Digital Commons Network^™

Summer Staff 2025, Housing & Dining

Summer Staff 2020s

No abstract provided.

Rha Officers 2024-2025, Housing & Dining

RHA Executive Officers Lists

No abstract provided.

To You Who's There, Ty Rea

Creative Writing Club - Short Stories / Flash Stories

Title: To you who’s there

Writer: Ty Rea

Medium: Short Story

No One Is Home, Ty M. Rea

Creative Writing Club - Playwriting/Screenwriting

No abstract provided.

Brenda, Ty Rea

Creative Writing Club Poetry

Writer: Ty Rea

Title: Brenda

Medium: Poem

Genre: Inspirational

Event: N/A

Gis Minor, Geology & Geography

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

Ba Mathematics Teacher Licensure, Mathematics And Computer Science

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

Bs Public Health Emdp Option, Public Health

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

Electrical Engineering, Physics

Program Revisions/Additions

No abstract provided.

Mindfulness And Psychological Adjustment In International Students: The Mediating Role Of Emotion Regulation Strategies, Jyoti Lama

Masters Theses

This study examined the relationship between mindfulness and psychological adjustment among international students, focusing on the mediating roles of two emotion regulation strategies: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Specifically, it explored whether mindfulness is associated with lower acculturative stress and higher coping self-efficacy, and whether using the emotion regulation strategies of cognitive appraisal and expressive suppression mediate these relationships. Eighty-nine international students from mid-sized U.S. universities participated in an online survey assessing mindfulness, emotion regulation, acculturative stress, and coping self-efficacy. Mediation analyses using bootstrapping showed that cognitive reappraisal partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and coping self-efficacy, but not between …

Finding Love On The Spectrum: An Analysis Of Social And Romantic Relationships Of Autistic College Students, Kaylee Spinner

Masters Theses

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by difficulties in socialization, communication, and developing relationships with others. While many autistic individuals desire to start relationships with others, many do not have a very strong understanding of the use of nonverbal communication or how to develop these connections organically. As autistic individuals have become more open about wanting these resources to form social and romantic relationships, there has been more of a push in the literature to include social skills training for forming social relationships. However, the research on the desire for or development of romantic relationships for autistic individuals is still …

Mindfulness & Mental Health: Balanced Time Perspective As A Mediator, Eddie Trueblood

Masters Theses

Mindfulness is a practice of intentionally paying attention to the present moment in a nonjudgmental way. Being more mindful can decrease symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, among other mental and physical health improvements. (Donald et al., 2016; Hofmann et al., 2010; Kabat-Zinn et al.,1992). This study examined if balanced time perspective (BTP) is one of the mechanisms of action of mindfulness in its relationship with depression, anxiety, and stress. BTP refers to a person’s ability to flexibly adapt their time perspective (attention to the past, present, or future, and positive or negative attitudes toward each) to suit the current …

Are There Predictable Shifts In Fish Communities Following Instream Habitat Restoration? A Multistream Analysis., Ryan A. Skowronski

Masters Theses

In the past two centuries, anthropogenic stressors have degraded the structure and function of streams by accelerating bank erosion, decreasing riparian buffer zones, and altering the natural flow regime. Habitat restoration has become a common mitigation strategy in response to stream degradation, though empirical research evaluating its effectiveness is lacking in the United States. This study investigated responses in fish community following habitat restoration in five restored, Illinois streams. We assigned fish species to habitat, trophic, and reproductive guilds based on their habitat preferences, feeding habits, and life history. Streams were separated into enhancement and removal groups for analysis. Shifts …

Parasite Communities Of Bluntnose Minnow (Pimephales Notatus) From Several Creeks In East Central Illinois, Md Rowshan Alam

Masters Theses

Parasites of freshwater fish play a vital functional role in aquatic ecosystems, but the spatial and ecological determinants of their prevalence and characteristics are still poorly understood. The current study quantified the diversity, prevalence, and environmental determinants of whole parasite burdens in bluntnose minnows across multiple creeks in central Illinois. Fish sampling and the collection of stream habitat data were conducted during the summers of 2023 and 2024. Fish were examined for parasites using necropsy and histology. A total of 20,817 parasites, predominantly trematodes (Posthodiplostomum spp.), cestodes (Proteocephalus spp), and protozoans, were identified. The most prevalent and abundant …

Assessing The Role Of Daily Thermal Fluctuations In The Performance Of Mitochondrial Energy Transduction Of The Centrarchid, Lepomis Cyanellus, Grayson Hofmann

Masters Theses

Freshwater systems are affected by current climate extremes, forcing species found in these systems to withstand drastic changes in temperature. Temperature changes affect these organisms by altering their metabolic rate and energy balance. Increases in temperature can lead to an increase in oxygen consumption, which ultimately increases the need for more energy production. Mitochondrial energy transduction of green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) and many other fish species after a thermal insult, has hardly been explored. This study complements the limited research available on mitochondrial function in similar species, as they ignore the possibility of consecutive thermal events, which are …

The Relationships Of Anxiety Sensitivity, Intolerance Of Uncertainty, And Alexithymia On University Students’ Experiences Of Depression, Anxiety, And Stress, Vanessa Watterson

Masters Theses

Undergraduates’ mental health has seen a significant decline over the past several decades. Past research has identified significant correlations between specific cognitive vulnerabilities and experiences of psychological distress. The current study reviewed the literature on relationships between three cognitive vulnerabilities (anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, and alexithymia) and individuals’ experiences of depression, anxiety, and stress. Further, this study utilized a hierarchical regression model to examine the predictive abilities of anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, and alexithymia on depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. The findings indicated that all three cognitive vulnerabilities had significant and unique contributions to depression, anxiety, and stress …

Experiences Of Qpoc College Students: The Complexities Of Navigating Multiple Minoritized Identities, Attainea S. Toulon

Masters Theses

Queer People of Color (QPOC) experience unique challenges within higher education as they navigate the intersections of race, sexuality, and gender at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). This qualitative narrative study explored the lived experiences of three QPOC college students at a mid-sized public university in the Midwest. Through semi-structured interviews, participants shared how their intersecting identities shaped their sense of belonging, access to support systems, and overall university experiences. Findings revealed that while participants found affirmation through cultural organizations, staff mentors, and chosen family, they also encountered racialized exclusion within LGBTQ+ spaces and heteronormative expectations within racialized spaces.The narratives illustrated …

Disease Diagnosis Using Natural Language Processing And Deep Learning, Manas Kumar Sherla

Masters Theses

This research presents an automated disease diagnosis framework that leverages natural language processing and deep learning to predict diagnosis codes from unstructured electronic health record (EHR) clinical notes. Using the MIMIC-III critical care dataset, clinical narratives such as discharge summaries and physician notes are extracted, validated, and preprocessed to construct a labeled corpus aligned with ICD-9 diagnoses. The study implements a pipeline comprising text cleaning, feature extraction, and supervised learning, and compares traditional models such as Logistic Regression and Bi-LSTM with transformer-based architectures built on BERT. Models are trained and evaluated with categorical cross-entropy loss and standard multi-class metrics, including …

The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On College Sport Communications, Will Barnhart

Masters Theses

As Artificial Intelligence technology (AI) becomes increasingly accessible, the importance of understanding its impact on peoples’ work lives is also increasing. One field that has received very little attention in relation to this subject is college sport communications. Prior research has focused on AI within the closely related fields of journalism and public relations, but no previous studies have been conducted on AI and college sport communicators specifically. To address that knowledge gap, this study surveyed members of the College Sport Communicators (CSC) on their attitudes toward AI and their usage of such technology. The data analysis showed that while …

Childhood Maltreatment And Social Anxiety In College Students: Examining The Role Of Distress Tolerance, Alexa N. Matthies

Masters Theses

This study examines the relationship between childhood emotional maltreatment and social anxiety, with a focus on the mediating role of distress tolerance. Emotional maltreatment has been linked to numerous adverse psychological outcomes, yet its specific contribution to social anxiety symptoms requires further exploration. Using a sample of 94 participants aged 18 to 24, this research employs validated instruments, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, to assess the prevalence and impacts of emotional abuse and neglect. Findings reveal significant correlations between emotional abuse, neglect, and elevated social anxiety symptoms. Distress tolerance emerged as a key mediator, partially …

Small Town Voices And Stories: Rural Older Populations And Health Narratives, Wyatt K. Zumbahlen

Masters Theses

Stories play a vital role in our humanity; they help us understand the world around us. As we age, our experiences, along with those of the people around us, shape our perceptions of health and influence our healthcare choices. For older adults, narratives become an essential resource in making healthcare decisions. In rural communities like Coles County, Illinois, these stories are especially important for older adults who are navigating the limited care and services available in the area. This reliance on narratives impacts their willingness to seek care, highlighting the need to recognize the power of stories in empowering older …

Habitat Use And Selection Of Silver Carp In The Lower Wabash River System, Coy B. Blair

Masters Theses

The spatial ecology of non-native species in invaded systems remains relatively poorly understood despite the importance of suitable habitat in the success of invasion. Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix are a highly invasive non-native species with established populations throughout the Midwestern United States. Much research has focused on habitat use of bigheaded carp in large river systems, though invasion risk remains high in smaller systems, such as tributaries of the Great Lakes and the Ohio River. The Wabash River, a unique system in the Midwest, remains largely un-impounded and is comparable to many of the smaller riverine systems at risk of …

The Lumpkin College Of Business And Technology Living-Learning Community: An Examination Of The Llc's Development And Assessment During The First Year Of The Program, Elian G. Mackey

Masters Theses

Living-learning communities (LLCs) are well-known as a means of fostering student engagement tied closely to academics and sense of belonging among peers outside of the classroom. However, the success of an LLC depends not only on its design and implementation but also on the strength of its assessment practices. This paper examines the efficiency of the current assessment practices of the Lumpkin College of Business and Technology LLC, Eastern Illinois University’s newest LLC in the 2024-2025 Academic Year, at this point in its development. With the community is still early in its development, assessment efforts faced challenges. Through a review …

Domestic Student Engagement With International Peers: Local Insights, Global Connections, Alissa Sutton

Masters Theses

As competition to recruit international students grows, institutions must prioritize fostering a sense of belonging that supports their retention and success. Central to this is the quality of interactions between international and domestic students, which shape both groups’ social and academic experiences. This study examines the barriers and facilitators influencing domestic students’ engagement with international peers and the role of institutional support in promoting meaningful cross-cultural connections. Findings reveal that domestic students recognize the importance of engaging with international peers but they often encounter challenges such as lack of awareness, uncertainty about how to connect, and limited institutional opportunities. Support …

Burnout And Job Satisfaction In Practicing School Psychologists, Cole Westmoreland

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify the primary variables associated with burnout among practicing Midwest school psychologists. More specifically, the purpose was to determine if the same variables that correlated highly with Illinois school psychologists’ burnout levels in a 1994 study by Niebrugge and a 2004 study by Hoffman have held constant over the last two decades. Additionally, the varying roles of school psychologists and how they have impacted burnout and job satisfaction were addressed by identifying differences between ideal and actual role involvement. Survey materials used included the Maslach Burnout Inventory, 4^th edition, a Job Satisfaction …

Women Spinning On The Edge: Finding And Redefining The “Spinster” In The Witches Of Discworld, Kathryn Ann Fitzmaurice

Masters Theses

The word “spinster” has undergone a series of evolutions over the past seven hundred years, first coined to describe the occupation of women engaged in the spinning of plant and animal fibers into thread and yarn in the Middle Ages and later a legal marital status designation used until the 21^st century. The connotation associated in social contexts became pejorative. This project’s tracing of the word spinster is used to set up the broader scope looking at how the spinster can be viewed as an archetype, what we can learn through the lenses of gender and feminist theory, and …

The Influence Of Family-School Communication On Junior High School Students’ Academic Success, Stephen Junior Amoah

Masters Theses

This study examines the influence of family-school communication on students' academic success in the context of Ghana, with a particular focus on Junior High School (JHS) students. While existing research emphasizes the importance of family involvement in educational outcomes, limited studies explore how family-school communication directly affects academic success in Ghana. By using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative and qualitative data collection. The quantitative component includes an online survey distributed to JHS graduates, assessing the frequency, impact, methods, and barriers of communication between families and schools, as well as their perceived effect on academic performance. The survey includes …

Examining Group Components On Exercise Adherence In Older Adults, Brody Polk

Masters Theses

Older adults remain the least active population despite the well-known benefits of regular exercise (Beauchamp et al., 2007; Rúa-Alonso et al., 2023). Researchers examining exercise adherence in older adults have determined two modalities of training—individual and group—with individual training being the preferred mode of exercise for older adults (Beauchamp et al., 2007). However, previous research has failed to evaluate the various components of group exercise before making a comparison with individual exercise to determine which form best predicts older adults’ adherence to exercise (Hawley-Hague et al., 2014). As such, the purpose of the current study was to examine the effects …

I Am Eiu - 2025, Ella G. Aly

Written Testimonials

Poster series promoted around campus and on social media.

I Am Eiu - 2010-2025, Ella G. Aly

Written Testimonials

Poster series posted around campus and social media.