Digital Commons Network^™

Chatbot Assessment: Best Practices For Artificial Intelligence In The Library, Michelle Ehrenpreis, John P. Delooper

Publications and Research

In November 2019, the Leonard Lief Library implemented Ivy.ai, a proprietary chatbot on its website. This implementation was the first academic library installation of a vendor-supplied chatbot to be discussed in the professional literature. This chatbot functioned as a new tool that assisted users seeking information from the library website. User questions provided insight to the authors about the kinds of topics students searched for via the library website. In April 2023, the chatbot’s vendor began using OpenAI’s ChatGPT Application Programming Interface (API) to improve the chatbot’s functionality. This change, from a rules-based chatbot system to a transformer model, enhanced …

Multiplicity, Belonging, And Free Speech In Us Higher Education: Thriving Through Current Crises, Naomi Zack

Publications and Research

New realities in U.S. higher education present a multifaceted crisis for students, faculty, administrators, and society at large. This book provides incisive diagnoses of pressing problems and prescriptions to reinstate and support U.S. higher education as an intellectually and ethically valuable institution.

Minds, Made Up Or Malleable? Covert Commands At The Eclipse Of Vaccine Communications, David H. Lee

Publications and Research

Abstract: Although millions have died from SARS-CoV-2 illness, COVID vaccines are credited with stemming the tide. Vaccinations and boosters significantly decrease the incidence of severe illness and death (even if they don’t usually prevent COVID-19 infection). Despite the success of global vaccination efforts, frequent reports of vaccine hesitance and refusal suggest that public health communications need improvement.

The chapter begins by acknowledging adverse events associated with COVID vaccination, including rare cases of anaphylaxis, GBS, and myocarditis. An inoculation-theoretic rationale is offered for this admission of vaccine risks: just as immune defenses mount when organisms are exposed to pathogens, so too …

Cultural Relativism: Addressing Diversity And Expression Of Culture Through Dress, Robert L. Woods, Maureen Archer-Festa, Rachel Raskin, Alyssa Dana Dana Adomaitis

Publications and Research

As America becomes more diverse, so do postsecondary institutions. While they also reflect the world's political, social, and economic climate, institutions of higher learning continuously seek newer and inventive ways to include better culturally diverse students in their programs and campus life. Multicultural education is a set of educational strategies developed to teach students about diverse groups' histories, cultures, and contributions. Moreover, Multiculturalism has become a way of teaching that promotes inclusion, diversity, and democratic learning. If left unaddressed, however, it can breed biases that isolate students, manifest hate crimes, and increase a school's retention rates (Gruman, 2016). Having received …

Fostering Future Librarians: Best Practices For Remote Internships In A Post-Pandemic Library, Yoko Ferguson, Helena Marvin

Urban Library Journal

Remote library internships in cataloging and digital scholarship can be valuable for both librarians and students. Leveraging online tools, we provide learning opportunities to library school students regardless of their time zone. In this presentation we share best practices for post-pandemic internships that nurture future librarians while tackling challenging projects. This presentation, delivered at the 2024 LACUNY Institute, explored the implementation and benefits of remote internships in academic libraries. Provided here as conference proceedings is a PDF of the slides.

An archival version of the recorded presentation can be found at https://irl.umsl.edu/library-faculty/26/.

K-Pop Fan Activism: The Intercultural Expectations Of Korean Entertainment Companies Engaging In Global Social Movements, Ellen Chan

Student Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines the K-pop fan activism directed at Korean entertainment agencies to urge engagement with the Black Lives Matter movement. Data was gathered fans’ hashtag campaigns on Twitter (now known as X) during June 2020 and analyzed through content analysis. The resulting comparative study asks how activist campaigns affected international opinion of the K-pop industry. Through this analysis, I seek to understand how fans’ desire to see foreign companies engage with a global social movement, and how the company's resulting action impacts fans' perception of the industry as a global culture force.

“Baking Inclusion Into Everything”: Internal Communication And Black And Latina Women’S Stories Of Intersectionality, Natalie Martell-Concepcion

Student Theses and Dissertations

Internal communications play a major role in creating diverse and inclusive workplace cultures. This study explores the lived experiences of Black and Latina women who work in internal communications, offering unique insights into how their identities intersect with workplace culture and strategic communication. Through a qualitative approach, six intersectional women, three Black and three Latina, were interviewed to examine how gender, racial and ethnic identities influence their work experiences and contributions. The results indicate that while Black and Latina women are treated differently at work compared to other groups, they use their differences to positively contribute to their companies’ internal …

Reputation Management: Branding A Higher Education Graduate Program To Increase Visibility, Vanderbilt Artaxerxes Brabson Iv

Student Theses and Dissertations

This capstone project offers a comprehensive training tool for non-communication professionals working in higher education programs. Its main goals are to give users (1) a summary of valuable research on higher education reputation management, branding, and strategic communication, and (2) an online toolkit for non-communication professionals to boost the visibility and impact of their educational initiatives. By providing practical, actionable resources, these tools help higher education professionals effectively handle the challenges of strategic communication management. The toolkit is especially useful because it delivers evidence-based strategies and methods that can be directly applied to improve communication efforts in higher education. It …

Reputation Management: Branding A Higher Education Graduate Program To Increase Visibility, Vanderbilt Artaxerxes Brabson Iv

Student Theses and Dissertations

This capstone project provides a comprehensive training tool for non-communication professionals working within higher education programs. Its primary objectives are to provide users (1) a summary of valuable research on higher education reputation management, branding, and strategic communication, as well as (2) an online toolkit for non-communication professionals to enhance the visibility and impact of their educational initiatives. By providing practical, actionable deliverables, these resources can enable higher education professionals to effectively navigate the complexities of strategic communication management. The toolkit is particularly valuable as it offers evidence-based strategies and methodologies that can be directly applied to improve the communication …

Building Bridges An Inclusive Practices Toolkit To Empower Neurodivergent Adults In The Workplace, Gloria Saldana

Student Theses and Dissertations

In this toolkit, designed for managers of neurodivergent employees, we will dig into the complexities of neurodivergence, specifically of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This toolkit aims to promote inclusivity within the workplace. We need to bridge the gap in improving neurodivergence education by understanding characteristics and communication differences, identifying cues, stigma, and consequences of actions ( e.g., bullying). Prioritizing each person's needs allows neurodivergent individuals and employers to discover natural talents and thrive within a diverse society. Through interactive sessions and practical exercises, managers will learn strategies for clear and concise communication, facilitating smoother collaboration, and initiating changes in the …

Coding With Those Who Show Up: Two Methodologies On Technical Committee Work, Mark E. Eaton

Publications and Research

This paper considers our library’s attempt at applying a “laissez-faire leadership” model to technical committee work. Since its introduction in the 1990s, scholarship on laissez-faire leadership has historically viewed the concept very negatively. However, we argue here that many of these perspectives are straw man arguments that do not adequately consider the possibilities of a laissez-faire model. Following some dissenting voices in the literature, we would like to reclaim the laissez-faire model as a way to facilitate library technical work under certain very specific circumstances. This paper will describe the organizational context where these laissez-faire methods worked for us. Our …

Women’S Empowerment Campaigns In East Asia: Case Study Of Sk-Ii, Huan Yao

Student Theses and Dissertations

Brands are increasingly paying attention to the purchasing power of female consumers. In recent years, many brands have added female elements to their brand stories to promote gender equality in society. This provides more opportunities for brands to express their values. However, while the women's movement in Western countries has been in full swing, feminism in Eastern countries is still being explored. This paper examines the best practices in three East Asian countries - China, Japan, and South Korea - for incorporating women's causes into brand identity and probing the development of women's themes in corporate cultures. The paper aims …

Feeding Jersey: A Fresh Look At Food In The Garden State, Zachary E. Zawila

Capstones

New Jersey is the Garden State. The food business is in its nature. But how the state's foodways work, and particularly how they shape the cities of North Jersey, brings vitality to some neighborhoods while leaving others behind. The cities of Orange, Elizabeth, and Paterson have especially interesting food pasts, and particularly promising food futures.

https://sites.google.com/view/feeding-jersey/home

Election Season Capstone, Richard G. Mendez

Capstones

My capstone project takes a dive into politics this election season by looking at the growing Republican party in New York City, how young voters felt about the failed Harris campaign and how Democrats could learn from their mistakes.

Applying Engagement Journalism Methods To Reach Young People In The South Bronx, Christine M. Zeiger Mrs., Judith Marks

Capstones

During the fall of 2024, engagement journalism students Christine Zeiger and Judith Marks met with more than 60 teens in the South Bronx. They also distributed digital questionnaires, which garnered 26 responses from teens and adults between the ages of 14 and 22. These questionnaires were distributed after in-person sessions we organized to gather feedback on topics we wanted to learn about more deeply.

The project’s initial goal was to understand how South Bronx teens and young adults were engaging with the November elections and use their feedback to inform election coverage for the Mott Haven Herald and Hunts Point …

What's It Like To Vote Without Privacy?, Cullen Fagan

Capstones

My capstone is an audio and data project focusing on voting rights for people with disabilities in the United States — specifically how accessibility in voting has changed over time and how it rights have been violated in the recent past. The audio component is a podcast episode I co-produced with another student. It tells the story of how Kathy Collins and Dr. Sharon McLennon Wier, two disability and voting rights activists, have voted over the years, leading up to the 2024 election. The data component is a table detailing the history of disability voting rights cases in the United …

More Inland Homeowners Are Experiencing Floods, But Few Have Flood Insurance, Julian Tiburcio

Capstones

Wherever it rains, it can flood. More inland homeowners who never expected to see their homes flood are finding themselves inundated by rain as climate change intensifies extreme storms and weather patterns. Many homeowners decide to buy homes not realizing that flooding isn’t limited to coastal areas, so they forego flood insurance coverage, leaving their biggest asset at risk.

On Food And Restaurants, Liya Cui

Capstones

This portfolio contains a collection of stories about New York City restaurants and broader food culture, including reported features, a profile and criticism. Food is literally inescapable; even if you believe you don’t care about what you eat, every bite is a choice. This subject deserves critical thought and exploration as it influences our lives in myriad ways and reveals cultural trends that can tell us so much about who we are right now.

https://medium.com/@LiyaC/capstone-portfolio-on-food-and-restaurants-bc4c18c7f2a9

Has K-Pop Lost Its Koreaness?, Madison J. Gusler

Capstones

Since the 2010s, the global expansion of K-pop has been undeniable, with music from Korean idol groups resonating with fans around the world. We’ve seen the industry adapt to cater to this global audience, placing emphasis on non-verbal aspects of performance such as choreography and set design, and integrating more English lyrics in their songs. K-pop has always had multinational, multicultural influences in its production, yet the music has remained distinctly Korean. But as the industry expands into new markets, faces new challenges, and adapts to convey greater global appeal, the public must contend with the idea of a K-pop …

Avon Está Desapareciendo. Para Muchas Mujeres Sigue Siendo Su Sustento, Darian E. Mozo

Capstones

El negocio de Avon pasó de ser un negocio símbolo del empoderamiento femenino a una empresa en decadencia, pero algunas representantes de Avon latinas en Estados Unidos todavía dependen de este negocio, enfrentándose así a los retos económicos y tecnológicos actuales.

https://medium.com/@darianmozocortes/avon-est%C3%A1-desapareciendo-para-muchas-mujeres-sigue-siendo-su-sustento-58502dd427e9

Queens Residents, Sex Workers At Odds Over What It Means To Keep The Community Safe, David L. Paiz-Torres, Mia Hollie, Asad Jung

Capstones

Exploring the Impacts of Operation Restore Roosevelt Avenue.

On October 15, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams announced a 90-day operation along Roosevelt Avenue, Queens, targeting sex-workers, unlicensed vendors and “other quality-of-life offenses.” This year, nearly 30% of all arrests for sex-work related offenses occurred on Roosevelt avenue, according to NYPD data released in late October.

Our project sought to explore the impacts the operation has had on sex workers and business owners - we also spoke to local residents to get their opinions on the operation. We also looked at arrest data, laws regarding sex-work, previous efforts to crack down on …

Concierge: How The Pandemic Lockdown Changed The Face Of Access Services, Stephen J. Walker

Urban Library Journal

This article addresses the changes made in Access Services in an urban college library after reopening during the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic the library witnessed a downturn in patron visits and physical textbook usage as classes remained mostly online. Access Services moved from being a fast-paced, high demand service desk of print textbooks and laptops to a slower user assistance library services unit. Reopening the library to the college community and creating a safe study space for students required preparation. Various key resources such as study rooms, calculators, phone chargers, and headsets became a higher priority for students post-lockdown. …

Holiday Chaos To Corporate Crisis: A Lesson From Christmas Vacation In Executive Protection, Rachael A. Zerr

Publications and Research

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) may be best known for its holiday humor, but it also inadvertently highlights critical issues in corporate security and executive protection. Through the kidnapping of Clark Griswold's boss, Frank Shirley, the film illustrates the vulnerabilities faced by high-net-worth individuals and executives. This paper draws parallels between the fictional events of the film and real-world cases of executive kidnapping and violence, emphasizing the need for robust security measures. It discusses modern executive protection strategies, including risk assessments, real-time monitoring, and cybersecurity, and highlights the role of technology in mitigating threats. Ultimately, this paper argues that as …

Unraveling The Labyrinth: Disability, Spectacle, And Paranormal Tourism In The Winchester Mystery House, Karenna Gm Pullen

Student Theses

This thesis examines the intersection of disability, paranormal tourism, and cultural narratives through an analysis of the Winchester Mystery House and its owner, Sarah Winchester, from a Disability Studies perspective. The research problem centers on the commodification of disability within paranormal tourism, where disabled bodies and spaces are transformed into spectacles for public consumption. Using the Winchester Mystery House as a case study, the research explores how disability is framed within narratives of paranormal tourism, with a focus on stigma, fear, and cultural mythmaking. The methodology involves historical research, discourse analysis, and architectural evaluation to reveal how Sarah Winchester’s disability …

Cultural Barriers And Communication: South Asian Experiences In Health Care Settings, Sabahat Moughal

Publications and Research

For U.S. immigrants, communication is a complex aspect of integration into American society, and when it involves health care, communication can become particularly challenging and stressful. This is especially true for South Asian immigrants and their health care providers, who face language, cultural, and ethnic barriers. This study addresses the health communication challenges facing this immigrant community by gathering narratives from South Asian patients and health care professionals through in-depth, open-ended interviews, conducted via Zoom or in-person and voice-recorded. The interviews aim to assess communication styles (verbal and non-verbal), methods (such as symbolic practices and culturally specific terms), and regional …

It’S So Liberating To Do The Work: Education In Archives Creates Space For People With Disabilities, Jen Hoyer, Julia Pelaez

Publications and Research

What are the barriers and possibilities archives education presents to the disabilities community? More specifically, how can archives education and teaching with primary sources provide opportunities for disabled students that they might not find in mainstream education settings? What matters when working with students with disabilities in archives, and what does it feel like to be a disabled educator in an archive? How can education in archives provide opportunities for vulnerability, connection, and liberation? Sharing a passion for the possibilities of education work in archives and special collections, Jen Hoyer and Julia Pelaez sat down for a conversation about these …

Filtered Reality: Artificial Intelligence In Social Media & The Mental Health Of Adolescents, Maria Savva

Open Educational Resources

This instructional module was developed for teacher candidates preparing to teach in New York secondary schools, which include middle (6-8) and high schools (9-12). A three-pronged approach has been used to ensure teacher candidates develop a comprehensive and contemporary understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as it relates both to their respective disciplines and its impact on the adolescents they will be teaching. Using a three-pronged approach, teacher candidates will: consider the rapidly changing landscape of their own discipline and how it has been impacted by developments in AI; examine the effects of AI, including through social media platforms, on the …

Innovations In Full-Stack Web Development: Front-End To Back-End, Yassine Chahid, Patrick Slattery

Publications and Research

This research explores emerging technologies within full-stack web development and their potential impact on current front-end and back-end solutions. Both areas employ crucial technologies that determine how end-users access information and navigate web services. Front-end solutions include HTML, JavaScript, and CSS which shape user interaction on websites. Back-end solutions use technologies such as SQL and PHP for the foundation of data processing, retrieval, and storage. The research method involves examining official documentation for these technologies to better understand their key components and to understand how their use in cyberspace has changed. The research will observe several high-traffic websites and domains …

Framing The Immigrant In Labor Unions And The Military In The United States, Sofya Aptekar, Shannon Gleeson

Publications and Research

We present a comparative study of organizational discourses on immigrants in two cornerstone US institutions: labor unions and the US military, both powerful players in setting the terms of immigration debates and policies in the United States. How do unions and the military frame the role of immigrants within their institutions and in US society? We draw on qualitative content analysis of materials produced by AFL-CIO and the US military between 2000 and 2020. Despite significant differences in these institutions, we find that they share the following three core themes in their framing of immigrants: (1) immigrants as potential threats, …

Study Abroad Angst: A Literature Review On The Mental Health Of International Students During Covid-19, Daisuke Akiba, Michael Perrone, Caterina Almendral

Publications and Research

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique and unprecedented challenges for international students, those studying at institutions of higher education outside of their home countries, due to their distinct circumstances and vulnerabilities. This literature review examines the multifaceted mental health burdens they experienced and highlights the need for targeted support and interventions. Methods: A rigorous search across three databases (i.e., PubMed, PsycINFO, and ERIC) yielded 50 empirical studies for inclusion in this literature review. A six-phase thematic analysis framework was employed to identify and synthesize key themes. Results: Seven prominent themes emerged: (1) academic and professional disruptions; (2) challenges navigating international …