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“Pride Runs Through Our Veins”: A Qualitative Investigation Of Black Parents’ Ethnic-Racial Socialization Practices Among Black Youth With Disabilities, Nicole A. Telfer, Danielle J. Allen, Noreen Yazejian, Iheoma U. Iruka

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

While ethnic-racial socialization (ERS) practices are crucial in Black/African American families, little is known about ERS practices in Black families of Black children with disabilities. In the current study, we investigated ERS practices among Black/African American parents’ who are raising children with disabilities and how this may influence children’s outcomes. A total of N = 8 Black/African American parents were invited for semi-structured interviews to explore more deeply their ERS practices among their children with disabilities. Several themes emerged from the data, which highlights ERS practices from a DisCrit lens, as well as the overall experiences of parents and their …

Utah County-Level Emergency Manager Survey, Bailey Holdaway, Courtney Flint, Gina Gilson, Richard Rushforth

Environment and Society Student Research

County emergency managers are central to preparing for and responding to hazards. This brief highlights preliminary survey findings and highlights opportunities to strengthen Utah's statewide hazard resilience.

How Important Is Clean Energy To Utahns?, Elizabeth Brunner, Stacia Ryder

Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP)

Utah's energy mix has changed significantly over the past several decades as it has moved to cleaner forms of generation. For example, according to the Energy Information Administration, in 2024, coal fueled about 45% of Utah's total electricity net generation, down from 75% in 2015. As can be seen in the chart below, the state anticipates demand growth, with further reductions in coal alongside a significant increase in solar, storage, and natural gas by 2032. Though not represented in these charts, plans for nuclear power generation have been proposed in Brigham City as well as outside of Green River. Utah …

Preliminary Findings From Intermountain West County Emergency Manager Survey, Bailey Holdaway, Courtney Flint, Gina Gilson, Richard Rushforth

Environment and Society Student Research

In the Intermountain West, water resources and weather conditions are increasingly plagued by uncertainty. Population growth throughout the region may further intensify many of these water-related hazards. County emergency managers are responsible for managing hazards and coordinating interactions among entities at various management levels. They are important entities in efforts to safely and effectively manage water-related hazards in the region.

Women & Mental Health: What Utahns Need To Know, Brie Sparks, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Mental health shapes how individuals think, feel, cope with stress, and engage in relationships and communities. Mental health concerns have increased nationally and in Utah, influenced by social isolation, economic stress, and lasting effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Utah now has one of the highest rates of mental illness in the country, with nearly 29.9% of adults reporting a condition, and women are disproportionately affected. Understanding these patterns and their drivers is essential to improving outcomes for women, families, and communities across the state.

How Intelligent? Student Success, Student Engagement, And Faculty Use Of Intelligent Agents In Online Classes, Teresa P. Raczek, Anja Bernardy, Audrey E. Garcia, Ulrike Ingram, Laura Mcgrath, Snehal Shirke

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this article here.

In asynchronous online classes, consistent engagement with the course instructor helps students connect to the course and perform better. Automated Intelligent Agent (IA) emails that can be set up in a learning management system allow faculty to send targeted communications to students in the form of personalized reminders, offers of help, words of encouragement, praise, and other tailored messages. To assess the effectiveness of IAs in supporting student success, this study analyzed the use of the technology by 10 faculty across seven humanities and social science disciplines. We examined how IAs …

Snap Challenge In Teacher Education, Eric Hogan, Sean Forbes, Carey E. Andrzejewski

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this article here.

Training pre-service teachers often focuses on educating them about issues they will see in their own classrooms. One such issue is food insecurity. Food insecurity is defined by limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways (Rabbitt et al., 2023a). This article focuses on pre-service teachers' experiences while engaging in the SNAP Challenge to learn more about food insecurity while also learning how food impacts student learning and motivation. Participants in the study discussed how living off the …

Effects Of Cross-Curricular Instruction On Clinical Education Outcomes For Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students, Michele Dacy, Kimberly Smith

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this article here.

Cross-curricular instruction is the process of combining information from two or more subjects within a single discipline in order to help students integrate the knowledge and skills they learn from separate courses. The purpose of this study was to examine how cross-curricular instruction impacted speech-language pathology (SLP) graduate students' knowledge, confidence, and clinical skills related to the assessment of patients with co-occurring diagnoses of dementia and dysphagia. Twenty-three SLP master's students completed a questionnaire before and after receiving cross-curricular instruction on how to assess dysphagia in persons with dementia. The questionnaire …

Overcoming Current Challenges In Higher Education Through Team Teaching, Carol Rogers Shaw, Corinne Brion, Katelyn Case

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this article here.

Team teaching in online higher education courses provides an innovative approach to meeting the needs of students and enhancing the teaching experiences of instructors. In this study, two instructors collaborated to team teach a course in an online doctoral program; this article shares their experiences. A multi-method qualitative approach was utilized to explore the benefits and challenges of team teaching. Data included questionnaire responses from students, journal entries written by instructors, and interviews with program administrators. The findings offer possible solutions to common challenges in higher education today such as increasing …

Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 10, Issue 1, Spring 2026

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full-length Spring 2026 issue (Volume 10, Issue 1) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version (with downloadable EPUB format) here.

This issue of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence brings together articles that explore innovative instructional approaches and emerging technologies for strengthening teaching and student learning in higher education. The contributions examine team teaching as a model for building instructor collaboration and reducing burnout in online doctoral courses, cross-curricular instruction in speech-language pathology clinical education, guidance for graduate students undertaking single-case research design in the social sciences, an experiential SNAP Challenge assignment for …

Male Allyship: What Utahns Need To Know, Susan R. Madsen, Deborah Lin

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Women do not always have the same opportunities as men, particularly in cultures where more traditional gender norms are embraced. Male allyship can positively impact women’s lives by increasing opportunities (e.g., safety, education attainment, career development, financial security). In addition, understanding and embracing gender differences can optimize women’s participation and leadership contributions. By intentionally removing barriers and encouraging full participation, women’s talents and perspectives can be leveraged. This both expands opportunities for women and enhances innovation, improves decision-making, and contributes to stronger communities.

Maternal Mental Health: What Utahns Need To Know, Brie Sparks, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Pregnancy and the transition to motherhood are often portrayed as joyful and fulfilling experiences, yet many women face significant emotional and psychological challenges. Maternal mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, are among the most common complications of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Despite growing awareness, stigma, screening gaps, and limited access to care persist. In Utah, where rates are similar to or higher than national averages, expanding screening and resources will create a clearer path to better support mothers and families.

Topographic Control Of Forest Species Distributions In The Interior West From Forest Inventory And Analysis Data, R. Justin Derose, Matthew F. Bekker

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The geographic distribution of forest and woodland ecosystems in the Interior West United States is strongly influenced by topographic factors that, in part, control moisture availability through their effect on insolation, precipitation capture, and retention. Through an empirical approach, we use unique, plot-level data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (n = 13,437) over eight ecoregions within eight Interior West states to characterize the distribution of the 12 most abundant tree species with respect to the effects of elevation, slope aspect, and slope steepness. Across species, elevation, and aspect, most forested plots occurred on gentle slopes and the …

R Code And Supporting Data For "Fast And Slow Water Handling Strategies Explain Pinyon Pine Decline And Juniper Expansion", Andrew Kulmatiski, Muhammad Faraz Rehman

Browse all Datasets

This repository contains the datasets, R scripts, HYDRUS-1D model files, weather data, and supporting materials used for the M.S. thesis, "Fast and Slow Water Handling Strategies Explain Pinyon Pine Decline and Juniper Expansion." The study investigated root water uptake and water-use strategies of pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) using stable isotope tracer experiments, soil water flow modeling, leaf water potential measurements, stomatal conductance measurements, and environmental data collected across an aridity gradient in southern Utah, USA.

Nozzle Erosion Reconstruction Model For Data Analysis In Rocket Engines And Correlation With Chamber Pressure, Ryan J. Thibaudeau, Stephen A. Whitmore

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

Graphite nozzles remain the dominant choice for small hybrid and solid rocket motors operating on laboratory and university budgets, owing to their low cost, ease of machining, and rapid turnaround during iterative design campaigns. These same programs, however, must contend with the fact that graphite erodes through coupled thermochemical and mechanical mechanisms when exposed to the oxidizing species generated by high-energy propellant combustion, and the resulting throat-area growth fundamentally alters the time histories of chamber pressure, thrust, and delivered specific impulse. This paper presents a nozzle-erosion reconstruction model that extracts the time-resolved throat area from coupled thrust and chamber-pressure measurements …

Managing Prairie Dogs On Agricultural Lands, Cory Farnsworth, S. Nicole Frey

All Current Publications

While prairie dogs are an important species in the region because their burrows provide shelter for many wildlife species, they are also preyed upon by many mammals and birds. However, because of the damage they can cause to cropping and range systems, their populations may occasionally need to be controlled. After you have identified which prairie dog species you are in conflict with and the scope of the damage, you will want to decide how to manage them. This fact sheet provides information on control options and the general ecology of the three prairie dog species in Utah.

Geothermal Energy In Utah: Massive Potential To Meet Growing Electricity Needs, Emily Labonty, Kendall Becker, Logan Mitchell, Jennifer Bodine, Scott Hotaling

All Current Publications

Including more geothermal energy in Utah's energy mix would help address issues of concern for many Utahns: poor air quality, climate change, and the need to support renewable energy research. Geothermal energy, heat from within the Earth, is a renewable energy source that can provide flexible, baseload electricity––like coal or natural gas––but without the climate-warming and polluting effects. This fact sheet provides information about geothermal energy, generating electricity from geothermal energy, and current geothermal projects in Utah.

Geothermal Energy In Utah: A Safe Technology With Limited Environmental Impacts, Joseph Harding, Kendall Becker, Logan Mitchell, Jennifer Bodine, Scott Hotaling

All Current Publications

Geothermal energy has the potential to transform Utah’s electricity landscape, driving a future with improved air quality, lower carbon emissions, and fewer environmental impacts. In this fact sheet, we provide an overview of geothermal energy and its potential environmental implications in Utah. We highlight that recent geothermal projects in Utah do not use fresh water and that new well designs are expected to reduce the consumption of salty, brackish water. If these efforts are successful, geothermal energy would have lower water consumption, reduced seismic risk, and a similarly low land-use footprint compared to fossil fuel sources of electricity.

An Ensemble Learning-Based Approach To Quantify Post-Earthquake Functional Recovery Of A Steel Moment-Resisting Frame Inventory, Mohsen Zaker Esteghamati, Shiva Baddipalli

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The quest for seismic resiliency requires designing for performance objectives beyond life safety. Functional recovery is an emerging objective often defined as the time required to restore a building’s basic functionality to the pre-event level. Nevertheless, quantifying functional recovery is a complex, computationally intensive process that is challenging to integrate into a standard design workflow. This study develops a machine learning (ML) model to map design and geometric features of steel special moment-resisting frames (SMRFs) to their functional recovery under two hazard levels: design-basis (DBE) and maximum considered (MCE) earthquakes. First, functional recovery time was quantified for an inventory of …

Childcare: What Utahns Need To Know, Brie Sparks, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Research shows Utah families struggle to find childcare that is accessible, affordable, and high-quality. Costs are high, yet childcare workers earn far below sustainable wages, creating an imbalance that makes it difficult for providers to stay open and for families to find care. As a result, many parents reduce work hours or leave the workforce, even though most households rely on two incomes. Limited childcare and preschool access also means many children miss critical learning opportunities for kindergarten readiness. Childcare is a critical issue Utahns must address to support family stability, strengthen the workforce, and promote positive outcomes for children …

The Roots Of Sexual Violence In Utah: A Framework For Understanding Harm, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Sexual violence in Utah is not an anomaly, a private tragedy, or the result of individual deviance. It is a patterned, predictable outcome of cultural norms, social systems, and power structures that shape how people understand gender, authority, and worth. Despite Utah’s reputation for strong families, close‑knit communities, and deep religious commitment, the state continues to report higher‑than‑national‑average rates of rape, child sexual abuse, and other forms of gender‑based harm. These realities demand a deeper understanding of why violence persists—and what can be done to prevent it.

This white paper synthesizes decades of national and international research, Utah‑specific data, and …

Emergency Action Plan: Home, Family, Pets, And Livestock, Kristin Black, Michael Pate, Callahan K. Adams

All Current Publications

This document is an emergency family action plan designed to help your entire household prepare for emergencies. It aligns with the Youth Emergency Preparedness and Animal Project Safety Program available through Utah State University (USU). It can be taught by FFA teachers, 4-H leaders, Extension faculty/staff, and afterschool program educators. The Emergency Action Plan is intended for youth to bring home, lead their families in completing the sections, and guide them in preparing for and practicing emergency preparedness.

Advocating For A Care-Based Ethic: Stories Of Pregnancy And Birth From Caregivers Of Children With Down Syndrome, Lydia Ocasio-Stoutenburg, Nayma Sultana Mim

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Down syndrome (DS) impacts about 1 in every 640 childbirths in the United States. While quality of life has improved for people with DS, systemic inequities and deficit-based perceptions have persisted throughout history, with material impacts on people with DS and their caregivers. Researchers have documented how caregivers of children with DS have had negative experiences with healthcare providers and genetic counselors, whose biased views about DS translate into subtle and overt pressures. Few studies explicitly focus on the experiences of Caregivers of Color, multilingual families, as well as families with varying economic experiences who have children with DS. This …

An Ai Perspective On Counseling Supervision, Emily A. Brinck, James L. Soldner, Hung Jen Kuo, Scott A. Sabella, Trenton J. Landon, Charles P. Bernacchio, Elizabeth A. Boland

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

The increased use of technology-assisted distance counseling practices is one result of COVID’s impact on behavioral health, including in counselor education and the delivery of supervision. First, technology-assisted distance supervision needed for “real time” communication grew. Furthermore, there is an emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that have the potential to contribute to aspects of supervision; however, current evidence remains emerging, context-dependent, and at times mixed, warranting cautious interpretation of their effectiveness. The article offers an overview of using AI in clinical supervision, examines the benefits and potential concerns of AI from different perspectives, and considers the significance of using …

Single Mothers: What Utahns Need To Know, Brie Sparks, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Single mothers represent a significant and growing share of families in Utah and across the United States, yet they face distinct structural, economic, and social challenges that impact both family well-being and broader community outcomes. While single mothers play a critical role as primary caregivers and contributors to the workforce, data show that they are disproportionately affected by poverty, barriers to education, employment instability, and mental health challenges. At the same time, research has found that when systems, policies, and communities effectively support parents raising children alone, outcomes improve for families as well as for the long-term strength of the …

Colostrum Management For Dairy Calves: Key Practices For Calf Health And Performance, Drew Swartz, Jacob Hadfield, Kalen Taylor, Maggi Mathews

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides practical recommendations for dairy producers to improve colostrum management and support calf health and performance.

Ucedd Innovations Lead To Idd Networks’ Driving Change: Envision, Empower, Employ, Suzzanne Freeze, Jean Winsor, Brittany M. Powers, Amy Huppi

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

State systems responsible for administering employment services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) must acclimate to changing demands, address new regulations, and continue to meet needs in an era of high workforce turnover and uncertain funding. While improvements have been made across the U.S., there are still far too many individuals seeking meaningful employment and contributory roles in the community who are not supported to achieve those goals. A key success factor is providing publicly funded state systems with the information needed to strategically pivot toward priorities and ensure smooth transitions of organizational change. Our country’s …

Sexual Harassment: What Utahns Need To Know, Brie Sparks, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination are ongoing challenges that affect individuals, workplaces, and communities across Utah. When individuals experience harassment, unfair treatment, or marginalization due to gender, their sense of safety, confidence, and self-worth are diminished. These experiences disproportionately impact women, particularly in settings where they are underrepresented or face unequal power dynamics. Addressing these issues requires a shared commitment to creating respectful environments that support the well-being and success of all Utahns.

Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola Enucleator) Exhibit Collective Vocal Behavior During Foraging Bouts, Stefani A. Crabtree, Thomas J. Crabtree

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Pine Grosbeaks (Pinicola enucleator) are boreal finches whose winter ecology and social behavior remain only sporadically documented due to their remote distributions and irruptive dispersions. From 18 December 2023 to 6 March 2024, we conducted repeated daily observations of a flock of up to twelve P. Enucleator occupying a temporary wintering range in an urban neighborhood in Oregon. During these observations, we documented a previously undescribed collective vocalization associated with feeding. Comparison with 2674 archived Pine Grosbeak recordings from major bioacoustic repositories revealed that no clear matches between our recording and archives could be established. The low amplitude …

Independent Living Skills For The Aging Population Of Adults With Disabilities, Sara K. Fetter Otd, Otr, Jennifer L. Martin Otd, Otr, Cht, Clt, Michele L. Mccarroll Phd, Faacvpr, Acsm-Ccep, Ccrp, Lssbb

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Adults with intellectual disability (ID) are living longer and increasingly outlive family caregivers. Strengthening independent living and vocational skills has therefore become a critical public-health priority. Occupational therapy (OT) can address this need through person-centered, community-based programming. This paper describes the co-design, delivery, and preliminary outcomes of a short occupation-based curriculum intended to enhance autonomy and work readiness in aging adults with ID. In partnership with a Dallas, Texas nonprofit, the authors conducted a needs assessment and created an 8-session course rooted in the Independent Living Model and the Occupational Competence Model. The curriculum addressed four domains (physical health, financial …