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Faculty Advisory Committee Minutes Of The Academic Senate 2025-09-15, University Of Dayton. Faculty Affairs Committee

All Committee Minutes

Approved minutes of a meeting of the Faculty Affairs Committee of the Academic Senate of the University of Dayton.

Faculty Advisory Committee Minutes Of The Academic Senate 2025-09-08, University Of Dayton. Faculty Affairs Committee

All Committee Minutes

Approved minutes of a meeting of the Faculty Affairs Committee of the Academic Senate of the University of Dayton.

Empowering Engineering Students In The Ud Honors Program, University Of Dayton

Blog: The Dayton Engineer

The University of Dayton’s academic programs promote an interdisciplinary approach to education, encouraging students to think critically and develop well-rounded, holistic perspectives.

Ud Researcher Wins $1.41m Grant To Create Audiovisual System For Safer Work Zones, University Of Dayton

News Releases

A University of Dayton researcher, with $1.41 million from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, is striving to make work zones safer with additional "eyes" and "ears" to improve situational awareness and early warning of hazards.

University Of Dayton Celebrates 175th Birthday At Picnic, With Library Exhibits, University Of Dayton

News Releases

Today, 175 years ago, the first students attended class at Saint Mary's School for Boys, which later became the University of Dayton. The University celebrated at its employee picnic today and will continue throughout the year with library exhibits.

Take A Break With Matt Shaw, Shannon Shelton Miller

University Libraries Blog Archive

It’s been a busy first year for Matt Shaw, dean of the University of Dayton Libraries. Shortly after he started in July 2024, Shaw helped lead a transition to a new library services platform and a reorganization of instructional models.

Proceedings Of The 2025 Berry Summer Thesis Institute, University Of Dayton. University Honors Program, Dorian Borbonus, Nicholas J. Canfield, Triet M. Cao, Thomas Crossman, Jeffrey Huettemann, Aung Myat Khaung, Chase Kinder, Elizabeth Krahe, Anh Duc Nguyen, Quynh Anh Nguyen, Anna M. Petre, Kayden G. Rothery, Anna M. Schmitz, Rachel Zeller

Proceedings of the Berry Summer Thesis Institute (2013-Present)

Thanks to a gift from the Berry Family Foundation and the Berry family, the University Honors Program launched the Berry Summer Thesis Institute in 2012. The institute introduces students in the University Honors Program to intensive research, scholarship opportunities and professional development. Each student pursues a 12-week summer thesis research project under the guidance of a UD faculty mentor. This contains the product of the students' research.

Crossroads Of Covid-19 And Alzheimer’S: Investigating Sars-Cov-2 Nsp6 And Orf7a In Amyloid-Β42 Toxicity, Jeffrey William Huettemann, Amit Singh

Research from the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, 2025

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) resulted in several hundred million contracted cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and a global pandemic. In some of these cases, previous neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), seemed to progress much more rapidly after the COVID-19 infection. Thus, we became interested in studying the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on prior neurological disease progressions.

To modulate this condition, we used Drosophila melanogaster as a genetic model system. We had previously developed the Alzheimer’s Disease Fly Model with expression of human amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42) peptide, which is responsible for extracellular Aβ-42 …

Co-Culture 3d Model For Breast Cancer, Anh Duc Nguyen

Research from the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, 2025

The ability to replicate the tumor microenvironment using 3D models have allowed researchers to study the tumors in vitro closer to their in vivo counterparts without the drawbacks of those models. The 3D co-culture model is an improved version of the 3D monoculture model, capable of replicating the tumor microenvironment, letting researchers study cancer response mechanism, tumor metastases, drug resistance, simulate cell-cell interactions, etc., in breast cancer. The models can be classified into four classes based on their formation method and content, all of which have different advantages and disadvantages.

Intelligent Motion Tracking: A Low-Cost Surveillance Framework Using Soc Devices And Sensor Fusion, Aung Myat Khaung, Nicholas Michael Stiffler

Research from the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, 2025

This thesis presents the design and implementation of a lightweight surveillance system capable of realtime motion detection, object tracking, and behavioral history reconstruction in controlled environments. The system uses System-on-Chip devices such as Raspberry Pi boards equipped with NOIR cameras, monocular cameras, and break-beam sensors that work together to detect and track single or multiple moving objects like colored balls. The prototype is validated in structured settings with the goal of eventual deployment in more dynamic environments, addressing the challenge of reliably tracking visually similar objects with minimal distinguishing features. The architecture integrates computer vision with sensor fusion by combining …

Federated Boolean Matrix Factorization Using Integer Programming, Quynh Anh Nguyen, Ngoc Nguyen, Nhat Phan

Research from the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, 2025

Identifying the underlying structural patterns in data and extracting meaningful insights is a key challenge in data analysis. One effective approach to this problem is matrix factorization (MF), which approximates large matrices with lower-dimensional representations, making it effective for uncovering hidden patterns. MF techniques are widely applicable across various domains, such as recommender systems, cancer genomics, system identification, clustering, and image processing. Despite their effectiveness, existing MF methods often struggle with computational constraints and convergence challenges when tackling large-scale, nonsmooth, and nonconvex optimization problems, which are common in real-world applications.

This project aims to explore both the theoretical understanding and …

Ud In The News Aug. 9-16, University Of Dayton

News Releases

The Canadian Press quoted a pair of faculty in a story about tariffs. Tom Skill wrote "AI-savvy college grads key. 5 things we need to do" for the Dayton Daily News. WDTN interviewed climate scientist Shuang-ye Wu about energy demand in Ohio.

2025 Graduate Scholar Reflection: Austin Cruz, Austin Cruz

Marian Fellowships and Other Sponsored Research in the Marian Library

My dissertation examines Juan Diego’s nearly five-century-long journey to sainthood in the Catholic Church. Tracing this development requires sifting through a great number of sources on Our Lady of Guadalupe and Juan Diego, and simply tracking down the most pertinent sources can be a monumental endeavor. Thanks to the Marian Graduate Student Fellowship, I spent two weeks in the Marian Library in May 2025 poring through more than forty books and pamphlets and almost two hundred newspaper clippings related to Juan Diego available in the Marian Library’s collections. I will highlight a few remarkable items.

In Memoriam: Kevin Sorg, Faculty In Graphic Design, Shannon Miller

College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom

Known for fostering an "environment that encouraged creativity," Kevin Sorg taught graphic design at UD for 12 years.

Ud Hosts Mandarin Chinese Summer Camp With $136k Nsa Startalk Grant, Dave Larsen

College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom

Twenty U.S. high school and college students participated in the free residential summer camp, where they cultivated their Chinese language and cultural competencies.

We Soared: Campaign Reaches Historic Heights In Supporting Student Access, Learning, University Of Dayton

News Releases

The University of Dayton formally completed its "We Soar" comprehensive campaign June 30, exceeding its $400 million goal by $53 million. The financial goal was not the only record-setting achievement of this effort.

Exceeding Our Wildest Expectations, Eric F. Spina

President's Blog: From the Heart

I will never forget the very first One Day, One Dayton. We set an ambitious goal: 1,850 giftsin just 24 hours. In all honesty, we had no idea what to expect, but hour after hour, FlyerNation kept giving and giving and giving, exceeding our wildest expectations.

Assessing The Lgbtq+ Beliefs, Behaviors, And Competency Of Nutrition Professionals: A Mixed-Methods Study, Anthony Dissen, Christina Riccardo, Liam Oliver Lair

Journal of Dietetic Education

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals often experience disproportionate levels of physical and mental health issues including nutrition-specific issues such as eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and food insecurity related to psychological distress from discrimination and stigmatization. This study sought to understand nutrition professionals’ LGBTQ+ competence, beliefs, and behaviors. Researchers distributed 2 data collection tools to registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs): the Gay Affirmative Practice Scale (GAP-Scale) and the LGBT Competency Assessment Tool (LGBT-CAT). Data from the GAP-Scale were numerically scored using a 5-point Likert scale, and data from LGBT-CAT were scored on a scale of 0 to 3 points. …

Examining Weight Bias Attitude Changes After Exposure To A Brief Photovoice Assignment, Gretchen L. George, Hillary L. Roberts, Kristin Rose, Madison Clemens, Kate G. Burt

Journal of Dietetic Education

Weight bias is present among pre-health professional students (e.g., nutrition, dietetics, nursing, physical therapy, medicine). Educators need support and guidelines about how to enhance learning through engaging assignments while also meeting accreditation requirements. This pilot study examined the impact of an innovative weight bias assignment using photovoice and reflection within existing nutrition education courses, measured through pre-post assessments from the Fat Attitudes Assessment Toolkit. While not all subscales showed significant change, improvements in the Fat Acceptance and Attribution Complexity Composites suggest these methods may be effective in shifting attitudes about fatness. Further research is needed to assess the long-term impact …

Development Of Dietetics Students’ Skills And Self-Efficacy In The Nutrition Care Process, Kristen Heitman, Marcia Nahikian-Nelms, Holly Estes-Doetsch, Kristen M. Roberts, Jennifer A. Garner, Julie Kennel, Christopher A. Taylor

Journal of Dietetic Education

The Nutrition Care Process (NCP) is a systematic framework for providing nutrition care and a cornerstone of dietetics practice. Dietetics education relies on development of skills to achieve competence and demonstrate readiness for practice. The relationship between development of fundamental skills and self-efficacy among dietetics students preparing for clinical practice remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the development of dietetics students’ skills in NCP documentation and their self-efficacy in performing the skills over one academic year. Student nutrition notes (n = 120 notes, n = 30 students) from standardized patient encounters were evaluated for quality using …

Integrated Advanced Education Supports Future Registered Dietitian Nutritionists’ Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy In Practice, Crystal C. Douglas, Simone Camel

Journal of Dietetic Education

Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of graduate-level breastfeeding and lactation management education that includes didactive and active learning components on future RDNs’ knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy. Design: A pre-and post-test design, utilizing a 41-item pre-intervention survey, learning modules, and a 35-item post-intervention survey. Setting: Three U.S. public universities located in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Participants: Graduate-level dietetic internship students. Intervention: Four advanced education modules (2 didactive; 2 active learning) developed by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Main outcome measures: Gains in breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy to assist with breastfeeding education and problem-solving using validated and newly developed survey items. Analysis: Descriptive statistics, …

Sense Of Belonging In The Profession And Program Of Study Among Nutrition And Dietetics Students, Jessica Torro, Melissa Masters, Rachel C. Sinley, Jesse Lunsford, Heidi Masching, Miranda Chen Musgrove

Journal of Dietetic Education

Sense of belonging may positively impact student performance, especially in marginalized groups. This study aimed to examine sense of belonging among a diverse group of nutrition and dietetics students. An online survey investigated students’ feelings of belonging, isolation, and connection to the field of nutrition and dietetics and department of study. The survey was distributed through email to the nutrition and dietetics student body in the Department of Nutrition at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Quantitative data were analyzed as count and percentage. Overall sense of belonging scores were calculated as an average on a 5-point scale (1-strongly disagree to …

“Plus Ça Change, Plus C’Est La Même Chose”: The Ongoing Decolonisation’S Mechanic Inside The Franc Zone, Gerard Emmanuel Kamdem Kamga

Journal of African Policy Studies

This paper examines the persistent neocolonial dynamics within the Franc Zone, encapsulated by the adage “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” (the more things change, the more they stay the same). Despite nominal independence in the 1960s achieved by countries colonized by France, the analysis reveals how France maintains significant control through the Franc Zone and the “Françafrique” system. The Franc Zone, encompassing fifteen African states using the CFA Franc and Comoros Franc, functions under principles ensuring French dominance and the enslavement of these countries: fixed exchange rates pegged to the Euro, mandatory centralization of a large portion …

Earthjustice: The Role Of The African Regional Human Rights System In Containing Climate Change, Bright Nkrumah, Ebenezer Durojaye, Maria Usang Assim

Journal of African Policy Studies

At the turn of the millennium, the landscape of Africa has been punctuated by intense weather conditions. With a disproportionate percentage of the continent’s population bearing the brunt of climate-induced heatwaves, deluges, and drought, it is expected that this phenomenon will spur regional climate litigation. The essay argues that although there is an evolution of climate cases submitted at the national level, this development has not evolved to the African regional human rights system. The lack of cases at the regional level beckons one to explore why (potential)victims are unable or unwilling to explore these mechanisms given their role in …

Broadening The Scope Of The "Justiciability" Debate To Include The Right To Development: An Analysis Of The African Human Rights Monitoring Bodies, Serges Djoyou Kamga

Journal of African Policy Studies

The right to development (RTD) is the most controversial human right of our time. Opponents argue that it is not justiciable. Besides the adoption of the Draft Covenant on the RTD, the right is binding in the African human rights system. It is on this backdrop that the article shows the justiciability of this right through its juridification and application in domestic courts. It also examines the role of African human rights monitoring bodies in broadening the scope of the “justiciability” debate to include the RTD. This article examines the African Commission and Court’s pronouncements on the RTD and unveils …

University Of Dayton Announces Strategic Leadership Changes In Safety, Audit, Risk And Compliance And Public Safety, University Of Dayton

News Releases

The University of Dayton is making strategic leadership changes in its Department of Public Safety and Division of Safety, Audit, Risk and Compliance, designed to further enhance campus safety and security and strengthen community relationships.

Father Jim Fitz, S.M., To Semi-Retire; Assist With Transition Of New Vp For Mission And Rector, University Of Dayton

News Releases

The University of Dayton today announced a leadership transition for its vice president for mission and rector position, a role central to upholding the University’s Catholic, Marianist identity.

Evaluating The Impact Of Information Literacy Workshops On Student Success, Amanda Shannon, Aaron Skira, Ying Chen, Matt Shreffler

Roesch Library Faculty Publications

Objective – This study was designed to identify the impact of standalone information literacy tutorials on student success indicators. The study was conducted in two different phases to compare findings across different modalities and to identify whether online, asynchronous delivery of substantively similar content affected outcomes.

Methods – Using institutional records from a mid-sized, Midwestern public university, and attendance and completion data from student participation in asynchronous library workshops, the authors used propensity score matching to construct a control group that mirrored library workshop participants based on like characteristics. Statistical analyses were then conducted comparing the GPA, semester completion, and …

A New Audience For ‘Orpheus’, Maureen Schlangen

University Libraries Blog Archive

A literary magazine published at UD since 1969 is now available in digital form in UD’s institutional repository, eCommons.

Imri Newsletter, June 2025, International Marian Research Institute

IMRI Newsletter

• Welcome from IMRI director
• Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV
• Marian Studies Spotlight: "Weaving Ways of Knowing Mary"
• "All Things Marian" podcast
• Announcement: Journal of the International Marian Research Institute
• Upcoming events
• Recent events
• Alumni news
• Marian Studies at the University of Dayton
• Recent IMRI publications and presentations
• Call for Marian Fellows
• Save the date: IMRI and IPI anniversary celebration