Digital Commons Network^™

Dungeons And Dragons™ (D&D) As A Brief Intervention For College Students, Alexander W. Peralta

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This quasi-experimental study investigated the effect of a table-top roleplaying game (ttrpg), specifically Dungeons and Dragons™ (D&D), on increasing feelings of social connection, decreasing perceived stress, increasing self-esteem and improving adjustment to college among first semester, first year students. participants signed up to either the D&D group or the comparison group. D&D participants (n = 18) attended five one-hour weekly D&D sessions, meanwhile the comparison group (n = 10) went through their first semester of college with no intervention, but completed the study measures at the same points in time as the D&D participants. All participants completed measures of social …

Mathematical Modeling Of Coupled Heat And Mass Transfer In Metal-Hydride Hydrogen Storage Systems, Muhammad Hasnain

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

As a promising clean energy carrier hydrogen has recently gained significant interest, but its efficient and safe storage is a major challenge. Compared to the gaseous state and liquid state, metal hydrides (MH) offer a potentially more effective storage approach for hydrogen. However, the main challenge in this approach is the low thermal conductivity of the MH bed that leads to low heat transfer and ultimately to higher charging and discharging times. The purpose of this work is to develop an in-house comprehensive heat and mass transfer model for hydrogen sorption in MH reactors to simulate the dynamic behavior of …

2024 Georgia Southern University Women's Soccer Media Guide, Georgia Southern University

Women's Soccer Records

No abstract provided.

From Lived Experiences To Social Activism: Latino Fraternity Brothers Critical Service To The Latinx Community, Regina L. Suriel, James Martinez, Christian Bello Escobar, Jamie L. Workman

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Colleges and universities are seeing growth of Latinx students actively engaged in Greek life. In this study, six Latino participants share their testimonios as members of different Chapters of a Latinx Greek Letter Organization (LGLO) nestled within Predominantly White Institutions located in the state of Georgia, USA. Informed by LatCrit theory, this qualitative study uses member’s testimonios to shed light on their varied and sometimes politically charged and racist lived experiences. The researchers draw on these experiences to show how the LGLO supported these members’ character and leadership development and their desire and commitment to critical service and socially just …

From Private To Public: Lateral Transfer Student Experiences, Melissa P. Stough, Diane C. Elliott

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

The phenomenon of student movement between higher education institutions has received considerable attention due to its widespread occurrence and impact on academic trajectories. While extensive research has focused on vertical transfer, such as transitions from community colleges to four-year institutions, less scrutiny has been directed towards lateral transfer, involving shifts between institutions at similar academic levels. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the factors influencing lateral transfer, specifically from private four-year colleges to public four-year institutions. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened interest in this understudied area, with indications of increased lateral transfers in its aftermath. Leveraging data …

Ipeds Data Feedback Report, Georgia Southern University

IPEDS Feedback Reports

No abstract provided.

Advance (Spring 2024), Georgia Southern Division Of Continuing And Professional Education

Division of Continuing & Professional Education

No abstract provided.

Jiann-Ping Hsu College Of Public Health Magazine, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Message from the Dean: Stuart H. Tedders, PhD
• JPHCOPH Research
• Our AHEC Work
• Passing the Torch: Mentor to Innovator
  • Dr. Joseph Telfair
  • Dr. Tilicia Mayo-Gamble
• The MHA is BACK
• Life After JPHCOPH
• College Milestones
• CAR: Center for Addiction Recovery
• CPHPR: Center for Public Health Practice & Research
• Office of Practice and Research: Continued Strong Funding for in FY 2024
• Eagles Talking about the Public's Health (ETAPH)
• Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium (GS4)
• Congratulations to our Students of the Year!

Melissa Brown Collection Of "A Loud Absence" Project Materials, Zach S. Henderson Library, Special Collections

Finding Aids

This collection consists of photographs and digital files created by artist Melissa Brown as part of her project, titled "A Loud Absence." According to the artist, the project sought to discover what happens to a space after great injustice has been committed in it. The project examines whether a community's choice of what to do with such an area reflects healing or reveals that they have not moved forward from their past.

850 Lane Library, Armstrong State University

Finding Aids

Lane Library annual reports 1945-2006 in Box 2. Renovation and addition construction documents, surveys, statistics, policies of the Lane Library. Library handbooks for faculty and students from the 1960s to 2013. Lane Library history and Paragraph on the Brockmeier award. Photographs of the library and library staff, for more photos see also 180 from the University Photograph Collection.

Portraits Of A Rural Georgia High School Stem Program, Jonathan L. Garner, Gwen Scott Ruttencutter, Forrest R. Parker Iii

Georgia Educational Researcher

This research examined school personnel’s strategies and practices responsible for increasing student science proficiency at a certified rural high school STEM program. In the United States, difficulties have developed in adequately preparing students for careers in STEM sectors, especially in secondary education. This trend has led to increased difficulties for high school graduates competing globally for high-paying jobs. Rural schools have been especially susceptible to inadequately preparing their students academically. I used qualitative research portraiture to generate a mental image of the STEM program at the selected high school. I interviewed three teachers and two administrators in a certified rural …

Graduate Catalog, Georgia Southern University

Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Increasing Commuter Students’ Sense Of Belonging With Situated Learning In A First-Year Computer Programming Course, Lily R. Liang, Rui Kang

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This study examines the impact of a situated learning class framework on student learning and sense of belonging in a first-year introductory computer programming course offered at an urban commuter campus. The framework provided students opportunities to engage in hands-on activities embedded in authentic contexts facilitated or led by students from computer science clubs and a service-learning program. Our results suggest that 1) participation in peer interactions within the classroom helped students build learning communities and networks beyond the classroom and strengthened their development of a professional identity; 2) through redesigning curriculum and pedagogy to accommodate students’ needs and learning …

Nurturing Teamwork, Intercultural Competence, And Belonging In First-Year Stem Students, Aparajita Jaiswal, Muna Sapkota, Myanna Marie Ramos, Laura Starr, Aletha Stahl

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Developing a professional STEM workforce with a high degree of intercultural competence is essential in today’s globalized world. To this end, Higher Education Institutions incorporate reflection to help students make meaning of their learning experiences. In this study, we investigated the development of intercultural and teamwork skills among undergraduate first-year STEM students enrolled in a global living- learning community. The goal of the community was to help students develop intercultural competence and teamwork skills by engaging them in active learning environments and reflection. The study used an inductive thematic approach to characterize the impact of the learning community on intercultural …

From Crisis To Resilience: Pandemic Perspectives On College Student Experiences, Motivation And Self-Regulated Learning, Diana Botnaru, Anna C. Brady, Dragos Amarie, April Garrity, Erica Hillsnipe, Caroline Hopkinson, Cynthia Lynes, Eryn Michelle Maher

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

The short-term effects during the transition to emergency remote teaching at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students are well-studied. The present study investigated the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students enrolled in undergraduate classes (e.g., pandemic experiences and their impact on basic psychological needs, metacognitive learning strategies, and motivation regulation). The survey was administered at a 4-year university in the Southeastern United States during fall 2022. The majority of participants (N = 590) were women (82%), white (56.6%), not Hispanic or Latinx (93.4%), and health profession majors (58.1%). Results indicated that mental health, academic, and …

Applying Social Bond Theory To Foster Care Instability And Justice System Contact, Therin P. Foley

Honors College Theses

While placing a child in foster care is often in an effort to protect them and their future, it does not always fully succeed. Placement in foster care has been found to be highly unstable. Additionally, it has been linked to an increase in individuals’ likelihood to engage in delinquent and criminal behavior. This thesis looks at the possibility that these two aspects may be related through Hirschi’s (1969) Social Bond theory. It examines available data from ten different states in order to explore this idea. The results of this investigation show that the instability of the foster care system …

The Portrayals Of Trans Athlete Accomplishments In Newspapers, Sierra L. Davidson

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between events related to trans athletes and their portrayal in the media. This research project focuses on the accomplishment of one trans athlete, Lia Thomas, winning a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 swimming championship in 2022. Articles from three newspapers of differing biases: The Washington Post, USA Today, and Washington Examiner, and one local newspaper of Thomas’ competing state, Philadelphia Daily News, were used in this analysis. Emerging themes were identified and codes were developed. These recurring themes and codes revealed differences in how newspapers reported on this …

"Widsith Came To Talk": Preservation Of The Scop Within Old English Poetry, India M. Johnson-Mccauley

Honors College Theses

This thesis discusses the role of the Old English scop in the context of the transition from orality to written works in Old English society. Scops, the storytellers, historians, and moral authorities within Old English society, utilized oral-formulaic composition to share the Germanic poetic tradition with the largely illiterate population. When Christian missionaries arrived in England and introduced the written language of Latin, the necessity of the scop gradually dissipated; many stories were written down in Latin and the authority on moral and historical teachings fell to the church. Orality continued in many regards, but the occupation of the scop …

Generation Z'S Use Of User-Generated Content For Travel Advice, Emmie Kay Hudson

Honors College Theses

This research project examines Generation Z’s use of TikTok’s and YouTube’s user-generated content (UGC) for travel advice related to accommodation, activities, cuisine, and other tourist practices. As this generation ages and enters the consumer market, continued research is needed to implement marketing strategies with the most significant influence. This study will examine the younger generations' behaviors and help the tourism industry understand its rising target market in comparison to Generations X and Y. This study is conducted through a non-experimental systematic literature review of the subject. This research provides information from various sources on topics such as Generation Z, TikTok, …

Audience Perceptions Of Social Issues In Contemporary Theatre, Gabrielle Reilly

Honors College Theses

The following study identified ways in which social issues were present in contemporary theatre and the subsequent productions designed for an audience ranging in identifying demographics through a collegiate production of Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood. Participants involved in the show through technical roles or onstage roles (N - 6) were interviewed about their experiences with the social issues presented in the play prior to and as a result of their involvement. Participants that were in attendance of the show over the course of four production dates (N - 67) were anonymously surveyed and answered questions on …

Using Pose Estimation Software To Predict Actions In Sabre Fencing, Micah Edwin Peters Ii

Honors College Theses

Fencing is a combat sport that uses three different swords: epee, foil, and sabre. Due to its fast-paced nature and employment of right of way, sabre fencing is often considered the most difficult of the three to learn. Computer vision and pose estimation software can be used to lower the barrier of entry to sabre fencing by identifying the different actions in sabre fencing. This project focuses on using open-source software to design a program that can identify the sabre parries as well as the main sabre movements. This program could be used to help newer fencers and spectators better …

The Impact Of Technological Innovation On Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Communities, Mickayla Cooper Kwakye-Ndlovu

Honors College Theses

Over the past couple of decades, significant shifts have occurred in technological development. Among these advancements, the smartphone has emerged as an integral part of people’s daily lives, serving as a powerful tool for accessibility and global connectivity. This literature review explores the ways in which everyday communication technology is utilized by Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals and examines the impact of its development on these communities. The goal of the work is to investigate how the evolution of modern smartphones contributes to breaking down communication barriers for DHH communities. This review focuses on smartphone features that enhance …

Optimizing Anaerobic Digestion Of Food Waste And Industrial Sludge For Biogas Production, Emma R. Murray

Honors College Theses

Food waste is a major contributor to municipal solid waste, and its disposal at landfills has significant environmental and economic impacts. Opportunities need to be identified for the sustainable management of food waste at large scales. Pulp and paper mills throughout the country commonly use anaerobic digestion to treat their waste sludge; however, this sludge can consist of over 50% lignin, which is slowly or negligibly digested. This research aims to explore the sustainability of co-digestion of food waste and paper mill sludge. Lab-scale studies were used to assess the feasibility of anaerobic digestion by measuring treatment efficiencies and biogas …

Assessment Of The Extraction And Quantification Of Pfbs From Sprague Dawley Rat Adipose Tissues, Joshua O. Osaghae

Honors College Theses

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of complex synthetic chemicals that have applications ranging from automotives to consumer products. PFAS have been found to bioaccumulate in the ecosystem as their carbon-fluorine bonds are among the strongest bonds in organic chemistry. Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) compounds are used as surfactants in water- and stain-repellent coatings for fabrics and carpets, cleaning agents, and paints. The persistence of PFAS has led to their accumulation in sources of groundwater, making them ubiquitous drinking water contaminants of concern with evidence linking PFAS exposure to adverse health effects, including reduced kidney function, thyroid disruption, and …

Fungal Activity In Fusarium Keratoplasticum Isolates With And Without Endohyphal Bacteria On Various Carbon Sources, Maya Brown

Honors College Theses

In recent years, the fungus Fusarium keratoplastic has been associated with failed sea turtle eggs. One fungal isolate collected from a failed egg collected on Wassaw Island, GA in 2020 contained endohyphal bacteria, bacteria living within the hyphae of the fungus. The type of endohyphal bacteria (EHB), as well as the relationship between the bacteria and fungal hosts, are currently unknown. Previous research on the same fungus and EHB, specifically Chitinophaga sp., discovered that EHB influenced the ability of the fungus to utilize carbon sources. Our research goal was to examine the metabolic relationship of Fusarium isolated from failed sea …

Reclaiming My Identity: A Philosophical Deconstruction Of Stereotypes Placed On Black Women In Hip-Hop, Kichev L. Moultrie

Honors College Theses

Imposing damaging stereotypes on Black women has persisted throughout American culture, specifically within hip-hop. To analyze modern depictions of Black women in hip-hop, I will trace the historical roots of these stereotypes including, but not limited to, angry Black woman, jezebel, sapphire, and how they have persisted in modern media. This includes referencing the works of philosophers like Patricia Collins, Audre Lorde, bell hooks, etc. I will address the intersectionality of gender, racism, and classism, to show how these stereotypes are used as an oppression mechanism which we witness in society and the hip-hop community. However, in the face of …

What Corporate Factors Explain Variation In How Individuals Value Dei In The Beauty Industry?, Hannah Bolar

Honors College Theses

The beauty industry is known for its multi-billion dollar market, such as skincare, makeup, and haircare. As an employee in famous beauty stores, Ulta and Sephora, over the last five years, a bigger discussion has been brought to the table, being Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) . The scope of my study is to shed light and address what factors beauty industry corporations factor in and how customers view and value DEI in the beauty industry; in which my methods of surveying and focus groups support my claim that internal and external factors do play a role. My results found …

Difference Of Facial Achromatic Numbers Between Two Triangular Embeddings Of A Graph, Kengo Enami, Yumiko Ohno

Theory & Applications of Graphs

A facial $3$-complete $k$-coloring of a triangulation $G$ on a surface is a vertex $k$-coloring such that every triple of $k$-colors appears on the boundary of some face of $G$. The facial $3$-achromatic number $\psi_3(G)$ of $G$ is the maximum integer $k$ such that $G$ has a facial $3$-complete $k$-coloring. This notion is an expansion of the complete coloring, that is, a proper vertex coloring of a graph such that every pair of colors appears on the ends of some edge.

For two triangulations $G$ and $G'$ on a surface, $\psi_3(G)$ may not be equal to $\psi_3(G')$ even if $G$ …

Improving Prosocial And Academic Skills While Decreasing Challenging Behavior, Tom Clees

Georgia Association for Positive Behavior Support Conference

Youth with challenging behaviors such as noncompliance, aggression, self-injury, and deficits in academic engagement are at-risk for future school failure, including suspension and expulsion, mental health challenges, and incarceration (Alberto and Troutman, 2022; Kauffman, 2016). Low academic achievement, behavioral excesses and social skills deficits are predictive of each other (Gresham, 2016), and may create an escalating cycle leading to further antisocial responses (Kaufman, 2016). The literature provides considerable research on evidence-based strategies that have been associated with positive academic (on-task, task completion) and behavioral (increase in prosocial skills with decreasing challenging behavior) outcomes, among which include (1) self-directed interventions, or …

Bitcoin As A Legal Tender: The Case Of El Salvador, Ariela Samour

Honors College Theses

On September 7, 2021, President Nayib Bukele made Bitcoin a legal tender in El Salvador. This action cemented El Salvador as the first country in the world to make cryptocurrency a legal medium of exchange. As a new legal currency, Bitcoin could be used in any transaction, from purchasing a cup of coffee to paying taxes inside the country. This paper discusses the background of the decision to make Bitcoin a legal tender in El Salvador and addresses how it affects socio-economic problems. Finally, the study administered a survey to more than 300 individuals in El Salvador to investigate the …