Digital Commons Network^™

A Multi-Case Study Exploring Ncaa Division I Athletic Departments’ Mental Health Culture, Kim Tolentino, Dana K. Voelker, Brent Oja, Sofia España Pérez, Sam Zizzi

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Mental health and psychological well-being continue to be significant areas of concern for collegiate student-athletes. Researchers have identified the perceived barriers preventing student-athletes from using mental health services which include lack of knowledge, limited access, and perceived negative stigma (e.g., Harris & Maher, 2023; Yoon & Petrie, 2023). Organizational culture, loosely defined as a group’s accumulated shared learning (Schein & Schein, 2017), plays an important role in guiding the behaviors of its members. Developing a positive athletic department culture around mental health can, in turn, be beneficial to increasing student-athletes’ help-seeking behaviors. The purpose of this study was to explore …

December 3, 2025 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Exploring Recruitment Strategies For Place-Based Research In Rural Areas Of Australia: A Comparative Case Study Analysis, Tracy L. Schumacher, Anna K. Jansson, Lucy Kocanda, Jennifer May Phd, Rn, Anp-Bc, Leanne J. Brown, Clare E. Collins

Publications

BACKGROUND: Recruitment of participants into research studies is commonly challenging and becomes more difficult when targeting underrepresented population groups. Recruiting individuals living in rural locations, must use appropriate strategies if the sample size is to be achieved. The aim of this case study was to explore factors associated with research capacity, and to determine their impact on recruitment strategies, including timeframe and participant recruitment outcomes.

METHODS: This case study investigated the recruitment outcomes of four rurally based research projects performed between 2016-2024. Participants were enrolled either directly by the researchers (face-to-face method [f2f]), or through General Practitioners as trusted local …

Hide And Seek: Offshore Financial Centers And Targeted Sanctions, Menevis Cilizogula, Chelsea Estancona

Faculty Publications

The movement of capital across borders has never been easier, as evidenced by the recent proliferation of offshore financial services. But these services are a double-edged sword: while boosting economic efficiency, they can also facilitate illicit financial activity. In this paper, we discuss the symbiotic relationship between financial liberalization and the pursuit of financial anonymity by secrecy-seeking actors. We examine a hide-and-seek dynamic between governments increasing monitoring of international finance and actors seeking anonymity via offshore financial centers. Under what conditions can international financial monitoring have the unintended consequence of increasing the use of poorly regulated and opaque offshore financial …

Personalized Resistance Exercise With Peer Support For Women With Pcos Using A Smart Home Video Device: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Guided By Self-Determination Theory, Pamela J. Wright Phd, Ms, Med, Rn, Cen, Cynthia F. Corbett Phd, Rn, Faan, Kesheng Wang

Faculty Publications

Background

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) report exercise barriers as stigma-related stress, lack of peer support, and facility issues. “Resistance exercise (RE) with peer support and bands/ball and digitally-based supervision” (REPS w/BANDS) was designed to help mitigate exercise barriers. Underscored by self-determination theory (SDT), the 12-week intervention was remotely delivered via digital technology and inclusive of peer support.

Purpose

The purposes of this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) were to test the feasibility and acceptability of REPS w/BANDS and explore signals of within- and between-group differences on outcomes (e.g., depressive symptoms and fitness).

Methods

Participants (N = 25) …

Circulating Levels Of Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (Igf-I) And Risk Ofmultiple Myeloma: An Observational And Mendelian Randomisation Study, Yolanda Benavente, Sara Hermosa, Nikos Papadimitriou, Alyssa I. Clay-Gilmour Ph.D., Elizabeth E. Brown, Jonathan N. Hofmann, Nathaniel Rothman, Qing Lan, Sonja I. Berndt, Demetrius Albanes, Mark Purdue, Mitchell J. Machiela, Stephen J. Chanock, Parveen Bhatti, Wendy Cozen, Aaron Norman, Susan L. Slager, James R. Cerhan, Vincent Rajkumar, Shaji J. Kumar, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

Evidence for an association between insulin-like growth factors (IGF) and multiple myeloma (MM) is inconsistent. We examined total IGF-I concentrations and risk of MM by combining baseline serological data among UK Biobank participants (n = 444 187; 732 incident MM) with a two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis using identified genetic variants associated with circulating total IGF-I and IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) in the InterLymph consortium (2434 MM and their 2567 controls). Finally, additional lymphoid neoplasm (LN) subtypes were included for comparison with the main hypothesis. Circulating IGF-I level was positively associated with MM risk Hazard ratio-HR-per one standard deviation-SD-increase …

Exploring Di College Coaches’ Perceptions Of Holistic Coaching And The Factors Impacting Their Ability To Succeed In The Current College Sports Landscape, Deborah V. Hogan Phd

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

In the highly competitive Division I (DI) college sports system, coaches are expected to produce winning programs while developing their college athletes holistically. Recent changes in NCAA policies complicate the coach-athlete relationship, hindering coaches' ability to serve as effective holistic leaders. This study uses grounded theory to understand how DI coaches in high-profile sports perceive their roles as holistic leaders and manage external challenges to provide holistic college athlete experiences. Semi-structured interviews with 12 football and women’s basketball coaches revealed five main themes: 1) coaches are educators, 2) strategies for holistic coaching, 3) supporting Black college athletes, 4) college sports …

Ncaa Division I Senior Athletic Administrators' Perceptions Of And Experiences With Mental Performance Consultants And Their Services: A Qualitative Investigation, Morgan R. Eckenrod, Rebecca Zakrajsek, Johannes Raabe

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

At the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (DI) level, senior athletic administrators (SAAs) play a critical role in hiring Mental Performance Consultants (MPCs). Researchers found that NCAA DI administrators generally believe MPCs are beneficial in helping student-athletes manage competition pressures and improve performance, the number of full-time MPCs in NCAA DI athletic departments is still limited. In this study, eleven NCAA DI SAAs with at least one full-time MPC in their athletic department that solely delivered mental performance services were interviewed about their perceptions of and experiences with MPCs and their services. Using reflexive thematic analysis procedures, three …

House Rules: Athlete, Coach, And Staff Perspectives On The Shifting Ncaa Landscape, Daniel Springer

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The House settlement is an inflection point in NCAA Division I athletics, ushering in a new model of institutional revenue sharing, roster regulation, and athlete compensation. While legal and financial analyses dominate public discourse, less is known about how these shifts are understood by those working and competing within athletic departments. This study draws on narrative analysis of interviews with 11 athletes, coaches, and staff across five anonymized Power 4 institutions to examine how the House settlement is being interpreted as it takes effect. Three narrative foci emerged: 1) financial prioritization and resource allocation, 2) shifting culture, relationships, and meaning, …

The Impact Of Geographic And Community Diversity On The Transitionary Experiences Of International College Athletes, Marek Taškár, Chris Corr, Nicole Sellars, Sarah Stokowski, Karina Jolly, Trevor Bopp

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

International college athletes migrating to the United States for athletic competition encounter unique challenges such as language barriers, cultural adjustment, and familial detachment. These obstacles can hinder international college athletes’ transition compared to those of domestic athletes. While supportive programming and personnel have been illustrated to ease the transition and foster acculturation among international college athletes, the impact of the geographic location of an institution may impact the acculturation process for international college athletes. Given the importance of acculturation to athletic and academic success, this study examined how cultural diversity within communities hosting NCAA member institutions affects international college athletes’ …

Variation In Cycling Exercise Mechanical Efficiency In The Heritage Family Study, Angelo Tremblay, Claude Bouchard, Mark A. Sarzynski Facsm, James S. Skinner, Élisa Marin-Couture, Patrick Schrauwen, Guy Thibault, Marie-Eve Mathieu, Louis Pérusse

Faculty Publications

The objectives of the study were to assess the effects of cycling endurance exercise training and sex on cycling exercise mechanical efficiency (ME) and to explore its associations with body composition, glycemic profile, and skeletal muscle characteristics. Subjects were males (n = 371) and females (n = 465) of European (ED) and African descent (AD) of the HERITAGE Family Study. The measurements were repeated after a 20-week controlled endurance exercise program. A substudy involving 78 participants from 19 ED families was used to evaluate associations between skeletal muscle traits and variations in ME. An increase in ME of …

The Effect Of Telehealth-Based Medical Nutrition Therapy On Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors In A Rural Population: A Secondary Analysis Of Outcomes Related To Nutrition, Health And Well-Being From The Healthy Rural Hearts Randomised Controlled Trial, Tracy L. Schumacher, Erin D. Clarke, Jaimee Herbert, Anna Jansson, Chris Oldmeadow, Megan E. Rollo, Penny Milson, Carissa Alderton, Leanne J. Brown, Jennifer T. May Phd, Rn, Anp-Bc, Annabelle Williams, Michelle Guppy, Shanthi Ramanathan, John Attia, Clare E. Collins

Publications

BACKGROUND: Adults in rural Australia are at elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). To date, no intervention trials have evaluated the impact of dietitian delivered nutrition therapy using telehealth exclusively in patients recruited in the primary care setting. The primary aim was to assess effectiveness of telehealth delivered Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) on change in dietary intake energy, reported as percent energy derived from nutrient-dense (core) foods. Secondary aims included assessment of the intervention effects on percentage weight loss, quality of life, health literacy and patient engagement in their health (patient activation).

METHODS: This was a secondary data analysis of …

Investigation Of Metals And Incidental Nanomaterials In Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Ashes And Their Impacts On Marine Phytoplankton, Talal Abdullah Alshehri

Theses and Dissertations

Wildfires are natural processes that have played a vital role in ecosystems for millions of years. However, with increasing anthropogenic activities and climate change, wildfires' frequency and intensity have increased. A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire that burns forests, grasses, and savannas. In addition to vegetation combustible materials, wildfire burn structure items such as homes, stores, and storage sheds in areas where the transition zone between urban and wildland is defined as the wildland-urban interface (WUI). Moreover, wildfires in WUI can burn vehicles, including automobiles, tractors, and boats on trails. Recently, there have been concerns regarding the metals, metalloids, and …

U-Shaped Relationship Between White Blood Cell Counts And Incident Hypertension In Military Young Adults: The Chief Study, 2014–2020, Kun-Zhe Tsai, Chia-Wei Hong, Yun-Chen Chang, Wei-Chun Huang, Xuemei Sui, Carl J. Lavie, Gen-Min Lin

Faculty Publications

Background

Systemic low-grade inflammation, which is characterized by increased counts of blood leukocytes (white blood cells, WBCs), can lead to hypertension, while reduced WBC counts caused by the use of some substances, e.g., alcohol, can also lead to hypertension. However, there have been no studies on the association between WBC counts and the risk of hypertension in young adults.

Methods

This cohort study conducted in Taiwan included a total of 2351 military personnel who were aged 18–39 years, were free of baseline hypertension and were followed up for incident hypertension from 2014 to the end of 2020. Resting blood pressure …

Adipose Tissue Estrogen Receptor-Alpha Overexpression Ameliorates High-Fat Diet–Induced Adipose Tissue Inflammation, Marion C. Hope, Christian A. Unger, M. Chase Kettering, Cassidy E. Socia, Ahmed K. Aladhami, Barton C. Rice, Darya S. Niamira, Ben P. Wiznitzer, Diego Altomare Ph.D., William E. Cotham, Reilly T. Enos

Faculty Publications

Context

We created an innovative mouse model that enables inducible overexpression of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα), specifically in adipose tissue (Adipo-ERα↑). Objective

We aimed to investigate how elevated Adipo-ERα↑ influences the development of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in both male and female mice. Methods

Male and female Adipo-ERα↑ mice and littermate controls were fed a low-fat diet (LFD) or HFD for 13 weeks. Adipo-ERα↑ was induced at the initiation of dietary treatment. Body morphology and composition, hepatic lipid accumulation, glucose tolerance, fasting insulin concentrations, and adipose tissue mRNA profiling were assessed. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to determine circulating and adipose …

Spatiotemporal Modeling Of Maternal Mortality In South Carolina 2018-2023, Leah Wood, Ray Bai, Emily Mann

Senior Theses

Maternal death serves as a public health indicator due to fact that it is considered preventable with the availability of modern biomedicine, however, it persists broadly throughout the United States. Current literature outlines national trends in maternal mortality with complicating, preexisting conditions, and structural upstream factors often cited as being the largest contributors to increased risk. This study utilizes publicly available, county-level data for maternal death in addition to demographic and descriptive data in order to estimate maternal mortality rates in each of South Carolina’s 46 counties from 2018 to 2023. In order to address sparsity in the outcome variable …

Combating Obesity: Creating A Comprehensive Wellness Plan For Uninsured & Low-Income Populations, Kayla C. Berrios

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Aim: The aim of this project was to research the specific barriers encountered by obese patients that are low-income and uninsured. The goal of this data collection was to inform the stakeholders involved in creating a comprehensive wellness plan for obese patients.

Background: The staff at Good Neighbor Clinic have struggled to support their support their obese patients with weight reduction. Many of the ailments that patients seek care for correlate to their obesity. Health promotion in this community clinic needs a more comprehensive program to support patients during their weight loss experience, providing support and resources to allow for …

Exploring Barriers To Patient Care In A South Carolina Free Clinic, Jonathan G. Green

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Access to healthcare remains a persistent challenge for medically underserved populations who rely on free medical clinics for primary care services, particularly in non-Medicaid expansion states such as South Carolina. Free clinics serve as critical safety-net providers, yet patients frequently encounter barriers that limit access, continuity, and quality of care. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to explore and identify the structural, social, and interprofessional barriers to patient care within a South Carolina free medical clinic to inform targeted, evidence-based interventions. A mixed-methods needs assessment design was used, combining a retrospective chart review of forty …

Empowering Mothers: A Digital Intervention For Perinatal Mental Wellness, Morgan Edmunds

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Aim: The aim of this project was to develop a smartphone application prototype for peripartum mental health. The goal of this application was to enhance access to education and quality mental health care.

Background: Currently, in the United States, peripartum mental health conditions are the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality (The Joint Commission, 2023). There is a gap in education, screening, and treatment for peripartum mental health due to distrust and a lack of resources, including a lack of mental health providers (Dossette et al., 2024; Feldman & Perret, 2023). Therefore, there is a significant number of women …

Adipose Tissue Estrogen Receptor-Alpha Overexpression Ameliorates High-Fat Diet–Induced Adipose Tissue Inflammation, Marion C. Hope, Christian A. Unger, M Chase Kettering, Cassidy E. Socia, Ahmed K. Aladhami, Barton C. Rice, Darya S. Niamira, Ben P. Wiznitzer, Diego Altomare Ph.D., William E. Cotham, Reilly T. Enos

Faculty Publications

Context

We created an innovative mouse model that enables inducible overexpression of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα), specifically in adipose tissue (Adipo-ERα↑). Objective

We aimed to investigate how elevated Adipo-ERα↑ influences the development of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in both male and female mice. Methods

Male and female Adipo-ERα↑ mice and littermate controls were fed a low-fat diet (LFD) or HFD for 13 weeks. Adipo-ERα↑ was induced at the initiation of dietary treatment. Body morphology and composition, hepatic lipid accumulation, glucose tolerance, fasting insulin concentrations, and adipose tissue mRNA profiling were assessed. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to determine circulating and adipose …

Adipokines Mediate Fat-To-Ovary Communication To Regulate Oogenesis, Adipocyte Size, And Lipid Storage In Drosophila Melanogaster, Chad Herbert Simmons

Theses and Dissertations

Humans have complex signaling pathways that allow them to store and expend energy based on nutritional quality and availability. Inter-organ signaling is used to communicate nutrient availability between organs based on nutritional needs and the rate of cellular division. Our main overarching question is to investigate how fat-derived signals affect adipocyte morphology and the maintenance of stem cells in the ovary. While signaling pathways, like insulin and mTOR, and some adipokines that are involved in inter-organ nutrient sensing have been identified, the exact nutrient reliant mechanisms of stem cell maintenance are not completely understood. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model, …

Colaborate: A Mixed-Methods Approach To Enabling Inclusive Dialogue Of Emotional Regulation Resources For Young Autistic Children, Sarai E. Deese

Senior Theses

Emotion regulation (ER) is a critical developmental milestone and is often delayed or more difficult for autistic children. Publicly available resources for birth-5-year-olds with autism could benefit significantly by integrating the values of and information provided by autistic adults. However, existing resources may have poor accessibility, acceptability, and feasibility according to different groups within the autism community, creating a significant gap in effective support. This mixed-methods study investigated ER experiences, resource knowledge, and resource desire among autistic adults (N=4; Stage 1) and caregivers of young autistic children (N=4; Stage 2) to inform the development of acceptable ER supports. In Stage …

Food Insecurity And Social Connection Of Nicaraguan Refugees And Asylum Seekers In Costa Rica: A Qualitative Study, Keren Herran

Theses and Dissertations

Background

Given the physical and mental health consequences of food insecurity, solutions should be evidence-based and seek to prioritize vulnerable populations. This qualitative study adds to limited literature on how refugees and asylum seekers use their social connections to mitigate food insecurity by investigating how Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers in Costa Rica foster social connections and use these connections to acquire and manage food.

Methods

In fall 2024, 35 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in San José, Costa Rica. Participants were recruited through six migrant-serving nonprofit organizations. For study inclusion, participants had to: 1) be 18 or older; 2) …

Identifying And Understanding The Barriers To Sexual Health Information Seeking Experienced By Young Adults (Ages 18-26) Using Social Media, Alexander Nicolas Vera

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation uses a qualitative, constructionist approach to examine the sociotechnical and cultural dynamics that shape digital sexual health-seeking practices of young adults. Guided by information practices and affordance theory, the research draws on semi-structured interviews and digital walkthroughs with 20 young adults (ages 18–26) from a convenience sample of young adults residing in South Carolina. Participants described how they use platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit not only to locate information but to assess its trustworthiness, inclusivity, and personal relevance in real time. Through in-depth accounts and screen-based demonstrations via digital walkthroughs, the study examines how participants engage in …

Hungry Minds: Analyzing The Impact Of Food Insecurity And Food Assistance Programs On Neurocognitive Development And Childhood Mental Health, Kayla A. Davenport

Senior Theses

Introduction: Food insecurity affects millions of children in the United States and is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for poor nutritional intake and adverse health outcomes. However, less is known about how the experience of food insecurity disrupts healthy development and well-being, particularly among American youth. This thesis had two aims: (1) to examine the relationship between household food insecurity and children’s neurocognitive and mental health outcomes and (2) to evaluate how major food assistance programs address, or fail to address, these developmental risks.

Methods: This thesis uses a mixed-methods approach, integrating a narrative literature review, a cross-sectional …

The Case For Using Student-Generated Goals To Cultivate Strong Readers, Heather Anne Wyman

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study explored how to motivate seventh-grade students to become stronger readers. I empowered my students by giving them the autonomy to set their own Lexile goals and develop plans to reach them, offering goal-setting lessons along with feedback and support. Students were motivated to meet the goals they created. Lexile assessment data from two benchmark periods enabled me to determine students’ growth, and survey and interview data helped me to determine their perceptions of their increase in self-efficacy and motivation to achieve. While most students did not meet their self-identified Lexile goals, most made academic progress, …

Effect Of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy And Lactation On The Development Of Infants Born To Tanzanian Women Living With Hiv: A Secondary Analysis Of A Randomised Controlled Trial, Temiwunmi Shobanke, Alfa Muhihi, Nandita Perumal Phd, Nzovu Ulenga, Fadhlun M. Alwy Al-Beity, Christopher P. Duggan, Wafaie W. Fawzi, Karim P. Manji, Christopher R. Sudfeld

Faculty Publications

Background Infants born to pregnant women living with HIV (WLHIV) are at greater risk for morbidity and mortality and may also have poorer developmental outcomes as compared with infants who are not exposed to HIV. Nutrition interventions in pregnancy may affect developmental outcomes.

Objectives This study evaluated the effect of maternal vitamin D supplementation on infant development outcomes.

Design We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of maternal vitamin D supplementation from June 2015 to October 2019.

Setting Antenatal care clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Participants Pregnant WLHIV and their offspring.

Interventions Daily 3000 IU …

Monitoring Nutrition Security: Perspectives From A Workshop On Nutrition Security Measurement, Ximena Perez-Velazco, Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Ph.D., Joanne F. Guthrie, Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Mariah D. Ehmke, Christian Gregory, Hilary K. Seligman

Faculty Publications

Nutrition security, an emerging concept distinct from and complementary to food security, has gained increasing interest as a focus of efforts to reduce hunger, improve nutrition, and prevent diet-related health conditions. Yet, unlike food security, which has well-established measures, nutrition security lacks standardized measures for assessment. This gap hinders the ability to evaluate progress in improving nutrition security both in the United States and globally. In September 2024, a workshop to explore how to measure nutrition security was hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, in collaboration with the Southern University Agricultural Science Center of Excellence …

Achieving Empowerment In Transition: Advice From Former Female Athletes, Ashlyn Hardie, Molly Harry, Kristi Oshiro, Marlene A. Dixon

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Scholars have highlighted the various challenges college athletes encounter in their transition from sport. Yet, the strategies athletes adopt to navigate this transitory period require further examination. Thus, we leveraged Zimmerman’s Psychological Empowerment Model and Schlossberg’s Transition Theory to explore these strategies and associated processes in-depth. The sample for this study consisted of 20 former female athletes from the U.S. who played a college sport. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed numerous strategies current and future female college athletes implement to mitigate the challenges present in their transition, specifically: Finding Acceptance, Be Proactive, Don’t Stop 100%, Embrace the …

Name, Image, And Likeness: A Critical Exploration Through Self-Determination Theory, Molly Harry

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Through Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this study explored college athletes’ experiences with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Analyzing congressional testimonies from 10 current and recently graduated college athletes, this research highlighted how NIL fostered/constrained athlete development within the broader power structures of college sport. Findings revealed while NIL enhances self-determination through autonomy, competence, and relatedness, institutional discourses and governance mechanisms continue to regulate athlete development. Through Fairclough’s (1995) CDA framework, this study demonstrated how language throughout the athletes’ testimonies maintained/disrupted power dynamics which reinforced/challenged authority of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The integration of SDT and …