Digital Commons Network^™

Ahimsa: Finding Unity And Nonviolence In Instruction, Dylan Mcglothlin

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Publications

This chapter describes the connectedness of emergent strategy and the practice of ahimsa, and how these philosophies can be applied to information literacy instruction. It provides a brief definition of yoga, the yamas, and ahimsa; describes the connections between ahimsa and the emergent strategy element of interdependence and decentralization; and shows information literacy instruction examples from the connections between ahimsa and the emergent strategy principles of "trust the people," "there is always enough time for the right work," "move at the speed of trust," and "there is a conversation in the room that only these people at this moment can …

An Attachment Perspective For Help-Seeking Intentions Among Emerging Adult Women Child Sexual Abuse Survivors, Dominique Giroux

Dissertations

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is an adverse childhood experience and a global health issue. Approximately one in four girls encounter CSA per year. Research evidence suggests approximately 50% of CSA survivors encounter sexual revictimization during adulthood (Walker & Wamser-Nanney, 2023), but formal help and intervention can mitigate further psychosocial harm experienced by CSA survivors (Widom et al., 2008). Attachment theory has provided a theoretical framework for identifying individuals at risk for revictimization and help-seeking patterns, such that individuals who have insecure attachment styles report more revictimization frequency, but the literature is mixed about attachment styles and help-seeking (Brenner et al., …

Exploring How Therapist Trainees’ Mentalization, Attachment Styles, And The Working Alliance Impact Treatment Outcomes In Psychotherapy, Hanali Gilbert

Dissertations

A burgeoning area of research within the past 30 years has sought to identify which specific therapist factors contribute to differential treatment outcomes (Barkham et al., 2017). The purpose of the current naturalistic study was to explore how two personal characteristics of therapist trainees, mentalization capacity and attachment styles, impact early treatment outcomes at two Midwestern psychology training clinics. This study also examined whether therapist mentalization and the working alliance interacted to influence client outcomes. Therapists completed the Mentalization Scale (MentS; Dimitrijević et al., 2018) and the Experiences in Close Relationships scale (ECR; Brennan et al., 1998), while the Working …

Navigating Future Careers And Life Purpose: The Effect Of Artificial Intelligence Experiences On Undergraduate Students At A Liberal Arts College, Shannon Kelly Schans

Dissertations

This interpretive phenomenological analysis examines how 13 undergraduate students at a liberal arts college construct meaning from their experiences with artificial intelligence technologies in relation to their career development and life purpose. Guided by an integrated theoretical framework combining Career Construction Theory (Savickas, 2012, 2013) and Transformative Learning Theory (Mezirow, 1991, 2000), the study addresses three research questions: how students describe their AI experiences across educational contexts, what connections they make between those experiences and their developing professional identities, and how they integrate AI experiences into broader narratives about work and purpose.

Data are collected through phenomenological interviews with 13 …

Effectiveness Of Monetary Policy Communication: Evidence From Textual Analysis Of Daily Newspaper Articles, Bisrat Abebe Woldesilassie

Dissertations

Monetary policy communication has become a crucial tool for central banks to shape market expectations and enhance transparency. The goal of this paper is to measure how effectively the Fed communicates monetary policy through FOMC minutes by analyzing the impact of the release of FOMC minutes on financial markets through textual sentiment analysis of daily newspaper articles. I measure the surprise in the daily news sentiment that is caused by FOMC minutes release. The surprise in the sentiment is calculated as the change in the news sentiment that is measured over three weeks prior to the release of the FOMC …

Deployment-Aware Deep Learning For Computer Vision: Efficient Architectures From 3d Segmentation To Mixed Reality, Bahar Uddin Mahmud

Dissertations

Deep learning has become the dominant approach for solving vision-centric problems; however, its successful deployment in real-world applications remains limited by high computational cost, data dependency, and insufficient integration with practical and human-centered environments. While state-of-the art deep learning models often achieve impressive performance in controlled settings, they frequently fail to generalize or operate efficiently under deployment constraints such as limited resources, complex data modalities, and real-time interaction requirements. These limitations motivate the need for a deployment-oriented deep learning framework that balances accuracy, efficiency, and practical usability.

This dissertation investigates the design and deployment of efficient deep learning architectures for …

Predicting Clinical Outcomes Of Non-Specific Low Back Pain By Studying The Interaction Of Clinical And Demographic Factors Of A Retrospective Data Set, Erica Michelle Fernandes

Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to investigate demographic factors, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), race, marital status, insurance type, severity of disease (initial pain level), and clinical factors such as number of visits (no. of visits) at physical therapy (PT), length of time at PT and the type of clinician either physical therapist versus physical therapy assistant (PTA), that most predict PT clinical outcomes in patients with nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) and see if there is an interaction between demographic and clinical variables.

Methods

The current study is a retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study using secondary electronic …

Strategies For Extending The Service Life Of Prestressed Concrete I-Shaped Beams, Sanjoy Kumar Bhowmik

Dissertations

Prestressed concrete (PSC) I-shaped beams are widely used in bridge construction because of their structural efficiency and durability. The service life of these beams is reduced and the maintenance frequency is increased due to the distress during fabrication and subsequent deterioration. Although several mitigation strategies have been proposed and implemented, beam end cracking during fabrication remains a major concern. The causes and mitigation strategies for beam end cracking have been studied for decades, but there have been no comprehensive studies utilizing beam end strains during fabrication and lifting at prefabrication plants under normal operational conditions. Moreover, existing maintenance and repair …

Personal And High-Intensity Gait Factors Associated With Balance And Walking Improvement With Outpatient Stroke Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Study, Heather Staal

Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between personal factors and High-Intensity Gait variables and balance and walking improvement in an outpatient stroke population.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, with persistent gait and balance impairments commonly limiting independence and participation. High-intensity gait training (HIGT) is an evidence-based rehabilitation approach that improves walking outcomes following stroke; however, guidance on how specific training variables are applied in outpatient physical therapy settings remains broad.

Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzes clinical data from outpatient physical therapy episodes in which HIGT is a …

Walking The Path Of Conocimiento: Understanding And Navigating Workplace Conflict Through A Chicana Feminist Lens, Elisa A. Ortega-Schultz

Dissertations

The growing presence of Latinas in the U.S. workforce underscores the need for deeper understanding of their workplace experiences. Latinas represent one of the fastest growing segments of the labor force; however, research consistently shows that this growth is not matched by equitable access to leadership, compensation, or culturally responsive workplace environments. Latinas continue to experience persistent barriers related to pay inequity, career advancement, cultural belonging, and overall well-being.

Conflict frameworks that account for the unique experiences of Latinas are needed, as dominant approaches rooted in neutrality, procedural efficiency, and Western individualism often fail to account for the embodied, relational, …

Quantum And Conventional Informatics Studies Of Synthesis Energetics And Defect Formation In Nitride Crystal Epitaxy, Andrew Steven Messecar

Dissertations

Machine learning is a valuable approach for the processing and analysis of complex information. By estimating relationships from recorded data, machine learning methodologies can be effective strategies for pattern recognition, enabling investigations and technological applications based thereon. The potential for improved understanding of high-dimensional data has drawn interest towards machine learning from across the sciences, including the research and development of new and improved material systems. In the context of experimental materials research, much of the reported efforts to incorporate machine learning into conventional practice have been primarily focused on either the enhanced analysis of characterization experiment data or the …

Attachment Style, The Working Alliance, And Client Self-Disclosure In Individual Psychotherapy, Jennifer S. Baar

Dissertations

Client self-disclosure is a core component of the psychotherapy process and increased levels of client self-disclosure have been shown to predict more positive therapeutic outcomes (Pattee & Farber, 2008; Sloan & Kahn, 2005). Similarly, the working alliance and attachment are constructs that have been studied in psychotherapy research and are consistently associated with therapeutic outcomes. Specifically, stronger working alliance ratings and higher levels of secure attachment have been found to predict more positive therapy outcomes (e.g., Flückiger et al., 2018; Mallinckrodt et al., 2005; Sauer et al., 2010). As these three constructs have been found to influence psychotherapy outcomes, the …

Evaluation Associations As Catalysts For The Professionalization Of Evaluation Practice: A Comparative Case Study Of Brazil, Ghana, Indonesia And Uganda, Amy C. Jersild

Dissertations

Professional associations are recognized as key actors in promoting the development of the evaluation field across the globe. There has been exponential growth of Voluntary Organizations for the Professionalization of Evaluation (VOPEs) in the Global South in the past several decades in response to an evolving international aid agenda and a mobilized international evaluation field intent on supporting the development of national monitoring and evaluation systems and the professionalization of the field. VOPEs have featured as a central actor in the Global Evaluation Agenda, an initiative developed by the international community aimed to promote professionalization of the evaluation field as …

From Total Domination To Graph Coloring, Sawyer Isaac Osborn

Dissertations

A question involving a chess piece called a prince on the 8×8 chessboard leads to a concept in graph theory involving total domination. We say a vertex u in a graph G totally dominates a vertex v if u is adjacent to v. A subset S of the vertex set of a graph G is a total dominating set for G if every vertex in G is totally dominated by at least one vertex of S. If S is a total dominating set of G, then σ_S(v) denotes the number of …

Reduced Product Type Monoid-Module Extensions, Darryl Jent

Dissertations

In 1955, I. M. James introduced the James Construction, a free topological monoid that models the loops on the suspension of a given space. In 1969, S. Y. Husseini generalized this idea to RPT monoids: topological monoids with a free-like monoid structure that can be used to model a broader class of loop spaces. In order to prove that these topological monoids are models of loop spaces, both I. M. James and S. Y. Husseini constructed contractible spaces on which these topological monoids act. We define a topological module as a space equipped with an action by a topological monoid. …

Medieval Writings On Sex Between Men. Peter Damian’S “The Book Of Gomorrah” And Alain De Lille’S “The Plaint Of Nature,” By David Rollo, Kersti Francis

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

The Reality Of Aging In Rural Kenya, Kim Van Drunen

Interior Design Capstones

Kenya’s elderly population is growing, but access to professional eldercare is still limited, especially in rural areas. Most retirement homes and care facilities are in urban centers, leaving many rural communities without reliable support for older adults. This capstone project focuses on designing an Outreach Center for Elder Support in rural Kenya to improve access to healthcare, community services, and social activities. The goal of this project is to create a safe, comfortable, and easy-to-use environment for older adults. The design uses human-centered principles with clear layouts, wide circulation paths, accessible restrooms, and comfortable seating. Spaces such as waiting areas, …

Redesigning The Welcome, Lauren Ogrin

Interior Design Capstones

Airports serve as the first and last impression of a city, yet they are often remembered by stress, sensory overload, and a lack of cultural representation. This project explores how storytelling can be intentionally integrated into airport design to improve the overall human experience and create a more meaningful sense of welcome. Through the frameworks of user-centered inquiry, phenomenology, and narrative design, this research examines how materials, spatial sequences, sensory cues, and cultural narratives can influence traveler emotions, cognitive clarity, and feelings of belonging. By understanding how people move through and interpret transitional public spaces, this project proposes design strategies …

Perceived Campus Safety And Psychological Flexibility As Moderators Of Posttraumatic Stress And Anxiety Following Indirect Exposure To School Gun Violence, Samara Trout

Honors Theses

The growing prevalence of gun violence in school settings within the United States, combined with extensive media coverage of these events, has heightened concerns regarding the psychological impact of indirect trauma exposure among students. The present study examined associations between indirect exposure to gun-based school violence and symptoms of posttraumatic stress and anxiety among undergraduate students at Western Michigan University (WMU). A secondary aim was to explore whether perceived safety and psychological flexibility/inflexibility moderated associations between indirect exposure and psychological distress. Using a cross-sectional correlational design, undergraduate students (N = 33) completed a self-report survey containing screening assessments, attention …

What Better Means: A Full-Length Album By Fake Baseball, Maggie Heeren

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Assessing Tourism-Induced Impacts In Communities Around The Indiana Dunes National Park, Charles James Kovacs

Masters Theses

This project aims to examine the effects of the tourism industry in and around a new National Park within the United States’ National Park system (NPS). The Indiana Dunes National Park (IDNP) received National Park designation in 2019. The park, situated on the south shore of Lake Michigan, is a roughly fifty-minute drive east of Chicago. This project seeks to ask and answer how the tourism industry has grown and continues to impact the lives of residents near the IDNP. Two communities, Michigan City and Chesterton, serve as the primary study areas along with the park itself. Qualitative methods, centered …

Haunted By A Cheap Ghost: Objects As Identity, Caitlin Zachow

Masters Theses

I am haunted by a cheap ghost, surrounded by inherited memories that are not my own, preserved in heirlooms that leave little room for me to create souvenirs of my own experience. In response, my practice centers on the personal significance of collections as outward expressions of identity, personality, and lived experience. Rooted in themes of Midwestern Americana, this exhibition presents narrative tableaus and curated collections that examine how personal identity is constructed through objects of memory, and display.

Informed by research into the history of kitsch, Sigmund Freud’s concept of the uncanny, and the “outmoded,” my work considers how …

Is Design A Form Of Caregiving?, Sidney Jordan

Interior Design Capstones

This thesis challenges the traditional hierarchy of clinical architecture, which historically prioritizes patient outcomes while overlooking the practitioner’s human experience. By investigating whether environmental design can act as a form of caregiving, this research addresses the critical gap between the physiological demands of healthcare labor and the holistic needs of the people performing it. The project argues that burnout is not just a result of high-stakes medicine, but is actively produced by physical layouts and a workplace culture that treats providers as parts of a machine rather than valued individuals. The methodological framework utilizes a tri-layered approach to bridge the …

Designing For Emotion: Reframing The Design Of Cancer Care Environments Through A Cinematic Lens, Alexis Booher

Interior Design Capstones

This capstone explores how cinematic design principles and techniques can inform interior design to shape spaces that support emotional well-being and human connection. Focusing on cancer care spaces, the project addresses the inherently emotional nature of these environments, where emotional impact is often underemphasized in traditional healthcare design, highlighting a critical gap this project aims to address. Drawing from cinema and environmental psychology, this project analyzes how film constructs emotional experiences through visual techniques and translates these principles into the built environment in order to prioritize emotionally supportive design within cancer care spaces. The outcome demonstrates the potential of reframing …

Design For Death, Serena Domsic

Interior Design Capstones

Although cemeteries are the eternal final resting places for countless souls, the design and purpose of burial grounds are often rudimentary and their impact has turned obsolete throughout the years. Cemeteries have become forgotten in the community landscape and are perceived as sinister and morbid through the eyes of modern American culture. Because encounters with death have dwindled for most of the population, many people ignore developing their beliefs about death and how to cope with loss until they are in the midst of emotional distress. This capstone project proposes an enhanced cemetery design that engages the community so individuals …

Unity In Design: Life As An Immigrant In The Built Environment, Julia Sainz

Interior Design Capstones

In the United States, Latinx immigrant communities often face social and systemic challenges that contribute to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and displacement. While the built environment plays a critical role in shaping emotional and social well-being, architectural and interior design practices frequently overlook the lived experiences and cultural identities of these populations. This study explores how culturally responsive and participatory design strategies can foster safety, access, and empowerment for Latinx immigrants. By examining the intersection of migration, identity, and the built environment, this project proposes design as a tool for community resilience, cultural expression, and holistic well-being.

Where Do We Go: Rethinking Public Libraries, Emma Jouppi

Interior Design Capstones

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors contributing to the decline in public library visits and to identify practical strategies for increasing community engagement with library spaces. Public libraries have long served as accessible, inclusive environments for learning, technology access, and social connection. However, recent years have shown a decline in visitation, raising important questions about public perception, awareness, and accessibility. This research seeks to better understand how these factors intersect and what can be done to strengthen the role of libraries as vital third spaces within their communities.

This study aims to bridge the gap between …

Spring 2026 Title Of Blueprints For The Mind: How The Design Of Public Built Environment Impacts The Mental Health Of Youth, Faith Holton

Interior Design Capstones

Blueprints for the Mind investigates how public built environments influence the mental health of youth, with attention to rising rates of anxiety, depression. Through a multidisciplinary approach bridging environmental psychology, public health, interior architecture, and usercentered design, this project identifies the environmental factors shaping young people’s emotional well-being. Findings reveal that sensory conditions such as lighting, acoustics, layout, materiality, and predictability directly affect youth comfort, focus, and emotional regulation. Field research with students (ages 13–15) and an expert interview with licensed social worker Carmen Ortega-Cline further demonstrate that overstimulating, crowded, or unclear environments heighten stress, while semi-private, naturally lit, and …

Through The Lens Of Zoology, Madalyn Haun

Interior Design Capstones

Current zoo and sanctuary models often fail to meet the complex psychological, behavioral, and spatial needs of endangered and rehabilitated wildlife, resulting in chronic stress and welfare compromises. Beyond the Cage presents a transformation approach to zoological design, shifting the paradigm from entertainment-based displays to a “welfare-first” philosophy. This book argues that effective captive care requires expansive, species-appropriate habitats that facilitate natural behaviors, rather than merely simulating natural aesthetics. Through the lens of modern zoology, this work explores the implementation of groundbreaking exhibit re-creation, focusing on habitat enlargement, precise climate change control, and innovative environmental enrichment. A central pillar of …

Designing Across Generations: Bridging The Gap Through Ecclesiastical Architecture, Aurora Thompson

Interior Design Capstones

The purpose of this capstone project is to develop an intergenerational worship environment that reinforces a sense of unity and harmony among the generations through intentional design strategies. This work addresses the widening generational gap within religious communities and responds to the growing departure of younger generations who often feel unseen or disconnected within traditional church settings. By integrating generational preferences into the architectural and experiential components of the worship space, the project seeks to create an environment where all age groups feel represented, valued, and spiritually engaged. Situated within the context of increasing religious disaffiliation, this project highlights the …