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2024 Celebration Of Faculty Scholars Condensed Program, University Of Northern Colorado Libraries

Celebration of Faculty Scholars

The Office of the Provost, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, and University Libraries are proud to host the fourth annual Celebration of Faculty Scholars. This year, we recognize the achievements of 272 faculty, who have contributed over 1,000 publications, presentations, and creative works, and secured more than $6,000,000 in grant funding in 2024.

Urinformed Spring 2025, Urinformed

URInformed: The URI Employees' Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Graduate Students In Medical School: Navigating Their Roles As Students And Parents, Laura Rafaj

Dissertations of Practice

This narrative inquiry examines the stories of medical students with children and how they manage and balance the demands of their roles as students and parents. Participant stories were used to illustrate the daily lives of medical student parents, highlighting some of the challenges and choices student parents face. Major themes that emerged relating to the needs of medical student parents include: the tools they use to balance their roles, how family status influences their academic and professional choices, how the structure of medical education impacts their experiences, and stigmas they face as a parenting and/or non-traditional student. This study …

The Winning Combination: A Study Of The Experiences Of Black Women Head Women Basketball Coaches On The Division I Level, Monique Bernoudy

Dissertations of Practice

Black women serving as NCAA college head women’s basketball coaches have limited representation and opportunities especially at the most elite Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. In Division I FBS women’s basketball programs, White women hold 38% of the head coaching positions and Black women hold 22. This is troubling because women’s basketball rosters reflect a quantity of Black women assistant coaches (37%) and Black women student-athletes (46%) which exceed the quantities of their White peers, yet they fail to rise in equitable quantities into head coaching positions. There is no plausible explanation for the inequitable representation of Black …

Quality Control: How School Districts Define, Recruit, And Retain High-Quality Teachers, A Qualitative Case Study, Tandalaya White

Dissertations of Practice

This research investigates how school administrators define, recruit, and retain highquality teachers and examines the implications of these efforts on student outcomes. Emphasizing the distinction between teacher quality: skills, abilities, and dispositions and teacher qualifications: certificates, degrees, and credentials, the study explores their overlap and importance in meeting the unique needs of districts, particularly in high-needs areas such as English as a second language (ESL) and special education. The presence or absence of such teachers critically impacts academic performance and social-emotional development, disproportionately affecting students of color and those in impoverished areas. Inadequate practices may contribute to the misidentification of …

A Qualitative Examination Of Multilingual Latino Students’ Perspectives Of Their Educational Journeys In Preparation For Careers In Stem, Rebecca S. Powers

Dissertations of Practice

This qualitative study examines the perspectives of six bilingual Latino students regarding their experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses in high school, and how these experiences influenced their decision to pursue STEM careers. Using Norton-Peirce's investment theory as a theoretical framework along with Gay’s culturally responsive pedagogy, the study explores how participants' identities, social and cultural capital, and ideologies interact with their educational experiences.

The findings reveal that family involvement, bilingual mentors, and students' funds of knowledge played a crucial role in their academic success and career choice. However, participants also faced significant challenges, including: segregation, negative …

Reimagining Traditional Education Through Humanizing Models Of Personalized Learning: Examining Implementation In The Midwest, Laura R. Garland

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

REIMAGINING TRADITIONAL EDUCATION THROUGH HUMANIZING MODELS OF PERSONALIZED LEARNING: EXAMINING IMPLEMENTATION IN THE MIDWEST

Laura Garland, EdD

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Northern Illinois University, 2025

Michael Manderino, Director

This qualitative document analysis, supported by semi-structured interviews, investigated the ways in which three Midwestern, K-12 public school districts implemented humanizing models of personalized learning, as a method of shifting from a traditional, teacher-centered instructional paradigm to a learner-centered one. Additionally, it sought to identify how the pedagogical attributes employed in participant districts explicitly and implicitly aligned with humanizing pedagogies. Participant districts were chosen based on their relationship with the …

Heroes Or Tyrants? Using The Leadership Of Chiang Kai-Shek To Re-Examine The Legacy Of Abraham Lincoln, Edward Woolery

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Today, reappraisal of history has become paramount in society. Scholars seek to contextualize building names, statues, and the land we live on. However, historians time and time again fail to reappraise popular figures in American history and misrepresent them by placing them on a pedestal. This thesis will analyze the existing body of scholarly work and primary historical sources to compare two such leaders from history in Chiang Kai-shek and Abraham Lincoln. Chiang Kai-shek is largely unfamiliar to American audiences; however, he provides a model in which Americans can reappraise Lincoln. Both Lincoln and Chiang led their nations through civil …

Proficiency And Positivity: Investigating Learner Affect Toward L2 Instructional Methods, Learner Goals, And L2 Success, Natalie Spiva

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Second language (L2) learning outcomes vary widely due to factors both internal and external to the learner, including learning and usage contexts and learner goals and motivations. Learners may feel more proficient in and positive towards an L2 if they have intrinsic motivation and positive experience with the L2. Many students in the United States are first exposed to an L2 later in life as an academic requirement, which often impedes L2 learning success and can limit the learner’s relationship with the L2 and related cultures. Because of the highly interconnected global society, investigating the experiences of today’s language learners …

How Did A Democrat Win In Deep Red Kentucky? A Study Of Andy Beshear's 2019 And 2023 Electoral Victories, Edwin Wilborn

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Democrat Andy Beshear won his first election as governor of Kentucky in 2019, surprising many by defeating an incumbent Republican governor in a GOP-dominated state and a state that Donald Trump had won handedly in 2016. While Democrats had historically been the dominant party in the commonwealth, by the time of Beshear’s 2019 gubernatorial campaign, that was no longer the case. Beshear’s ability to not only win again but to win by a larger margin against a Trump-backed candidate in 2023 begs two questions: how did Beshear win, and is his success replicable for future Democrats?

Following a discussion of …

The Effects Of The Replication Crisis Instruction On Skepticism, Ericka Hoppes

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Over the past decade, there has been growing concern regarding the Replication Crisis in psychology. The crisis has called into question the credibility of psychological research by highlighting the field’s difficulty in reproducing findings (Open Science Collaboration, 2015), as well as the prevalence of questionable research practices amongst psychologists (e.g., p-hacking, falsifying data, incomplete reporting of measures, etc.). Given that the crisis presents psychological research through a critical lens, learning about the aspects of the crisis can be a useful pedagogical tool for helping students develop a healthy sense of skepticism regarding scientific studies. The present study investigated how teaching …

Family Matters: Rhode Island Specialty Courts’ Impact On Family Reunification Situated In The Scholarly And Public Spheres, Cassie Pay

Honors Senior Capstones and Theses

United States Family Courts handle intimately personal matters of immense consequence for individuals who find themselves involved with this court system. Family is the cornerstone of American society and individual lives; however, in many cases, children are separated from their parents if they have been abused, neglected, or their parents are unable to properly care for them. When family separation occurs, courts and family services must make every effort to reunify the family within a timely manner so long as it is safe to do so. Though Rhode Island has one of the smallest populations of all the states, there …

Libraries Are The Living Rooms Of Communities Situated In The Scholarly And Public Spheres, Adeline Cook

Honors Senior Capstones and Theses

The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) hosts the Bateman Competition each year to help university students hone their skills by allowing them to create and implement a campaign from start to finish on a real client and submit a report of their success and findings. The competition has had a variety of clients but focuses on teaching students how public relations looks in the ‘real world.’ It allows students to practice what they are taught in the classroom on a real campaign. The 2025 client was EveryLibrary, a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for libraries across the country …

The Exploration Of Self Existence: An Inevitable Transference Of Affect, Haley Lowenthal

Dance Department Honors Papers

No abstract provided.

To Be Perceived: Redefining Female Narratives And Social Expectations Through Movement And Comparative Mythology, Bella Donatelli

Dance Department Honors Papers

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Ph And Iron Chelate On The Growth Of Basil And Soybean In Soilless Media, Christian Baker, Bruce Bugbee

Nutrients

Iron (Fe) deficiencies are common in alkaline root zones and can cause chlorosis and reduce growth. The most common approach to prevent deficiency is using synthetic chelates that keep iron in solution at high pH. Here we report the effects of pH and chelate type on the development of chlorosis and biomass in soybeans and basil. We grew the plants at a pH ranging from 6.0-7.8. Fe was chelated with either a less expensive EDTA chelate or a more expensive EDDHA chelate. There was no significant difference between chelates at pH 6.0 in either soybeans or basil. In soybeans, there …

Untreated Hyperthyroidism And A Mediastinal Mass: To Remove Or Not To Remove?, Jennifer M. Alvis, Olga Suarez-Winowiski, Faizaan Khan

Anesthesiology Publications

CASE PRESENTATION: J.W. was seen by the PACE (Preoperative Assessment, Communication and Education) Center prior to a mediastinal mass resection. Medical history includes well-controlled rheumatoid arthritis, anxiety and a recent diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. Labs were significant for TSH DISCUSSION: Untreated GD is rarely correlated with thymic hyperplasia; however the pathogenesis is not well understood. Regardless of the association, contextualization of this patient's history and lab values prompted the provider to seek specialized management. This finding was then communicated with the surgical team, who often rely on PACE providers to screen patients with the ultimate goal of risk reduction and optimization …

Perceptions Of Teachers, Administrators And Counselors On The Adaptation And Integration Of Social Emotional Learning Standards In Academic Settings, Meva Black Rhooms

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study aims to explore the perceptions of teachers, administrators, and counselors on the definition, adaptation, and integration of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) within Mae Wright School District. The district’s commitment to educating the whole child has prompted efforts to incorporate SEL into the academic and social environments. Through semi-structured interviews, this study examines how teachers, administrators, and counselors define SEL and their perceptions on the adaptation and integration of SEL standards in academic settings.. Findings reveal diverse interpretations of SEL, with varying levels of support and understanding among participants. Teachers highlighted the need for practical strategies, while administrators …

Vision 2025

Vision

No abstract provided.

Safety Ratings And Their Effect On Operating Costs In The Trucking Industry: A Data-Driven Analysis, Teresa L. Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This dissertation explored the interplay between safety ratings and financial performance within the transportation sector, with a specific focus on the trucking industry. In an era where safety standards are paramount, the primary objective of the study was to determine the impact of safety ratings on the operating costs of trucking firms. Using a robust methodology grounded in quantitative analysis and industry-specific secondary data, the study established empirical connections between safety ratings and operating costs. This included a focused effort to identify direct effects, highlighting the potential influence of lower safety ratings on economic outcomes within the trucking industry.

Furthermore, …

Caring For Yourself While Caring For Others: How To Utilize Self-Care Practices Through Intentional Planning And Boundary Setting To Prevent Student Leadership Burnout, Desiree Ruiz Ramoz

Community Engagement Student Work

There is a lot of literature discussing burnout, training that exists to help leaders combat leadership burnout and resources that uplift self-care practices. However, very few talk about student leadership burnout, the harm burnout can cause student leaders, and how to prevent burnout from occurring. This workshop aimed to examine how student leaders can utilize selfcare practices through intentional planning and boundary setting to prevent student leadership burnout from happening to care for oneself while caring for others with a focus on prevention work. Although everything discussed and shared throughout this workshop can be used to recover from burnout, the …

Assessing The Impact Of Financial, Educational, And Managerial Resources On The Success Of Minority-Owned Businesses: An Analysis Of Resources From The Perspective Of The Minority Business Owner, Clinton B. Arnold

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Minority-owned businesses (MOBs) in the United States have a failure rate that is 50% higher than that of their non-minority counterparts. Rectifying this imbalance and achieving parity could yield significant economic benefits, potentially adding $1.5 trillion to the nation's economy if resources—financial, educational, and managerial—are equitably distributed and effectively made available to support the goals of minority businesses. However, historical injustices, from Jim Crow laws to systemic discrimination, have granted certain groups multi-generational advantages, exacerbating the divide. Addressing these disparities is both an economic imperative and a moral obligation to ensure equal opportunity. Lending Tree (2023)

With 1.2 million MOBs …

Using A Transitional Care Management Screening Tool On Medicare Adult Patients With Chronic Conditions: Quality Improvement Project, Lizete D. Rosa

DNP Projects

Background

Within the United States, adult patients over the age of 65 are averaging give emergency room visits per year with potential admission. Patient hospital readmissions occur when a patient is discharged from the hospital and is readmitted within 30 days. This can occur due to medication noncompliance, premature discharge, or the most common reason, lack of adequate provide follow-up as an outpatient.

Project Goals

1. Implement a transitional care management screening tool within the primary care practice with Medicare adult patients with chronic conditions to improve post hospitalization follow up appointments with PCP.

2. Designate a medical assistant to …

Adding Therapy Codes To Psychiatric Medication Management Appointments, Sarah Kurash

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Abstract

Psychotherapy is an integral part of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) scope of practice. However, gaps in use of this skill have been identified among PMHNPs providing medication management services. Lack of use of this skill can contribute to lack of resources in mental health and overall burden. A quality improvement project was implemented at a small psychiatric telehealth practice using an evidence-based approach. Using a quasi-experimental quantitative approach with measurement of pre and post intervention self-efficacy scores and use of therapy add-on billing codes, six PMHNPs (n=6) met criteria to participate in the intervention. The Therapist …

Regulation Of Human Il-9 Production By Lipid Metabolism, Swetha Peesari

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

T lymphocytes contribute to host defense and inflammation producing cytokines in response to antigenic stimuli. CD4 T cell activation induces dramatic changes to cellular metabolism for supporting their growth and differentiation into effector subsets. Distinct subsets have been named Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17, Th22, Tfh and Treg based on their characteristic effector cytokines and transcription factors expressed. Th9 cells are one of the most recent subsets identified. While the cytokines IL-4, TGF-β and IL-21 promote differentiation into Th9 cells, metabolic factors regulating this process remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that lipid metabolism could regulate Th9 cell differentiation which may have …

Addressing The Federal Underfunding Of The Individuals With Disabilities Act And Its Impact On Urban School Districts, Monica A. Mccain

Community Engagement Student Work

Understanding the unique challenges faced by students with disabilities in vulnerable school districts prompted this scholarly policy review of the federal underfunding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Through discussion of the historical approach to educating students with disabilities that necessitated the passage of IDEA, to IDEA becoming a reality in theory but not in practice across the span of five decades is at the core of this policy impact report. Data informed research is discussed that points to the intersectionality of poverty and overidentification for special education services, while funding continues to lag from the federal government. …

Ai In Theatre: Ai As A Component In The Stage Production Of "Mrs. Dalloway", Lisa Quinteros, Linden Little, Megan Westhoff

Posters

For the 2024 production of Pitt State Theatre's "Mrs. Dalloway", our production team made the decision to include AI as part of the design of the production, and incorporated it's use throughout the process with image and video projection. The AI enhanced and expanded our reach to convey the story and impact of our production in new avenues for our theatre company and design team. Since this initial foray, we have continued to use AI as an effective tool for various tasks in recent productions. We hope to continue to use AI in the future for new creative outlets and …

Reflections On The Effectiveness Of Classroom Management Training: A Phenomenological Study Of The Perceptions Of Elementary-Level Teachers Trained Through Alternative Route To Licensure (Artl) Programs, Christopher Brunst

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to add to the body of research related to alternative routes to licensure (ARTL) program training by analyzing the perceptions of elementary teachers regarding how their ARTL-based knowledge, experiences, and training support their ability to manage a classroom. This research described the perceptions of elementary-level teachers who were trained in ARTL programs relative to the effectiveness of classroom management strategies they have learned on the job, through professional development from their school districts, or through their ARTL programs, and their recommendations for improving ARTL classroom management training in ARTL programs. The researcher used a …

Beyond The Screen: Assessing The Impact Of Hospitalist Reliance On Electronic Medical Records In Patient-Centered Care, Brian H. Cox

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The integration of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems has transformed healthcare delivery, offering enhanced data accessibility, improved communication, and operational efficiency. However, concerns persist regarding the potential erosion of patient-centered care due to EMR overutilization. This study investigated how hospitalists’ use of EMR systems correlates with patient satisfaction, focusing on the dynamics of physician communication, hospital length of stay, and regional characteristics. Using a comprehensive framework combining Resource Dependency Theory and Donabedian’s Structure-Process-Outcome model, the research examines the influence of demographic, technological, and structural factors on healthcare outcomes.

The analysis, based on patient survey data from a large integrated delivery …

Meta-Cognition, Open Ai & Inoculation: Racing To Zero, Alicia Mason

Posters

A 2023 study explored ChatGPT-4's capacity to generate inoculation message treatments, revealing structural weaknesses like unclear language and inconsistency in developing threat components. Trained with diverse prompts, the AI struggled with explicit forewarnings and limited refutations, despite showcasing originality and figurative language use. This highlighted the need for improved generative AI inoculation message design. In 2025, follow-up studies examined ChatGPT-4o’s metacognition. Researchers used chain of thought prompt engineering techniques to elicit knowledge, regulation, and experiences, analyzing AI's self-assessment and adaptability. ChatGPT-4o reported various confidence levels including a high degree of confidence in refining messages for readability, acknowledging and correcting prior …