Digital Commons Network^™

Balancing Beliefs In The Curriculum: Exploring The Educational Value And Constitutional Limits Of Teaching About Religion In U.S. Public Schools, Maria Rina Limbo

Liberal Studies (MA) Final Essays

This thesis examines the educational value and constitutional limits of teaching about religion in U.S. public schools. It asks whether public schools may teach about religion academically without violating constitutional neutrality, where the boundary lies between education and indoctrination, and how religious literacy might be integrated in ways that benefit students while honoring First Amendment constraints. Using a mixed-methods design, the study gathered survey data from 104 adult participants drawn from diverse educational, religious, and community backgrounds across multiple states. Surveys were distributed primarily through mailed and hand-delivered print copies, with a small number completed electronically. Quantitative data were tabulated …

Prayer Presence Patience: How The Church Multiples Around The World, Carolina G. Miller

Books

No abstract provided.

Editorial, Arthit Jiamrattanyoo

Journal of Letters

No abstract provided.

Using Sounds For Propaganda In The Sarit–Thanom Government Era, 1960s, Thanawat Rungruangtantisuk

Journal of Letters

This article proposes that since sounds are related to human perception, they can be tool of government for propaganda. In the context of Thai society, the use of sounds for propaganda in the Sarit–Thanom government era deserves attention because these sounds continue to circulate and be reproduced in the present day. A study of the history of sounds and propaganda under the Sarit–Thanom governments in the 1960s shows that advances in sound dissemination systems – which have developments from the previous decade - enabled the government to use sound effectively for leading people in the Cold War situation. Both Field …

Excellence In Onboarding: A Case Study Of Campus Leader Support For Early-Career Teachers, Kelsey Bowles, Peter E. Williams, Alicia Piechowiak

Faculty Publications

Purpose: It is critical in industries experiencing labor shortages and high attrition rates, as is the case for early-career teachers (ECTs) in Texas, to understand effective early-career supports and how they contribute to career persistence and effectiveness. This study examines the context-specific onboarding experiences of ECTs and the leadership practices they found valuable.

Design/Methodology: This qualitative, collective case study used a positive deviance approach to examine teacher onboarding experiences. Located in a high-needs, urban public-school campus with atypically low teacher turnover and high student academic achievement. We interviewed eight mid-career teachers about their early-career experiences of supervisor and organizational …

Black Ecological Care: Conservation, Environmental Justice, And Sovereignty In Baltimore, Maryland, Alexandria Nicole Casteel

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Dominant traditions of urban planning, municipal policy, and environmental science register Black urban spaces through a vocabulary of pathology, as sites of ecological deficit, contamination, and social decay. This dissertation investigates how Black communities in U.S. cities attend to the environment in ways that address legacies of environmental and social injustice while opening pathways toward different environmental futures. I gather these practices under the analytic of Black ecological care, which captures the generative labor of making and maintaining livable worlds within, alongside, and beyond histories of harm. I develop the analytic across twenty-nine months of ethnographic fieldwork in 2021 and …

Study Approaches And Mindset In Predicting Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Student Well-Being: A Multiple Linear Regression Analysis, Elena Wong Espiritu, Katie Eison, Maya Pakulski, Alandry Vise, Alexandria West, Ava Woessner

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Academic factors (grades, assignments, study approaches, study strategies, rigorous curriculums, workload) and mindset factors (academic resilience, educational self-efficacy) are known individual factors that impact student well-being. However, if and how these factors in combination predict well-being in occupational therapy students has not been explored. The purpose of this study was to explore study approaches and mindset factors in predicting entry-level occupational therapy student well-being. Entry-level occupational therapy students (master’s and doctorate) from across the United States were recruited (N = 305). Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, data was collected using four standardized assessments and analyzed using a multiple linear regression. …

Rosenberg Institute For East Asian Studies At Suffolk University Annual Report For 2025-2026, Rosenberg Institute

Rosenberg Institute Annual Reports

These reports summarize the activities of the Rosenberg Institute during the academic year, including information related to public programming, visiting scholars, cooperation with the Asian Studies program at Suffolk College of Arts & Sciences, promotion of Suffolk's Asia-related activities, community outreach, and funding. Most reports also contain photographs of scholars, staff, and events.

From Fear To Familiarity: Folkloric Creatures And Cultural Identity In Contemporary Japanese And Filipino Art, Mariel Yulo Asuncion

MA Theses

Mythological and folkloric creatures have evolved beyond their traditional contexts to serve as tools through which contemporary artists reinterpret and express colonial memory, cultural experiences, and social anxieties. Both Japan and the Philippines mobilize their folkloric monsters as forms of commentary on modern conditions; however, they do so in distinct ways shaped by their differing cultural histories and belief systems. This study aims to analyze and compare how Japanese and Filipino contemporary artists reinterpret folkloric creatures within modern contexts. Employing a qualitative, comparative cultural analysis alongside a sociohistorical framework, this research investigates the contemporary reinterpretation of mythological creatures in both …

Assessing Medical Professionalism In Future Physicians: A Nationwide Perspective From Saudi Arabia, Jawad S Albashri, Waad I Barnawi, Abdullah F Albukhari, Ahmed S Albashri, Abdullah S Algarni, Khalid Alzahrani, Ramy Samargandi

Health Professions Education

Background:

Medical professionalism is a core competency in medical education and a cornerstone of professional identity formation. In Saudi Arabia, where medical education is rapidly expanding under Vision 2030, limited nationwide evidence exists on professionalism among medical students.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2024 using the validated Learners’ Attitudes on Medical Professionalism Scale (LAMPS). A convenience sample of 1,234 students from the 2nd–6th years across all five regions and both governmental and private universities completed the survey. LAMPS scores were compared by academic year, gender, GPA, region, and university type using Mann-Whitney U …

Glorifying Khaki: Policing, Power, And Copaganda In Hindi Cinema, Stuti Shah, Jyotika Tomar

National Law School of India Review

This article adopts US civil rights advocate Alec Karakatsanis’s conceptualisation of ‘copaganda’ to analyse the commercially successful ‘Cop Universe’ directed by Rohit Shetty, situating it within a broader socio-legal analysis of contemporary policing in India. It argues that copaganda in Hindi cinema recasts police officers not only as vigilantes, but also as embodiments of Hindutva and nationalist virility and a Brahmanical patriarchal order. In doing so, these films normalise extra-legal policing, obscure the structural realities of custodial violence and impunity, and reframe state violence as both necessary and morally desirable. The article situates these cinematic narratives alongside contemporary developments in …

Going Through The Motions At The Shaker Feast Grounds, Douglas L. Winiarski

Religious Studies Faculty Publications

Sally Bushnell rose unusually early on the Sabbath morning of June 4, 1843. A seasoned Believer of over two decades, Bushnell served as eldress of the gathering, or novitiate, order of the South Family in Canaan, a satellite community of the largest Shaker village at New Lebanon, New York. Although she had participated in all the dramatic events of the Era of Manifestations, she understood this day to be particularly special. The young Believers over whom Bushnell presided had been granted a privilege to visit the Holy Mount, the outdoor feast ground located on a high knob in the Berkshire …

Language, Literature, And Culture Newsletter, Twelfth Edition (January 2026), Language, Literature, And Culture Department, Clark University

Language, Literature, and Culture

The twelfth issue of the Language, Literature, and Culture department newsletter, which went out in January 2026. The Language, Literature, and Culture department newsletter aims to "share stories, news, ideas, achievements, and important information about and within our academic department that can be helpful to the campus community at large".

College Of Liberal Arts Faculty Bylaws 2026-2027 - Amended 09/2026), College Of Liberal Arts Faculty, Rollins College

College of Liberal Arts Bylaws

No abstract provided.

Surveying The Knowledge Landscape Of Western Languages And Literature In Thailand, Nantana Anuntkosol, Narut Chaosakun, Akra Chowchong, Marut Hantaley, Aratee Kaewsumrit, Natthaporn Kanjanapinyowong, Usa Padgate, Penpisa Srivoranart, Wilita Sriuranpong, Raksangob Wijitsopon

Manusya, Journal of Humanities

Although Western languages and literature have had a constant role in Thailand’s educational system, it has not yet been possible to project an unbiased picture of the development of related academic works as a data-driven study of such scale has not been attempted before. This study, therefore, purposes to 1) conduct a systematic survey of academic works and research studies produced by scholars and students in Thailand on the linguistics, pedagogy, translation, and literature of the following Western languages: English, French, German, and Spanish; and 2) perform a meta-analysis of the acquired data to draw an overall landscape of the …

Eastern Languages And Literature Research In Thailand : Past, Present, And Future Perspectives From 25 Years Of Research, Sansanee Ek-Atchariya, Somkiat Chawengkijwanich, Kanokwan Laohaburanakit Katagiri, Aroonwan Kongmebhol, Ruttapond Swanpitak, Sompornnuch Tansrisook, Pitchaya Vipaveenukul, Piyanuch Wiriyaenawat

Manusya, Journal of Humanities

This study examines the evolution of Chinese, Japanese, and Pali and Sanskrit language and literature research in Thailand over the past 25 years (1998–2022). Drawing from research articles, theses, and academic journals, it highlights the unique strengths and trends of each field. Chinese research demonstrates dynamic growth, driven by applied linguistics and educational innovations. Japanese research shows steady development, focusing on education research and analyses of individual literary works. Pali and Sanskrit research excels in cultural preservation and religious studies, reflecting Thailand’s deep-rooted connections with ancient Indian traditions. This comparative analysis underscores the shared focus on applied research and localization …

Portal To The Possible: Naming The Liberatory Classroom Applications Within Afrofuturist And Queer-Futurist Ya Literature, Westley Wrenn Cardani

English Honors Papers

This thesis is an intertwining of disciplines and chronologies. Using English and educational theories, I employ thematic literary analysis, close readings, and lesson plan design to answer the following question: How do works of Afrofuturist and queer-futurist Young Adult literature present us with liberatory possibilities, and how can those stories be effectively pedagogically employed in classrooms to cultivate ‘future imaginings’? In this work, although it pertains to all students, I am especially concerned with the capacity of Black, Brown, queer, and trans* students to dream and construct futures given the operations of systems of oppression which attempt to tell them …

Chicano Studies Courses: Latina/O Student Engagement In Community Colleges, Marisol Celeste Madrigal Uribe

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Community colleges play a vital role in expanding access to higher education for historically marginalized students, particularly Latina/o and first-generation college students. However, many students arrive carrying the effects of cultural erasure, racial marginalization, and deficit-based schooling experiences that shape their academic engagement, sense of belonging, and future aspirations. This qualitative study examines how Chicana/o Studies courses foster student engagement, identity development, belonging, and future orientation within the community college context. Guided by Critical Race Theory (CRT) and the concept of racial microaffirmations, the study conceptualizes Chicana/o Studies as a transformational educational space that affirms students’ lived experiences, challenges Eurocentric …

Moderating Role Of Perceived Staff-Replacement Likelihood On Self-Ordering Kiosk Adoption: Evidence From The Restaurant Industry, Wanmo Koo, Archana Kumar

Department of Marketing Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The restaurant industry widely employs self-ordering kiosks (SOKs). However, the increased use of automation in restaurants is causing job displacement, raising concerns about the lack of sufficient human support in restaurants. The study examined variables influencing customer willingness to use SOKs while considering how staff replacement perceptions alter these effects. Partial least squares structural equation modeling reveals that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and perceived security significantly influence behavioral intention to use SOKs, and behavioral intention strongly predicts actual kiosk usage behavior. Among the moderating effects, only perceived staff replacement likelihood significantly influences the relationship between perceived security and …

Stitched With Purpose, Abigail Gooler

OTD 721: Cultural Responsiveness & Occupation

I chose this topic for this zine because fiber arts have become a meaningful part of my life. What began as a hobby during the COVID pandemic has grown into a way for me to manage stress, find purpose through creating, and build a small business.

This project deepened my understanding of occupational justice and the way that occupations are shaped by culture, gender, access, and social determinants of health. It challenged me to view what is an everyday occupation for me as culturally significant and, at times, political.

This project also reminded me of the privilege I have to …

Packaging Sound: The Artistic And Cultural Significance Of Album Covers In The Golden Age Of Vinyl, Anna Stener

MA in Fine and Decorative Art and Design Dissertations

This dissertation examines the album cover as an artistic medium and as an art form, primarily within the context of vinyl records, situating it within art history, media history, and cultural studies. Although album covers have been central to the experience of purchasing, listening to, and collecting vinyl, they have often been treated secondarily in scholarship and by institutions. By establishing the material, cultural, and aesthetic significance of album covers, this dissertation positions them within debates on media, authorship, and boundaries of art. Through case studies on two bands, the Moody Blues and the Rolling Stones, as well as the …

Pedagogical Readiness And Adaptability In Higher Education In Egypt: An Exploration Of Generational Disparities In Ai Adoption, Maha Ahmed Zaki Dajani, Israa Lewaa Elhamd, Hadia Fakhr Eldin

Business Administration

This study investigates generational differences in the adoption of AI tools in Egyptian higher education, examining how pedagogical readiness and adaptability influence engagement among students and educators. It addresses a key gap in the literature—the lack of an integrated pedagogical framework combining Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory and Constructivist Learning Theory to explain AI adoption across generations. Prior studies have seldom compared Generations X, Y, and Z within one empirical model, and evidence from Egyptian universities remains limited despite distinctive cultural and institutional contexts shaping AI readiness.

Using a survey-based design grounded in these theories, the study employs structural equation modelling …

Can Love Bloom On A Battlefield: An Analysis Of Queer Militaristic Fanfiction, Brandon Bost

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

It is noted that readers and fans hold unique and valid interpretations of texts, interpretations that become expressed in fan works like fan art, memes, or the subject of this study, fanfiction. This study performs textual analysis on queer fanfiction in Metal Gear Solid and Code Geass fandoms. It examines the unique relationship militarism holds with intimacy, and how intimacy intersects with violence and control in unique ways in these fan texts. Within these fanfics, militarism can serve as a barrier to intimacy, forcing relationships to adapt to militaristic structures within these fan interpretations.

Behind The Curtain: A Literature Review Of Personal And Ecological Risk Factors And Current Multi-Level Interventions For Performing Artists, Christopher A. Robles

Social Work Theses

Performing artists experience psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, burnout, and substance use disorders, at rates significantly exceeding those of the general population. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (EST) and the Person-in-Environment (PIE) perspective, this structured literature review synthesizes research published between 2010 and 2026 to examine individual personality traits, environmental stressors across meso- and macro-systems, and existing multi-level mental health interventions for performing artists. Findings reveal that while traits such as high openness to experience, sensory processing sensitivity, and perfectionism foster artistic expression, they also heighten vulnerability to occupational stressors, financial precarity, social isolation, and venue-based substance exposure. Current …

Integrating Design Thinking In A Stem Methods Course, Demetrice Smith-Mutegi

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Design thinking, a problem-solving approach, has been offered as a strategy to address the challenges of growing and complex teaching expectations. In this narrative, I describe an adapted model of design thinking that was implemented in a secondary STEM methods course for teacher candidates in a graduate program. A description of the key activities, including the fundamental role of empathizing, is shared. Design thinking, when implemented by teachers and teacher candidates, allows the teacher to design and improve a lesson or unit based on student feedback and engagement. This is especially important in today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, where educators …

Girls Stem Institute: Impacting Black Girls' Self-Efficacy And Interest In Stem Careers, Crystal Morton, Demetrice Smith-Mutegi, Danka Maric, Vidushi Adlakha, Robin Jackson

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Nationally and globally, STEM serves as a gatekeeper to the labor market and higher education opportunities. Many Black girls find themselves locked out of the gate. Historically and contemporarily, Black girls are seldom viewed as capable or worthy of educational investment and face unique and ongoing challenges in K-12 STEM learning spaces due to their gender and racial identities. Research suggests that informal STEM learning spaces can serve as a counter to Black girls’ experiences in K-12 schools and help enhance Black girls’ self-efficacy and STEM career interests. This study explores the impact of a four-week informal STEM program, employing …

Homemaking In Hashtags: A Rhetorical Study Of Hannah Neeleman’S #Tradwife Narrative Across Social Media, Emma Areson

Schultz-Werth Award Papers

In a media landscape saturated with curated images of domesticity, the emergence of the “tradwife” aesthetic demands critical scrutiny as a site where gender, consumption, and ideology converge. Hannah Neeleman, better known to her followers as Ballerina Farm, has become a central figure in this phenomenon, leveraging Instagram and TikTok to craft an idealized vision of rural homemaking, motherhood, and faith. A former Juilliard-trained ballerina and beauty pageant winner, Neeleman now manages a multimillion-dollar farm brand that combines self-reliance with aspirational aesthetics. Her image gained even wider visibility and scrutiny after The Times published an in-depth profile that sparked debate …

From Voice To Noise: Accented Speech, Constructed Languages, And Subtitling Practices As Markers Of Difference, Alice Alonso Limongi

Course Work

This monograph explores three main strategies of vocal exotification in Anglophone film: representations of accented speech, inclusion of constructed languages, and non-subtitling of snippets of other languages. Using Stuart Hall’s encoding/decoding framework, I approach these practices as rhetorical devices that both construct and are constructed by the complexity of our social landscapes. Portrayals of accented speech, constructed languages, and subtitling practices form a gradient of abstraction, where the denotative meaning of words gradually loses importance to the sonic characteristics of the voice. Combining broader cultural scholarship from Edward Said, sound studies writings on power and language from Nina Sun Eidsheim …

Family Functioning And Stress In Arab American Young Adults, Sahar Kaouk

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Family functioning plays a central role in the lives of Arab American young adults, yet little research has examined how family dynamics relate to stress in this population. Guided by Bowen’s (1978) Family Systems Theory, this study investigated the relationship between family functioning and perceived stress, as well as the roles of Differentiation of Self (DoS), Reflective Coping, and collectivistic orientation. Participants included 225 young adults ages 18 to 25 who self-identified as Arab American. Data were collected using self-report measures, and structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model. Results indicated that family functioning was indirectly related …

Know Fear: The Culture Of Fear In Community Conversations, Penelope Meredyk, Lotus Porte-Moyel, Fiona Carson, Cosley Bruno, Barrett Clement, Sophia Sproull, Morgan Davis

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

“K(no)w Fear” is an award winning piece of verbatim theater based on word-for-word interviews and collected research that's goal was to cultivate a connective and thoughtful community open to exploring what shapes us all: fear. Our GLI Capstone team gathered the resources for this theater piece by conducting interviews with a mixed demographic of people we know as well as strangers on the street, asking questions like: “How do you feel about death?” and “If fear were a place for you, where would it be?” With consent, their answers were used to build an immersive, verbatim theatre piece where actors …