Digital Commons Network^™

Radical Youth Work: A Community Based Approach To Working With Youth, Young Adults And Families, Weston J. Robins

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Radical Youth Work: A Community Based Approach to Working with Youth, Young Adults and Families

A focus on experiential mentoring, humanistic counseling and community engagement as a way to work with youth, young adults and families to provide true holistic therapeutic support and guidance.

Rethinking The Mentor/Mentee Relationship: The Critical Mentoring Approach In A North Carolina Middle School, Kendra P. Alexander, Brianna Mccullough, Nikaizha Davis, Patrick Clifford

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

In this session, undergraduate and graduate students from North Carolina A&T State University describe the genesis and evolution of an internship-based, community-academic partnership grounded in the concept of critical mentoring. As mentors with the Nia Project, interns support middle school students in critical exploration of post-high school pathways. Along with the supervising instructor, students identify key concepts and prerequisites for successful implementation.

Mindfulness: The Missing Link In Education, Ashley L. Baer

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Were you asked to pay attention or behave in school? As educators, we must stop expecting focus and self-regulation, and instead we must teach it. Learn how in this experiential session to connect and regulate students using the breathing ball, games, breath, and movement. Let’s practice!

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

Cookies And Calamari: Squid Game’S “Dalgona” And Cutting Shapes From Its Impact On Korean Product Purchase And Travel Intentions, Wei Wang, Patrick Tyson, Haeden Overby

AMTP Proceedings 2024

This study explores individuals’ perceptions and attitudes toward Korean popular (henceforth referenced as Kpop) culture. Additionally, this study also aims to assess the impact of Kpop culture on consumers’ Korean product purchase and travel behaviors. Self-construal theory and social identity theory – being applied at individual and collective levels, respectively – will be employed within a qualitative, semi-structured, and inductive approach, an arrangement based around the game of “Dalgona” as seen in the Squid Game Korean Drama (henceforth referenced as K-Dramas). Study data may lend itself to both expansion of theoretical understanding regarding the study model and progression of marketer …

Effects Of Uncertainty Avoidance On Film-Motivated Tourists' Perceptions Of Destination Image, Place Attachment, And Intentions, Patrick Tyson, Wei Wang

AMTP Proceedings 2024

In an attempt to increase understanding of such film-motivated traveler bases, this study will apply self-congruence, film, and culture factors within a touristic background. This background, coming from a cross-cultural analysis between the Brazilian and Japanese episodes from the Netflix docuseries Street Food, will allow for exploration and analysis of the following research question: How does uncertainty avoidance affect the relationship between film-motivated tourists’ perceptions of destination image, place attachment, and travel intentions?

Study purposes include 1) examining mediation effects of place attachment in relationship between self-congruity theory and travel behavioral intentions and 2) evaluating moderation effects of film …

Does Where We Live Matter To Oral Health? Tensions Between Rural Older Adults’ Concept Of Community And Health Individualism, Swaha Pattanaik, April M. Schueths Dr., Raymona H. Lawrence, Bettye A. Apenteng, Georgia Dounis

Sociology & Anthropology: Faculty Publications

Oral health is essential to overall health; however, structural obstacles influence older rural residents' oral health outcomes, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds in the South. Poor oral health is typically attributed to individual choices, shifting the focus from the inconspicuous community influences, making it more difficult for older rural people to obtain oral healthcare. This qualitative study explores how older adults in rural Georgia understand the community's role in shaping their oral health. Twenty-two older adults were interviewed from five rural communities in southeast Georgia. Participants defined their community in geographic terms. Community barriers and self-reliance emerged as themes of …

Exploring Cooperative Learning In High School Remedial And Test Preparation Classes, Carol Solomon-Jenkins

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores how utilizing cooperative learning in remedial and test preparation in high school classes affects students’ reading comprehension on traditional standardized test scores. Theoretically, my dissertation work draws upon several bodies of literature, such as constructivism including cognitive and social constructivism in relation to cooperative learning (e.g., Dewey, 1897, 1902/1932, 1910; Piaget, 1967; Vygotsky, 1978), culturally responsive/relevant/sustaining pedagogy (e.g., Gay, 2000/2010/2018; González, Moll, & Amanti, 2005; Ladson-Billings, 1994/2009; Ladson-Billings, 2021; Paris & Alim, 2017), and caring and empathy (Noddings, 1984, 1992, 2002; Katz, Noddings, & Strike, 1999; Merriam, 1991; Stake, 1995, 2005) in relation to social justice education. …

"Shut Down And Closed Off": A Routine Activity Approach To Investigating The Relationship Between Covid-19 School Closures And Child Sexual Abuse Report Characteristics In Georgia, Spencer E. Riner

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 created a public health crisis that led to an unprecedented number of school closures. A major concern raised by child advocates, law enforcement, and social service providers was the possible increase in undetected child abuse and maltreatment. Undergirding this concern was the belief that this mitigation effort might place child abuse victims and offenders within proximity for extended periods of time. While this was a significant concern, it has rarely been analyzed empirically. To address this gap in the literature, this thesis investigates how school closures impacted the characteristics of child sexual abuse (CSA) reports …

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 …

Understanding The Role Of Cultural Competence In Peer Mentorship Programs For International Students: A Student Development Theory Perspective, Nikheal Patel, Daniel Calhoun, Steven Tolman

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

International students often face challenges while pursuing higher education in a foreign country. These challenges can negatively impact their sense of belonging and community, resulting in social disconnection. Examining the role of culturally competent peer mentoring programs for international students can foster a sense of belonging among international students. Peer mentorship may provide international students with a supportive environment and community, helping them navigate university life. In contrast, student development theory can inform the design of programs and services that support international students in their transition to American higher education. These strategies can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment …

Differences In Death And Dying Anxiety Among Undergraduate Freshmen And Seniors, Greyson A. Owens

Honors College Theses

This research will observe the differences in death anxiety among undergraduate university freshmen and seniors. This study was conducted using a quantitative survey instrument. The Collett-Lester death anxiety scale was used to survey students. The instrument consists of thirty-two Likert scale questions that focused on anxiety levels of death and dying for the respondents and when thinking of others. I asked professors to post a recruitment flyer that I emailed to them on their Folio page, and I also posted these flyers in common areas on the Georgia Southern Campus. Data from freshmen and seniors were collected and analyzed. I …

Graduate Catalog, Georgia Southern University

Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Cheers To Change: How Gen-Z Is Redefining Drinking Culture, Savannah Steedley, James Thomas

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.

A Qualitative Exploration Of Spousal Labor Migration And The Postpartum Experiences Of Women In Nepal, Sandhya Lohani

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Labor migration is a prevalent phenomenon in Nepal, with many men leaving the country searching for employment opportunities, often leaving their families behind. This study explores the impact of this migration on women's postpartum experiences, including factors such as emotional support, financial strain, and childcare responsibilities. A qualitative approach was used, conducting interviews of 31(16 women with labor-migrant spouses and 15 with non-migrant spouses) to gather insights into the unique challenges faced by the two groups of women during the postpartum period. The findings highlight the significant differences in postpartum experiences between women with migrant spouses and those without, shedding …

White Woman In A Black Barbershop: Examining Racial Literacy Through Epistemic Curricula Spaces, Megan Paulk

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The following study is an autoethnography of the researcher, a White Mother of a Black Family (WMOBF). Follow her journey as she examines her racial literacy through the construction of Season Two of her podcast White Women in a Black Barbershop, where she is conversing with three other WMOBF who geographically grew up in the same small town in Maryland. The podcast analysis method is introduced as a method of data collection and analysis. The results of the study are the creation of eight epistemic curricula spaces. These spaces contain movement, are not linear, and are not accessible to all. …

What Is It Really: The Role Of Intergroup Threat In Educational Decision-Making, Kyle A. Walker

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Perceptions of intergroup threat correlate with prejudice against Black Americans (Iyer, 2022). For example, White Americans tend to move out of communities they dominate when the population of Black Americans increases in those communities beyond a “tolerable” rate due to a perceived threat to the neighborhood's safety and resources; this phenomenon is known as White Flight (Grodzins, 1958; Zou & Cheryan, 2022). This exodus of White Americans predicts urban decay, which affects the public school systems in those areas, leading to poorer public services and higher dropout rates among those in the now racially segregated neighborhoods (Mayer & Jencks, 1989; …

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 …

Signature Moves? An Environmental Scan Of The Intersection Between Educational Development And Sotl, Laura Cruz, Hillary H. Steiner, Clare Cruz

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Although the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) has been described as the signature pedagogy of educational development (a professional field focused on support for teaching and learning in higher education), there is little systematic evidence of the scale and scope of the SoTL support practices that centers for teaching and learning (CTLs) are currently using, how they are using them, and how these practices connect across the ecosystem of higher education. To understand the evolving intersection between educational development and SoTL, we used web scraping/content analysis to explore the current state of SoTL support at U.S.-based CTLs (as reflected …

"Fulfil In Beauty My Imperfect Prayer": Mythologization In Santayana's Aesthetics Of Religion, India M. Johnson-Mccauley

Honors College Theses

This thesis addresses George Santayana’s theories of art and religion in the context of turn-of-the-century religious thought and introduces the concept of the mythologization of religion. Santayana, the Spanish-American turn-of-the-century philosopher, poet, and novelist, took a naturalist, pragmatist, and religious non-realist approach to understanding the world that prompted works regarding the nature of art, The Sense of Beauty (1896), and the nature of religion, Interpretations of Poetry and Religion (1900). Within these two works, Santayana proposes a theory of aesthetics and a theory of religion that seem to function in tandem with each other. According to his theories, art, particularly …

Queer Baltimore: An Unlikely Home For All, Anna K. Trull

Honors College Theses

At the time Baltimore’s queer community emerged, much of the country did not accept anyone who identified as gay. Appearing during the 1940s, gay bars then paradoxically expanded following the Pepper Hill raid in 1955. The thesis builds upon the work of Lucas Hilderbrand (Duke UP, 2023) and Susan Ferentinos (“Maryland LGBTQ Historic Context Study,” 2020) to argue that the physical infrastructure of gay bars and the neighborhoods that developed around them drove the creation of a public culture in Baltimore out of LGBTQ subcultures. It uses a geospatial database based on oral histories and newspaper archives to analyze neighborhoods …

Between Pain And Glory: Memory Disputes Of The Brazilian Dictatorship In Retrato Calado And O Que É Isso, Companheiro?, Angela R. Mooney

The Coastal Review

This article analyzes Luiz Roberto Salinas Fortes’ Retrato calado (Silent Portrait) published in 1988, considering the theoretical discussions on testimonio's epistemology—addressing the challenge of narrating trauma and the risk of stylization. It compares Fortes' memoir with Fernando Gabeira's O que é isso, companheiro? (What's This, Comrade?) from 1979, examining diverse approaches to capturing historical trauma through literature and its impact on collective memory about Brazilian Dictatorship (1964-1985).

Practicing Hedonism In The Face Of Nihilism: Onfrayian Insights On Individualism And Autonomy, Scott Truesdale

The Coastal Review

Where many define nihilism as the belief that life and all moral principles are meaningless, the French philosopher, Michel Onfray, expounds on this classic definition and argues that true nihilism is the refusal to accept the world as it is. Unlike monotheistic religions and totalitarian regimes that urge their followers to practice asceticism now to attain happiness in the future, Onfray believes that hedonistic pleasure can be found when the individual rediscovers autonomy and returns to an atomistic worldview that is immersed in the imminent.

The U.S. Southern Mothers Perspective On Affection, Destiny M. Rose

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative research study utilizes Murray Bowen’s Family Systems Theory and Kimberlé Crenshaw’s Intersectionality Theory to examine how ten mothers residing in what is identified as the U.S. Deep South (Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina) perceive affection shown to their children by adults outside of their nuclear family. Additionally, this study considers the influence social class plays in how parents in the Deep South navigate and negotiate social and cultural norms when it comes to affection displays shown to their children. Data was collected using thematic analysis to describe how parents in parts of the Deep South perceive affection shown …

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 …

A Little Transparency Goes A Long Way: Tilt Enhances Student Perceptions Of An Interdisciplinary Research Symposium, Joshua A. Woods, Megan E. Doran, Jesse Wilcox

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Transparency in learning and teaching (TILT) has been a growing topic of interest in higher education. This study aimed to examine how a simple TILT manipulation could impact a well-established, popular, interdisciplinary semester- long research symposium that involves scores of undergraduates. TILTing the instructions for this symposium had a significant effect on all three TILT components (i.e., purpose, task, and criteria). Underclassmen benefited equally to upperclassmen in terms of understanding the importance and ways to be successful. Furthermore, although both majors and nonmajors benefited from the TILTed instructions, students studying a course outside their major benefited significantly more than students …

Understanding The Role Of Cultural Competence In Peer Mentorship Programs For International Students: A Student Development Theory Perspective, Nikheal Patel, Daniel W. Calhoun, Steven Tolman

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Publications

International students often face challenges while pursuing higher education in a foreign country. These challenges can negatively impact their sense of belonging and community, resulting in social disconnection. Examining the role of culturally competent peer mentoring programs for international students can foster a sense of belonging among international students. Peer mentorship may provide international students with a supportive environment and community, helping them navigate university life. In contrast, student development theory can inform the design of programs and services that support international students in their transition to American higher education. These strategies can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment …

Predicting Retention, Progression, And Graduation Of First-Time Freshmen Students, Brynn L. Munro, Juliann Sergi Mcbrayer, Antonio P. Gutierrez De Blume, Pamela Wells

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Currently, roughly one third of college students fit the federal government’s definition of first-generation college student status, meaning that neither parent has earned a baccalaureate degree (RTI International, 2023). This study utilized archival data at an access institution in the southeastern United States in a causal comparative study using binary logistic regression analysis to determine if first-generation college student status, gender, socioeconomic status, and academic preparedness are predictors for six-year graduation rates. Findings from this quantitative study determined that gender, socioeconomic status, and academic preparedness were significant predictors for graduation within six years of matriculation at the institution. A future …

Religious Iconography, Expressionist Lighting, And The Antihero's Spiritual Journey In Marvel's Daredevil, Savannah L. Pruett

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In Marvel’s Daredevil (2015), Matthew Murdock undergoes different phases of an antiheroic spiritual journey as his faith in the judicial system and his Maker is tested by evil in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City. This thesis will dig deeper to reveal how the Daredevil series uses purposefully designed religious iconography and expressionist lighting to tell the story of Matthew Murdock’s antiheroic spiritual journey across three seasons. This thesis aims to prove that Daredevil is a complex and thought-provoking franchise that analyzes what it means to be an antihero, including the moral and ethical lines one is willing to cross to …