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2024-2025 Program And Abstracts Celebration Of Student Scholarship, Morehead State University. Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program.

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The 2024-2025 Program and Abstracts for the Celebration of Student Scholarship at Morehead State University held on April 16, 2025. A Showcase of Student Research, Scholarship, Creative Work, and Performance Arts.

Does Childhood Exposure To Substance Use Correlate To Adult Substance Use?, Hannah Jones, Monica Himes

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Children who have grown up around parents or caregivers who use substances face hardships, attachment issues, trauma, and genetics that may cause future use of substances. Twenty-five to seventy-five percent of substance abusers have experienced trauma or abuse (Carmona, 2022). Many studies showed the awareness of parental substance abuse and how it affects their children. The focus of this study is to bring awareness to how substance abuse affects children. It may lead to future substance use or mental health concerns.

Religion/Spirituality And Substance Use, Jaiden Mckenzie, Monica Himes

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The purpose of this study was to see if there is a significant correlation between a person’s religion or spirituality and their use of substances. In this study, substances can be considered alcohol, marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms, acid, tobacco/ nicotine, and any other unprescribed substance. • The Research Question for this study was: Does religion/ spirituality affect the use of substances? • The Hypothesis for this study was: Someone who is religiously or spiritually affiliated is less likely to use substances than someone who isn’t religiously or spiritually affiliated

First Generation College Students: Challenges And Rewards, Tabitha Houston, Jennifer Mcwhorter, Lynn Geurin

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

First-generation college students are defined as those whose parents do not hold a bachelor's degree or higher. • There is a 73% higher dropout rate among first generation college students compared to their peers from legacy families (Davis, 2024). • Key factors impacting first-generation students include self-image, academic performance, and financial security (Flynn & Macleod, 2015). • Lack of sufficient support can lead to serious mental health problems for first-generation students (Johnson & Riley, 2021). • Academic programs specifically designed for first generation students have been shown to increase retention and graduation rates (Katrevich & Arguete, 2017). • A study …

Systemic Strain: Evaluating The Effects Of The Opioid Crisis On Social Service And Treatment Agencies In Appalachian Kentucky, Alma Selina Moreno, Monica Himes

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The opioid epidemic has caused profound and lasting damage to communities all around America, with rural areas like Appalachian Kentucky experiencing disproportionate harm. Due to a lack of resources and transportation options, as well as workforce shortages and pervasive stigma related to substance use disorder, social service and treatment networks in these regions are overwhelmed (Hansen & Netherland, 2016; Keyes et al., 2014). This study examines the longer-term impacts of the opioid epidemic on social service and treatment agencies in Appalachian Kentucky. Data were collected via an online survey (n=73) of social service providers in the region. The study's findings …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Emotional Well-Being And Addiction, Joshua Croucher, James Allen Pauley-Baker, Lynn Geurin

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) include abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction, such as domestic violence, parental addiction, and mental health issues (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). ▪ Most adults (60%) have experienced at least one ACE per lifetime in the United States. ▪ Rates in Kentucky are high with 64% of the population having a history of multiple ACEs (Kentucky Department for Public Health, 2016). ▪ Research links ACEs to increased risks of mental health issues (e.g., depression, anxiety) and substance use disorders in adulthood (Kobrinsky & Siedlecki, 2023; Lu et al., 2007; He et al., 2022).

The Connection Between Poverty, Social Empathy, And Experiential Learning, Juniper Taulbee, Rebecca Davison

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

In the original research of Dr. Davison, she explored the question of how experiential learning influences the social empathy levels and educational practice of public-school educators. While the research showed an increase in social empathy, it also showed interesting trends that were not accounted for in the original hypothesis, such as a decrease in social empathy scoring for male participants and differences in scoring based on lived experience with poverty. Our purpose now is to analyze these differences in empathy scoring and theorize what it may imply about life circumstances, empathy, and the limits of learning.

Analysis Of The Tennessee Covenant Marriage, Lucy C. Spivey

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Most recent data from the World Population Review suggests that Tennessee’s divorce rate (3.3% per 1,000 people) is among the highest divorce rates in the country (2024). Although the country and state average rate has decreased in the past five years, many Tennesseans are concerned at the number of failed marriages. House Bill 0315, introduced by Republican Representative Gino Bulso, is a result of this growing concern. House Bill 0315, better known as the “Tennessee Covenant Marriage Act,” aims to strengthen Tennessee marriages by limiting divorce options for couples and requiring a premarital counseling course (Jenkins, 2025). Proponents of this …

A Daily Diary Study To Investigate Self-Compassion And Loneliness: Implications For Students And Connection, Elizabeth S. Wells

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Understanding self-compassion is essential for psychologists seeking to address mental health concerns, particularly among students and young adults. Loneliness, which refers to the perceived quality rather than the quantity of relationships, has a significant impact on the well-being and social connections of adolescents and young adults (Bluth et al., 2017; Holt-Lunstad, 2017; Office of the Surgeon General, 2023, May; Taylor et al., 2023). Daily self-compassion practices may help alleviate loneliness, foster a sense of belonging, reduce feelings of exclusion, and improve individual well-being and overall school climate (Baker & McNulty, 2011; Bluth et al., 2022; Liu et al., 2020; Neff, …

The Impact Of Belonging On Tennessee's Infant And Early Childhood Mental Health Workforce And Their Intent To Stay, Keena Denise Friday

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Many infant and early childhood mental health organizations are facing difficulties retaining professionals to provide high-quality services to infants, young children, and families in Tennessee. When professionals do not experience consistent and responsive connections and healthy interpersonal relationships, they are often prepared to seek alternative employment, which can disrupt the relationships and services they provide to families. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact that a sense of belonging has on an infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) professional’s intent to stay in their role and its associations with the perception of organizational belonging, psychological safety, …

Household Composition And Its Influence On Youth Mental Health And Violence Outcomes: A Systematic Review, Comparative Analysis, And National Survey Findings, Clarion Jamil Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Youth mental health and violence have emerged as critical public health concerns, with increasing rates of anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and youth violence in recent years. Household composition plays a crucial role in shaping child mental health outcomes, yet research has largely focused on single-parent and stepparent households, with limited attention to grandparent-headed households. This dissertation explores the relationship between household composition and child mental health, with a particular focus on anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and experiences with violence. Using data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) 2018-2019 and 2021-2022 (n=53,267), this research employs logistic regression models to …

2025 Sfa Undergraduate Research Conference, Honors, School Of

Undergraduate Research Conference

Event Program for the 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) at SFASU.

Analyzing The Special Supplemental Nutrition For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic) In Texas, Misty Ledesma

Undergraduate Research Conference

This research explores food insecurity and how WIC addresses nutritional risks in Texas. It examines past and present efforts, policy gaps, and potential improvements to enhance WIC's effectiveness.

Stress And Public Criminal Defense: Comparing Male And Female Defender Experiences And Coping Strategies, Alisa M. Smith

Idaho Law Review

Little research has focused on stress and coping strategies among public defenders, and none compares the experiences of male and female defenders. As frontline workers, critical to the due process of law, understanding and eradicating stress is essential to their well-being and the fair treatment of defendants. Employing thematic analysis of public defenders’ responses to open-ended questions, this study found gendered differences in how male and female defenders described their work motivations, challenges, and strategies for dealing with stress. Both male and female public defenders confront the stresses of injustice and heavy workloads. Female defenders, however, are more likely to …

Assessment Of Interprofessional Education Competencies: Evaluation Of A New Tool To Assess Sensitivity To Changes Across Training, Anthony J. Goreczny Ph.D., Jodi Schreiber, Melissa L. Bednarek, Mary Dee Fisher, Susan Hawkins, Susan Sterrett, Mark Hertweck

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The Interprofessional Education Collaborative introduced specific competencies for interprofessional education to meet the growing need for interprofessional care. These four competencies include teams and teamwork, communication, roles and responsibilities, and values and ethics. With this introduction, a need has emerged for the development of a tool to assess interprofessional proficiency among students in health professions training programs and to evaluate whether such a tool is sensitive to changes in competency as students participate in specific training initiatives. Method: A tool was developed (Interprofessional Education Competency Scale - IPECS) based on the Interprofessional Education Collaborative Competencies and administered to students …

Early Childhood Educator Preparation, Exposure, And Perspectives Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Preschool Hispanic Populations, Karla C. Vidaurri, Ruth Crutchfield, Jessica R. Stewart

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose

With an increase in prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the Hispanic population, there is a crucial demand for early identification and servicing of individuals with ASD. Early childhood educators are one profession in the position to identify and provide services to individuals with ASD at an early age. The aim of this study was to explore early educators’ preparation, exposure, and perspectives of ASD specific to preschool Hispanic populations.

Method

A survey methodology was implemented to explore early childhood educators’ preparation, exposure, and perspectives of ASD. The anonymous survey consisted of 23 questions and statements that explored …

A Survey-Based Quantification Of Imposter Phenomenon In Occupational Therapy, Dina Prisco, Siobhan Walsh

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Imposter phenomenon is a professional issue that negatively affects health professionals’ performance and well-being. This study examined imposter phenomenon’s prevalence in occupational therapy (OT). Researchers hypothesized that imposter phenomenon is prevalent in OT, more so in underrepresented groups. The rate of imposter phenomenon throughout OT was quantified and rates between demographic groups compared.

Method: This study used an exploratory, survey-based research design. Survey sections included informed consent, demographics, and the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale (CIPS). The CIPS measured rates of imposterism. Analyses of variances and independent group t-tests were performed to identify significant differences between groups. Inclusion criteria …

The Intertextuality Of Father Camilo Torres Restrepo’S Academic Thinking And The Foundation Of The First Sociology Department In Colombia, Catalina Honsowetz

Master of Arts in Classical Studies

Abstract

The Intertextuality of Father Camilo Torres Restrepo’s Academic Thinking And The

Foundation Of The First Sociology Department in Colombia

Catalina Honsowetz

Southeastern University

Born ten years before the start of WWII, Father Camilo Torres Restrepo entered the world in Bogotá, Colombia, at a time riddled with poverty and violence. He belonged to a politically liberal family that never shied away from public service or controversy. Desiring also to serve, Camilo surprised his family and friends with a change in career after starting university. Father Torres abandoned the law to put on priestly robes, hoping to serve his neighbors most …

Themes Of Moral Injury In The Field Of Asl Interpreting, Samantha Michaelson

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

This research project explores connections between a moral injury framework and the recognition and mitigation of ethical stress and trauma experienced by ASL-English interpreters. I have employed strategies such as thick description, textual analysis, and a narrative synthesis of existing literature on moral injury and ethical stress in interpreting to arrive at my findings. The study explains Demand Control Schema (DCS) and the Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) as valuable tools for interpreters to discuss and address ethical stresses that arise in their work. Additionally, I examine the concept of role space and its relevance to the experience of ethical/moral …

Ucc Minutes 4-15-25, Angela Brock

UCC Agendas/Minutes

No abstract provided.

Approved Courses 4-15-25, Angela Brock

Individual Course Committee (ICC)

No abstract provided.

Icc Agenda 4-15-25, Angela Brock

Individual Course Committee (ICC)

No abstract provided.

Supporting Health Equity In Obesity Prevention For Women Of Reproductive Age, Amanda Gilbert

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Women of reproductive age (18-44 years) are at an increased risk of developing obesity due to pregnancy, stressors during this stage in the life course (e.g., leaving home, new jobs, parenthood), and historical and ongoing discrimination and marginalization. Preventing obesity for this population needs to be a public health priority. Obesity negatively affects women’s health (e.g., chronic disease, cancer); leads to poor pregnancy outcomes (e.g., gestational diabetes); and increases the risk children will develop obesity through intergenerational transmission of obesity, further entrenching health disparities for future generations. Health equity principles of social justice and human rights help obesity prevention researchers …

Introducing 'Society Work': The Professionalization And Localization Of Chinese Social Work In A New Era, Ke Cui, Timothy Sim, Chenxi Huang, Bowen Mcbeath

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study focuses on current discussions around the newly-built Society Work Department in China. It argues that ‘society work’ helps to clarify the internationally recognized concept of ‘social work’ and this institutional reform promotes development of the social work profession and discipline, it also helps to decolonize social work in China.

38. Protest 2025. United Faculty [Article]

LGBTQIA+ Archive Class Projects

Citation: NI Staff. (2025, April 9). United Faculty cements opposition to higher education bills in statement. Northern Iowan, 3.

The Shorthorn: January 13, 1942

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1940s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: November 11, 1941

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1940s

No abstract provided.

Transforming Futures Through Speculative Ypar: The Garage Story, Allison Joann Lester, Eden Kadosh, Atlas Suarez, Abigail Rubinstein

Occasional Paper Series

The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions for young people across the U.S., exacerbating feelings of isolation and disconnection. In response, the [Youth] Think Tank—a paid Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) internship—was launched in [city name]. Teens from diverse backgrounds came together to address the issues they and their peers were facing. This article chronicles the journey of the [Youth] Think Tank through each phase of its YPAR project, following the design process step-by-step as the group developed The [Hub]: a youth-designed space that fosters connection, safety, and belonging within the community. Starting from the program's inception, we trace how the teens …

Social Imagining In “Youth Taking Action:” Documenting Immigrating And Settling Through A Hybrid Youth Participatory Action Research Project, Natacha Monestel Mora, Julia Iriarte, Jennifer A. Vadeboncoeur, Sediqa Temori, Mathias Abraha

Occasional Paper Series

This paper is a memoir of our experiences with Youth Taking Action (YTA), a YPAR program that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. YTA, a collaborative effort organized by a non-profit based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, provided a space for 6 newcomer youths and 4 immigrant adults to engage in active dialogue. Through these conversations, we explored stories of immigration and settlement, identified barriers that limit opportunities for young newcomers and discussed possible actions to address these issues. The youth also learned documentary filmmaking techniques, which helped them collect data and generate more dialogue. This process revealed that linguistic …

The Hill We Climb: A Mixed Methods Exploration Of Stress And Depression In A Community Sample, Akilah Collins-Anderson

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

While research on Black mental health has increased over the past decade, there remain strides to make with regard to the investigation of the relationship between stress and depression among Black Americans. For decades, stress process scholars have documented that negative, adverse experiences have consequences for mental health conditions, such as depression. Stress process theory predicts that greater exposure to stressors and limited access to coping resources increase the risk of poor mental health. Therefore, socially disadvantaged groups such as Black Americans would be expected to be at great risk of mental health conditions due to previous exposure to stressors. …