Digital Commons Network^™

"The Revolutionary Act Of Love": How Black Women In Interracial Marriages Are Reshaping America, Whytni H. Kernodle

Capstones

This capstone explores the transformative power of interracial marriages between Black women and white men, examining how these unions challenge entrenched systems of racial and gender oppression while fostering spaces of equity, kinship, and resilience. Anchored by historical milestones such as Loving v. Virginia, the work situates these relationships within broader struggles for autonomy and freedom. Through the stories of contemporary couples, it highlights the complex dynamics of love, allyship, and identity in the face of systemic biases. The narrative emphasizes that these partnerships are not merely personal choices but deliberate acts of resistance and reimagination, inspiring societal transformation. …

A Home Is A Human Right: Homelessness In Sacramento, Alexa Renée Colvin

Master's Projects and Capstones

Homelessness is a public health crisis in California and needs to be addressed. Homelessness directly impacts health outcomes through increased barriers of care and unmet needs. It affects people in all walks of life, but the risk of experiencing homelessness increases within marginalized communities. The solution to end homelessness is not straightforward, and requires collaboration across federal, state, and local organizations. A literature review was conducted to understand what the homelessness crisis looks like broadly in California, and more specifically in Sacramento, and create informed recommendations. This literature found that implementing a structured and collaborative housing first approach is a …

Travel English For Japanese Third Age Learners: A Communicative Model, Yoshiko Okamura

Master's Projects and Capstones

The goal of this curriculum project is to effectively develop the English communicative skills of a small group of Japanese third age English language learners. The term, third age learners (TALs), represents learners who are generally in their mid-60s through early 80s, retired, healthy, active, and motivated to learn something new. When it comes to English language learning strategies, one size does not fit all. An effective curriculum must be built on the theories and approaches that fit the specific needs of the target learners. The first three chapters of this project report describe the theories, approaches, and methods applied …

Connecting Through Screens: A Case Study On Student Engagement In Online Esol Classes In The Post Pandemic Era, Meral Kacar

Master's Theses

The sudden shift to emergency online education during the global pandemic affected various academic fields, including English language teaching. While many schools faced challenges, some successfully implemented online educational programs. Despite the large impact of the global pandemic on education, there is limited research that examines the effectiveness of online ESOL programs with a focus on the key factors that contribute to student engagement. This thesis explores the factors contributing to effective online ESOL instruction, focusing on fostering engagement and improving teaching practices in the post-pandemic era. The study for this thesis employs an instrumental case study methodology, focusing on …

The Impact Of Customer Capital On Enhancing The Work Environment: An Analytical Study At Rafidain Bank, Anbar And Fallujah Branches, Saif Hamad Al-Ani, Amer Fadous Al-Lami

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: This research works to achieve several goals, perhaps the most prominent of which is diagnosing the extent of the bank under study’s interest in applying customer capital and the work environment within it and exploiting the relationship that brings together the variables. Theoretical Framework: Based on what the researchers (Zahedi and Lapierre) mentioned, this study addresses the lack of use of marketing intelligence tools, the lack of investment in information technology, the lack of continuous updating of data, and keeping pace with developments in the external environment. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study analyzed data in banks between the Anbar and Fallujah …

Fsu Winter Commencement December 13, 2024, Fayetteville State University

Graduation Exhibit

Program for Fayetteville State University Winter Commencement December 13, 2024

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Harry L. Williams, President & CEO of Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Effects Of A Snap-Ed Social Marketing Campaign On Behavior Change, Andrew Beall Cole

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: This research studied the use of a social marketing campaign to address chronic diseases in the U.S., such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases by assessing audience self-reported actions and evaluating message framing effects on participant intentions to change nutrition behavior and daily physical activity. Approach: Evaluate a social marketing campaign for effects on SNAP-Ed eligible clients and research message framing effects on audience’s intention to change health behaviors. Discussion: The HappyHealthy social marketing campaign launched in 2018 by Mississippi State University Extension. Outcome evaluation data (collected 2023) reported multiple correlations between core messages recalled and increased …

The Digital Divide Among Urban University Students In The Post-Pandemic Era, J. B. Oleet

Theses and Dissertations

This survey study, N = 44 university students, from an urban campus, measured post-pandemic digital divide perceptions, focusing on motivational, physical, skills, and usage access to ICTs through the lens of van Dijk’s resources and appropriation theory. Statistical tests, including one-sample t-tests, correlation analyses, one-way and repeated measure ANOVAs, and independent sample t-tests, highlighted both the perceptions and relationships among different dimensions of digital divides. The findings showed that participants perceive their post-pandemic digital divide perceptions positively. Intrinsic Motivational Access (IMA) mean scores were particularly high, suggesting a strong internal drive among students to engage with ICTs, significantly surpassing extrinsic …

Applied Behavior Analysis: Perspectives Of Mississippi Students Before They Enter The Educational Behavioral Consulting Field, Lauren Ashley Besong

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes how prospective Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) professionals are enculturated through their educational pathways at one public university in Mississippi. I surveyed 24 current and prior students of the ABA program, as well as interviewed 1 prior and 10 current ABA students. Findings captured their perceptions of the field they are entering, through their experiences within the program. Results found that the ABA field appears to be split in a dual identity, existing in both educational and clinical spaces. Results showed that external perceptions of the institution viewed the ABA program as more clinical, while the students were …

How Do Religious Women Cope With Marital Conflict And Hardship? Article 2, Elizabeth M. Lyman, Loren D. Marks, David C. Dollahite, Chelom E. Leavitt, Tamara M. Chamberlain, Christina N. Cooper

Faculty Publications

Frequent and unresolved conflict is a significant relationship risk factor for divorce, but it has also been shown that religion strengthens marriages, specifically in ways that give direction and motivation for couples in resolving marital conflict or other marital hardships. Thus, a study of how successful religious couples resolve conflict is pertinent in helping us better understand how to strengthen marriages and families. Our qualitative study of 113 highly religious women of diverse faiths and races found that women’s perceived relationship or connection with God reportedly impacted conflict resolution and coping with marital hardship. Results suggest greater reconciliation and unity …

Nurse Educators' Perceptions Regarding Faculty Participation In University Governance, Janet J. Gross

Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify nurse educators' perceptions of faculty participation in university governance

Nurse Delegation Decision Making: Impact On Nurse Job Satisfaction, Lynn Carol Parsons

Dissertations

The purpose of this experimental study was to ascertain if a structured educational intervention (versus a mimic intervention) was followed by a statistically significant increase in nurse delegation decision making knowledge and nurse job satisfaction.

Assessing The Reach Of Health Access Resources In Indianapolis For Populations With Low Income, Kyler A. Casbon, Kai J. Gatting, Simran Nadig, Isabella K. Peckinpaugh, Alexandre A. Sauquet, Kourtney A. D. Byrd, Megan E. Conklin, Gicella Garcia, Mitchell L. Struewing, Omolola A. Adeoye-Olatunde

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Two public health crises that the United States are contending with are diabetes and the prevalence of opioid overdoses, both of which have a significant impact on communities nationwide. Inequities in social conditions contribute to health disparities amidst these diabetes and opioid overdose public health crises nationally and locally. To address these health inequities in Indianapolis, Indiana, the the Purdue University Center for Health Excellence, Quality and Innovation (CHEQI) shaped relationships through their CHAMP (Community Health Access Model Partnerships) services with local food pantries and homeless shelters, providing Indianapolis residents pre-diabetes screening and resources and convenient access to and education …

Toxic Waste Dumps And Intersectionality, Kaitlyn Vasilko

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Beginning in 2023, I started conducting environmental sociology research in Northwest Indiana communities because I wanted to apply what I had been learning in my sociology and behavioral science courses to real community problems. I that found toxic waste dumps (waste dumps that contain waste that is hazardous and require mandates established environmental regulations to ensure public safety) are disproportionately located in Northwest Indiana communities of color and poor whites, and I uncovered severe negative health effects that result from toxic waste dumps, in addition to the inequality faced by the populations impacted. I then conducted interviews in the community …

Promoting Cultural Belonging Through The Arts: Community Partner Snapshot Of Latino Art Midwest, Kayla Vasilko

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Kayla Vasilko just completed her Master’s degree in communication with a focus on semiotics and the impact of higher education on positive social change in the Purdue Graduate School and the PNW Department of Communication and Creative Arts. While earning her degree, she had the opportunity to complete a service-learning project to celebrate Spanish culture through the arts and work the community partner Latino Art Midwest. Latino Art Midwest works to promote understanding of the role of arts and creative expression among Midwestern Latina/o communities. Students can explore their site, “view the art, and interpret the unique qualities of Latina/o …

Profile Interview With Dr. Nadine Dolby, Ian Heinig, Nikhil Gloyeske

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

No abstract provided.

Wolf Park, Pawsing For Impactful Beginnings: The Role Of Community Engagement And Education In Service-Learning, John W. Robbins, Deniz Eksioglu, Kaushal Patel

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Our team’s endeavor, conducted under the guidance of Dr. Kristen Bellisario, encapsulates a service-learning journey with Wolf Park, a sanctuary dedicated to the conservation and research of wolves and wildlife. Through immersive experiences, community outreach, and collaborative partnerships, our team sought to amplify public understanding of wildlife conservation and inspire a sense of responsibility among participants. This essay examines the impact of our initiatives on both the community and ourselves, emphasizing the transformative potential of education, engagement, and community partnerships in effecting positive societal change. Our team advocates for sustained support for wildlife conservation efforts and underscore the necessity of …

Empowering Tech Professionals: Mentorship And Interview Preparation In The Face Of Industry Layoffs, Sakhi Aggrawal

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

In recent years, the Information Technology (IT) industry has witnessed significant turmoil, marked by waves of mass layoffs that have left numerous skilled professionals grappling with job loss and uncertainty. The year 2023 alone saw over 250,000 tech workers in U.S.-based companies lose their livelihoods due to corporate restructuring, with renowned giants like Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta being forced to trim their workforce. This unsettling trend highligts a pressing need to support those affected and empower them to regain stability in their careers.

Against this backdrop, I, an experienced technical program manager and software engineer with a background at …

Grafting Philosophy To The Tagalog Prefix Ka, Rainier A. Ibana

Kritika Kultura

This paper presents Filipino language as a tool in capturing the Filipino world view. By examining the Tagalog prefix “ka” as an accommodation of differences and opposition, this paper shows the infinite depth and breadth of Filipino’s capacity to absorb various kinds and levels of solidarity. This also analyzes the development of Filipino society by the way the prefix “ka” was used especially during the Philippine Revolution and its present-day significance.

Sidonians At Marisa (Maresha), Dalit Regev

'Atiqot

One of the most important epigraphical finds of ancient Idumea, which has led scholars to believe that a Sidonian/Phoenician community was present in Marisa during the Hellenistic period (fourth–second centuries BCE), is the well-known inscription uncovered at the site in 1905, reading “Apollophanes son of Sesmaios, Chief of the Sidonians at Marisa.” This inscription was discovered in a large, lavishly painted tomb in the city’s necropolis, allegedly supporting a presence of a Sidonian/Phoenician community in Marisa. Following a comprehensive examination of the material culture from Marisa vis-à-vis that of other Phoenician sites, this commonly-held assumption is put to question. Phoenician …

Support For Gay Marriage In Italy And Spain: Public Perceptions In The Context Of Legalization, Dana Conley

Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Showcase

In this paper factors that contribute to support for gay marriage are examined in two countries, Italy and Spain. Diffusion theory was applied to explore this idea. This research seeks to explore whether the legalization of gay marriage has an impact on the level of support for gay marriage in that country. Furthermore, this research is important to determine what factors contribute to shaping support for gay marriage. From there it may also be possible to identify where prejudices against gay marriage might come from. Personal attitudes towards support for gay marriage can vary due to a variety of factors. …

Michigan Academician, Volume 49, Issue 1

Michigan Academician

2024 Conference Abstracts

Women, Collective Creative Practice, And Community Health, Anne Hensley

Honors Theses

A growing body of research shows that art therapy yields positive outcomes for those experiencing stress and mood disorders. Creative arts therapies have been shown to lower cortisol, improve personal and universal outlook, decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, increase self-esteem and confidence, alleviate burnout, help individuals to cope with trauma, and support brain function through activity-dependent plasticity. However, little research has been done on collective and collaborative arts, and the enhanced benefits communal practice might bring. Additionally, art therapy is inaccessible to many, due to a dearth of practitioners and cultural and socioeconomic barriers to participation. Peri-, menopausal, and …

Why Law "Beyond The State" Need Not Be A Threat To Democratic Values, Paul Schiff Berman

Buffalo Law Review

Discussions of “law beyond the state” almost inevitably run into objections from those who believe that sub- or supranational legal orders necessarily subvert local democratic governance. Self-proclaimed populists and others express concern that the “will of the people” will be unduly subjected to the dictates of “cosmopolitan elites”1 or local factions, or corporate capture. These objections range across the political spectrum. Those on the right tend to focus on concerns that transnational orders will impose human rights or immigration rules on a national polity, while those on the left worry about trade regimes that might impose local labor or environmental …

Weapons, Warrior Burials And Agency In The Intermediate Bronze Age Southern Levant: Some Theoretical Observations, Naama Walzer, Yitzhak Paz

'Atiqot

The Intermediate Bronze Age (c. 2500–2000 BCE) is known for its abundance of formal cemeteries and various other types of burial sites. These comprise a substantial number of internments that contain metal artifacts, identified as weaponry and associated with warfare, and typically defined ‘warrior burials.’ In this paper, we discuss some theoretical issues concerning the identification and role of the so-called weapons, the ideology of warriors and warriorhood, and the mutual agency of objects and society during the Intermediate Bronze Age. Reference is made to examples and research in Europe, where similar patterns have been extensively studied. Through this examination, …

Volume 41-1 Complete Issue, C. Nicholas Raphael

The Geographical Bulletin

Volume 41-1 Complete Issue

Empowering Inner City Communities: Some Observations, Engdawork Desta

The Geographical Bulletin

The federal government's engagement in dealing with U.S. inner city concerns has been extensive although the results have not been satisfactory. In spite of repeated special considerations given to the problems, the lack of lasting solutions necessitated launching new urban empowerment zone and enterprise community projects in recent years. This paper reflects on the attempts made thus far to change inner city conditions and the inevitable challenges of development faced in market economies. Certain preliminary assessments are made with regard to the current Empowerment Zone project, using Baltimore city as an example.

Drinking Water Issues And Management In The Republic Of The Philippines, William James Smith, Jr

The Geographical Bulletin

Major drinking water issues and management schemes in the Republic of the Philippines are examined utilizing a political geographic perspective. By examining these issues and management schemes, administrators in developing countries, such as the Philippines, can provide more effective drinking water management for their citizens. Effective drinking water management is an essential building block in the foundation of sustainable development. This type of socio-political and economic research demonstrates the importance of equity in "safe" drinking water distribution, and the value of watershedbased and integrated natural resource management. The importance of recognizing the provision of safe drinking water as a human …

Book Review: Ai [Artificial Intelligence] Fundamentals For Business Leaders, Eya Mahouachi

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals for Business Leaders: Up to Date with Generative AI (Byte-sized Learning Book 1) is a recent book in a series of four on Artificial Intelligence. It is authored by I. Almeida, the Chief Transformation Officer at Now Next Later AI, an AI advisory, training, and publishing business that supports organizations with their AI strategy, transformation, and governance.

This book is organized around understanding AI, Data and Data Management, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Model Selection and Evaluation, and Generative AI. The last chapter incorporates an assignment for leaders. This book employs an effective approach to help readers grasp …

Islam Across Cultures: The International Islamic University Of Indonesia Through A Western Lens, Elizabeth Summerfield

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Since the September 11th tragedy in the United States, Islam has become associated with many in the West with unpredictable menace, a significant threat to the civilised order. This article presents a preliminary exploration of a counter narrative to that conception of Islam. Indonesian Islam challenges that common perception, even while it has also been the site of Islamic extremist violence. The big picture of Islam in Indonesia reveals a different story, one where such militancy is aberrant. It is not reflective of deep principles of Islam as it is practised by the vast majority of Indonesian Muslims. To take …