado, Sue Schneider

Journal of Extension

The past several decades of Extension scholarship have addressed topics related to creating pathways for stronger campus-field based connections. Several attempts have been made to support such efforts, including creating content-driven teams of research/teaching faculty and Extension professionals; state-wide tours where campus-based faculty and administrators visit with Extension staff in their county offices and in the field; and making new campus-based faculty and staff hires with a percentage of Extension appointments. Although these strategies have merit, addressing how these initiatives can support the goal of strengthening the work of campus- and field-based faculty to influence the mission of land-grant institutions …

From Data To Action: An Adaptable Crosstabs Template For Participatory Survey Data Analysis, Natalia Pinzon, Vikram Koundinya, William O'R Dowling, Ryan Galt

Journal of Extension

We present a practical and accessible template for quantitative survey data analysis designed for non-academic researchers in order to facilitate engagement from community collaborators. The template, created in Google Sheets, is mainly for computing cross-tabulations, but it also displays frequency distributions and p-values for determining statistical significance. The template allows collaborators to record their observations and questions, promoting an efficient yet interactive review process and fostering a democratic analysis environment. Based on our own experience using this template for a data party, we highlight its effectiveness in promoting collaborative data interpretation, decision-making, and the actionable use of survey findings.

Nature For New Minnesotans: A Minnesota Master Naturalist Program Connecting Adult English Language Learners To The Outdoors, Lucas Fitchen Rapisarda, Britt M. Forsberg

Journal of Extension

English language (EL) learners, many of whom are immigrants, face economic, social, and cultural constraints when accessing Extension programming. NFNM is an innovative program that seeks to address these constraints by developing and implementing place-based natural history curriculum for adult English language (EL) learners in the authors state. This article describes the program development process for NFNM and shares important lessons learned during the process.

The Politics Of Being Heard: Communication And Power Struggles In Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Caroline Trejo

Master's Projects and Capstones

The environmental and public health challenges in Bayview-Hunters Point have catalyzed widespread community activism, as residents and advocates respond to the ongoing fallout from radiological contamination at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Communication plays a vital role in bridging the gap between affected communities and government entities throughout the cleanup process. This research asks: how have the communication strategies of advocacy groups influenced government actions and policies during the Bayview-Hunters Point Shipyard cleanup? To explore this question, I conducted semi-structured interviews with three community advocates, two former members of a non-partisan civil jury, one independent researcher, and one government official. …