Digital Commons Network^™

Communication Through Connection And Identity: Songwriting With People Living With Dementia, Sean Connolly

Expressive Therapies Theses

Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative condition associated with significant changes in communication, which can have profound effects on an individual’s autonomy, self-identity and quality of life. Rising global dementia rates underscore the urgent need to address these issues and expand approaches to care. This literature review examines current research on songwriting methods in music therapy for those living with dementia and investigates how songwriting might support communication for that population. The review explores a variety of music-based approaches, including both neurologic and music-centered frameworks, and highlights a range of songwriting techniques. The findings suggest that songwriting may facilitate communication beyond …

Constructed Care: Stitching Patient Journeys Through Quilting And Healthcare Design, Ashley D. Moberly

Graduate Final Projects

This thesis investigates how healthcare environments can better support patient experience through improved wayfinding, spatial clarity, and human-centered design strategies. Contemporary healthcare systems are often complex and difficult to navigate, placing additional cognitive and emotional burdens on patients, particularly those traveling from rural and underserved regions. Drawing from both professional experience in healthcare facilities planning and a comprehensive review of literature on spatial perception, wayfinding, and patient-centered care, this research identifies key challenges in how patients' access, interpret, and move through healthcare environments.

In response, the study introduces the Quilt Logic System, a conceptual framework that translates principles derived from …

From Demolition To Digital: Using Virtual Reality To Interpret Hamilton House, Hannah R. Miller

Graduate Final Projects

This master’s project investigates the potential of digital reconstruction as a tool for documenting and interpreting demolished historic resources, using Hamilton House as a case study. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates archival analysis with digital modeling to recreate the spatial context of the house. By grounding the digital model in historical evidence, this study examines how virtual reconstruction can be used to interpret social relationships, patterns of use, and lived experiences that are not fully captured through traditional means of documentation. This project also considers the interpretive implications of reconstructing using fragmentary historical data, addressing the possibilities and …

Small Businesses: A Comprehensive Investigation Into Data Quality's Impact On Security, Privacy, And Governance, Deveeshree Nayak

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the extent to which deficiencies in data quality, specifically accuracy, completeness, consistency, timeliness, validity, and uniqueness, undermine data security, privacy compliance, and governance effectiveness in small businesses (fewer than 200 employees and annual revenues under $10 million) in Washington State. Although data are increasingly viewed as a strategic asset, empirical research on how poor data quality amplifies cyber risks and regulatory exposure in resource-constrained environments remains limited. A convergent mixed-methods design was employed. A purposive survey captured practitioner perceptions from nine small-business professionals regarding the impact of data quality on security (CIA triad), privacy (accuracy and transparency …

A Socio-Computational Framework For Understanding Information Campaigns Through A Collective Action Perspective, Sayantan Bhattacharya

Theses and Dissertations

In a time when social media significantly influences public dialogue, grasping the elements that contribute to the success of information campaigns has become vital for understanding modern social movements and political engagement. This dissertation explores the essential factors that affect the efficacy of information campaigns across digital platforms, addressing a notable gap in existing research that frequently neglects the systematic connection between information spread and outcomes of collective action. Instead of viewing these as distinct phenomena, this study constructs an integrated framework that highlights three crucial dimensions of successful information campaigns: the human factor, which emphasizes the role of influential …

2026 Spring Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Spring 2026 commencement program. Commencement was on Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8, 2026.

During the Commencement event, a complete list of graduates was provided online. This program was not published during the Commencement event. This digital copy is maintained in the repository for archival purposes.

Nudging Implementation Of Low Tidal Volume Ventilation: A Stepped Wedge, Cluster Randomized Trial, Meeta Prasad Kerlin, Michael O. Harhay, Fan Li, Dylan S. Small, Yingying Lu, Wei Wang, Barry D. Fuchs, Mark E. Mikkelsen, Teresa Tran, Aerielle Belk, Jasmine A. Silvestri, Tamar Klaiman, Stefania Scott, Elizabeth Levy, Michael W. Sjoding, Rachel Kohn, Karsten J. Roberts, Rinad S. Beidas, Scott D. Halpern

College of Health Professions Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: "Nudges" embedded in the electronic health record (EHR) facilitate desired decisions while preserving autonomy and may provide a scalable strategy to overcome the common implementation barrier of lack of knowledge about a best practice. We sought to test whether EHR-based nudges targeting two intensive care unit (ICU) clinician groups would safely increase evidence-based use of low tidal volume ventilation.

METHODS: We performed a stepped-wedge, cluster randomized, hybrid type 3 effectiveness-implementation trial in 12 ICUs from February 2021 to May 2023 to test three nudges targeting clinicians responsible for order entry and respiratory therapists responsible for operationalizing orders and documentation. …

Working Alliance And Subjective Engagement With A Digital Avatar Cbt Platform (Ritch®Cbt): Comparing Young Adults With And Without Co-Occurring Substance Use And Depression, Victoria Pezzino, Cassandra Berbary, Courtney Mckinney, Celeste Sangiorgio, Emi Moriuchi, Korena S. Klimczak, Robert Kay Cooper Jr., Wonkyung Kniffen, Maya Hareli, Cory Crane, Caroline J. Easton

Psychology Student Research

Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) can help bridge treatment gaps experienced by young adults with co-occurring substance misuse and depression. However, it remains unclear whether engagement with these interventions differs for young adults with co-occurring conditions compared to those experiencing substance misuse or depression alone. To investigate this issue, we assessed working alliance and subjective engagement with a digital avatar-assisted cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment platform (RITch^®CBT), comparing young adults with substance use, depression, and the co-occurrence of the two. A secondary data analysis was conducted on a sample of 99 young adults aged 18–28 years who presented at …

Comparative Behavioral Impacts Of Neuroactive Pharmaceuticals On Crayfish Locomotion, Grace Elizabeth Smith

Masters Theses

Pharmaceuticals are increasingly recognized as contaminants of concern in aquatic ecosystems, often entering waterways due to incomplete removal by wastewater treatment plants. Despite frequent detection, the effects of these compounds on non-target, neurochemically sensitive organisms such as crayfish remains underexplored. Gabapentin, an anticonvulsant that binds to presynaptic voltage-gated calcium channels and reduces excitatory neurotransmitter release, is one such emerging contaminant. Given crayfish’s ecological importance and sensitivity to neuroactive substances, exposure to gabapentin may disrupt key behaviors such as locomotion. To place gabapentin’s effects in context, we also examined escitalopram (Lexapro), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that elevates synaptic 5-HT, and …

Program Consistency And Outcomes Proof: An Outcomes Measure Framework For The Portrait Of A Northstar Graduate, Grace Mabiala-Maye

MBA Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

NorthStar Foundation commissioned this engagement to answer a single question. Does its existing measurement infrastructure capture the developmental outcomes described in the Portrait of a NorthStar Graduate, the five-tier framework of Basic Needs, Belonging, Hope, Agency, and Leadership that President Wayne D. Brown has formalized as the organizing definition of success? The finding is that NorthStar is significantly closer to outcomes measurement than it realized. A crosswalk analysis of sixty-five unique survey items across six existing instruments shows that items measuring Belonging, Hope, and Agency are already embedded in the spring surveys at every grade level and align with validated …

Liberty Centre Marketing & Branding Strategy: Client Consulting Report, Mirsada Demirovic, Jack Gottschalk, Danny Ventura

MBA Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Liberty Centre is a non-profit organization based in Norfolk, Nebraska, operating under the recognized Clubhouse model. The organization’s mission is to assist adults recovering from mental illness with opportunities to rebuild their lives through work and access to community resources.

This consulting engagement was undertaken as part of the MBA Capstone course under the direction of Professor Kristi Lynch. Our Team: Mirsada Demirovic, Jack Gottschalk, and Danny Ventura was tasked with developing a marketing and branding strategy to increase awareness of Liberty Centre’s services.

The primary deliverables include a refined brand positioning statement, a messaging framework, a digital growth strategy, …

A Critical Analysis Of The Influence Of Ideology On Education Governance In An Urban, Midwestern School District, Carl Bryan

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study examines how ideology operates within local education governance through a critical theoretical lens. As state and national education policies, accountability mandates, and partisan political discourse increasingly shape local school governance, this research investigates how power relations, ideological influences, and equity concerns are embedded in school board decision-making processes and public discourse. Addressing a gap in existing scholarship on ideology in education governance, the study employs a qualitative case study of an urban public school district in the Midwestern United States. Data sources include individual interviews with school board members, critical discourse analysis of school board meetings, and analysis …

Employment Research, Vol. 33, No. 2, April 2026

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

School Of Education Alumna Begins Second Term Leading Advisory Board, Don Feitel

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – Kathleen Grigsby has been reappointed to a second term as president of the University of Mississippi School of Education board of advisers.

Red And Blue Celebration Honors Staff Graduates, Tim Kephart

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – As the University of Mississippi prepares to honor its latest class of graduates, several of that group are dedicated staff members who pulled double duty working and completing degrees.

Pedagogy In Context: How Private School Teachers Make Meaning Of Equity-Focused Teaching Practices, Savannah Shana Scarborough

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This pedagogical ethnography examines how teachers in a private school context understand and enact Culturally Relevant Education (CRE). While CRE emphasizes cultural competence and critical consciousness, less is known about how it is interpreted within private school settings, where institutional culture and community expectations shape pedagogy. This study explores how teachers engage culturally relevant commitments and how institutional context influences those practices.

A qualitative ethnographic design was used to examine classroom practice in a South Carolina private school. Data was collected through observations, semi-structured interviews, and teacher reflections from four Upper School teachers selected through purposive sampling. Analysis combined deductive …

Admiralty, John P. Kavanagh Jr.

Mercer Law Review

The cases discussed herein represent decisions from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, as well as district courts within the circuit, issued in 2025. While not an all-inclusive list of maritime decisions during that timeframe, the Author identified and provided summaries of key rulings of interest to the maritime practitioner.

Science In Service Of Society: My Journey In Immunology And Public Engagement, Prakash Nagarkatti

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

I Am God's Masterpiece: Ministry For Adults With Idd, Raegan M. Wilson

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project was completed in collaboration with Parkway Ministries in Corbin, Kentucky. My Applied Leadership Experience (ALE) took place in a community-based faith setting and focused on the ACOTE areas of Program Development, Education, and Advocacy. As part of a collaborative project to develop an inclusive Vacation Bible School (VBS) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), my individual focus was supporting caregivers through education, resource development, and community engagement. A needs assessment and literature review identified caregiver burden, social isolation, limited educational resources, and reduced access to support services as common challenges for caregivers of adults with …

Clethra Alnifolia: A Fact Sheet For Seed Transfer Considerations, Taylor Houggy

Plant Science Articles

Clethra alnifolia is a highly prized fragrant deciduous shrub, often found in many home gardens across Eastern North America. Despite its popularity in the landscape industry, there is little research comparing C. alnifolia's natural habits in the wild to its habits as a landscaped cultivar. Information such as flowering phenology, genetic diversity, and growth habits have the potential to change considerably depending on C. alnifolia's location. Because of this, it is important that landscape growers as well as forest conservationists have access to ecological fact sheets in order to make informed decisions when transferring seed to different areas. In this …

The Curtains Aren’T Just Blue: The Decline Of Media Literacy Within Pop-Culture, Kaia Divisconti

Honors Theses

This paper explores the relationship between the growing belief that media like film, television and advertisements “aren’t that deep” and the decline of English departments within education. This study explores how pillars of English departments, like analysis and rhetorical awareness, are pivotal for students to learn to understand the vast number of digital media that they are faced with every day. Through pop-culture moments of American Eagle “good genes” advertisement campaign, media trends like “red pill” content and stereotypical representation in film, this paper examines how this content is pushed onto students and how departments like English and humanities can …

Perspective On Speech Therapy, Aac Devices, And Community Support: A Case Study Of A Caregiver Of An Adult With Down Syndrome, Ella Harris

Honors College Theses

For someone with a disability such as Down syndrome (DS), they often present with deficits in speech and language. These individuals typically require a caregiver for their physical, mental, and social needs, and their caregiver also often serves as their primary communication partner. This study explored caregiver perspectives on how they facilitate communication including their experiences with speech therapy services, augmentative and alternative communication, and community communication supports. A caregiver of an adult with DS participated in a structured interview to discuss their experiences as a caregiver for an individual with complex communication needs. The data from the interview was …

Manufacturing A Confederate Martyr: John Yates Beall, John Wilkes Booth, And The Politics Of Postwar Memory, Corin M. Fyrdrian

Student Papers (History)

John Yates Beall, a Confederate naval officer and privateer executed by the United States in 1865, has often been remembered through a Lost Cause framework that casts him as a chivalric martyr and “victim of honor.” This thesis challenges that interpretation by situating Beall’s life, wartime actions, trial, execution, and postwar memory within competing ideas of honor, legality, violence, and Confederate nationalism. Through analysis of Beall’s military activities, legal arguments, newspaper coverage, personal writings, and later narratives, this thesis argues that his postwar image was not merely preserved but actively constructed. Lost Cause writers transformed his execution into a moral …

Quantitative Assessment Of Cybersecurity Risk Variability Across Transportation Modes, Paulo Carreon

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Transportation systems are increasingly dependent on digital technologies, networked communications, and cyber-physical integration, making cybersecurity an important issue for operational continuity, resilience, and safety. Although cybersecurity risks in transportation are widely recognized, much of the existing research remains mode-specific and lacks a standardized quantitative framework for comparing risk across transportation systems. This study develops a quantitative, incident-based approach for assessing cybersecurity risk variability across four major transportation modes: Aviation, Maritime, Rail, and Road. The study is based on a manually constructed dataset of 189 publicly reported transportation cybersecurity incidents collected from 2000 to 2025. Each incident was coded into structured …

The Grizzly, May 7, 2026, Renee Washart, Sidney Belleroche, Dylan Mchugh, Andrew Mihniak, Adam Denn, Cassidy Denning

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Ursinus College Announces Shifts to Berman Museum • Ursinus Food Pantry: Coming Soon? • Students Learn From MLS Senior Director of Social Media Dan Stelly • Theater Department Presents Independent Capstone Production • Renee Washart Signing Off! • Adam Denn Signing On! • Sidney Belleroche Signing On! • AI: Humanity's Silent Killer • UC Sports Network Returns In Full Force • Ursinus Baseball's Miracle Run Comes to a Close

Program Development And Implementation Of A Sensory-Based Self Regulation Curriculum For Adults With Down Syndrome At Gigi’S Playhouse, Grace Blair

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through partnership with Gigi’s Playhouse Nashville, a non-profit organization offering free programming and services to individuals of all ages with Down syndrome and their families. The goal of this project was to develop and implement an educational curriculum for adult education programs focused on daily life skills, money management, physical health, self confidence, and a variety of other topics. A secondary focus of this project was to support sensory regulation in individuals with Down syndrome to promote overall health and participation. The results were physical and digital materials to be used for future adult …

Art 399 Portfolio Final, Ansley M. Singer

Professional Practices (ART 399)

What inspires me to make my work is my quirky personality and how my mind works. I want people to understand that art does not have to look perfect or that the artist is not good enough. Personally, I have never really felt good enough to be an artist, and I continue to question why I am an art major. My mental health has been a really important part of my art. I use art to work through my emotions. Using clay helps me show the way I want to communicate to people about my art. Nothing has to be …

From Identification To Implementation: Anti-Gentrification Strategies In Planning The Omaha Beltline Trail, Curtis Dedman

Public Administration Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Urban green infrastructure projects provide significant environmental and public health benefits but can also contribute to gentrification and displacement. This study examines how anti-gentrification strategies were identified, incorporated, and implemented in the planning of the Omaha Beltline Trail, a multi-phase redevelopment project in North Omaha. Given its ongoing development, the project offers a unique opportunity to analyze equitable planning in real time rather than retrospectively.

The Politics Of Sustainability: Corporate Environmental Responsibility And Policy Implications, Andy Tuholski

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

This literature review aims to examine how political factors influence corporate environmental responsibility (CER) initiatives and the subsequent policy implications for environmental sustainability. By synthesizing existing research, it will (a) provide a comprehensive overview of the political dynamics that shape CER and highlight the role of policy in promoting sustainable corporate practices; and (b) offer information for policymakers, corporate leaders, and environmental advocates on fostering sustainable corporate practices through informed policymaking.

Forging Trust In Conflict: The Role Of Threat Assessment Team Dynamics In Countering Targeted Violence And Terrorism, Cynthia J. Kennedy

Psychology Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Threat assessment teams charged with preventing targeted violence and terrorism make consequential decisions under conditions of ambiguity, time pressure, and incomplete information, yet little empirical research has examined how team processes relate to effectiveness in this setting. This mixed-methods study investigated cognitive trust and task conflict in relation to perceived team effectiveness among threat assessment professionals (N = 63) and examined how team members manage disagreement and build consensus in practice. Participants completed survey measures of these constructs and responded to open-ended questions. Quantitative analyses used hierarchical regression and path analyses; qualitative responses were analyzed using codebook thematic analysis. Higher …