Digital Commons Network^™

How Parents & Children Talk About Technology Rules, Elisha Seoyoon Bae , '26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Reframing Faces: Brief Cognitive Restructuring And Emotion Recognition In Depression, Disha Sharma

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Institutionalization Of Nuclear Sharing: A Happy Medium For Asymmetric Alliances, Masanao Goto

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Why Person-Environment Fit Matters When Addressing Homelessness: An Intersectional Analysis Of King County, Washington’S Coordinated Entry System, Cori L. Cafaro

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Coordinated Entry (CE) systems aim to address homelessness by allocating resources based on need and prioritizing the most vulnerable individuals. However, system success depends on appropriately matching people to housing. This study examined person-environment fit (P-E fit) and associated housing outcomes for single adults matched to permanent supportive housing through King County, Washington's CE for All system, with intersectionality as a secondary lens. This was a secondary analysis using Qualitative Content Analysis of interview and focus group transcripts from tenants (n = 18), staff (n = 27), and policy leaders (n = 11). Five dimensions of fit emerged as consequential …

So There I Was, Jesse Marie Baggett

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This written thesis provides a description and analysis of my thesis exhibition, So There I Was, which presents a body of ceramic sculptures and paintings that explore themes of adventure, travel, and shared experiences. The work reimagines personal experiences through a cast of animal characters, with a rabbit acting as a stand-in for myself. These narratives are inspired by events from my own life and are transformed into imaginative scenes that emphasize playfulness, wonder, and storytelling.

The sculptures combine toy-like animal figures, pull carts, and miniature architectural structures to create playful environments that resemble playsets or staged scenes where …

Spiritual And Religious Lay Community Support For Informal Caregivers Of Adults At The End Of Life: A Literature Review, Rachel Lenko

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

• Informal caregivers of adults at the end of life often experience significant physical, psychological, and economic burden because of their caregiving and bereavement (Schulz et al., 2003; Skantharajah et al., 2022) 
• Prior evidence suggests that spirituality and/or religiosity contribute to positive religious coping and improved adjustment to bereavement (Damianakis et al., 2012; Stelzer et al., 2020) 
• Spiritual and religious communities often provide practical and social, in additional to spiritual/religious, support to their members 
• There is limited evidence describing practical and social support from spiritual/religious lay communities for informal caregivers of patients in the terminal phase of a disease

The Roadhouse And Mindful Alienation: On Fearlessly Losing Hope In Twin Peaks’ House Away From Home, Matthew C. Halteman

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

The Roadhouse scenes in Twin Peaks: The Return resolutely defy the conventions of serial television drama. From showcasing interminable bouts of floor-sweeping, to featuring lengthy music videos by little-known acts, to lavishing attention on the trivial conversations of seemingly random people, these scenes give significant time and space to stuff you just don’t usually see in a tightly plotted series. I suggest that these unconventional scenes are a feature rather than a bug. I argue that the Roadhouse scenes in The Return offer a therapeutic opportunity for viewers to become well-practiced at coping mindfully with feelings of alienation that arise …

Joint Associations Of Meditation And Physical Activity With Depression And Anxiety Symptoms In Us Adults: Nhis 2022, Yubing Wang

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Objectives

Physical activity and meditation may each relate to mental health, but their joint associations in U.S. adults are unclear. We examined the separate and joint associations of any past-year meditation and meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines with depression and anxiety symptoms.

Method

We analyzed data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey Sample Adult file (n = 24,927). Exposures were meeting PA guidelines, any past-year meditation, and their four-level combination (Neither, PA only, Meditation only, Both). Outcomes were moderate-to-severe depressive and anxiety symptoms (PHQ-8/GAD-7 >= 10). Survey-weighted modified Poisson models estimated prevalence ratios (PRs), with interaction, sensitivity, and post …

The Other Side Of The Glass Cliff, Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Kellye Testy

Faculty Scholarship

First articulated by researchers Michelle K. Ryan and S. Alexander Haslam in 2005, the glass cliff theory posits that individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups in leadership, such as women and people of color, are more likely to obtain executive leadership positions during times of crisis, which means that such leaders take on their roles under conditions where they are more prone to fail. In this Essay, we focus on what we have termed “the other side of the glass cliff”: the intentional steps that women and people of color leaders in the legal academy have taken to build structures that …

Keeping Evidence Real, Anya Bernstein, Julia Simon-Kerr

Faculty Scholarship

Commentators largely agree that the Federal Rules of Evidence have problems. Expert testimony standards admit junk science. Impeachment rules chill defendant testimony. The hearsay regime defies consistent application and obstructs self-representation. The list goes on: Many rules fail to assist, or affirmatively thwart, jurors trying to make good decisions. Such shortcomings disproportionately harm those with the least power in the system, raising profound questions about whether the evidence code serves its statutory mandate—to promote truth and justice in court proceedings. In the face of widely recognized problems, the government body charged with managing the evidence code—the Advisory Committee on Evidence …

Understanding Motivations And Health Outcomes Of College-Aged Triathletes During Covid-19: A Mixed-Methods Study, Patrick Wilson, Eddie Hill, Justin Haegele, Xihe Zhu

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

A triathlon is a multi-sport event that consists of three simultaneous events: swimming, biking, and running. This sport has experienced significant growth in the past few decades, with colleges and universities now participating. This exploratory mixed-methods study examined the motivations and perceived health benefits of college triathletes during the COVID-19 pandemic, using the Means-Ends of Recreation Scale and the Perceived Health Outcomes of Recreation Scale (N = 29), as well as semi-structured interviews (N = 4). Results indicate no difference in motives or health outcomes between male and female survey respondents. The thematic analysis of open-ended interview questions highlighted lived …

Integrating Self-Determination Theory And Continuous Glucose Monitoring: Promoting Youth Development Among Campers With Type 1 Diabetes, Eddie Hill, Bethany Arrington, Taylor Harvey, Alexis Barmoh, Rowan Williams, Laura Hill

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

The purpose of this cohort study was to evaluate participants’ general self-management and experiences of autonomy while attending diabetes camp using quantitative and qualitative data collection. Through a partnership, an outdoor diabetes camp was designed to assist youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in their management. The REACH Teen program conducted a week-long summer camp for youth with T1D. The study was designed through Outcome-Focused Programming grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) to meet campers’ needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Campers participated in outdoor activities and diabetes education designed to increase healthy behaviors. Twenty-three campers completed a 24-item pre- and …

The Effects Of Physical Activity Timing And Adherence To Physical Activity Guidelines On Sleep In Children With Adhd, Xiao Liang, Mengping Zhao, Li Su, Justin A. Haegele, Richard H. Xu, Jingjing Li, Andy Choi-Yeung Tse, Shirley X. Li

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Regular physical activity (PA) has been shown to benefit sleep. However, the effects of PA timing and adherence to the WHO's recommended 60-min moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guideline on sleep are unclear, especially for children with ADHD who often experience sleep problems. This study examined whether timing of MVPA influenced objectively measured sleep, including sleep latency (SL), sleep efficiency (SE), total sleep time (TST), and wake after sleep onset (WASO), among children with ADHD. This cross-sectional study involved 253 children with ADHD (Mage = 8.60 ± 1.31 years, 81% boys). MVPA timing was categorized as more than 8 h before …

The Chironian 2026, New York Medical College

The Chironian

The Chironian is distributed to a readership of 16,000 faculty, alumni and employees of New York Medical College, government and community leaders, affiliated hospitals and selected media. Each issue is carefully crafted to provide a balance of articles on cutting-edge research, personality profiles, student accomplishments and alumni news from all five schools on the NYMC campus. Inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

African American Attitudes Toward Supporting Older Adults: Differences By Lifecourse Stage, Nekehia T. Quashie, Sarah E. Patterson, Michelle A. Stage, Neil K. Mehta

Public Health Faculty Publications

African Americans express stronger norms of familism compared to other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Frequently overlooked is whether attitudes toward family and/or government support for older adults vary by lifecourse stage (young adult, midlife, and older adults) and type of support among African Americans. Using data from the 2001-2003 National Survey of American Life Adult Reinterview (n=1696, aged 18-90), multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine whether attitudes toward family, equal family and government, or government responsibility for financial, household chores, and personal care support to older adults vary by lifecourse stage. Findings showed that …

Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Versus Education For Chronic Pain In Adults With Sickle Cell Disease: 12-Month Randomized Trial Results, Olubusola B. Oluwole, Yi-Fan Yi-Fan Chen, Christina M. Lalama, Julia A. O’Brien, Laura M. De Castro, Charles Patrick Carroll, Darla Liles, Nirmish Shah, Santosh L. Saraf, Victor R. Gordeuk, Leshana Saint Jean, Michael Debaun, Robert M. Cronin, Tonya M. Palermo, Sherif M. Badawy, Megan E. Hamm, Jennifer N. Stinson, Chitra Lalloo, Sophie Lanzkron, Cassandra Trimnell, Lakiea Bailey, Raymona H. Lawrence, Kaleab Z. Abebe, Charles R. Jonassaint

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Background: Chronic pain affects up to 40% of adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), yet treatment options remain limited. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in other chronic pain conditions, it is underutilized for SCD pain, and its effectiveness remains unclear. Purpose: The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Real-time Pain Management Intervention for Sickle Cell via Mobile Applications (CaRISMA) compared digital CBT to Education for chronic SCD pain in adults. At 6 months, the primary outcome (pain interference) showed no between-group difference but both groups improved (CBT: −2.13; Education: −2.66). This report presents 12-month outcomes. Methods: A total of 359 …

Into Me See: Visibility, Recognition, And The Need To Be Seen In Kazuo Ishiguro’S Never Let Me Go, Vicki L. Wine Carney

Anthós

While critical scholarship on Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go often emphasizes bioethics, transhumanism, and the commodification of life, this lens overlooks the novel’s profound engagement with the psychological necessity of visibility. This paper argues that the tragedy of the clones is fundamentally a crisis of recognition, where invisibility is not incidental but structurally produced to facilitate exploitation. Drawing on Caroline Levine’s concept of the "Form of Utility" and Axel Honneth’s Theory of Recognition, this study examines how systemic indoctrination and objectification deny the clones their innate humanity to soothe the conscience of the "normals." Furthermore, it analyzes the characters’ …

Letter From The Editor, Lilli B. Rudine

Anthós

No abstract provided.

A Qualitative Study Of Undergraduate Underrepresented Minoritized Students’ Online Learning Experiences, Susanne Morris

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

This dissertation reports a qualitative secondary analysis of 37 semi-structured interviews with 40 undergraduate underrepresented minoritized (URM) students. Guided by social constructionism and intersectionality, the study explores how students make sense of online learning as a sociomaterial environment, attending to perceptions of constraints, affordances, and missing or misaligned signifiers. Interviews were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis to examine how institutional norms and course design shape what students experience as doable, safe, and meaningful. The study offers insight relevant to research and practice in equity and online learning.

Adolescent Relationships With Digital Actors And Their Influence In A Classroom Setting: An Interpretive Case Study, Kerry A. Hancock

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

In this post-COVID-19 society students are strongly influenced by their use of digital text and electronic devices. The assumption of the study was that if students spend time with devices and digital text that it might be possible for them to develop relationships with the non-human actors that exist as part of the learning environments in schools. This  interpretive case study rooted, in Posthumanist ideology, used Latour’s Actor Network Theory to approach data collection.

A comparative approach was adopted for this interpretive case study research and data were collected in three stages: initial classroom observation and analysis to determine the …

Responding To The Needs Of First-Generation Students: An Action Research Study Of Professional Development Opportunities For Faculty And Staff, Kyle G. Phillips

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

First-generation college students have historically been considered marginalized in institutions of higher education, with diminished success rates and disproportionately higher incidents of imposter syndrome. This Mixed Methods Action Research study assessed the extent to which faculty and staff are able to recognize and implement research-based best practices to improve the support system surrounding this student demographic. In particular, it assessed current levels of preparation to support first-generation students and sought to identify and implement an appropriate professional development program as part of the study's intervention. The efficacy of the intervention was then assessed, with the result delineated in this dissertation. …

From Trauma To Triumph: The Relationship Between Psychological Resilience And Academic Resilience In Graduate School Students With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Jade Gingue

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

This dissertation investigated the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), psychological resilience, and academic resilience among graduate students. Grounded in resilience theory and interpreted through a trauma-informed, strengths-based lens, the study examined whether psychological resilience functions as a buffering moderator or as a direct protective factor among graduate students.

Using a quantitative design, data were collected via Qualtrics from graduate students (n = 391). This study used three previously validated instruments, including the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-10), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25), and the Academic Resilience Scale (ARS-6), along with demographic measures. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted …

The Development Of Self-Efficacy Among New Residence Life Professionals, Kenyatta S. Jeter

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

New professionals in student affairs, particularly those working in housing and residence life, face complex job responsibilities that demand a high level of confidence and preparation. The purpose of this study was to increase resident directors’ sense of self-efficacy as they transition into their new role. This study employs a mixed methods action research (MMAR) design to explore the development of an effective onboarding and training framework to support housing and residence life professionals in successfully transitioning new resident directors into their roles.

An intervention plan was developed in collaboration with key stakeholders to increase resident directors’ sense of self-efficacy …

Problem-Based And Practice-Driven: Designing For Engagement In An Online Educational Leadership Program, Owens G. Saylor

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Virtual professional learning has emerged as a flexible and scalable solution for developing educational leaders, particularly those navigating demanding roles and geographic barriers. However, these benefits often come at the cost of diminished engagement, interaction, and practical application to real-world leadership challenges. Without intentional design, virtual sessions risk becoming passive and disconnected, undermining their professional development value. This study responds to these challenges by exploring how a problem-based learning (PBL) approach can improve engagement in the virtual component of the Kentucky Leadership Rising (KLR) Aspiring Superintendent Workshop Series.

This mixed methods action research (MMAR) study examined participants’ perceptions of engagement …

Enhancing International School Implementation Capacity: Supporting Contextualized Learning At An International Baccalaureate School In China, Christopher J. Hayden Iv

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

International schools allocate substantial resources to implement progressive curricular innovations; however, the advantages offered by these developments are contingent on their effective execution within classroom settings. This mixed methods action research (MMAR) study examined the implementation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Global Context (GC) Strategy in the Middle Years Programme (MYP) at an international school in China and asked how the school might strengthen its capacity to enact this and similar innovations. Following a sequential MMAR design, a reconnaissance phase combined a whole-staff survey (n=87) with qualitative interviews to diagnose the individual, organizational, and contextual factors shaping implementation. Analyses identified …

Unveiling The Shadows: An Exploratory Study On Ghostwriting, Gray Markets, And The Ethics Of Contract Cheating, Micah Crawford

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

Contract cheating has become an increasingly complex challenge for higher education, particularly as digital platforms, global academic labor markets, and generative artificial intelligence reshape the production and detection of academic work. While much of the existing literature examines contract cheating from the perspectives of students, faculty, and institutions, less attention has been given to the individuals who produce ghostwritten academic work. This dissertation addresses that gap by exploring how shadow scholars understand their roles, ethical boundaries, and participation within the academic integrity ecosystem.

Using an exploratory qualitative design, this study draws on twelve semi-structured narrative interviews with six freelance academic …

Are Multiple-Choice And Open-Ended Assessments Consistent In Predicting Science Achievement? Multivariate Multilevel Evidence From Chinese Students And Schools, Quan Wu

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

A multivariate multilevel model was developed and applied to secondary data from a large-scale science assessment of Grade 8 students in China to examine the consistency between multiple-choice and open-ended formats of assessment in predicting science achievement at the student and school levels. The sample included 44,534 students from 159 schools across two regions. Multivariate multilevel results indicated a moderately positive consistency between the two formats at the student level and a strongly positive consistency at the school level; these consistencies were stable across regions and did not depend on student and school characteristics. The findings have important practical implications …

Effects Of Yoga And Mindfulness On Emotional Regulation, Behavior, And Teacher Burnout, Sara E. Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

This dissertation comprises three studies that examine the effects of physical activity, yoga, and mindfulness interventions on students' emotional regulation, behavior, and academic outcomes in rural Kentucky schools. These studies as a whole contribute to understanding how movement-based and mindfulness practices can enhance social-emotional and academic well-being in schools.

The first study describes the effects of classroom-based physical activity on student achievement and social-emotional well-being. Forty-five elementary students participated in a 6-week intervention with two 7-minute movement breaks per day. Results indicated statistically significant improvements in Reading (t(44) = 2.55, p < .001, d = .38), Math (t(44) = 4.63, p < .001, d = .69), and social-emotional competence (t(44) = 3.67, p < .001, d = .55). These findings demonstrate that brief, structured physical activity can meaningfully enhance academic and emotional outcomes when implemented by classroom teachers.

The second study shows the effects of a five-week …

Leadership Perceptions In Mid-Major Ncaa Athletics: Exploring Women's Teams Head Coaches' Experiences With Athletic Department Senior Staff, Sydnie A. Steele

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Leadership practices within NCAA Division I athletic departments can shape the professional climate, well-being, and stability of the coaching staff. Yet, limited research has explored how senior administrators influence the experiences of coaches who lead women’s teams at mid-major institutions. This phenomenological inquiry study explored how head coaches interpret their interactions with senior athletic department staff and how these relational dynamics inform perceptions of support.

Twelve Division I head coaches participated in semi-structured Zoom interviews about their experiences at former institutions. The interview protocol integrated the LMX-7 framework with open-ended questions to capture the significance of the head coaches’ lived …

From Mandate To Meaning: Designing Implementation Supports For Organizational Readiness In Behavioral Health Service Planning, Lauren K. Mergen

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Behavioral health agencies often struggle to translate the Transformational Collaborative Outcomes Management (TCOM) framework into practice when implementation is externally mandated. This study examined how educational leaders can support meaningful use of TCOM tools under a Midwestern state’s October 2024 requirement that behavioral health providers use the state Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths assessment in service planning.

Using a Mixed Methods Action Research design, the study progressed through six phases: Diagnosis, Reconnaissance, Planning, Acting, Evaluation, and Monitoring. The Diagnosis Phase identified a knowledge-to-practice gap and weaknesses in implementation support infrastructure. Practitioner surveys administered immediately after training and six months …