Digital Commons Network^™

Review Of Jungle Of Stone: The Extraordinary Journey Of John L. Stephens And Frederick Catherwood, And The Discovery Of The Lost Civilization Of The Maya, Alanis Fields

Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History

No abstract provided.

Leaving The Lectern: Building Collaborative, Inclusive, And Reflective Undergraduate Learners With The Five Cs Model, Gwen Scott Ruttencutter, Kate Warner

Georgia Educational Research Association Conference

This session presents the authors’ model – the Five Cs – for building collaboration, inclusion, and reflection with undergraduate learners. The Five Cs model of Climate, Course Design, Co-Facilitation, Collaborative Assessment, and Critical Self-Reflection repositions the instructor from behind the lectern to within a circle of learning with others as a facilitator.

Drawing on principles of adult learning, learners are repositioned from passive receivers of information (Peters & Armstrong, 1998) to active co-constructors with the facilitator in shaping the learning environment course’s climate, as well as the course’s design, facilitation, assessment, and reflection.

In this …

Developing Metacognitive Awareness In Teacher Candidates: A Study Of Curriculum And Planning In An Mat Program, Annemarie Bazzo Kaczmarczyk, Karyn Allee

Georgia Educational Research Association Conference

This study examines the development of metacognitive awareness among teacher candidates enrolled in an accelerated Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program. Drawing on Scales, Wolsey, and Parsons’ Becoming a Metacognitive Teacher and the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory for Teachers (MAIT), the study investigates how teacher candidates engage with metacognitive practices while completing a course on curriculum and planning. Participants (n ≈ 20) completed the MAIT survey at the beginning and end of the eight-week course, and engaged in structured reflection activities designed to support awareness of their own decision-making in lesson planning and instructional design. Data collection includes paired pre- …

Balancing Play And Policy: Navigating Joyful Learning In A High-Stakes Third Grade Classroom, Ashley P. Osier, Andrew N. Sutton, Marcus T. Wilson, Johna A. Wright, Karyn A. Allee

Georgia Educational Research Association Conference

This qualitative case study explores how a third-grade teacher in a Southeastern US state integrates active, playful learning in a high-stakes accountability environment. Despite increasing political and curricular restrictions—including mandatory retention policies, banned books, and high-stakes standardized testing—this teacher designs and implements learning experiences that center student engagement, voice, and joy. Drawing on classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and instructional artifacts, the study investigates how she navigates formal and informal policies while maintaining developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive instruction.

Early findings suggest that playful pedagogies can not only coexist with accountability mandates but may also serve as a stabilizing force for …

From Transition To Transformation: Helping Learners Shape Their Educational Legacy, Kate Warner, Gwen Ruttencutter

Georgia Educational Research Association Conference

For many students, beginning college is more than an academic transition—it can be a deeply personal transformation. At Valdosta State University, the STRIDES (Students Together Reaching Individual Developmental and Educational Success) course supports this transition by blending active learning with guided self-reflection. A central element of the course, the legacy statement exercise, invites students to identify their core values, clarify their goals, and articulate the deeper “why” that sustains them through challenges.

Using an extensive set of value cards, students narrow 100 possible values into a “top five” and craft a single-sentence legacy statement that captures the impact they hope …

Modeling What We Expect: Co-Teaching As Practice-Based Preparation For Stem Education, Luminita C. Hartle, Sumitra Himangshu-Pennybacker

Georgia Educational Research Association Conference

This presentation highlights the collaborative teaching partnership between two teacher education faculty members, one teaching a mathematics education course and the other teaching a science education course, in an undergraduate elementary program. Situated within a teacher preparation program at a regional university, this interdisciplinary model seeks to bridge the often-siloed approaches to math and science instruction by modeling inquiry, problem solving, and cross-disciplinary connections. Through a co-teaching framework, the faculty members intentionally designed learning experiences that emphasized real-world applications, learner-centered pedagogy, and the integration of literacy and technology to support diverse learners.

Drawing from teacher candidates' reflections and surveys, focus …

Spirituality Informed Teaching Practices For Cultivating Belonging, Meaning-Making, And Relational Being And Becoming, Shannon Perry, Jieun You, Matthew J. Smith, Jamie L. Workman

Georgia Educational Research Association Conference

Spirituality impacts learners’ growth and development, including in value formation, problem-solving, critical reflection, interpersonal collaboration, self-efficacy, belongingness, and the search for purposeful and meaningful life and work. Despite increasing scholarly interest, spirituality remains underexplored in higher education, often due to concerns about proselytizing and the fluidity of the concept across multiple framings.

Recent research positions spirituality as a cross-cultural concept encompassing holistic human growth and development. This perspective underscores the need for further investigation into how spirituality, beyond formal religious practices and affiliations, can be integrated into educational practices. Starting from an integrative participatory framing of spirituality as experiences of …

Supporting Mothering Students In Doctoral Programs, Keisha M. Brown, Janie Copple, Caroline Chubb

Georgia Educational Research Association Conference

Women with children are significantly less likely to complete doctoral programs than their male or non-mothering peers (National Science Foundation [NSF], 2023). This gap underscores the urgency of addressing higher attrition rates for doctoral mothers and the unique challenges that contribute to their departure from the academy. In 2022-2023, women earned approximately 58% of all doctoral degrees (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2024). In 2021, the NSF (2021a) estimated the median age of women in research doctoral programs at 31.7, with a median time to completion of 5.8 years (NSF, 2021b). A 2023 National Health Statistics Report further noted …

Research Misconduct Policy

Research & Economic Development Policies

This policy defines research misconduct and provides a process in conformity with federal regulations to provide for the reporting of allegations of research misconduct and the evaluation of those allegations to determine if a finding of research misconduct is appropriate.

The Mosaic, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

Leveraging Wastewater Resource Recovery To Reduce Landfill Organic Loading: Process Modeling, Environmental, And Economic Impact Assessment, Ahmed I. Yunus, Arjun T. Ramshankar, Zainab O. Akinsemoyin, Thomas Igou, Ameet Pinto, George Fu, Yongsheng Chen, Joe F. Bozeman Iii

Civil Engineering & Construction: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

When You Can't Get A One-Shot, Try A One Off, Chereeka Garner, Katy Miller, Renee Cole Montgomery

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

One of the challenges facing librarians is getting exposure to students to teach information literacy skills. Faculty engagement with the library can vary greatly, with many faculty simply not having available class time to allow librarians in the classroom. As a possible alternative means of connecting with students, an Extra Credit Hub was created. This hub is an easily located, visible resource for faculty to share potential extra credit activities with students.

The Hub, which is a standalone Canvas course, includes a number of activities related to key information literacy skills, such as:

• Recognizing bias, misinformation, and disinformation
• Critical thinking …

2026 Conference Program, Georgia Southern University

SoTL Commons Conference

No abstract provided.

Bias Across The Data Lifecycle: Data Governors’ Perceptions In Land-Grant Higher Education, Shauna N. Mcclure, Lisa Lambert Snodgrass

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Higher education institutions increasingly rely on artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled tools and predictive analytics to inform decisions in areas such as admissions, student success, and resource allocation. This reliance heightens the need for data governance frameworks that address the policies, processes, and technologies governing student data. Data governors shape how institutional data are collected, interpreted, and used, yet existing approaches often assume that data are neutral, overlooking how bias can become embedded and compounded across the stages of the data lifecycle. This exploratory study investigates whether data governors perceive implicit bias as present across these stages. Using a quantitative survey, we …

2026 Spring Commencement, Georgia Southern University

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Varying Dna Methylation Patterns In The Florida Sand Skink (Plestiodon Reynoldsi) In Relation To Fire Histories, Victoire Hj Litre

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Epigenetics is the study of changes in phenotype not caused by changes in DNA sequence. DNA methylation is the most well-studied epigenetic mechanism in an ecological context. Reptiles use DNA methylation to respond to environmental stressors and differences among habitats. The Florida Sand Skink (Plastidome reynoldsi) is federally listed as a threatened species. They are endemic to the threatened, fire-dependent Florida scrub habitat. As they persist in burned habitats, the Florida Sand Skink must be able to rapidly respond to wildfires. To better understand how the Florida Sand Skink adjusts to fire-driven habitat changes, it is important to …

El Cine Alegórico Del Tardofranquismo: El Arte Frente Al Silencio Y El Olvido, Angela Rodriguez Mooney

The Coastal Review

En contraste con los años de la postguerra, se nota una tendencia no realista en el arte durante la etapa final de la dictadura de Franco e incluso durante la Transición. Cinematográficamente, la guerra civil española y la vida bajo un gobierno autoritario es frecuentemente representada indirectamente a través de las experiencias íntimas o el tono lírico e intimista de los conflictos personales y familiares.  Considerando el silenciamiento de las experiencias de la guerra impuesto durante el franquismo, investigamos en este ensayo el uso del lenguaje alegórico no realista presente en las obras Ana y los lobos, (1973), de …

Book Review: Exploring Student Loneliness In Higher Education: A Discursive Psychology Approach, Patrick Leung

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Book Review: Exploring Student Loneliness in Higher Education: A Discursive Psychology Approach

Navigating Hunger And Academic Success: College Students’ Experiences With Food Insecurity And Campus Food Pantries, Casey J. Weaver, Carl H. Sorgen, Cordelia D. Zinskie

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Food insecurity is a growing issue faced by many college students, and there is an increasing call for more qualitative research examining food insecurity on college campuses. It may be posited that students who experience food insecurity but have access to resources are more likely to succeed academically than those without access to such resources. This research examined how the resources provided to college students experiencing food insecurity influenced their academic success at a university in the United States. This study explored the experience of four students who identified as food insecure and utilized campus resources to address this issue. …

Good Trouble For Good Debt? A Comparative Analysis Of Financial Factors And Racial Differences In U.S. Student Loan Debt Burdens, Carlton R. Smith, Kim E. Bullington, Matthew J. Smith

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

This study examines the relationship surrounding undergraduate student loan debt burdens and income levels post-graduation, focusing particularly on the financial impacts of both on Black student borrowers. Using two datasets from the National Center for Education Statistics, our quantitative analysis highlights that while student loan debt in and of itself is not problematic in theory, when combined with other factors and barriers, debt becomes an additional stressor potentially impeding student success during and after college. We offer short-, intermediate-, and long-term implications, while also highlighting examples of targeted intervention programs tailored to specifically benefit Black student borrowers.

Emotional Labor, Well-Being, And Community Care In Student Conduct Administration, Tiffany Shierling, Kelly Burlison

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study examined emotional labor, stress, and coping among student conduct administrators (SCAs). SCAs work in emotionally intensive, high-stakes environments that require balancing student development, institutional risk management, and legal compliance. Despite clear parallels to other helping professions, the emotional toll of student conduct work remains underexamined. Grounded in self-compassion theory and resilience theory, this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study examined the emotional labor demands, stressors, and coping strategies experienced by SCAs in higher education. Quantitative (n = 101) findings revealed strong relationships among stress, burnout, and anxiety, while individual self-care practices offered limited protection without institutional support. …

Examining The Multilevel Effects Of Instructional Leadership On Teachers’ Professional Commitment And Classroom Management, Nuruddin Ahmed Masud, San Su Su San, Kim Ki Bong, Mst Taherun Nesa Subarna

Georgia Educational Researcher

This study examined the multilevel effects of instructional leadership on teachers’ professional commitment and classroom management in secondary schools. Using a multilevel modeling (MLM) approach, data were collected from 250 teachers nested within 8 schools. The analysis assessed the influence of both school-level instructional leadership and teachers’ perceptions of leadership on professional commitment and classroom management outcomes.

Results indicated that instructional leadership at both levels significantly predicted teachers’ professional commitment (teacher-level: β = .32, p < .001; school-level: β = .45, p < .001). Similarly, instructional leadership demonstrated significant positive effects on classroom management (teacher-level: β = .28, p < .001; school-level: β = .41, p < .001). Furthermore, teacher professional commitment was positively associated with classroom management (β = .36, p < .001) and moderated the relationship between instructional leadership and classroom management, such that the effect was stronger under higher levels of leadership support.

These findings highlight the importance of instructional leadership in shaping teacher-related outcomes across organizational levels. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence …

Eagle Accountant - 2026, Georgia Southern University

Eagle Accountant

• Accounting Advisory Council
• Accreditation & Rankings
• Eagles on Pennsylvania Avenue
• Accounting Quiz Bowl
• Discover Accounting Day
• Cover Story: Tammie Williams
• Advisory Council Spotlight: Mike Lamberth
• Georgia Society of CPAs
• Janice Brown
• Accounting Day 
• High School STEM Event 
• VITA 
• New Faculty
• Faculty Research Spotlight: Colin Tipton
• Fraud Story: Ghost Runner 
• GS4 Research Symposium 
• Graduate Spotlight: Matthew Mitchell
• Undergraduate Spotlight: Gabriela Mendoza
• 2026 Southern Regional Honors Council
• Recent Changes to the MAcc Program
• Student Organizations & Activities
• Faculty Retirements
• Faculty Awards, Service, & Publications
• Alumni Notes 
• In Memoriam 

Impact Of Tactical Breathing On Marksmanship And Cognitive Function After Anaerobic Fatigue In Law Enforcement Personnel, Jackson D. Gilleland

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Tactical breathing is commonly used in law enforcement training to regulate stress, yet limited evidence exists regarding its acute effectiveness following physical fatigue. Purpose: To examine whether a brief tactical breathing intervention improves shooting performance and heart rate variability (HRV) following anaerobic fatigue in law enforcement officers. Methods: Thirty-eight officers completed baseline HR/HRV and a shoot/no-shoot scenario, followed by a maximal 500-m row and post-fatigue shooting. Participants were assigned to either a control group or a tactical breathing group, which received brief instruction and coaching before post-testing. Results: No significant between-group differences were observed for A-zone accuracy, shot time, …

Ai-Driven Penetration Testing For Arm Systems: A Comprehensive Framework With Experimental Validation, Matthew Ragsdale

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The convergence of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity presents new opportunities for automated penetration testing capable of discovering, prioritizing, and remediating vulnerabilities at machine speed. However, deployment on resource-constrained ARM platforms remains unexplored despite ARM’s dominance in mobile, IoT, and edge computing with over 280 billion chips deployed globally. This thesis presents systematic experimental evaluation of AI-driven penetration testing across four paradigms—traditional machine learning, deep learning, large language models, and reinforcement learning—on three ARM platform tiers: Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB, Cortex-A76), Radxa ROCK 5B Plus (16GB LPDDR5 with NPU), and NVIDIA Jetson Nano (4GB with Maxwell GPU). The experimental framework generates …

Comparison Of 2000-Meter Row Prediction To Measured Vo2peak During Gxt, Andrew S. Ashley

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Aerobic capacity is essential for the performance of military personnel and first responders. Traditionally, graded exercise tests (GXTs) with metabolic gas analysis have been the criterion-referenced method for assessing aerobic fitness. However, treadmill running and cycle ergometers may not fully reflect the whole-body demands required in tactical environments. Rowing-based assessments and the currently commercially available VO2max prediction formula are widely used across tactical organizations as practical field measures, and most tactical operators are considered inexperienced rowers, which has been minimally examined. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare measured VO2peak from a rowing GXT with estimated VO2max …