American Institution Of Public, K-12 Education: An Institutional Field Under A Complexity Paradigm, Jennifer Jean Joyalle

Dissertations and Theses

Institutional fields serve as foundational bedrocks that shape and govern behaviors, norms, and practices within distinct domains of societal and organizational interactions. The emergence of machine learning and the ability to manipulate large datasets offer researchers and decision makers the potential ability to model and visualize the behavior associated with institutional fields.

This proof of concept provides an example of visualizing the changing conditions in the institutional field of public K-12 education in America as a topology. By interweaving three primary strands of theory -- institutional fields, complexity in the guise of complex adaptive systems as a paradigm, and paradigms …

How Black Artists Are Helping To Destigmatize Mental Health Through Music, Ashley Reed

Capstones

Recent studies show that there are still stigmas and barriers preventing Black people from seeking and receiving mental health treatment. Music has historically been used as a safe outlet for Black artists to express both their internal and external struggles while also providing a space for Black listeners to address their own. In recent years, more Black musical artists are opening up about their mental health struggles through their music in hopes to help destigmatize mental health treatment in Black communities.

The Rise Of The Recap: How Recapping Changed The Game Of Television Criticism, Caroline S. Handel

Capstones

This Capstone project examines how recapping developed into a unique, legitimate genre of television criticism. It examines the difference between recaps, which function as overnight or episodic reviews of each installment of a television show, and traditional television reviews that analyzes a season of a television show as a singular unit. The project explores how television--and television recaps--provide community to those who want to engage in immersive, detailed discussions of their favorite television shows with other like-minded fans. Additionally, the Capstone goes into who gets to set the rules of discourse between television fans and television recappers in terms of …

Hoops Recruitment: Can Nyc Regain Glory Days With “Theprogramnyc”?, Christian I. Nazario

Capstones

TheProgramNYC is looking to revitalize the Basketball scene in New York City. Founders Jared Effron and Griffin Taylor grew up together as friends and saw the failures of the New York Knicks in the nineties. Effron and Taylor made it there goal to train the youth in order to recreate thew New York Basketball scene.The article details some history of New York City Basketball.

Preserving Caribbean Culture Through Dance: Featuring The Trinidadian Dance Troupe, Zante — Sesame Flyers Intl., Aaliyah T. Fisher

Capstones

During Labor Day Weekend in New York City, millions of people from all over the world travel to Brooklyn to highlight and celebrate Caribbean-American culture. This capstone project explores the way one dance troupe, Zante, who specializes in traditional dance styles from the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago, fights to preserve their culture by way of sharing it with an outside audience.

LINK TO CAPSTONE PROJECT: https://medium.com/@aaliyah.fisher08/preserving-caribbean-culture-through-dance-featuring-the-trinidadian-dance-troupe-zante-sesame-00bc1fc7656a

From Doormats To Three-Dimensions: The Evolution Of Female Characters In Anime’S Action Genre, Sajina Shrestha

Capstones

Strong female characters have always been an outlier and not the trend in the action genre of anime. However, new writers are bringing fleshed-out female characters to the forefront, making for better viewing.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p3FROe7uFQNNTR0rwrnwlTlmXzqpvqCvQotshTUZMxs/edit?usp=sharing

A Silent New Threat To The Trans Community: The Unregulated Use Of Ai Without Public Consent Raises Ethical Concerns, Eduardo Salazar Uribe

Capstones

Abstract:

The unregulated use of artificial intelligence (AI) without public consent has raised ethical concerns, particularly affecting marginalized communities such as transgender individuals. This project, based on interviews with 34 transgender people, explores the impact of AI on historically marginalized minorities, emphasizing the urgent need for an ethical and legal framework. This research reveals instances of discrimination and challenges faced by transgender individuals at various stages, from border control to airport security, highlighting the limitations and biases of AI in recognizing diverse gender identities. Trans rights activists, and AI experts remark the importance of inclusivity in AI development and regulation. …

Dodge The Fall: A Newborn Fall Prevention Initiative, Shirley B. Varela

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: There has been a rise in In-hospital newborn falls following evidence-based practices such as breastfeeding and rooming that promote mother and baby bonding (Karlsson et al., (2021). U.S. hospitals have approximately 600 to 1,600 newborn falls annually (The Joint Commission [TJC], 2018).

Context: A San Francisco Bay hospital with a postpartum unit experienced three newborn falls as of 2023. The level III neonatal intensive care unit is a high-risk obstetric facility with more than 3,000 births annually. It comprises 21 hospital beds: 10 on the postpartum and 11 on the antepartum floors.

Intervention: Developing and implementing the “Pledge Form …

School Weigh-Ins Are Dreaded. They Also Don’T Work., Amanda G. Salazar

Capstones

Schools across the country have been screening their students for Body Mass Index for decades, based on the assumption that telling families about a student's weight would promote weight loss. Years of research has shown that BMI screenings don't actually have any impact on weight, but instead can be harmful to students' mental and emotional wellbeing. These harms can last for years into the future, in some cases. So, why are BMI screenings still such a common practice?https://schoolbmiscreenings.weebly.com/

Wave-Ing Away Stereotypes: The Rise Of Black Surfers, John J. Schilling Iii

Capstones

This article examines the growing prominence of Black surfers with a specific focus on Lou Harris of the Black Surfing Association East Coast Chapter in Rockaway Beach, New York. While the sport remains white male-dominated, a 2022 report from the Surf Industry Members Association and ActionWatch show that surfing has experienced a surge in diversity over the last decade with an increase in the number of Black surfers, female surfers and other surfers of color nationwide. In exploring this phenomenon, this article includes the historical background of Black people’s connection to the sport, dating back to enslaved Africans’ complicated interactions …

Understanding And Navigating Asylum In Nyc, Divya Murthy

Capstones

Between September 2022 and December 2023, I worked with the community of grassroots volunteers and organizations in New York helping alleviate the impact of the asylum-seeker crisis in the city. My work is a combination of reporting on the crisis through articles, video and audio as well as an application of engagement journalism techniques, like callouts, joining community groups and sustained conversations with community members.

Link: https://medium.com/@divyamurthy/understanding-and-navigating-asylum-in-nyc-646ab96d0ac1

New York’S Unclear Evacuation Plans Have Rockaway Feeling Abandoned, Michael Matteo

Capstones

This project examines the emergency messaging New York City provides in event of a major coastal storm and mandated evacuation. In the Rockaways, a part of NYC hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy, some members of the community find the information lacking and feel there's no real plan to evacuate them in an emergency. This growing rift between what the community feels it needs and what the city provides is interrogated, especially as climate change increases the risk of another life-altering storm coming to New York City.

Link to capstone project: https://medium.com/@michael.matteo00/new-yorks-unclear-evacuation-plans-have-rockaway-feeling-abandoned-d652bb060c91

Data Journalism Portfolio, Mrinalini Nayak

Capstones

I'm a data-driven business and economics reporter based in Manhattan, New York, with 16 months of graduate school experience. Through this program, not only did I learn that data analysis is at the core of most investigative projects in today's world, but I developed the confidence to back my reporting with data. Suppose you, like me, have felt like your voice as a journalist could be encouraged by solid proof in the form of data, ranging from salaries for public servants to energy units required to run large language models. In that case, you only need to learn Python for …

Ai’S Next Frontier — Dermatology? How It May Help Close The Health Gap For Dark-Skinned Patients, Gretchen B. Smail

Capstones

This project examines how engineers are creating artificial intelligence systems to help with dermatology diagnosis. Researchers believe that these systems can help close the health care gap in lower income and Black and brown communities, but dermatologists of color worry that these systems are not being trained to recognize skin conditions on patients of color.

Short Documentary: "Masha, Where Is Your Home?", Anastasiia Bilous

Capstones

Life post-invasion and we are on a happiness search – Post-war life – and we are on a happiness search.

Anna and Masha, a 31-year-old mother and her very mobile 3-year-old daughter left their beloved Ukraine 30 days after the Russian invasion with one goal — protect Masha (and if possible, also her childhood). They left their whole world, grandparets, extended family, a vast social network of friends, former classmates and colleagues – carrying only two napsacks and a suitcase. Fortunately they have an American sponsor in Florida, who at 70 years of age might be an opportunistic lech. Iinternationally …

Postpartum Depression Speaks Out: Encouraging The Creation And/Or Improvement Of Postpartum Depression Resources Through First-Person Audio Interviews., Zakiyyah N. Woods

Capstones

For my practicum I conducted audio interviews with mothers with a history of postpartum depression and shared portions of their stories on an online platform. The goal: for community leaders to hear the stories and become inspired to create or improve postpartum depression resources for their community-at-large. Also, for families dealing with postpartum depression to feel less alone through hearing the voices of others who have gone through the same as themselves and become encouraged to speak up and seek help from resources that are available to them.

Erasing Race, Emily Swanson

Capstones

Since the murder of George Floyd, the Minneapolis Police Department has increasingly lagged in its reporting of race data.

Dodge The Fall: A Newborn Fall Prevention Initiative, Linda Nguyen

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: In the past year, three separate newborn fall incidents occurred on the postpartum unit at Hospital X. This project aims to increase nurse-to-patient education on newborn fall prevention, thereby reducing the number of newborn falls on the unit.

Context: This quality improvement project was implemented on the postpartum unit at a hospital located in San Francisco County. At this hospital, the postpartum unit consists of 10 beds in postpartum and 11 beds in antepartum. Currently, there is no standardized method used by registered nurses to prevent newborn falls.

Intervention: The requirement for mothers to sign the Pledge Form for …

Implementation Of A Community Health Worker (Chw) Training Program To Improve Birth Outcomes, Emiko Maruri

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background

Those who have been affected by any adverse childhood experience (ACE) have an increased likelihood of poor birth outcomes. These include low infant birth weight, preterm delivery and can even lead to pregnancy loss.

Problem

Latina women have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as those most affected by ACEs. Further evidence supports those affected by 2 or more ACEs have poor birth outcomes.

Context

For this project, The Save the Children organization in partnership with the University of San Francisco Doctorate of Nursing Practice (USF DNP) students and Community Health Workers (CHWs) of the Central …

Implementation Of Implicit Bias Training In A Doctor Of Nurse Practitioner Program, Macdana Selecon

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Implicit bias in healthcare delivery refers to the unconscious mental associations healthcare providers make about patients from various social groups. Numerous studies suggest implicit bias contributes to health disparities primarily amongst marginalized groups. Furthermore, patients report a lower quality of communication from healthcare providers with higher implicit racial bias. In 2021, Assembly Bill 1407 (Nurses: Implicit Bias Courses Act) was passed to address the negative impact of bias on patient outcomes and requires California nursing schools to provide implicit bias training for nursing students.

Problem: All graduate nursing programs do not provide implicit bias (IB) training. As a result, …

Give Love With Lovenox: Improving Nurse Education On Lovenox Prophylaxis To Reduce Pulmonary Embolism Risk On The Postpartum Unit, Jennifer G. Domingo Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project aims to improve nurse education about Lovenox prophylaxis to reduce the risk of pulmonary emboli – post-discharge – amongst high-risk postpartum women who underwent vaginal and cesarean deliveries on the family baby unit. This project took place in a Family Baby/Postpartum Unit at Hospital SC. This unit has a total of 25 beds with an increased prevalence of pulmonary embolism following cesarean delivery. Nurses were given anonymous pre- and post-survey questionnaires and provided educational sessions with distributed handouts. A unit needs assessment was conducted using the 5 P’s. Out of the 72 nurses on the staff …

Improving Education On Preeclampsia With Non-Severe Features And Frequency Of Assessment Among Nurses In The Maternal-Child Postpartum Unit, Alyssa J. Willsher

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: This Quality Improvement (QI) project aims to improve preeclampsia education among nurses and reduce the frequency of preeclampsia assessments among patients(without severe features) (SF) in the Mother-Baby postpartum unit at Hospital A. Nurses often stated that patients are unable to have uninterrupted rest periods with frequent assessments, which research shows is necessary for reducing patient blood pressure.

Context: The QI project is implemented in a 25-bed postpartum unit that cares for women and their newborns in the postpartum period. The unit’s nurse educator and nurse manager requested that the visiting University of San Francisco research group focus on simplifying …

Digital Literacy For Older Adult English Language Learners, Talley Caruso

Master's Projects and Capstones

When essential services transition to digital platforms, individuals with limited digital proficiency, immigrant English Language Learners (ELLs), and older adults aged 65 and above face challenges accessing these resources, leading to potential exclusion.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to online interactions and services due to lockdown measures, reducing face-to-face interactions. This sudden transition left individuals without digital skills unable to access healthcare, essential services, and maintain connections with their support networks. Addressing this issue presents an opportunity to promote inclusivity, empowerment, and community engagement through targeted digital literacy training.

Digital literacy encompasses the ability to navigate technology such as …

The Impact Of An Educational Cooking Class On Inflammatory Potential Of Diet In Cancer Survivors, Mariah K. Jackson

Theses & Dissertations

Cancer survivors face long-term effects from cancer treatments, with cognitive dysfunction being an important, yet understudied, consequence of cancer treatment. Inflammation is a proposed mechanism for impaired cognition status. As research demonstrates diet is associated with both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects, diet may represent a novel strategy to mitigate cognitive decline in cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to 1) quantify the impact of an educational cooking class on inflammatory potential of diet (measured by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII)) in cancer survivors and 2) determine the relationship between dietary changes and cognitive function in cancer survivors. Dietary …

Don't Look Away, Joseph V. Lingad

Capstones

Don’t Look Away follows 35-year-old Corey who has lived with a facial difference as long as he can remember. He wants to find love, he wants to move out of his childhood home, he wants to get his first book published and he'd love to get a job writing for the WWE (World Wide Wrestling Federation). Don’t Look Away explores how his unique look has affected his ability to live “a normal life” and challenges viewers not to judge a book by its cover.

Clean Energy Transition Threatens Indigenous Land Rights, Jonnathan M. Pulla

Capstones

Indigenous communities in Jujuy, Argentina are protesting a constitutional reform that could lead to their displacement without consultation or exposure to contamination from extractive projects. The story is told from the perspective of Milagros Lamas, a 19-year-old indigenous woman who joined the movement known as the Third Malón de la Paz.

Childcare License Not Necessary, Jean C. Brannum

Capstones

Most childcare centers need a license to operate, but many states have loopholes that allow fitness center daycares to forego traditional licensing. The variation in rules lets some kids play in dangerous situations.

Keeping It Real: The Evolution Of The Black American Sitcom, Ebony E. Prescod

Capstones

The image of the black person has undergone many iterations in American popular culture. From the mammy of post antebellum America, to blaxploitation, to the black upper class -- what it next for the representation of black people in popular media, especially as it is now being helmed by black creatives. What does the black American of the 2020s look like? Now, what does it look like to be true to the black experience, today?

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-KpHMb37_khYkOmlR6-gEPGEHLVZA4ND7HwNwhdz6ig/edit?usp=sharing

Marisa Kalil-Barrino Final Project, Marisa G. Kalil-Barrino

Capstones

Around the world, Black and Brown fashion designers are underrepresented in the media and fashion industry. Often, fast fashion companies like Shein, Zara, and H&M imitate or steal designs from Black and Brown designers who handcraft their clothes while factories mass produce them. Marisa Kalil-Barrino created 1202 Magazine, an arts and culture publication highlighting emerging artists, events, and concepts, especially her community, Black and Brown fashion designers.

For The Love Of Culture, Shanaé Harte

Capstones

‘For the Love of Culture’ explores the lives of people who moved to America from the Caribbean or have immigrant roots, but use different methods to preserve their cultures from their homes. These stories will be told by immigrants and family members of immigrants.

https://shanaeharte.wixsite.com/website/capstone-project