Digital Commons Network^™

The Glass Ceiling In Chinese Higher Education: The Experience Of Female Deans, Mingyu Zhao

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This study was designed to explore the phenomenon of the glass ceiling encountered by Chinese female deans in higher education, using a systematic qualitative research approach to uncover the phenomenon's nature and influencing factors. Adhering strictly to Giorgi's (2009) phenomenological methodology, the study conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 female deans from various regions and institutional types across China, collecting rich data on their career trajectories, multi-level challenges, and coping strategies.

Through data analysis, eight themes and three key structures were identified, revealing that the glass ceiling is a product of the complex interplay between institutional constraints, personal challenges, and …

As Above, So Below: Environmental Justice Stories Of Seeds, Mining And Migration, Cassidy M. Motahari

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Environmental justice issues directly impact the health, cultural heritage and livelihoods of communities. This multimedia master’s project examines how federal policies, legal frameworks and the prioritization of corporate interests perpetuate environmental justice issues in the western United States. Three distinct stories provide a more nuanced understanding of the impact of systemic inequities on seed saving, mineral extraction and humanitarian aid on public lands.

With four companies controlling over 60 percent of the global seed market, declining genetic diversity in seeds limits the potential to cultivate and develop crops that meet the regional and cultural needs of diverse growers. In a …

Modeling Neighborhoods As Fuel For Wildfire, Bryce Alan Young

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Wildfire models drive billions of dollars in risk mitigation efforts. However, the modeling community currently lacks a representative fuelscape on which to base simulations of fire spread in the built environment and the wildland-urban interface (WUI) where vegetation and structures act together as fuel for wildfire. This thesis advances wildfire risk modeling by addressing the underdeveloped representation of the built environment in existing frameworks. By identifying inconsistencies in how structure and defensible space features are defined and used across empirical studies, predictive indices, and fire spread models, this research lays the groundwork for standardized modeling approaches and feature selection (Chapter …

Fungal Symbionts As Hidden Architects Of Forest Health: From Tree Immunity To Beetle Nutrition, Lorinda Sabin Bullington

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Symbioses of fungi with trees and insects play outsized roles in forest ecosystems, influencing tree growth, defense, physiology, and nutrient cycling. While their functional contributions are widely recognized, they remain poorly understood. I integrate findings from three studies examining fungal interactions with conifers and with bark beetles to highlight their significance in tree resistance to disease, nutrient redistribution within the tree, and forest ecology.

First, I demonstrate that foliar fungal endophytes and ectomycorrhizal fungi, together and independently, can enhance resistance in Pinus monticola seedlings against Cronartium ribicola, the pathogen responsible for white pine blister rust. Symbiont inoculation induced host terpene …

"A Changed Understanding Of Our Present": Moby-Dick As Prophetic Ecological Activism, Katie Ann Schini

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Moby-Dick: Or, The Whale is a classic of American literature, spanning multiple genres and remaining culturally relevant nearly 175 years after its original publication. Though on the surface Moby-Dick reads as an adventure story of a man who experiences the whaling industry firsthand, Herman Melville’s text continues to invite new generations of readership through the framework of the twenty-first century climate crisis.

In this thesis, I position Moby-Dick as a text that can be used to understand our modern society’s current dispositions of ecological grief. My thesis operates at the intersection of three main literary critical theories: ecocriticism, affect, and …

Acl Prevention Programming For Female Athletes, Julia Korklewski

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Adaptation And Resilience: How Beginning Farmers Navigate Land And Climate Crises In Western Montana, Kyla Ivana Fugate

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Montana is home to a growing number of beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers (BSDFRs), yet they face substantial barriers to accessing resources, from farmland to federal farm support programs. Rising land prices and climate-induced drought further exacerbate the challenges that farmers already face, posing a “twin crisis” that is especially severe for beginning farmers who have operated their farms for fewer than 10 years. This research draws on ethnographic data, including 24 in-depth interviews with BSDFRs and five informational interviews with farm service providers in Western Montana. I find that while federal USDA programs support farmers on paper, they often …

Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of Nutrient Limitation In A Western Montana River, Matthew T. Nichols

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Enhanced loading of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is pervasive in rivers around the world. As a consequence of nutrient-rich conditions, many well-lit rivers experience severe algal blooms, which threaten water quality and aquatic habitats. Nutrient enrichment in the upper Clark Fork River, located in western Montana, has increased the productivity of benthic algae, Cladophora glomerata, which routinely forms extensive blooms during summer growing seasons (July – September). Addressing eutrophication in rivers begins with identifying the nutrients that contribute toward algal productivity. I deployed nutrient diffusing substrates (NDS), collected bi-weekly surface water samples, and conducted algal surveys at four …

Better Together: Leveraging Existing Research To Evaluate Population Trends, Habitat Selection, And Species Interactions Of Mesocarnivores, Jordan Lee Heiman

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Whether from human impacts, climate change, or extreme fires, landscapes around the world are rapidly changing (Foley et al. 2005, Grimm et al. 2008, Bowman et al. 2020). As these landscapes change, it is clear that many ecosystems and species are being negatively affected (Laliberte and Ripple 2004, Butchart et al. 2010, Freeman et al. 2018, Li et al. 2022). With an expanding number of species facing extinction risks, it is critical for agencies to know when and where to focus their limited resources and conservation efforts (Martin et al. 2012, Auerbach et al. 2014, Bal et al. 2018). To …

Penta Ef-Hand Protein Alg-2 Regulates Copii Activity At Eres In Response To Calcium Signaling, Jacob Ryan Lapka

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Intracellular protein trafficking is critical for maintaining cellular homeostasis, relying on highly regulated vesicular transport pathways originating from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Central to this process is the COPII coat complex, which governs cargo export at ER exit sites (ERES) by selectively packaging secretory proteins into transport vesicles. Recent studies highlight the regulatory role of calcium (Ca²⁺) signaling at ERES, where the Ca²⁺-binding Penta EF-hand proteins ALG-2 and peflin modulate COPII coat dynamics and cargo sorting in a context-dependent manner. In Chapter 2, we show that knockdown of the Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor-3 (IP3R-3) in normal rat …

The Creative Front, Aleksandr O. Barrett

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Abstract

In this paper, I will discuss my thesis exhibition, The Creative Front, focusing on my materials, content, and context as they relate to each piece or body of work. This exhibition is the culmination of my work, which centers on my experience with the Russo-Ukrainian war. My work can be interpreted metaphorically, poetically, and directly through sculpture, installation, sound, and film. I am portraying very human stories and experiences from a full-scale war raging in Europe. My work is immersive, placing the viewer in an atmosphere of war, and conveying a sense of urgency and compassion for those who …

Investigating The Impact Of Aerial Firefighting On Rate Of Wildfire Spread, Lindsay Ann Wiard

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Aerial retardant drops are widely used in wildfire suppression, yet their effectiveness in slowing fire spread remains difficult to quantify at scale. This study evaluates the impact of aerial suppression on wildfire rate of spread (ROS) using a modeling framework that incorporates both observed (real) and counterfactual (synthetic) drop locations from a sample of 62 wildfires in Oregon. Synthetic drops were generated to simulate a no-suppression baseline, allowing us to compare changes in ROS in the presence and absence of suppression. We trained two random forest classifiers: one using both real and synthetic drops (the full model), and another using …

Social, Ecological, And Anthropogenic Drivers Of Gray Wolf Vital Rates In Yellowstone National Park, Brenna Jo Cassidy

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Populations of animals can be regulated by many factors, including food availability, anthropogenic influences, and social dynamics. Survival of adults and juveniles is one mechanism of population regulation, and these life stages can be influenced by different ecological pressures. In this dissertation, I investigate the ecological, anthropogenic, and social drivers of transboundary gray wolf (Canis lupus) vital rates in and around Yellowstone National Park. First, I evaluate the effect of variable harvest pressure on wolf survival and test whether anthropogenic mortality is compensatory or additive. Theory predicts that under densitydependent conditions, anthropogenic mortality should be offset by a corresponding reduction …

A Pilot Training Program For The Cultural Formulation Interview In School-Based Assessment, Jaida A. Lilly

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

School psychologists are responsible for promoting and maintaining an equitable, inclusive environment for all students to learn. For those who work in school settings, assessment of a student’s academic, mental health, and behavioral difficulties are often a significant component of school psychological practices. However, for various reasons, the assessment process can be flawed, and can unintentionally perpetuate systems of oppression in school-settings; this is especially true when working with children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds. Within culturally responsive assessment, conducting interviews is necessary for connecting with and effectively supporting the student and family. The Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) …

Genomics Of Adaptation To Yellowstone’S Geothermal Mosaic In The Yellow Monkeyflower Mimulus Guttatus, Colette Sevier Berg

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The push and pull between recombination and selection shapes the structure of adaptive genomic variation. By mapping the genetic architecture and genetic basis of traits, we can test theoretical predictions about the nature of adaptation on the landscape. Furthermore, investigating the genetics of repeated evolutionary transitions sheds light on the nature of parallel evolution: are adaptations constrained at the molecular level, or are there many genetic paths to the same phenotype? In this dissertation I explore the genetic and phenotypic variation in the yellow monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus, which occupies Yellowstone National Park’s complex geothermal mosaic. In Chapter 1, I identify …

Creating A Short-Form Label Avoidance Measure: A Psychometric, Julia Johanna Cameron

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Stigma is a commonly reported barrier to receiving treatment for mental health concerns. One aspect of stigma, label avoidance, specifically addresses the stigma involved when individuals deny their status as having a mental illness and avoid institutions that may mark them as someone with a mental illness. Despite the importance of label avoidance for understanding treatment seeking, there does not currently exist a psychometrically sound measure of label avoidance. In order to address this gap, the present study used a revised and shortened form of a preliminary measure of label avoidance, the LAM-16, to collect psychometric data over two time …

Indigenous Placemaking, Colonial Placetaking, And Indigenous Data Sovereignty: Implications Of Environmental Data Collection On Tribal Lands, Paige Nizhonii Kya'iyo Johnson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This project investigates how Indigenous Data Sovereignty protocols apply to environmental data collected on Tribal lands by federal and state entities. The 2011 and 2014 flooding of the Missouri River and a need for further soil moisture data led the United States Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District to implement a Mesonet weather station monitoring network across the Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB). Historically, the Army Corps of Engineers has not included Indigenous perspectives into their decision-making, and this has caused Tribes to be distrustful of partnerships with them. The UMRB monitoring network will span across the Upper Missouri River …

Advancing Wildfire Science Through The Application And Parametrization Of Process Based Fire Models, Anthony Albert Marcozzi

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Computational models of wildfires are an important tool for fire managers and scientists. However, representing fuel inputs with sufficient detail for process-based fire models to accurately reflect observed fire phenomena while remaining computationally tractable is a major challenge. This dissertation advances wildland fire science by applying and parametrizing such models to investigate complex fire-fuel interactions across multiple scales.

A primary contribution addresses fine-scale fuel characterization through a novel voxel-based technique converting Terrestrial Laser Scan (TLS) point clouds into three-dimensional (3D) fuel representations. This method was evaluated by comparing simulated fire behavior in the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), optimized using the …

Investigating The Impact Of Creativity In Specialized Learning Environments, Samantha Jo Stewart

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Stewart, Samantha, M.A., Summer 2025 Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Chairperson: Dr. Jeb Puryear

This study investigates the impact of creative instructional strategies on student engagement and learning in a K–5 Structured Learning Program (SLP) serving students with behavioral challenges, trauma histories, autism, and twice-exceptionality (2e). A mixed-methods approach was used to compare two instructional periods: September to December, during which traditional teaching methods were used, and January to June, when flexible, creativity-based practices were introduced. Instructional shifts included increased student choice, multimodal tasks, and scaffolded opportunities for divergent thinking. Data sources included daily staff reflections, classroom observations, and student work …

America's Highest Stage: Utopians, Capitalists, And Trail Runners On Pikes Peak, Mitchell Morris

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Since ancient times, Pikes Peak’s prominence on the land has endowed it with prominence in the minds of all who have lived around it. This ancient dynamic was reinforced in the nineteenth century by the famed expedition of Lieutenant Zebulon Pike in 1806 and the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush in 1858. Since then, the mountain has become a stage. Standing tall, visible from hundreds of miles around, and known from coast to coast, Pikes Peak is a platform that has attracted diverse historical actors to come and perform, elevate their endeavors to new heights, and demonstrate what they, and people …

Climate Goodbyes: Reporting On Loss, Change And The Human Response In Montana, Madeline Jorden

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This portfolio explores how climate-driven environmental change intersects with long-standing tensions over natural resource management, tribal sovereignty, and rural identity in Montana. It consists of three stories: a historically low water year at Flathead Lake that intensified disputes between tribal dam operators and non-tribal waterfront homeowners; the first confirmed presence of invasive smallmouth bass in the Bitterroot River, signaling warming stream conditions and ecological disruption; and a political narrative from Colstrip, where coal industry workers cling to promises of revival amid economic and regulatory decline. Each piece illustrates how climate change acts not only as an environmental force but also …

Depth Distribution Of Liquid Water In Greenlands Firn Layer Based On L-Band Radiometry, A Snow Physics Model, And Machine Learning, Taylor D. Moon

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The accurate estimation of the amount of meltwater retained by Greenland’s firn layer and its distribution over depth is essential for assessing both the current and future mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet. When meltwater infiltrates the firn, it exists as a quantifiable volume of liquid water, measurable as the one-dimensional liquid water amount, hereafter referred to as LWA. A promising new tool for estimating LWA is L-band passive microwave satellite radiometry, which can provide twice-daily estimates using empirical models of firn microwave emission. However, this method faces two primary limitations. First, retrievals are untested against field observations and …

Adventist Education, Educational Attainment, Belief In The Spirit Of Prophecy: A Trifold Relationship, Safary Wa-Mbaleka, Karl Bailey

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Is There A Future For The Missiological Study Of Worldview?, Paulo Oliveira

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Prediction Of The Wave Normal Angle Of Proton-Band Emic Waves Near Geosynchronous Orbit, Eun-Hwa Kim, Khan-Hyuk Kim, J. Johnson, P. A. Damiano, Syun'ichi Shiraiwa, Wesley Martin

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Phonotactic Behavior Of Male Cricket Acheta Domesticus In Relation To Age And Syllable Period, Dana Husana, Jessica Rim, David Mbungu, Benjamin Navia

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of The Demand For Occupational Therapy Upgrade Programs From Diploma To Degree In Kenya, Tabitha Rangara, Dovison Kereri, Juliet Mugga

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Cfl Learners’ Real-Time Processing Of Chinese Radicals: An Eye-Tracking Study, Yihsuan Wood, Jeffrey Jack Green, Ellen Knell, Yu Liu

Faculty Publications

This study used eye-tracking to investigate the real-time processing of phonetic and semantic radicals (components of Chinese characters that give clues to their pronunciation and meaning) by intermediate-level university Chinese foreign language (CFL) learners. Additionally, the study examined how knowledge and awareness of radicals affect real time character processing. Real-time radical processing involves identifying radicals and understanding their phonetic or semantic roles, while real-time character processing includes recognizing radicals and instantly comprehending entire characters’ meanings and pronunciations. This study’s first task focuses on radical processing, where CFL learners use radical knowledge to interpret multiple characters simultaneously. The second task extends …

Testing The Effect Of Speaker Diarization And Speech Separation On Vowel Formant Estimates, Joseph A. Stanley, Lisa Morgan Johnson, Earl Kjar Brown

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Timing Is Everything: Congruence, Controllability, And Performance Measure Weighting, Hayden T. Gunnell, Gary Hecht, William B. Tayler, Kristy L. Towry

Faculty Publications

We investigate whether the weights managers place on performance measures for performancebased compensation depend on whether weights are determined at the beginning or end of the performance period. We propose that managers frame the weighting decision differently depending on timing. Specifically, prior to employee effort, managers frame the decision as intended to align employee effort to firm objectives, whereas after employees have exerted effort, managers frame the weighting decision as intended to evaluate employee effort. Thus, we expect, and find, that managers weight measures that are more congruent with firm objectives more heavily when weightings are determined ex ante (before …