Digital Commons Network^™

The Broken System Of Child Care: A Workforce In Crisis, Lynn M. Ouellette

M.S. in Leadership

Child care is a business system that does not work to support its sustainability. The biggest issue facing the industry is the lack of ability to pay its workforce competitively. Literature suggests that child care has always faced workforce challenges and suffered from low wages and benefits. This project looks at the history of child care and the issues that have plagued the industry since the beginning. Reasons for these problems include inability to charge the true cost of care, lack of business and state federal leaders understanding and support, and the lack of societal change in how early education …

Winter Commencement, 2024, Marshall University

Marshall University Commencement

Program for the Commencement of Marshall University, Saturday, December 14, 2024 held at the Mountain Health Arena in Huntington, West Virginia.

The Helpfulness Of Accommodations From The Perspective Of College Students With Disabilities, Jana Zhu

Honors Theses

This research study aimed to determine the helpfulness of support services at the Accessibility Resources Center (ARC) at the University of New Haven (UNH) from the point of view of college students who were affiliated with ARC. Students were recruited by the researcher, who reached out to the ARC director by email and met with the director in person. The ARC director sent out a survey to the students using the ARC email list. The survey consisted of 17 questions and used a combination of Likert Scale questions as well as open-ended questions. The results showed that some students found …

Humanizing The Mexican Migrant, April Guevara Espinoza

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

Given the past election season and craze about the “immigration crisis,” it is of paramount importance to reflect on how and why migrants, particularly Mexican migrants, are positioned as “less than” in our society. Immigration is more than a political platform issue; it concerns real people whose real lives are affected. Mexican migrants are used as political scapegoats for any and all issues in the United States whether it be increased crime rates, a lack of available jobs, or overall poor economic conditions. They are dangerously mischaracterized and stereotyped as “criminals” and “national security threats.” These labels are inextricably tied …

Earned Wage Access: A Loan By Any Other Name?, Matthew Johnson

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

Over the past decade, a new financial product called earned wage access (EWA) has emerged and is being marketed to workers. These products allow workers to access wages they have already earned but have not yet received in a paycheck, usually incurring a fee for the advance. While the companies selling these products claim to financially empower workers who live paycheck to paycheck, consumer advocates have noted EWA’s concerning similarities to payday lending. As EWA use has proliferated, regulators have begun addressing it head on. The primary debate is whether to consider these products loans subject to federal and state …

2024 Commencement Program - Fall, Morehead State University. Registrar's Office.

Morehead State Commencement Programs

2025 Spring Commencement program for Morehead State University.

2024 Fall - Commencement Program, Office Of The Registrar, East Tennessee State University

ETSU Commencement Ceremonies and Programs

No abstract provided.

Facilitators And Barriers For Occupational Therapy Using Ayres Sensory Integration® (Ot-Asi) For School-Aged Autistic Students: Special Education Team Perspectives, Brooke E. Loughery, Ms, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: Occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration® (OT-ASI) is an evidence-based approach that addresses sensory integration differences to support participation for autistic students in daily occupations, including education (Hume et al., 2021; Schaaf & Mailloux, 2015). However, its evidence for its use in school-based practice is still emerging (Whiting et. al., 2023; Whiting et al., 2025). A recent study showed that occupational therapists feel this approach is valuable and are interested in using it in schools (Cerase McKeon et al., 2024), but more information is needed to explore teacher and school administrators’ perception of its use.

Objectives: To explore the …

Development And Content Validation Of A Social-Emotional Learning Workshop Series For Teachers Of Preschool English Language Learners And Newcomers From The Middle East, Linda M. Lilly, Otd, Mot, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

The United States is the destination for many individuals to take refuge from the Middle East (Arab American Institute Foundation, 2021; Shryock & Abraham, 2000). Many of the refugees and immigrants (newcomers) have fled war and political oppression (Mossad, 2016; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2016), and thus may be at higher risk of developing adverse mental health outcomes (Mawani, 2014). Core stressors related to the newcomer status for many students in a metro-Detroit public school district can contribute to the overall mental health needs and interfere with performance in the educational setting. Social-emotional learning (SEL) programs are a typical …

Susan And Sam Westhoff, Interview, 2024, Micah Bookout

Oral Histories

Throughout 2024, the city of Ann Arbor celebrated its 200th anniversary with community events, festivals, and art displays that highlighted its rich culture and history. To cap off the celebrations, in December 2024 the EMU Center for Oral History Research invited community members to Skyline High School to share what makes Ann Arbor special. In this interview, Susan and Sam Westhoff talk about family and growing up in Ann Arbor, the city's rich natural landscape, and trips to the Kerrytown Farmer's Market.

Andre Andersen And Scott King, Interview, 2024, Alexis Braun Marks

Oral Histories

Throughout 2024, the city of Ann Arbor celebrated its 200th anniversary with community events, festivals, and art displays that highlighted its rich culture and history. To cap off the celebrations, in December 2024 the EMU Center for Oral History Research invited community members to Skyline High School to share what makes Ann Arbor special. In this interview, Scott King and Andre Andersen talk about moving to and living in Ann Arbor, the things they look forward to outside of UMich Football, and what they believe the AAPD's role to be in the city.

Liz Nowland-Margolis, Interview, 2024, Micah Bookout

Oral Histories

Throughout 2024, the city of Ann Arbor celebrated its 200th anniversary with community events, festivals, and art displays that highlighted its rich culture and history. To cap off the celebrations, in December 2024 the EMU Center for Oral History Research invited community members to Skyline High School to share what makes Ann Arbor special. In this interview, Liz Nowland-Margolis talks about growing up in Ann Arbor, learning about her family's history, and community involvement.

Jeremy Wheeler, Interview, 2024, Micah Bookout

Oral Histories

Throughout 2024, the city of Ann Arbor celebrated its 200th anniversary with community events, festivals, and art displays that highlighted its rich culture and history. To cap off the celebrations, in December 2024 the EMU Center for Oral History Research invited community members to Skyline High School to share what makes Ann Arbor special. In this interview, Jeremy Wheeler talks about working with local businesses and orgs as an artist, the types of people who make up Ann Arbor, and the types of worries that come with rising prices.

Paul Conway, Interview, 2024, Alexis Braun Marks

Oral Histories

Throughout 2024, the city of Ann Arbor celebrated its 200th anniversary with community events, festivals, and art displays that highlighted its rich culture and history. To cap off the celebrations, in December 2024 the EMU Center for Oral History Research invited community members to Skyline High School to share what makes Ann Arbor special. In this interview, Paul Conway shares the story of how he made his way to Ann Arbor, attending and then working at the University of Michigan, and the challenges of a growing college and a growing city.

Experiences With Crisis And Resilience In Education In Emergencies: Voices And Lenses Of Teachers In Nicaragua, Anita De Anda

Doctorate in Education

This interpretive phenomenological study illustrated how a group of primary school teachers in Nicaragua used ontological values to orient their experiences and negotiations of a destabilizing socio-political crisis compounded by COVID-19. Set within a framework of education in emergencies, this study employed short-term ethnographic methods and trauma-informed principles to explore the dynamic and interconnected domains and relationships during collective duress, and the organic resilience that emerged to preserve core priorities. A history of collective adversity, weak systems, and political hegemony made the nation vulnerable to cycles of emergency while leaving recovery up to individuals, families, and communities. As a result, …

Dental Hygiene Programs’ Use Of Oral Health Literacy Techniques For Special Needs Patients And Caregivers, Socorro D. Tejeda Diaz

Dental Hygiene ETDs

This study examined oral health literacy communication techniques in dental hygiene programs across the U.S. for special needs patients and their caregivers. The study surveyed 46 U.S. dental hygiene program directors on communication techniques, degrees offered, and subject areas. Two-sample t-tests compared differences in communication techniques between AAS and BAS and subject areas. Most respondents routinely employed printed materials with 2 or 3 concepts, speak slowly, and simple language. When comparing the variances in communication techniques offered in AAS and BAS, we observed a t-statistic of 2.06 with a corresponding p-value of 0.54. This suggests that the mean communication techniques …

Does Physician-Hospital Vertical Integration Affect Hospital Output?, Soumya Upadhyay, Neeraj Bhandari

Healthcare Administration and Policy Faculty Research

Background: Physician-hospital vertical integration is gaining steam but it is unclear how they affect hospital output.

Objective: To examine the direct impact of vertical integration on hospital output.

Design: A pooled design with 6-year data using linear regressions was used. Then, panel data design with hospital fixed effects was used.

Methods: We linked American Hospital Association data (2016-2021) with AHRQ Comparative Health System Performance Initiative’s Compendium (2018, 2020, 2021; 34 987 hospital-year observations) to develop new measures of vertical integration and assess its relationship with several measures of hospital output including annualized total admissions, total number of inpatients days, …

A Puerto Rico For Whom? Race, Neglect, And Empire, Ediberto Román, Ernesto Sagás

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

This article examines the persistent colonial relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico, highlighting the paradox of a nation that champions democracy while maintaining colonial rule over millions of disenfranchised citizens. Over 120 years of exploitation, neglect, and subordination have shaped Puerto Rico’s status as the largest U.S. territory, where residents live in stark inequality compared to those on the mainland. Despite the veneer of sovereignty created by the U.S. through legal frameworks, Puerto Rico exemplifies a sophisticated and undemocratic form of modern colonialism, recently termed "new legal colonialism." This approach uses legal structures to maintain economic and strategic …

The Promise Of Lived Experience: Assessing Race And Merit After Sffa, Taonga Leslie, Claire Comey

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

70 years after Brown, students of color remain underrepresented in U.S. colleges and universities and in professions like law, medicine, business, and academia, which, in turn, drives inequitable social and economic outcomes. Recent Supreme Court decisions threaten to further exacerbate this inequity by preventing schools from considering race when making admissions decisions and shaping their classes. This article contends that by placing greater emphasis on applicants’ experiences of race, admissions officers can more accurately assess merit, improve services to disadvantaged communities, and achieve the pedagogical benefits of diversity. The article situates the lived experience approach within a well-established tradition permitting …

“All They Did Was Change The Name”: Evaluating Reforms To Solitary Confinement, Laura Mcfeely

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

In the last decade, the United States has seen a wave of efforts to greatly reduce or eliminate the use of solitary confinement. In the light of growing international recognition that such treatment amounts to torture, these efforts are certainly encouraging and have contributed to a reduction of the number of people held in long-term isolation. But it is worthwhile to examine the extent of these reforms and what solitary confinement now looks like in states that have implemented such changes.

A robust literature exists on the harms of solitary confinement and ideas for reforming or eliminating its use. This …

Grip Strength As An Indicator Of Neuromuscular Recovery, Emily Wilhelm

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Purpose: To evaluate whether grip strength accurately tracks recovery from lower-body exercise comparable to other physical tests and a blood biomarker. Methods: Six subjects (three males and three females) completed testing for estimated 1-RM, jump squat velocity, grip strength, creatine kinase and leg extension peak torque one day prior to a fatiguing session of 10 sets of squats for 10 repetitions at 60% of estimated 1-RM. Each of these tests, as well as ratings of muscular soreness were performed again 24, 48 and 72 hours after the session of squats. Results: For peak torque, the 24 hours (129.5± 35.0 …

Exploring Teacher Pathway Programs: The Importance Of High School Students’ Perspectives, Mackenzie C. Kasgorgis

Honors College Theses

This thesis explores and investigates the effectiveness of teacher pathway programs for high school students interested in education. The aim is to find and discuss the importance of teacher pathway programs and how they benefit the participants involved. This paper intertwines my analysis of the extant scholarly literature and my use of qualitative research methods during my immersion in two summer programs. Through participant observations and a survey, I gained insights into the participants’ perspectives that provided me with raw, unbiased views and opinions on the teacher pathway program. Student participants’ perspectives include the experiences they faced during the program, …

Rational Design Of Nanoparticles For Overcoming Barriers Of Nucleic Acid Delivery: Applications In Cancer Therapeutics, Angelea M. Maestas-Olguin

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

The use of exogenous nucleic acid technologies to modulate aberrant protein expression resulting from genetic mutations is a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of diseases such as cancer. The promise of nucleic-based therapeutics is dependent on the development of platforms that effectively protect nucleic acids from nuclease degradation and deliver the nucleic acids to specific intracellular locations (nucleus or cytosol) of target cells. The application of nanotechnology for development of nucleic acid-based nanomedicines is poised to revolutionize the clinical landscape of cancer. In this dissertation, I demonstrated the rational design, synthesis and evaluation of a lipid coated mesoporous silica …

Use Of The Erector Spinae Plane Block As An Option For Perioperative Pain Management In Cardiac And Thoracic Surgical Patients: An Educational Model, Hillary Nogradi

Doctoral Projects

Problem Statement: Cardiothoracic surgical patients are at increased risk for inadequate pain control in the perioperative period due to a significant level of surgical pain and limitations in multimodal pain management. A strong level of evidence supports use of the erector spinae plane block (ESPB) over thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) and thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) in cardiothoracic surgery; however, adoption of this technique into practice is lacking.

Purpose: The primary project aim was to increase knowledge and awareness of ESPB in nurse anesthetists.

Methods: An educational intervention along with pre- and post-testing were utilized to assess for change in participants’ …

Raising Awareness Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Critical Care And Emergency Department Nurses, Caroline Kincaid, Logan Larkey

Doctoral Projects

Problem Statement: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are experiencing increasing rates of symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), particularly after the collective trauma many nurses experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses are often unaware of this problem and are underdiagnosed which can negatively impact their health and the quality of healthcare.

Purpose: Implement and determine the effect of an educational intervention to increase awareness and symptom recognition of PTSD among high-risk acute care nurses.

Methods: An outcome evaluation approach using a pretest-posttest design was used with an educational intervention that provided information on PTSD including high-risk groups, symptoms, and protective factors.

Sample: …

The Re-Presentation And Mis-Re-Presentation Of The “Indigenous Woman” Throughout Mexico’S Colonial And Early Independence Periods (1521–1830), Alejandra Daosiri Rodriguez

Art & Art History ETDs

This research examines the visual and textual representations of Indigenous women in colonial New Spain and early independent Mexico (1521–1830), revealing how these images evolved alongside dynamic colonial political, social, and cultural shifts. Through an analysis of codices, portraits, and other material culture, this study demonstrates how colonial authorities, artists, and patrons manipulated these depictions to serve wider colonial agendas, from evangelization to social stratification. These representations often used Indigenous women as symbols, rather than as individual subjects, to reinforce hierarchical colonial structures, shape racial and gender identities, and support efforts to ‘civilize’ the native population. By focusing on pivotal …

High-Dose Psilocybin Reduces Depressive Symptoms In Patients With Major Depressive Disorder, Brandon Lien, Jason A. Mckechnie

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Protective Role Of Breastfeeding Against Postpartum Depression, Aysha Paxman, Claire Jansen

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

No abstract provided.

Semaglutide For Weight Reduction In Non-Diabetic Adults With Overweight And Obesity, Kaela Fiutak, Maite Velazquez Hernandez

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

No abstract provided.

A Constitution Of The Earth, To Save Humanity, Luigi Ferrajoli

Buffalo Law Review

Humanity is facing one of the most dramatic moments in its history. There are several global challenges and problems that are not part of the political agenda of national governments, even though their solution is crucial for the survival of humanity.