Digital Commons Network^™

Engaging University Students In A Non-History Course With History, Cynthia Huffman Ph.D., William Huffman

PD Day 2026

Incorporating history into a non-history university classroom builds real-world relevance, sharpens critical thinking, and boosts engagement. By anchoring abstract theories in historical case studies, origin stories, and ethical dilemmas, educators bridge the gap between textbook concepts and professional practice. In this session, we will discuss reasons for using history in non-history courses and provide examples of a variety of subject-specific implementation strategies.

Small Teaching, Big Impact: Igec Cohort 1 Faculty Roundtable, Rebeca Book, Goldie Prelogar, Chris Anderson, Janet Lewis, Grant D. Moss, Tim Bailey, Catherine Hooey, Donna Zerr

PD Day 2026

Faculty from the first IGEC (Innovative General Education Course) cohort will share practical teaching strategies they learned about, selected, and implemented in general education courses. In this interactive panel/roundtable discussion, participants will hear brief examples of small teaching changes designed to strengthen student engagement, learning, reflection, and success. Panelists will discuss what they tried, what worked well, what they adjusted, and what they would recommend to colleagues interested in making meaningful, manageable changes in their own courses. Participants will leave with realistic, adaptable ideas they can apply across disciplines and course levels.

Addressing Haitian High School Students’ Educational Challenges Through Their Self-Cultural Awareness, Gregory Louis

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The study is grounded in the understanding that culturally responsive education practices can promote academic success and empower students to navigate multiple cultural contexts. A review of literature highlighted the complexities of Haitian students' educational experiences, the impact of cultural identity on academic achievement, and the need for further research on this topic.

The research employed in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Haitian high school students and their parents to gather data on their experiences, perceptions, and attitudes towards education and cultural identity. The study aimed to contribute to a deeper understanding of the educational experiences of Haitian students and inform strategies …

Changes In Psychological Adjustment Among Laryngectomized Patients Through Nursing Intervention: Rct, Kumiko Kotake, Kaori Haba, Mami Kurita, Ichiro Ota, Kazuyo Iwanaga, Yoshimi Suzukamo, Ichiro Kai, Aya Takahashi, Yoko Ishibashi, Yoriko Hara, Hirokazu Uemura

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine changes in psychological adjustment among laryngectomized patients through nursing interventions and to verify the effectiveness of these interventions.

Methods: Of the 76 hospitalized laryngectomy patients who received the study explanation and provided consent, 74 were included. The intervention involved providing information through interviews and a guidebook. The study method involved conducting follow-up surveys at preoperative, pre-discharge, and three months, six months, and one year post-discharge to examine the temporal changes in psychological adjustment. This study used the Nottingham Psychological Adjustment Scale for laryngectomized patients. The higher the subscale score, the greater …

Shape: A Photovoice Study Exploring Student And Educator Perceptions Of School Built Environments, Megan L. Jester, Dawn Loraas, Cian L. Brown, Madelynn Henderson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: School buildings shape daily experiences, well-being, and professional satisfaction for those who work and learn within them. Schools are increasingly primary access points for student health services.¹ Teaching in public schools ranks among the most stressful occupations, driving burnout and turnover.² As these groups spend most days in schools, the built environment serves as a crucial social determinant of health.³ Factors like extreme temperatures, poor air quality, and noise pollution impact health outcomes^4-6, creating barriers to learning.⁷ Limited nurse-driven research exists on how building attributes impact well-being. Spatial Habits Advance Personal Excellence examines …

Opioid Overdose Simulation Training For Staff: An Educational Development Project, Brooke Van Buskirk, Tyler Langley, Nancy S. Goldstein

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Outpatient medical facilities have become more likely to encounter in-office emergencies related to opioid overdoses. Literature analysis found gaps in health team response capability in outpatient healthcare settings.¹

Our aim was to design and implement an opioid overdose simulation at an outpatient substance use disorder clinic. Literature reviewed found 4 essential themes to guide our curriculum development: simulation training, emergency action protocols, response training and equipment readiness.^2,3,4,5 These themes were used to create an algorithm on best-practice for overdose response and guided our simulation development.

A four-step simulation was designed including pre-brief education, low-fidelity mannequin simulation, high-fidelity simulation …

Life Of Patients After Laryngectomy Before Hospital Discharge, Kaori Haba, Kumiko Kotake, Mami Kurita, Kazuyo Iwanaga, Ichiro Kai, Yoshimi Suzukamo, Aya Takahashi, Yoko Ishibashi, Yoriko Hara, Ichiro Ota, Hirokazu Uemura

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This study aims to identify how patients after laryngectomy (PaL) feel about their lives before discharge.

Methods: The participants received total laryngectomy for peri-laryngeal cancer. They were interviewed for physical condition and concerns in daily lives, and how they coped with them before discharge. Qualitative induction was used to analyze. This study was conducted by obtaining the approval of the Ethical Review Committee of the university the researcher belongs to.

Results: All 9 participants were male, and the mean age was 68.2 years.
They “felt their bodies were recuperating” from the surgical invasion with free from respiratory distress and …

The Gap Kalamazoo Instrument To Evaluate Therapeutic Communication Of Pre-Licensure Nursing Students, Tracy J. Perron, Mary Thomas, Chelsea Lebo, Romy Zemer

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Effective communication among healthcare teams is essential for patient safety and satisfaction. Communication is a core competency for students in nursing education.

Purpose: This study aims to adapt the Gap-Kalamazoo Communication Skills Assessment for nursing students to enhance their communication skills and align with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials competencies.

Methods: This tool was tested with junior and senior nursing students at two institutions, with data collected through self-evaluations, peer evaluations, and faculty evaluations during clinical and simulation experiences.

Results: The results showed a high reliability of the tool (Cronbach’s Alpha 0.832 for seniors, 0.880 for …

Teamwork Under Pressure: Ob Emergency Simulation With Nursing, Midwifery & Nurse Anesthesia Students, Wendy R. Gibbons, Russ Branch, Katie Cole, Desiree Mullis Clement, Lisamarie Wands

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Midwives, nurses and nurse anesthetists frequently work together in one of the most enduring and consistent patient care settings, obstetrical care units. Interprofessional teamwork is a core competency for advanced practice and pre-licensure nursing students and interdisciplinary simulation offer students in prelicensure and advanced practice nursing programs the ability to collaborate, effectively communicate, and learn each other’s roles.

Methods: Faculty within a large university’s midwifery and nurse anesthesia programs designed and implemented an interdisciplinary simulation experience involving students from pre-licensure, midwifery, and nurse anesthesia cohorts. The students performed in the roles of the certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse …

Caring Science And A Magnet Culture Positively Influence Patient Experience: A Theoretical Framework, Mary E. Lough, Grissel Hernandez, Kathleen Bradley, Alice Yan, Cassendra Munro, Rachyl Pines

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

BACKGROUND: An academic hospital implemented both Watson Caring Science and a Magnet® culture to support nurse wellbeing and optimize patient outcomes.^1-3 The goal was to create a culture of caring. The research challenge was how to measure culture, which is complex, intangible and often difficult to quantify. Few healthcare organizations deploy theory-driven quantitative evaluations. Most rely on atheoretical data mining rather than conceptually grounded frameworks.

PURPOSE: To develop a theoretical framework to test the hypothesis that: (1) Human Caring Culture directly influences Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS); (2) Human Caring Culture indirectly influences HCAHPS’ outcomes …

Augustine’S Lessons On Friendship And Health: A Humanistic Perspective On Connection And Well-Being, Emily Anne Barr

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Friendship has long been recognized as essential to human flourishing. St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430) wrote about friendship as a source of meaning, growth, and healing. The purpose of this presentation is to explore Augustine’s insights on friendship through a contemporary nursing lens by integrating his teachings with Kristen Swanson’s Theory of Caring. This approach examines how ancient wisdom aligns with modern understandings of relational health, connection, and caring in nursing practice.

Methods: An integrative conceptual approach was used to examine Augustine’s writings and their alignment with Swanson’s Theory of Caring. The presentation incorporates visual art, symbolic imagery, and …

Generative Ai In Nursing Education: Opportunities, Challenges And Educator Preparedness, Elizabeth L. Woods, Desiree Mullis Clement, Kandice Pampuri, Maggie Pustinger, Quyen Phan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Generative AI is transforming clinical nursing education, highlighting the urgent need to train nurse educators with the knowledge, tools, and confidence for practical use. AI tools are quickly impacting content, student preparation, and teaching methods, creating both opportunities and challenges. AI offers both advantages and obstacles in clinical content creation; however, advantages do not replace nursing experience. Due to its rapid integration into education, many educators remain cautious about responsible implementation because of ethical concerns.

Purpose: This study examines changes in participant knowledge and confidence in the use of AI tools in clinical education among clinical nurse educators from …

Mentorship Matters: Inspiring Growth And Securing The Future Of Nursing, Terri Thompson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose/Aims: This project aimed to conduct a systematic literature review examining how mentoring impacts resilience, longevity in the profession, and prevention of nurse-to-nurse bullying.

Background: Mentorship in nursing is essential for supporting new graduates as they transition into practice and for nurses assuming new roles in clinical or academic settings. Despite its proven strategy for retention and professional growth, formal mentorship programs are not consistently implemented. Bullying remains a persistent issue, undermining confidence, job satisfaction, and well-being, while contributing to stress, burnout, and attrition that worsen the nursing shortage. New nurses are especially vulnerable, often resigning prematurely. Effective mentoring fosters …

Silver Linings Among Youth Living With Hiv: An Integrated Mixed Methods Analysis, Emily Anne Barr, Mary Catherine Lingwall, Himabindu Reddy Basani, Joanna S. Vennekotter, Alyssa Goldsmith, Joseph Crane, Leah Jane Anthony, Re'undre Malone, Veronica Brady

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Youth living with HIV experience stigma, mental health challenges, and barriers to engagement in care. Silver linings are positive shifts in perception, connection, or opportunity that arise from adversity. This project examined silver linings across two studies of youth living with HIV and explored associations with stigma, trust, mental health, and viral suppression.

Methods: An integrated mixed methods design was used. The first study (Colorado, USA) was a cross-sectional survey of 109 youth that assessed stigma, mental health, trust in the healthcare relationship, viral load, and one open-ended item on silver linings. The second study (Texas, USA) included semi-structured …

Listening, Learning, Accommodating: A Critical Look At Inclusive Research Help, Michelle Lee, Laura Beane, Kristina Lang, Jillian Speck, Kristina Clement

Faculty Articles

Research consultations continue to be a valuable means of connecting with users and supporting their research needs. As we’ve received an increasing number of research consultations where one or more accommodations have been requested, the Kennesaw State University Libraries have been exploring ways to provide accommodations in research consultations. Since there is a lack of research on this specific facet of research consultations, this literature review focuses on the related topics of assistive technology in libraries, accommodations in library services and spaces, and library anxiety to show how these topics relate to providing accommodations in research consultations. The objective of …

Pre-Implementation Factors For Active Music Engagement (Ame): Barriers And Facilitators To Integrating An Evidence-Based Dyadic Intervention Into Pediatric Oncology Care., Kristin M. Story, Elizabeth Harman, Kristin Stegenga, Jelena Golubovic, Sheri L. Robb

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Pediatric cancer treatment is a difficult and distressing experience that often results in sustained, interrelated distress in young children and parents, and traumatic stress symptoms for some parents. Few evidence-based interventions address this dyadic distress. Active Music Engagement (AME) is a manualized, evidence-based music play intervention that significantly reduces distress in child/parent dyads and mitigates traumatic stress and improves well-being among highly distressed parents and those experiencing sociodemographic risk. Successfully integrating AME into standard care requires a systematic understanding of implementation factors. This study aimed to identify site-specific barriers and facilitators that influenced successful AME delivery during a recently …

"Tithing Is An Insurance Premium": A Framing Analysis Of Speaker Innovation And Diachronic Trends In Latter-Day Saint Religious Discourse, Reid Empey

Theses and Dissertations

Religious language relies on shared metaphor and frames that contextualize religious experience and practice. Current approaches to frame semantics (Fillmore 1982) and cognitive metaphor (Lakoff & Johnson 1980) lend important insight into religious language, particularly in describing the role that figurative language serves in a religious speech community. However, a vital component of many religious speech communities is the presence of and engagement with a scriptural canon, which often contains metaphorical and framing language that religious speakers can directly reference. Yet, past conceptualizations of speech communities have not accounted for this engagement with a shared canon. To illustrate the role …

Synthetic Strategies For Bioactive Peptides: From Aggregation Inhibitors To The Total Synthesis Of Tunicyclin C, Stephanie Graciela Garcia Morin

Theses and Dissertations

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), a brain protein called "tau" abnormally clumps and forms neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), causing damage to brain cells. Ac-PHF6-NH2 is a hexapeptide segment of tau protein that plays a dominant role in tau aggregation and is used as a model to design tau protein aggregation inhibitors. In this research we synthesized four dehydroamino acid (□AA) containing PHF6 analogues with △Abu (derived from L-threonine) and △Val (derived from □-OH-Valine) at position 2 or 3 via dehydrations or azlactone ring-openings as key reactions. We evaluated their proteolytic resistance, ability to inhibit aggregation of PHF6, and impact on the morphology …

Measuring Proteostasis Changes In Apolipoprotein E Mouse Models Using Quantitative And Kinetic Proteomic Methods, Ariel E.A. Denos

Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurological disorder associated with brain mass loss and cognitive decline. It affects millions of elderly people and is currently uncurable. Since 1906, when the disease was first described, researchers have uncovered many components of AD pathology. However, it is now evident that curing Alzheimer's Disease will require intervention before the pathological onset of amyloid beta plaque deposition, tau neurofibrillary tangles, and associated neuronal loss. Studying AD from the perspective of early intervention requires special attention to small changes that may disrupt the normal processing of cells. Cells undergo a natural cycle of creation and destruction …

Standardizing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Education To Improve Patient Knowledge And Care Consistency In A Prenatal Clinic Setting, Wynn Zara

Master's Projects and Capstones

The gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) group visit framework aims to improve consistency of GDM education by standardizing referral processes, educational materials, staff workflows, and patient communication. Although evidence-based GDM education supports patient self-management and improved maternal-fetal outcomes, variability in education delivery contributed to inconsistent care within the outpatient maternal-fetal medicine setting. This quality improvement project was conducted in an outpatient maternal-fetal medicine clinic in Santa Clara County serving pregnant patients diagnosed with GDM. To address this gap, a standardized GDM group visit framework was developed and implemented using structured educational resources, referral criteria, and communication workflows. The intervention was evaluated …

Resource-Conscious Care: Time To Pregnancy And Iui Cycle Outcomes In Female Same-Sex Couples, Lea George, Devika Sachdev, Kassie Bollig

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

RESEARCH QUESTION: Does the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) for the first cycle, time to pregnancy, and cumulative CPR up to six consecutive cycles differ between female same-sex couples undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) alone and those undergoing IUI with ovarian stimulation?

DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study evaluated 554 female same-sex couples undergoing IUI alone (n = 264) or IUI with ovarian stimulation (n = 290) at a single centre using cryopreserved donor spermatozoa from January 2012 to January 2022.

RESULTS: Overall, CPR for the first cycle was 17.9% (99/554). In adjusted analyses, there was no significant difference in CPR in IUI …

Psychological Interventions For Children With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities In The Context Of Neurodiversity: A Systematic Review, Kalliopi Megari, Dimitra V. Katsarou, Evangelos Mantsos, Soultana Papadopoulou, Efthymia Efthymiou, Maria Theodoratou, Maria Sofologi, Eugenia Toki

All Works

Highlights What are the main findings? What is the implication of the main finding?Highlights What are the main findings? What is the implication of the main finding?Abstract Background/Objectives: This systematic review examines psychological interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities within a neurodiversity framework, emphasizing that variations in cognition, behavior, and neurological functioning represent natural forms of human diversity rather than deficits. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Studies were included if they focused on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), learning or intellectual disabilities …

Race And Ethnicity And Overall Survival In Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Daniel J. Zheng, Long Khuong, Catherine Aftandilian, Kira Bona, Emi H. Caywood, Caitlin W. Elgarten, Brian T. Fisher, Cody-Aaron L. Gathers, Taumoha Ghosh, M. Monica Gramatges, Gary Hettinger, Meret R. Henry, Yuan-Shung V Huang, Yimei Li, Kelly Maloney, Amir Mian, Tamara P Miller, Arunkumar Modi, Rajen Mody, Regina M. Myers, Haley Newman, Jose Ortiz, Alix E. Seif, Caroline Smith, Jamie Stokke, Naomi Winick, Jennifer J. Wilkes, Victor Wong, Richard Aplenc, Kelly D. Getz

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black (hereafter, Black) children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have historically experienced worse survival outcomes compared with non-Hispanic White (hereafter, White) children. Understanding specific intermediate pathways underlying these outcome disparities is a critical step to directing interventional efforts and resources.

OBJECTIVE: To compare survival outcomes by race and ethnicity in a large contemporary cohort of pediatric patients with AML and to examine presentation acuity, frontline organ toxic effects, and relapse as potential mediators of any observed outcome disparities.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study was analyzed from April 2025 to January 2026 and included …

Breaking The Chain Or Passing The Torch? Caregiver Type, Perceived Caregiving, And Extent Of Aggression In Emerging Adult Relationships, Amara Mason

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how caregiver type (alternate caregiving versus biological parent caregiving), childhood adversity, and parenting styles relate to intimate partner violence (IPV) and attachment outcomes. Guided by Intergenerational Transmission of Violence Theory, Social Learning Theory, and Attachment Theory, the study explored whether alternate caregiving buffered or intensified the effects of early adversity on later relational functioning. College students aged 18–25 from a southern U.S. university completed anonymous self-report measures assessing caregiving experiences, childhood trauma, attachment, and IPV. Measures included the Conflict Tactics Scale–Revised (CTS2), Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale (ACEs), and Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that …

Sustainable Approaches For Water Remediation And Soil Amendment, Hashani Abeysinghe Herath Mudiyanselage

Theses and Dissertations

Hydrosphere decontamination and sustainable agriculture are economic, health, and environmental concerns. Conventional non-destructive and destructive water treatment methods, and fertilizer formulations, can be expensive or ineffective. Biochar-nutrient composites have gained global acceptance as adsorbents or soil additives due to biochar’s modifiable surfaces, enabling enhanced performance and environmental benefits. This dissertation studied sustainable methods for removal of aqueous arsenic(V) by adsorption and destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in liquid ammonia by defluorination and fertilizing phosphorus-deficient soil. Chapter II focuses on the surface morphological and physicochemical changes in alkali-exposed microparticulate magnetite-deposited rice husk (RH) biochar (Fe3O4@RHBC) relative to its pristine …

Staffing Reductions, Visitor Sentiment, And Recreation Demand In U.S. National Parks, Rebekkah Adicoff

Theses and Dissertations

Staffing changes in U.S. national parks have the potential to influence both visitor experience and recreation demand. This study examines how an abrupt system-wide staffing reduction affected visitor sentiment and visitation across the National Park System, while accounting for differences in park-level risk exposure. Using the February 2025 staffing reduction as a quasi-natural experiment, the analysis combines monthly park-level visitation data with TripAdvisor visitor reviews from January 2024 to August 2025. Sentiment scores derived from reviews measure perceived experience quality, while recreation demand is modeled using fixed-effects count models (Poisson and negative binomial) that control for seasonality and park characteristics. …

Impact Of In-Season Potassium Fertilizer Application On Sweetpotato Yields, Alyssa Lynn Hotchkiss

Theses and Dissertations

Sweetpotatoes require approximately three times more potassium (K) than nitrogen (N), making K the most applied nutrient in production. However, K fertilizer recommendations for sweetpotatoes in Mississippi remain outdated or are based on recommendations for other crops. This study evaluated the effects of K fertilizer rate, timing, and application method on sweetpotato production. Field trials were conducted during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons at the Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods Branch Experiment Station in Pontotoc, Mississippi. Treatments included preplant K applications of 0, 134, or 191 kg ha⁻¹ K₂O, in-season sidedress applications of 56 kg ha⁻¹ K₂O, and four foliar K treatments. …

Comparative Analysis Of Spray Pattern Deposition In Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (Cots) U.S.-Manufactured Uncrewed Aerial Application System (Uaas), James Mackey Ikerd Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Uncrewed aerial application systems (UAAS) are increasingly used for agricultural spraying, but spray deposition uniformity and effective swath width can vary between platforms. This study evaluated spray-pattern deposition and effective swath width for two commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) UAAS platforms during manual and autonomous flight operations. Manual, single-pass testing was used to assess preliminary performance and spray characteristics for both UAAS. Further autonomous multi-pass and single-pass evaluations were conducted to assess deposition uniformity and in-swath variability for both UAAS utilizing two methods of evaluation: Operation Self-regulating Application & Flight Efficiency (S.A.F.E.) pattern testing for manual flight evaluation and the Swath Gobbler …

Improving The Hemp Fiber Supply Chain: Barriers, Innovations, And Regulatory Impacts, Sneha Chapagain

Theses and Dissertations

The hemp fiber sector in the United States has seen significant growth challenges, including a lack of processing infrastructure, inconsistent regulations, and limited research. The Theory of Constraints and Systems Engineering frameworks are used in this study to carefully analyze these difficulties. The study identifies important bottlenecks, investigates system-wide inefficiencies, and examines the impact of regulatory complexity using a survey of key supply chain stakeholders. The findings emphasize the need for more processing capacity, better coordination among supply chain actors, and more policy harmonization. The report also identifies stakeholder-driven improvements in technology, transportation, and market integration that could boost efficiency …

Analyzing The Relationship Between Financial And Real Estate Investment And Agricultural Land Values., Hudu Abukari

Theses and Dissertations

Using agricultural transaction data from 2019 to the first quarter of 2023 provided by a major financial lender in Mississippi, I assess the relationship between financial and real estate buyers and agricultural land prices. Grantor and grantee information in the data allowed me to classify buyers into individuals, non-individual agribusinesses, and financial and real estate buyers. A hedonic pricing model is used to explore the relationship. The study concluded that the buyer type of agricultural land matters. More specifically, financial and real estate buyers pay a premium more than individuals and agribusiness buyers.