Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of Indiana-Specific Trip Generation Procedures And Models Of E-Commerce Demand: Implications For Indot’S Travel Demand Modeling And Investment Planning, Rishika Srinivasa Tumula, Zhuoli Yin, Hua Cai, Nadia Gkritza

JTRP Technical Reports

This study aims to improve Indiana’s travel demand modeling practices by incorporating locally collected trip generation data and emerging e-commerce travel trends into INDOT’s planning framework. The research focuses on two primary objectives. First, it enhances trip generation procedures for high-impact land uses in Indiana, including warehouses, fast-food restaurants, gas stations, and truck stops. This effort includes reviewing existing ITE land use categories, prioritizing land uses for phased data collection, and developing improved trip generation equations that incorporate Indiana-specific independent variables and adjacent traffic conditions. Second, the study develops models to capture the transportation impacts of rapidly evolving e-commerce behavior. …

Unshackling The Coffee Supply Chain: An “Ethics Project” For Catholic Colleges And Universities, Bernard Prusak, Kimberly Lamberty

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Against the background of a growing and increasingly sophisticated body of theological literature on economic ethics, this article proposes a project to change for the better, morally, how coffee is supplied on the campuses of Catholic colleges and universities. We argue that this project is squarely in service of a Catholic college or university’s core educational goal of humane development of its students. The article then proceeds in three steps. First, we explain how the coffee supply chain works and how it is entangled in what Pope Francis called “the economy that kills.” Second, we discuss obstacles to our proposed …

Shifting Tide: A Comparative Analysis Of News Coverage Of The Israeli–Palestinian Conflict, Devon Skufca, Gloria S. Vaquera

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Internationally, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has been widely reported for years in mass media. Most recently, the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, again focused international attention on this region. Examining how this conflict has been reported starting October 2023 and for the subsequent eight months provides an opportunity to examine the framing of these events. This comparative study examines two newspapers of record, one from the United States (a known ally of Israel) and the other from Ireland, often seen as more sympathetic toward Palestinian statehood. A total of 179 articles from the New York …

Formation-Based Ai Ethics: Ethical Formation, Responsibility, And Opportunity Cost In Ai Ecosystems, Maurice Emelu

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Recent efforts in AI ethics have been dominated by the proliferation of high-level principles intended to guide responsible development and deployment. Yet persistent implementation failures suggest that principlism and tool-based approaches alone do not cultivate the moral capacity required to govern sociotechnical systems. This article advances a formation based framework for AI ethics that situates moral agency throughout the developmental conditions of design, use, and the AI lifecycle. Drawing on Aristotelian-MacIntyrean virtue ethics applied to media ecology, and sociotechnical responsibility, the argument reframes AI as a formative environment that shapes patterns of attention, judgment, delegation, and accountability over time. Against …

Dietary Intake And Predictors Of Healthy Eating In Midwestern American College Students: An Observational Study †, Anna Peluso Simonson, Jacquelyn N. Zera, Gregory S. Farnell

2026 Faculty Bibliography

College students often maintain poor dietary habits, notably low fruit and vegetable intake. Commonbarriers include limited time, cost, and lack of nutritional knowledge. This study examined dietary behaviors, barriers, and factors influencing Healthy Eating Scores (HES) amongcollege students. Participants (N = 224; age = 20.3 ± 2.5 years, BMI = 23.9 ± 4.1 kg/m2, 78.9% female, and 91.3% white) completed an online survey. Results indicate meat overconsumption with underconsumption of water, fruits, and vegetables. Limited time and healthy options were the primary perceived barriers. Tests of between-subject effects identified gender (F = 4.38, p = 0.04) and living situation (F …

Analytics And Irony In Organizational Change: Agency And Emotions In The Mangle Of Practice, Uri Gal, Sean Hansen, Kalle Lyytinen

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Advanced data analytics technology has experienced an explosion of interest as firms seek to increase profits, operational efficiency, and employee engagement through evidence-based management. However, empirical evidence of the impact of this technology on organizational outcomes remains mixed, which assertions of benefits closely matched by concerns about potential adverse outcomes. In this study, we explore the adoption of a popular application of analytics technology – a people analytics system – at Everest, a leadership development consulting firm. By juxtaposing idealized and realized facets of the organizational practices mediated by the system, we highlight the emergence of situational ironies, in which …

Grading In The Digital Age: Ai Feedback Versus Professor Feedback, Latoya Russell, Andrew Zeisler, Ronald Mickler Jr.

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Feedback is a cornerstone of academic development, particularly in marketing education, where skill development often requires iteration and applied practice. While instructors spend considerable time providing effective feedback, artificial intelligence (AI) tools can significantly reduce this burden by generating timely, tailored responses. For example, AI-based chatbots can supplement instruction, providing students with timely feedback and reducing instructors’ workload. This study examines how marketing students perceive feedback quality based on its source, specifically whether it is delivered by an AI system or a human instructor. Through a scenario-based experiment, we investigate student perceptions of feedback quality and effectiveness based on the …

The Effect Of Sleep Environment On Sleep Quality And Behavior In Firefighters: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jacquelyn N. Zera, Erica Esper, Anna Peluso Simonson, Ashley N. Clausen, Serena Paterno

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Firefighters face high-stress occupational demands and irregular shift work that negatively impact sleep quality, which is intrinsically linked to long-term physical and psychological health. This cross-sectional study examines how the physical sleep environment (home vs. work) and station sleeping arrangements (bunk-style vs. individual dorm-style quarters) influence subjective sleep quality in this population. Sixty-six career firefighters (Age = 40.89 ± 11.05 years), completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess their sleep in both home and fire station environments, with data analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed Ranks and Mann–Whitney U tests. The results reveal significant differences (p < 0.001), with sleep duration, efficiency, subjective quality, and global PSQI scores all performing significantly better at home than at work. Notably, no significant differences were found between bunk-style and dorm-style sleeping quarters at the station. These findings suggest that firefighters experience poorer sleep while on duty regardless of room design, indicating that operational stressors like call volume and nocturnal arousal may be more influential on sleep quality than the physical arrangement of sleeping quarters, and could inform organizational policies and wellness programs aimed at reducing occupational fatigue.

A Strategy To Identify Biliary Atresia Efficiently: A Perspective From A Texas Center, Sanjiv Harpavat, Tebyan A Rabbani, Ashley M Upton, Sridevi Devaraj, Jose A Hernandez, Benjamin L Shneider

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Infants with biliary atresia are often diagnosed after 60 days of life because the disease is difficult to detect in its early stages. However, infants treated before 30-45 days of life have the best long-term outcomes. To help accelerate the biliary atresia diagnosis, we have developed a streamlined strategy that involves two sequential tests: (1) direct or conjugated bilirubin measurements and (2) a feeding abdominal ultrasound exam. In this review, the strategy is shared to encourage others to provide feedback as well as to consider incorporating portions into their own clinical workflows.

Developing And Evaluating A Multidimensional Measure Of Pride In The Lgbtqia+ Community, Donovan Edward

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Pride in LGBTQIA+ spaces has thus far been an ethereal concept with no universally agreed-upon definition. Previous literature frequently connects pride to traits such as resilience, comfort, confidence, and identity expression. This is a critical oversight, as most measures of LGBTQIA+ experiences focus on the negative aspects of queer experiences (e.g., vulnerability, victimization) or are created to evaluate non-LGBTQIA+ perceptions of LGBTQIA+ people, falsely characterizing this community in a deficit-based light. In response, this study aimed to offer a holistic definition of pride and develop a psychometrically sound measure of pride stemming from culturally salient expressions by using rigorous analytical …

Remember To Say Her Name - Addressing Black Women's Experiences Of Vicarious Police Brutality And Testing A Racial Trauma Meditation, Gabriella A. Roper

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Black women and girls are disproportionately impacted by police violence, as some are victims of brutality but also as viewers of police violence videos and advocates for police reform (Williams, 2021). Yet, most media coverage centers on police brutality against Black men, rendering the suffering of Black women largely invisible. Studies indicate heightened rates of distress experienced by Black women as a result of race-based stressors, compounded by their limited access to adaptive coping mechanisms (Beauliere, 2022; Hawkins, 2022). This study investigated the psychological effects of vicarious police brutality exposure on Black women. In addition, this study evaluated the effectiveness …

Advancing Interoperability Through Governance And Sustainability: A Qualitative Comparative Case Study Of State Health Information Exchanges In The United States, Karterria Finkley

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of state-level Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) across all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, examining how governance structures, consent frameworks, funding models, and technical infrastructure influence interoperability maturity, sustainability, and adoption. Guided by Systems Theory and Donabedian’s Structure Process Outcome framework, the research employs a mixed-methods comparative case design integrating systematic documentary review, qualitative thematic analysis, and a policy-anchored analytic scoring methodology. Structural and policy characteristics were operationalized through standardized ordinal (1-5) metrics and aggregated into composite indices representing governance capacity, consent inclusivity, financial sustainability, and technical readiness. This approach enabled …

Examining How Engagement Strategies Of Principals Influence Teacher Retention In Urban Title I Schools, Bridgette Allen

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

As the teacher shortage continues to rise, it is critical for educational leaders to focus on teacher retention. Principals play a significant role in teacher retention, teacher engagement, and job satisfaction; therefore, they must implement effective engagement strategies to improve teacher retention. The purpose of this basic qualitative study is to explore how engagement strategies employed by principals at urban Title I schools contribute to teachers’ decisions to remain at these schools. The research question for this study examines teachers’ perspectives on how the engagement strategies used by their school principals influence their decision to remain in an urban Title …

Exploring Teacher Perceptions: A Comparative Analysis Of Departmentalized And Self-Contained Instructional Models In First And Second Grades, Jason R. Trotter

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative multiple-case study examined the perceptions of first- and second-grade teachers who have taught in both the departmentalized and traditional self-contained instructional models. The study explored teachers’ perceived advantages and disadvantages of each model, examined how their experiences within each model influenced instructional strategies and classroom management approaches, and assessed their perceived impacts on student engagement and learning outcomes. Each grade level was a bounded case. This study was conducted at a Title I elementary school in Southeast Georgia, where both models were implemented.

Guided by social constructivism, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven teachers (four first-grade and three …

Staff Perceptions Of The Roles, Responsibilities, And Effectiveness Of School Resource Officers In Ensuring School Safety, Jana B. Collins

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

School safety remains a critical concern in education, particularly in rural settings where resources, staffing, and community dynamics may differ from urban and suburban environments. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine staff perceptions of the roles, responsibilities, and effectiveness of school resource officers in maintaining and enhancing school safety within a rural school system. A researcher-designed survey using a 4-point Likert scale was administered to teachers and staff members (N = 417). Descriptive statistics summarized overall staff perceptions, and analyses of variance (ANOVAs) examined differences based on demographic and professional characteristics. Findings indicated that staff generally …

Extracurricular Activities' Influence On High School Students' Academic Achievement, Michael Jones Jr

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This quantitative study investigates the relationship between participation in extracurricular activities and academic achievement among high school students, as measured by Grade Point Average (GPA). This study uses a cross-sectional research design to analyze GPA data from Greenbrier High School in Evans, Georgia. Greenbrier is a part of the Columbia County School District and serves approximately 2,000 students. Historical data were collected from 2024-2025 school records and analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA to compare the impact of ECAs on academic achievement. The study analyzed differences in academic performance based on (a) participation versus non‑participation in ECAs, (b) the type of …

The Efflorescence Of Apocalypticism (Imminent & Prepping Beliefs): Considering Informational And Motivational Regulatory Mechanisms, James T. Good Mr.

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In the last quarter of the 21st century, apocalyptic beliefs emerged in scholarly and lay representations notably doubling over the last decade. With nearly forty percent of United States citizen reporting this belief, unfulfilled questions arose: What drives discrepancies in beliefs of an imminent end of the world? Additionally, what drives beliefs in the need to prepare for an end of the world? These individual questions were examined together in this study using Construal Level Theory (CLT) and Regulatory Focus Theory (RFT) in an attempt to identify how psychological mechanisms are significantly affecting the fluctuations, in these self-reported beliefs. A …

Experiencing Followership: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of Executive Assistants In Higher Education, Trina R. Smith

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The burgeoning study of followership needs more follower-centric qualitative research that describes follower beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, and experiences. The traditional view of leadership is that a single person is responsible for the success or failure of a project, team, or organization. However, scholars have suggested that 80% of the success of a team or organization may be attributed to followership. Followership research is rapidly expanding, and scholars are calling for more empirical follower-centric research to add to the discipline. Likewise, the executive assistant (EA) position is one of increasing responsibility, but there are few empirical studies on EAs' experiences across …

A Real-Time Autonomous Mobile Robotic System For Crack Detection And 3d Laser Profiling In Construction Using Two-Stage Deep Learning, Emmanuella Ogun

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents an autonomous mobile robotic system that integrates real-time visual crack detection with laser-based three-dimensional profiling for building inspection. The system coordinates SLAM-based navigation, deep learning perception, and manipulator-guided measurement within a unified ROS 2 framework, enabling scan-on-demand workflows where laser profiling occurs selectively at visually detected defect locations. The detection pipeline employs a two-stage architecture combining U-Net semantic segmentation with Pix2Pix residual refinement, achieving 73.9% mean intersection-over-union and 76.4% F1-score on the CrackSeg9k benchmark while maintaining 16 frames-per-second real-time throughput. Real-world validation demonstrated 95% detection success on 80 campus images under challenging conditions. The profiling subsystem utilizes …

Ai-Driven Real-Time Detection Of Zero-Day Browser Exploits Using Webassembly-Based Instrumentation, Temitope Damilola Elijah

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The rapid evolution of web browsers into fully fledged application execution environments has significantly expanded their attack surface, making them prime targets for sophisticated zero-day exploits that evade traditional signature-based security mechanisms. To address this challenge, this research proposes an AI-driven framework for real-time detection and analysis of zero-day exploits in web browsers by integrating browser-level telemetry monitoring, unsupervised anomaly detection, and large language model–based threat interpretation. The framework introduces a lightweight WebAssembly telemetry agent embedded within the browser runtime to capture low-level execution behaviors, including WASM module instantiation, memory growth patterns, network interactions, and runtime API activity. These telemetry …

Recruitment Strategies For Rural Black Students At Georgia Colleges And Universities: From An Admissions Counselor Perspective, Jayde B. Nelson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores the recruitment practices of admissions counselors at colleges and universities in the state of Georgia, with a focused lens on their efforts to engage and enroll Black students from rural high schools. The study investigates how geographic isolation, racial identity, and systemic inequalities converge to shape the college access landscape for underrepresented students in rural communities. Using a qualitative approach grounded in Culturally Responsive Leadership as the theoretical framework, this research examines the strategies, barriers, and institutional priorities that influence outreach efforts and recruitment outcomes. By analyzing admissions counselor perspectives and institutional approaches, the study found that …

A Program Evaluation Research Study Of The Implementation Of Mothers With Mentors: A Dissertation On Shelter From The Rain’S Mentorship Program, Danielle Louise Smith

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This program evaluation study examines the implementation of the 2025 Shelter From the Rain “Mothers with Mentors” program in Savannah, GA. Utilizing a convergent parallel mixed-methods approach, the study evaluates the program’s acceptability, feasibility, and perceived benefit through the theoretical lenses of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the Health Belief Model (HBM), and Bonding Social Network (BSN). The analysis incorporates quantitative and qualitative data for participant mentees (n=7) and mentors (n=12), with a specialized paired analysis of five mentor-mentee matches.

The findings indicate a complex landscape of convergence and divergence across the groups. Quantitative results depicted high convergence on …

Exploring The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Preventive Healthcare Utilization In Rural Georgia, Ryan R. Traylor

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and preventive healthcare use among adults in Georgia, specifically within rural populations facing structural barriers. Using 2023 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, the research analyzes associations between ACE exposure, rural residence, and preventive care outcomes, including physical exams and flu vaccinations. Guided by an intersectionally adapted version of Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use, the study evaluates how predisposing factors, enabling resources, and perceived barriers relate to healthcare engagement. Logistic regression analyses assess the correlation of ACE exposure, cost barriers, provider access, and sociodemographics with preventive …

Assessing The Diversity And Composition Of Crayfish Assemblages In The Ogeechee River Basin, Reginald Turner

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Crayfish assemblage composition in the southeastern United States is understudied relative to other aquatic taxa, such as aquatic insects and fishes, and the Coastal Plain watersheds of that region are particularly underrepresented in the contemporary literature on this topic. For example, although 38% of the crayfish species in Georgia are considered “species of greatest conservation need,” most of the distributional data used to make these designations are outdated, with some dating back over 50 years. This thesis sought to update our understanding of the contemporary distributions of crayfish species within the Ogeechee River Basin (ORB), a watershed in southeastern Georgia …

Assessing And Advancing Pandemic Emergency Preparedness In New York City's Hospitals: A Strategic Management Toolkit Integrating Policy Analysis, Risk Assessment, And Stakeholder Insight, Irrem Jamal

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines pandemic emergency preparedness in New York City hospitals, which were severely strained during COVID-19, revealing critical gaps between documented plans and operational readiness. Using a multimethod approach combining a survey of 20 stakeholders across city hospitals, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis of policy frameworks and after-action reports, the study identifies a persistent "documentation-execution paradox": while 80% of respondents confirmed clear pandemic plans, only 45% expressed confidence in staffing adequacy, 55% in surge planning realism, and just 45% confirmed regular drills. Qualitative analysis revealed workforce as the single greatest yet most underinvested vulnerability, supply chain fragility rooted in …

Swimming In Uncertainty: Filling Data Gaps And Providing An Educational Platform For Beach Water Quality At Tybee Island, Georgia, Lukas Roberson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

@font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}.MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-font-kerning:0pt; mso-ligatures:none;}div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}

Swimming in beaches water contaminated with high levels of bacteria can make you sick. Current monitoring at the public beaches on Tybee Island consists of weekly monitoring and enumeration of fecal indicator bacteria that takes 24 hours for results. If the number of bacteria exceed regulatory limits, a public health advisory is issued, and affected waters are retested until …

The Effect Of Complexity Of Expert Testimony And The Presence Of A Defensive Rebuttal On Jurors' Decisions In Criminal Trials, Shelby E. Madden

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Forensic science plays a critical role in criminal trials, yet forensic techniques vary in their reliability. Expert testimony, often held in high regard by jurors, can be a decisive factor in verdicts, but its influence is complicated by factors such as technical complexity, adversarial bias, and heuristic processing. The present study examined how the complexity of prosecution expert testimony and the presence of a defensive rebuttal influenced jurors’ decisions when presented with faulty forensic evidence. Participants (N = 142) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions in a 2 (testimony complexity: high v. low) x 2 (defensive rebuttal …

Examining Firefighter Perceptions Of Stress And Recovery Across A Shift And Engagement In Recovery Activities, Nathan T. Ebersole

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The occupational demands of firefighting, such as fire suppression and rescue tasks, working in hazardous conditions, inconsistent sleep patterns, and exposure to traumatic events, can lead to work-related injuries, burnout, and feelings of isolation. To date, there is limited research on the impact of a single work-shift on firefighter perceptions of stress and recovery and the recovery activities that may influence these perceptions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a single work-shift on firefighter perceptions of stress and recovery status as well as the recovery activities firefighters choose to engage in. Forty-three firefighters across …

Ni De Aqui, Nor There. Pero As The In-Between, Vanessa Franquez

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores first-generation Mexican American identity as a lived experience of translation and survival. Drawing from Judith Butler, Gloria Anzaldúa, and Jack Burnham, the work frames identity as performative, embodied, and shaped by overlapping cultural systems. Insects function as models of adaptation, camouflage, and defense, paralleling survival strategies such as code-switching and cultural hybridity. Through sculptural processes including tufting, felting, sewing, layering, and the inscription of Spanglish text, repetition and puncture become material metaphors for pressure, repair, and resilience. Language operates as both subject and substance, resisting grammatical purity in favor of hybridity. The work ultimately positions the in-between …

Modeling Accreditation Standards And Evaluation Methods To Inform Strategic Planning In Public Health Education, Debra Rich

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Public health has long benefited from the relationship between postsecondary education, accreditation, and government employment. Assessment and accreditation are important tools in postsecondary education to ensure fiscal responsibility, professional competencies, and quality assurance. The competency standards implemented in post-secondary education are not under the direct control of the federal government; however, policy amendments aimed at specific accreditation criteria could result in changes to public health curriculum and create eligibility barriers for students who rely on federal financial support. The Central Washington University Public Health program has provided educational support in professional public health for decades, and there is an increased …