Digital Commons Network^™

News Media Coverage Of Measure Ula: How The Story Of La’S Big Project To Address Homelessness And Affordable Housing Got Sidetracked By The Story Of Big Real Estate, Christopher R. Martin

Faculty Publications

“Measure ULA,” named after United to House LA, was approved by voters in Los Angeles in 2022 to create a dedicated, long-term funding source for solutions to homelessness in LA, including funding the construction of affordable homes and preventing homelessness by helping tenants stay in their homes. The funding would come from a new tax on the most expensive real estate transactions in L.A. (i.e., mansion tax), and would affect fewer than 4% of all property transactions. At the end of three years of local news coverage about Measure ULA from the Los Angeles Times and LAist, the news audience …

Sesquicentennial Commencement [Program], May 15-16, 2026, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Commencement Programs

Contents:

Brief History of UNI --- 2
Board of Regents --- 3
Institutional Leadership --- 3
Ceremony Symbols & Traditions --- 4
Commencement Over the Years --- 6
University Honors Program --- 8
Graduation with Honors --- 8
Legacy Graduates --- 8
Military Science --- 9
Merchant Scholarship --- 9
Outstanding Student Leader --- 9
Commencement Student Speakers --- 9
Purple and Old Gold Awards --- 10
Lux Service Award --- 11
7 p.m. Program --- 13
College of Education --- 15
David W. Wilson College of Business --- 22
10 a.m. Program --- 29
College of Humanities, Arts & …

Community Engagement Newsletter, May 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of Community Engagement.

Community Engagement Newsletter

Contents:

--- UNI's Day of Service - Thank You
--- A Snapshot of Our Collective Impact
--- Online Engaged Department Institute

Missing Children: The Underrepresentation Of Youth In Mental Health Data, Sammie Mcdonald

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

While research continues to grow, it is apparent that there are still gaps in knowledge. This research was inspired by my ongoing internship at Allen Child Protection Center, where I have seen children left behind for not recognizing an outdated radio during cognitive testing, as well as my experience as a fraternal twin with a 10 year diagnosis gap between me and my brother. This led me to investigate diagnostic disparities in children’s mental health data.

To better understand if children are experiencing mental health diagnosis disparities, I am analyzing 9 waves of data from the Substance Abuse and Mental …

From Punishment To Public Health: Rethinking Addiction In The U.S And Portugal, Kenna Hall-Hoyt, Sarah Denin, Shelby Jenkins

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Portugal's approach to combat substance use disorder has been a commonly discussed public health strategy over the last decade because it challenges the idea that punishing the drug user detours the drug issue. In 2001, the country decided to decriminalize substance use disorder and change addiction services to be under the Ministry of Health. The approach that Portugal is using in its research looks very different from places like the U.S., who over-medicate and then criminalizes drug users. Portugal, instead, steers individuals to local groups comprising of psychologists, social workers, and health professionals who work with them to find the …

The Importance Of Education: A Comparison Of Educational Systems In The United States And South Sudan, Allie Haughenbury, Faith Defenbaugh, Emma Randecker, Hadley Farrell, Haylea Tillman

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

The significance of education in creating opportunities for individuals has been established as important to both individual growth and national development. The purpose of this project is to assess the role of education by comparing the educational system in the United States with that of South Sudan in terms of structure, accessibility, and barriers. The U.S. has a well developed educational system with access to public education for (almost) all children, whereas children in South Sudan face significant challenges to receiving an education. These challenges include a lack of infrastructure, a lack of trained educators, a lack of resources, and …

Youth Social Media Access: Comparing The U.S. And Australia, Maddie Otto, Alyssa Dieckhoff, Brinley Cleveland, Katie Vandewoestyne, Jacey Rugg

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Up to 95% of young people aged 13-17 report using a social media platform; this population encompasses over 38 million youths in the U.S. and 2 million youths in Australia. Reports show that this practice has a detrimental impact on the mental health and well-being of those who have access at a young age. Globally, a primary concern is that youth who have access to social media platforms that are not developmentally appropriate for their age level have issues around declining mental health, socialization, and self-esteem or body image concerns. Therefore, the main objective of this project is to examine …

Feminization Poverty: Comparing The United States And Afghanistan, Molly Cue, Carly Henrickson, Lauren Classen, Swarupa Evans, Lauren Huston

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Feminization poverty is a prevalent worldwide issue containing many layers such as societal norms, single-mothered household, the gender wage gap, unpaid care work, and cost of childcare. When comparing the United States and Afghanistan, there are similarities in these issues. Both countries live in primarily patriarchal societies, which heavily contributes to feminization poverty. In the United States, over 14.8 million women are currently living in poverty compared to roughly 25 million women in Afghanistan. There are some strategic interventions utilized to fight feminization poverty in both countries. Therefore, the objective of this project is to compare the effectiveness of these …

Women's Access To Education: A Global Perspective, Olivia Clausen, Lillie-Kay Colby, Ellie-Lynn Colby

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Access to education for women has been restricted in various ways across the globe throughout history. Many of these restrictions have led to gender disparities in access to work, which pushes women into more vulnerable situations, such as poverty, abuse, or forced marriages. The goal of this research is to raise awareness and knowledge about women’s and girls’ education in South Sudan, given its 93% illiteracy rate among women. According to UNESCO, among the 84% of countries that legally protect the right to education, only 57% explicitly guarantee it without discrimination on the basis of sex and/or gender. Education for …

College Student Perceptions Of Death, Shelby Brubaker, Melinda Heinz

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

The purpose of this study was to understand college student perceptions of death. Undergraduate students were invited to participate in a focus group about their perceptions of death. Three focus groups were held and a total of nine students participated, all of whom had majors in the social sciences. All participants were women and approximately 55% were non-religious and 55% reported they were spiritual. Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic approach was used to code focus group transcriptions. Three themes were identified: 1) Family and Religious Influences: One participant said, “I think it is less of how religion has shaped …

The Impact Of Teacher Burnout On Learning Ability In Elementary Children With Aces, Kassidy Lake Patterson

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) impact individuals both psychologically and physically into adulthood. Children with ACEs often face challenges in learning, emotional regulation, and behavioral outbursts. Consequently, teachers supporting these students may experience Secondary Traumatic Stress and burnout. This examines the relationship between teacher burnout and students' ACEs. Using a mixed-methods approach guided by the Transactional model, the research discusses Allostatic Load and Toxic Stress theories. Teachers in the Waterloo area (n=10) completed the Professional Quality of Life Survey and the Trauma Informed Education Knowledge Survey. Findings indicate that teachers exhibit moderate burnout levels and possess high trauma knowledge, particularly those …

Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention Spring 2026 Newsletter, University Of Northern Iowa. Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention.

Patricia A. Tomson Center for Violence Prevention Newsletter

Contents:

--- MVP Student Retreat
--- Spring 2026 MVP Workshop
--- Dan Marburger MVP Advocacy Award Ceremony
--- Youth Workplace Violence Prevention Council Summit
--- UNI COE 2026 Social & Emotional Learning Conference
--- Iowa Safe Schools Annual Governor's Conference
--- Stand Up Guy Panel Event
--- Tomson Scholars
--- Rape Prevention & Education Grant Administrators for Iowa

Csbs Kudos, Spring 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Social And Behavioral Sciences.

CSBS Kudos

Contents:

--- Faculty Accolades
--- Retirements - Ken Atkinson, Gregory Bruess, Todd Evans, Mark Grey, James Hall, Wallace Hettle, Mary Losch
--- Promotions - Disa Cornish, Tyler O'Brien, Jayme Renfro, Eran Hanke, Kyle Endres
--- In Memoriam - Mary Louise Franken, John Johnson, Susan Welch, Charlotte C. Wells
--- $1.22 million grant to UNI’s Center for Civic Education
--- University of Northern Iowa receives $2.4 million grant to launch Humanities Hub
--- UNI announces restructuring to strengthen humanities and public service education
--- UNI launches online non-thesis Master of Arts in Geography
--- UNI teacher education program continues to boast …

20th Annual Research In The Capitol [Program], March 9, 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. University Honors Program. Iowa State University. Honors Program. University Of Iowa. Honors Program.

Research in the Capitol Programs

Program of research presentations given at the Capitol by students from the University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa.

Adverse Experiences Of D/Deaf Individuals, Lily Buchholz

Graduate Research Papers

With over 1 million people making up the Deaf and hard of hearing community in the United States, this population faces Adverse Childhood Experiences and intimate partner violence at rates higher than the hearing population. D/deaf people experience adversity specifically related to their inability to hear, including discrimination and daily microaggressions. Researching the adverse experiences of the D/deaf population allows for greater awareness to better serve them in professional settings. Clinicians using this information can provide more trauma-informed services, schools can create healthier and safer learning environments for D/deaf students, and D/deaf communities can support each other through connection and …

University Of Northern Iowa Fact Book, 2025-2026, University Of Northern Iowa. Institutional Effectiveness & Planning.

University of Northern Iowa Fact Book

Table of Contents

Quick Reference ... Inside front cover
Mission Statement and Institutional Goals ... 1
UNI Organizational Chart ... 2
UNI Administration ... 3
Definitions of Terms Used ... 4
Calendar ... 6

New Students
Fall New Students ... 9
New Student Applications, Admissions and Enrolled ... 10
New Students Enrolled by Residence ... 12
New Freshmen Enrollment by Residence ... 13
New Undergraduate Transfer Students by Type of Transfer College ... 14
New Freshmen ACT Composite Scores and High School Class Rank ... 15

Enrollment
Fall Students Profile by College ... 19
Headcount Enrollment ... 20
Headcount Enrollment …

Clinical And Community-Based Recovery Models: The Focus On How They Can Be Better Together, Alicia Wilder

Graduate Research Papers

Two of the main pathways for individuals to access recovery services are clinical and community-based. The clinical model focuses on medical stabilization and treatment, followed by community-based care that provides peer-driven support and sustainability through connection. The purpose is to examine how recovery models aim to support those in recovery and pinpoint the ways they can integrate medical and social systems to meet client needs. Comparing the two will allow us to understand how each model supports sustained recovery and overall well-being. The question that will be researched in this study is: How do acute clinical treatment and community- based …

Social Media Usage And Its Effects On Adolescent Mental Health, Kloey K. Thill

Graduate Research Papers

As social media increasingly becomes incorporated in many daily routines of adolescents, there is a growing concern about the psychological impacts associated with problematic social media use. This research study explores the relationship between social media habits and mental health outcomes among adolescents. The research found by conducting a comprehensive literature review indicates associations between problematic social media use and mental health outcomes including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and poor sleep quality. Further research raises the question of whether there are different vulnerabilities and outcomes across different demographics of adolescents. Findings from this research study can be used when creating …

The Multidimensional Impacts Of Poverty On Adolescent Outcomes, Klarence Baker

Graduate Research Papers

Poverty is a pervasive, multidimensional phenomenon that extends beyond financial scarcity to encompass a lack of both tangible and intangible resources necessary for healthy development. This research article synthesizes current literature to explore the profound impacts of poverty on adolescents specifically examining how economic hardship influences long term outcomes in financial attainment, educational success, and physical and mental health. This study investigates how cooccurring risk factors can disrupt neural development and social trajectories. The primary purpose of this study is to assess the duration and severity of poverty exposure and its lasting effects extending into adulthood. This research examines three …

“Crimes By The Brave”: Military Installation Impacts On Local Crime, Mara Strader

Honors Program Theses

The influence of the United States military extends beyond its primary installations, as numerous urban areas surround these bases and serve as habitats for many of our nation's heroes. These military communities have become integrated into civilian regions, leading to a confluence of military and civilian zones. Given the diverse populations within these areas, there is a corresponding increase in crime rates; however, there is a notable paucity of literature examining whether these installations affect crime in military-civilian communities.

This study uses 2023 National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) incident-level arrest data, aggregated by geographic proximity to U.S. military installations, to …

Factors Affecting Dating Violence In Adolescence, Madison Darrah

Graduate Research Papers

Prior research has named many risk and protective factors associated with adolescent dating violence (ADV). However, comparatively little research has examined how substance use intersects with these risk and protective factors or how effective interventions can be designed to address both issues of substance use and ADV simultaneously. The purpose of the current study is to examine the relationship between substance use and ADV, with a particular focus on perpetration of ADV during adolescence. This literature review synthesizes existing research to identify factors associated with ADV, evaluate theoretical frameworks that explain ADV, and examine how substance use contributes to ADV …

Commencement [Program], December 20, 2025, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Commencement Programs

Contents:

University Organization --- 2
Ceremony Symbols & Traditions --- 3
University Honors Program --- 4
Graduation with Honors --- 4
Legacy Graduates --- 4
Order of Events --- 5
College of Education --- 6
College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences --- 12
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences --- 19
David W. Wilson College of Business --- 26
Division of Online Education & Individual Studies --- 31
UNI Alma Mater --- 34

Correction: Changes In Aggressive Behaviors Over Time In Children With Adverse Childhood Experiences: Focusing On The Role Of School Connectedness, Sei Young Lee, Mijin Choi

Faculty Publications

In the original publication (Lee and Choi 2025), Zhang and Mersky (2022) was not cited. The citation has now been inserted in 5.2. Measures, 5.2.1. Adverse Childhood Experiences, Paragraph Three and should read: Parental substance use questions concerned whether mothers or fathers reported having four or more drinks and any of five types of drugs (e.g., cocaine and heroin) or misuse of prescription drugs (e.g., sedatives and tranquilizers) in the past 12 months. Parental incarceration was measured by whether the mother, father, or mother’s current partner had spent any time in prison or jail. Sample questions of parental domestic violence …

Uni’S First Woman Professor: Laura Ensign And The Struggle For Fair Pay, Rank, And Faculty Governance Under Gilchrist And Seerley, Thomas G. Connors

Faculty Book Gallery

At 29, Laura Ensign’s appointment to the faculty of Iowa’s new State Normal School should have been an unqualified triumph. Yet her hiring by the Board over the objections of James Gilchrist, the school’s principal, placed her under an administrator who detested her from the start. She lived, ate, and worked with her colleagues, pupils, and Gilchrist and his family in the same isolated building on a hill two miles from town. Near her wits’ end after eight years, Ensign tried one final maneuver, one so risky that it would have cost her job had it failed: She began secretly …

Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention Fall 2025 Newsletter, University Of Northern Iowa. Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention.

Patricia A. Tomson Center for Violence Prevention Newsletter

Contents:

--- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa MVP Training
--- Fall MVP Training
--- MVP Student Leadership Summit
--- Michigan MVP Partnership

Csbs Kudos, Fall 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Social And Behavioral Sciences.

CSBS Kudos

Contents:

--- Faculty Accolades
--- New Faculty & Staff
--- In Memoriam - Carole Edginton
--- In Memoriam - Clemens Bartollas
--- UNI names Allison Rank as inaugural director of the Center for Civic Education
--- Tradition meets tomorrow, one historic image at a time
--- Historian Serena Zabin delivered 52nd annual UNI Becker Lecture on Boston Massacre
--- UNI ROTC program to remain on campus under new U.S. Army structure
--- UNI professor starts first-of-its-kind health initiative in Iowa for retired men
--- UNI hosts third White Coat Ceremony for nursing students
--- UNI welcomes students and community to …

Supporting Faculty Parents In Professional Development: Case Studies, Recommendations, And A Call For Inclusive Approaches, Anne Marie Gruber, Lindsay Doukopoulos

Faculty Publications

Educational development is often scheduled during academic breaks with the intent of allowing faculty participation; however, this can actually make it more difficult for faculty who are in parenting roles, particularly during summer and school breaks when childcare options are limited. This article provides case studies from two different institutions describing approaches to offering childcare support to faculty participants in professional development. Ultimately, although both cases were successful, they were limited solutions to what is actually a much larger cultural problem. Our discussion shares lessons learned, recommendations, and urges others to embrace inclusive and equity-focused endeavors in supporting faculty caregivers' …

Stories Of Racism And Resistance: A Narrative Analysis Of Stories Told In The Uk Windrush Generation And Descendants Of The Windrush Generation, Jessica Blumsom, Jacqui Scott, Emma Karwatzki, Aishath Nasheeda, David Hernandez-Saca, Alyson Malach, Glenda Andrew

Faculty Publications

The Windrush Generation (WG) and their descendants continue to experience adversity in the UK, including racism and the Windrush Scandal, with such adversities absent from psychological research literature. Intergenerational trauma is a psychological concept explaining that adverse experiences can be transmitted from one generation to impact subsequent generations. There has been limited consideration of the ongoing impact of adverse experiences that span multiple generations, such as experiences of racism within Western Europe. This paper utilised a narrative research design to study the narratives of members of the WG and those of their descendants in the UK. Eight expert by experience …

On Good Terms: Pathways To Decolonizing Science-Appropriated Indigenous Terminologies In Arctic Research, Stanislav Saas Ksenofontov, Vera Kuklina, Alexander Kholodov, Andrey Petrov

Faculty Publications

Many western scientific disciplines adopted Indigenous Knowledge and terminology without deference to or understanding of the original meanings and values attached to Indigenous terms and concepts. This form of scientific appropriation has become a serious barrier to efforts of decolonizing Arctic research. The notion of Alaas is an example of such appropriation by the western science-based system of Indigenous knowledge about human–nature relations. This paper aims to discuss the term Alaas as it is conceptualized in both western science and Indigenous knowledge. The paper will explore the development of “alas” as an international permafrost science term and Alaas as an …

Youth Comorbidity Patterns And Research Domain Criteria (Rdoc)-Informed Factors: A Scoping Review Of Person-Centered Psychopathology Research, June Yung Kim, Wenxing Wei, Liat R. Johnson, Sarah Balser, Anne Marie Gruber

Faculty Publications

Purpose: High rates of comorbid psychopathology have driven a growing body of person-centered research to understand the grouping structure of youth comorbidity by identifying meaningful comorbidity patterns and validating them with neurobehavioral factors. The National Institute of Mental Health’s Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) offers an etiological framework for systematically identifying constructs organized around major functioning domains. This scoping review study mapped person-centered comorbidity studies and synthesized the RDoC-informed factors of comorbidity patterns. Materials and

Methods: We followed Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework. Five databases (e.g. PubMed and CINAHL) were searched. Twenty-five peer-reviewed studies examining comorbidity patterns in youth up to …