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Risk, Vulnerability, And Resilience In “Natural” Disasters: A Hurricane Katrina Case Study, Scarlett Oaks '25

Honor Scholar Theses

With the rapid rate of climate change, major weather events and natural disasters are predicted to become more commonplace. An understanding of the factors to a community’s economic and social rebuilding can foster resilience against future disasters, even with a changing climate and the slow implementation of climate policy. Hurricane Katrina caused billions of dollars in damages and nearly 2,000 casualties when the storm reached New Orleans in 2005. The lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina can inform resilience efforts and identify gaps in preparedness and protection. An investigation of the historical inequalities that persisted in New Orleans reveals that neoliberal …

A Message From The Editors, Vicki L. Reitenauer, Rhiannon M. Cates

Amplify: A Journal of Writing-as-Activism

An introduction from the founding co-editors to the third issue of Amplify: A Journal of Writing-as-Activism: Volume 3, Issue 1: Writing-as-Activism in a Time of Destruction.

The Promethean Promise: Understanding And Responding To The Educational Aspirations Of Black People In The Us, Seventy Years After Brown, Joaquín M.S. Noguera, Pedro A. Noguera

School of Education Faculty Works

In this paper, we use Prometheus and his perpetual punishment to draw attention to the historic role Black people have played in U.S. education and contemplate the state of education for Black people 70 years after the Brown decision. We note the parallels between the period of reconstruction to the current period and use a case study of a school in Oakland, California to draw attention to a community-based response to the unfulfilled promise of the historic Brown decision. Our hope is that the case study can be used to undertake similar initiatives.

Creativity In Arts Organizations: Waterfire Providence Unites And Inspires, Tiana Degrace

Honors Projects in History, Literature, and the Arts

Community arts organizations serve as vibrant cultural hubs, uniting diverse networks and fostering creative expression through their dynamic administrative planning and management. This study examines the creative processes at WaterFire Providence, focusing on how administrative teams integrate creativity into their decision-making, and volunteer practices. Drawing from existing literature on arts organizations and music festivals, the research highlights the importance of spaces, audience engagement, and collaborative community involvement in event organizations. By analyzing the decision-making strategies that administrators employ across various stages of event planning and execution, this study sheds light on the interplay between creativity and organizational practices. Through qualitative …

Building Better Communities, Abby Simandl

Interior Design Capstones

This project explores how innovative design strategies can build better communities by enhancing mental health, physical well-being, and social engagement, ultimately creating a sense of belonging and growth in cities.

Motivated by the challenges of affordability, accessibility, social isolation, and environmental degradation, this project emphasizes the transformative power of design. By integrating community-centered design (CCD) and human-centered design (HCD) principles, the project aims to learn about resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities. These approaches involve active community participation, ensuring that solutions are culturally relevant, inclusive, and responsive to local needs.

Key strategies include promoting social connectedness, improving public access to health …

2025- The Twenty-Ninth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the 29th Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 16-18, 2025. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

Teaching As Advocacy: Bridging The Gap Between World Language Classrooms And Community, Xinquan Liu, Guy Trainin, Chunmei Guan, Hangxin Yu

Research and Evaluation in Education, Technology, Art, and Design

World Language education in the United States faces significant challenges, including declining enrollments and diminished community support. This paper introduces Teaching as Advocacy as a proactive framework to address these issues, proposing a mindset that integrates advocacy seamlessly into teaching practices. By leveraging community engagement and emphasizing "Connection" and "Community," the framework extends classroom learning into real-world contexts. Strategies such as cross-disciplinary collaborations, service-learning projects, partnerships with ethnic communities, and strategic use of social media amplify the impact of language education, demonstrating its value through tangible outcomes. This paper offers practical examples to showcase how Teaching as Advocacy revitalizes World …

Reconstruction And Repatriation Of Looted Cultural Heritage Property: Ownership Mechanism, Yichi Zhang

School of Public Policy Capstones

The frequent foreign invasions and widespread social instability during World War II led to the displacement and loss of countless cultural relics across borders. Many of these artifacts ended up in countries with limited historical and cultural ties to them, resulting in a lack of intrinsic understanding and root connection to their origins. This root disconnection often represents the recipient nations viewing these artifacts through a lens of ownership rather than heritage, perceiving them as property or commodities instead as invaluable representations of ancient civilizations (Boz, 2023). The commodification approach fueled the illicit trade and trafficking of cultural property but …

Agricultural Innovation To Climate Change In Northwest Pemba Island, Margaret Horn

Tanzania-Zanzibar: Coastal Ecology and Natural Resource Management

This study investigates how climate change is reshaping agriculture and food security on Pemba Island, Zanzibar, a region historically known as “The Green Island” for its rich biodiversity and agricultural productivity. Through semi-structured interviews with 11 local farmers and extended participant observation at the farm of government official Amour Juma Mohammed, the research reveals that increasingly erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and prolonged droughts are disrupting traditional planting cycles and reducing crop yields. Farmers report the near disappearance of the vuli rainy season and increasingly severe weather during masika, leading to both water scarcity and crop damage. In response, many have …

Traumatic Brain Injury Prevention Through Helmet Safety Education For Parents And Free Helmets For Elementary-Aged School Children, Kelli E. Camp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Problem Description: Head injuries from bicycle accidents are a leading cause of emergency visits among elementary-aged children, particularly in rural areas (Safe Kids Worldwide, 2017). Helmets significantly reduce traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) up to 88% (Field Neurosciences Institute, n.d.). However, low-income families, especially in rural areas, often lack access to helmets and safety education, resulting in lower helmet use and higher injury rates. These challenges are amplified in communities facing high traffic injury rates, limited access to safety resources, and economic constraints (Gilna et al., 2022; World Health Organization, 2023).

Setting: This project took place in Othello, WA (pop. 8,915), …

Measuring The Quality, Value, And Impact Of A Pediatric Respite Care Program, Joy Ryan Msn, Rn, Cne

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Pediatric respite care programs play a critical role in supporting families of children with complex medical conditions. These programs help alleviate caregiver stress, financial strain, sibling and marital challenges, and reduced coping abilities. Despite availability, respite care remains underutilized. A comprehensive evaluation is essential to enhance service delivery and ensure programs effectively meet the needs of children, families, and caregivers.

Aims: This evaluation examined program effectiveness in achieving its goals while optimizing resource use. It assessed cost-effectiveness by analyzing the relationship between investments and outcomes and explored the program’s long-term impact on individuals, families, and systems to identify areas …

Mexico’S Ngos: Medical Mission Network Mexico Red Materno Infantil’S Effectiveness And Strategy Employed To Combat Maternal Mortality In Mexico., Yadira Gonzalez

Switzerland: Global Health and Development Policy

This qualitative case study investigates the role of two non-governmental non-profit organizations. Medical Mission Mexico is a non-profit civil association in Chetumal, Quintana Roo and Red Materno Infantil is a civil society organization in Mexico City. Through expert interviews and case study analysis this research explores how each organization implements strategies tailored to the distinct needs of urban and rural populations. The findings reveal that while both organizations work toward the same maternal health outcomes, their methods are different but still focus on education, community trust, and advocacy. This paper emphasizes the value of these organizations, their strategies, and the …

The Living Campus: Landscaping With Purpose At St. Mary's, Karelen Bastida, Alyana Estes, Erick Jarquin, Elijah Perez

Presentations - 2025

This project focuses on evaluating and improving current landscaping and waste management practices at the Casa Maria community to create a sustainable model that can be scaled across the broader campus.

Breaking Barriers: An Educator's Pursuit To Provide Equity In Student Achievement, Christina L. Korsun

Dissertations

There is a sense of urgency to address the widening achievement gaps among minority students, students with disabilities, and English-language learners. This makes immediate school action necessary to create a more equitable learning environment. Without strategic interventions, including improved teacher retention efforts, stronger student support systems, and effective leadership, these challenges will continue to hinder student success and overall school performance. The purpose of this project is to find solutions for schools to institute to narrow the achievement gap by ensuring all students receive the support needed to succeed. Schools can respond to the learning gap by promoting equitable learning …

The Role Of Affordable Housing In Enhancing Tenants' Economic Stability In Connecticut: A Focus On Income, Employment, And Housing Stability, Osaid Zubi

Dissertations

This study examined the role of affordable housing in promoting economic stability among low- and moderate-income households in Connecticut. Focusing on income security, employment opportunities, and housing retention, this research highlighted the significance of affordable housing as a means to alleviate financial strain, support job retention, and foster community resilience. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, the study gathered insights from tenants, policymakers, and developers through conducting interviews and a focus group. Connecticut was chosen as the study site due to its high cost of living and affordable housing shortage, exacerbated by its proximity to New York City. Findings underscore the economic …

Law In Bloom: The Roots Of Legal Consciousness And Negotiation In Philadelphia Community Gardens, Vanessa Amsinger , '25

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

This thesis examines how legal consciousness, self-governance, and social networks shape power, participation, and belonging in the Southwark Queen Village Community Garden in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I draw on theories of legal pluralism and network theory to analyze archival documents, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews with garden members and leadership. I show that gardeners navigate overlapping formal rules and informal hierarchies, appearing in the form of bylaws, land trust agreements, social ties, and embodied practices, that together produce a complex web of legal consciousness inside the space. Mechanisms of self-governance, like plot assignments and leadership elections, often reinforce social hierarchies …

Malled To Death: Surviving Sprawl And Redreaming The American Mall, Gioia Calabretta

Senior Honors Theses

America underwent a shift in city planning post-WWII, a change which still shapes America today. In contrast with Sprawl’s failures in mobility, community, and beauty, New Urbanism, a return to traditional city planning, is presented as the solution to these shortcomings. New Urbanism lacks adequate marketing to advocate these successes, thus more competitive media, such as video, must be pursued. Using the local mall, River Ridge, as a case study to show Sprawl’s short-sighted pseudo-solutions and New Urbanism’s time-tested true solutions, a testimonial-style script is put forth to catalyze the Lynchburg community in promoting traditional city planning.

Developing And Implementing Support Groups For Parents Postpartum, Kathleen Van Kampen

Capstone Projects

The focus of this capstone project was to develop postpartum support groups to provide connection and support to new parents experiencing mental health challenges. Research and stakeholder interviews revealed significant gaps in holistic care for parents during their first year after childbirth, particularly regarding mental health, occupational balance, and education on child development. In response, a seven-week support group was implemented at Aptitude Yoga in Rockford, Michigan, with site mentor Amanda Brennan, a pelvic floor occupational therapist and owner of Balanced Pelvic Health and Wellness. The free sessions included evidence-based education, open discussion, and peer support, covering topics such as …

Development Of A Service-Learning Implementation Guide; Development Of An Articulation Pathway For Occupational Therapy Assistants To Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program, Mikayla E. Eshbach

Capstone Projects

This paper explores two initiatives within the Occupational Therapy Department at Western Michigan University (WMU): the implementation of service-learning and the development of an articulation pathway for Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) transitioning to the Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD).

The first part emphasizes service-learning as a beneficial tool for preparing students for clinical roles while enriching communities. A needs assessment identified the need for a standardized framework for long-term community engagement, resulting in a service-learning implementation guide tailored to the department. This guide aims to enhance communication with the Office of Community Engaged Learning and increase faculty awareness of available …

Area Character Appraisal Hamlin Beach, Preservation Project

Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation - Research Reports

An Area Character Appraisal (ACA) is a tool in identifying key elements that define a community’s character with the goals of informing community members and future generations, community outreach, and perhaps most importantly guiding future development practices to preserve the character of the community. These documented elements include architectural character, typical lot sizes and coverage, building footprints, county zoning, and flood risk zones. This document can be used as a reference in future community planning for Charleston County, community representatives, and nonprofit organizations.

This ACA is part of a larger set of ACAs conducted under the supervision of Erin Mehard …

Healing Histories: Implementing Trauma-Informed Care Practices In Libraries To Support Resilience And Recovery, Cearra Harris

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the impact of public library closure on the Edgewood community in Columbia, South Carolina, an area with a rich history and significant ties to the two nearby historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Benedict College and Allen University. It explored the intergenerational effects of historical trauma through the lens of collective memory, as documented in oral histories from community members and public library staff. The research aimed to understand the implications of the library's absence in a marginalized community context, emphasizing how such closures can exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. Through oral histories, questionnaires, and interviews, the findings reveal …

Joyful Accompaniment: Student And Alumni Spiritual Leadership Development Within An Immersive Service Trip, Michelle Grace Martin

Theses & Dissertations

This ethnographic action research case study illustrates how undergraduate student and alum participants in a week-long service trip describe their development of spiritual leadership skills. From a mission-focused spiritual leadership perspective, there are inherent problems with the current definition of student leadership in higher education. Currently, student leadership emphasizes positional authority and action-oriented goals, neglecting deeper dimensions of leadership which include service, humility, and moral integrity. For this study, I will be redefining leadership as justice-oriented accompaniment and adapting the Spiritual Leadership theory to better suit a Catholic Dominican mission-focused leadership model. This adaptation creates a shift from productivity-focused behaviors …

Adaptive Reuse Of Abandoned Schools, Dayana Williams

Theses

This thesis investigates the adaptive reuse of abandoned school buildings in economically declining communities, mainly focusing on how these transformations can contribute to sustainable community revitalization. The research highlights Columbus, Ohio, where school closures and grade realignments threaten to leave many school properties vacant, especially in minority neighborhoods. This adaptive reuse strategy presents an opportunity to address issues such as urban decay, resource efficiency, and social equity by repurposing these buildings into multifunctional community assets. The study adopts a multi-method approach, including literature reviews, case study analysis, and community needs assessments, to identify best practices and critical challenges in adaptive …

Week Of March 31, 2025, Student Life

College, School and Department Newsletters, Magazines, and Journals

Your weekly hub for events, resources and updates.

The Age Of Neoliberal Capitalism And The Eclipse Of Intergenerational Care: A Philosophical Reading At The Aftermath Of The Pandemic, Ferdinando G. Menga

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

Taking its cue from the experience of pandemic, which has had an enormous impact on society at a global level, this paper makes a two-faceted plea by way of a philosophical analysis. In the first place, it claims that care should entail not only a present-based reach, but also an intergenerational character. In the second place, the paper analyzes the deep genealogy of the current structural blindness towards a future-oriented understanding of care, a genealogy which is to be traced back to the very modern liberal-capitalist design of society, and, furthermore, is to be detected nowadays in its extreme form …

Correlation Of Socioeconomic Characteristics And Maintenance Level Of Houses In Mass Housing Scheme In Ilorin, Nigeria, Oladimeji Samuel Bolaji, Abubakar-Kamar Tayo Aishat, Adeyemi Olabanji Lukman, Arosanyin Mofeoluwa Victor

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

It is a common belief that certain behaviors are influenced by a person's social level. This claim is taken to apply to housing maintenance in any society, whether it is owned or rented. The aim of this study is to identify the socioeconomic indicators that are most predictive of the maintenance level of houses in mass housing schemes in the metropolis of Ilorin, Nigeria. Both primary and secondary data were used in this investigation. Qualitative and quantitative data through structured questionnaires administered on 1125 household heads constituting 27% of the sample frame were collected from sixteen (16) mass housing schemes …

Future Cities: Exploring Circularity For Sustainable Urban Cities, Benjamin Moral

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

In an era marked by rapid urbanization, the imperative of sustainability looms large for future cities. The growing global urban population portends increased resource demand, environmental stress, and socio-economic challenges, compelling a shift towards circularity. Circular principles, aimed at minimizing waste and optimizing resource use, embody a regenerative vision for urban spaces. While this concept gains traction worldwide, comprehensive studies simplifying its application are scarce. This research examines and diagnoses how Circularity can revolutionize urban sustainability, with objectives to evaluate circular economy models and analyses case studies and benefits. Employing an exploratory research design, this study drew data from secondary …

Educational Mixed-Use Building Design And Its Connections To Community Engagement, Aman Ullah, Anosh Nadeem Butt, Syeda Arfa Quddusi, Mir Wali Shah, Iftikhar Haider

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

Education and extracurricular activities play a critical role in improving individuals’ personalities and building a healthy community. Lack of educational facilities, unapproachable educational resources and invalidity of space for physical activities is a great obstacle to strong community building. Pakistan has been going through several economic and political crises that are making it difficult for the government to provide educational resources and opportunities for sports and physical activities to its people. Therefore, this study aims to explore how mixed-use educational buildings can facilitate individuals in gaining knowledge and education easily along with other recreational activities. Mixed-use building design will enable …

Becoming A Network Of Networks: G20 Interfaith Forum, Marianna Richardson

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Working Paper: The Role Of Nafeer And Social Networks In Sudan’S Humanitarian Response And The Challenges For International Aid, Mazin Sharfi

The Journal of Social Encounters

This paper explores the integral role of Nafeer, a traditional Sudanese communal practice, and social networks in addressing humanitarian crises, focusing on the ongoing 2023 conflict. Nafeer, rooted in rural agricultural settings, has evolved to mobilise urban communities for emergency responses, while social networks extend social support beyond family ties, providing a complementary layer of resource-sharing. Both systems, decentralised and grassroots in nature, contrast sharply with formal international aid structures. The research highlights how Nafeer and social networks mobilise resources through traditional means, such as mobilising social capital and economic resources including remittances, and modern mechanisms, like crowdfunding. It underscores …