Digital Commons Network^™

Connecting Through Context: A Culturally Relevant Mental Health Resource For K-12 School Counselors, Erica Knebel

Master's Projects and Capstones

This field project, Connecting Through Context: A Culturally Relevant Mental Health Resource for K–12 School Counselors, explores the intersection of decolonial theory, culturally relevant pedagogy, and school-based mental health practices. Rooted in both personal and academic experiences, the project addresses the significant gap in culturally responsive mental health resources for immigrant and refugee students, with a personal emphasis on those from Southeast Asian backgrounds. With nearly 27% of the U.S. student population being immigrants, traditional Western mental health models, centered on talk therapy and medication, often fall short in effectively supporting culturally diverse students. Through a literature review grounded in …

Having A Home To Come Home To: How Subsidized Housing Impacts Unhoused Pregnant Women, Stephanie O. Porvaznik

Master's Projects and Capstones

Community based organizations (CBOs) lead the charge in the fight to end housing insecurity and often must make up where local governments fall short. San Francisco is an example of a municipality that has a long history of addressing instances of housing insecurity for its residents, and where CBOs step in to provide housing support for populations with unique and special circumstances. One CBO that operates in San Francisco that I was interested in studying was the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP), and the Jelani House, a housing subsidy that is funded and operated by the HPP for pregnant women who …

No Turning Back? Examining The Rise Of Short-Form Content In Post-Covid Marketing For Gen-Z And Gen Alpha, Collin Blackford, Mitchell Hamilton

Honors Thesis

Over the past 10 years, the world has seen a massive increase in the use of social media, specifically with the younger audiences of Gen-Z and Gen Alpha. When the Covid-19 Pandemic rocked the world in early 2020, many of these young generations were forced into their homes, with social media being a main source of communication with their peers. Coupled with a rise of short-form content like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Youtube Shorts, and social media content was now more widespread than ever. Due to this the digital marketing landscape has been drastically changed, with attention spans getting shorter …

Trends, Challenges And Developments In Jewish Latin American Film, Mirna Vohnsen

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This article surveys the specialized field of Jewish Latin American film, detailing its foundational years, current challenges and potential future developments. Begin-ning with the field’s origins and early pioneering work, it tracks how scholars have addressed Jewish representation in Latin American cinema, underscoring milestones such as the emergence of interdisciplinary approaches and comparative studies. The article presents the challenges and opportunities that the field faces, including dif-ficulties in accessing films, the impact of global streaming platforms on academic research and assessment of the role of women in film. By highlighting future research directions, the discussion offers insight into how Jewish …

The Voices Of Black Motherscholars: Navigating Academia, Motherhood, And Beyond, Danae Peterson

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The experiences of Black women in academia are shaped by the intersection of multiple, often conflicting identities. As mothers and scholars, Black women navigate the complex terrain of competing responsibilities, societal expectations, and institutional barriers, all while striving to achieve personal and professional aspirations. This daily balancing act is complicated by the compounded effects of racism and sexism in academia, coined as misogynoir (Bailey, 2018). Misogynoir, a specific form of anti-Black racist misogyny, manifests through stereotyping, marginalization, and invisibility affecting Black women’s ability to thrive in academic spaces that were not designed with them in mind (Patton & Njoku, 2019). …

Exploring The Application Of Complexity Theory And Interdisciplinary Study In Clinical Psychology, Iman Motlagh Arani

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study explores the integration of complexity theory and interdisciplinary approaches in clinical psychology education and training. Responding to growing concerns about the fragmentation of knowledge and the limitations of reductionist models in mental health education, this qualitative research investigates how faculty and graduate students conceptualize and engage with complexity, systems thinking, ethics, culture, and curricular innovation. Using semi-structured interviews with clinical psychology professors and students, the study applies thematic analysis grounded in interpretive paradigms and educational philosophy. Findings reveal widespread epistemological fragmentation, varied familiarity with complexity theory, institutional resistance to interdisciplinary integration, and emerging calls for curricular transformation. Participants …

The Performance Of Gender In Sound And Screen: Unpacking And Countering The Double Standards Of Women In Taylor Swift’S “The Man,” Brienne Of Tarth, And The Substance, Alexandra C. Ali

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This rhetorical analysis examines how femininity is constructed, policed, and resisted in popular culture through three case studies: Taylor Swift’s “The Man,” Brienne of Tarth from Game of Thrones, and The Substance, using the lens of Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity. “The Man,” both the song and the music video, reveals the double standards working against women, incorporating an additional layer of analysis through Kenneth Burke’s perspective on incongruity. Brienne of Tarth from Game of Thrones defies gender expectations, blurring the line between the performance of masculinity and femininity. Additionally, this analysis embodies archetypes of women, such …

Confronting The Postcolonial Condition: A Study On The Blesser-Blessee Phenomenon In South Africa, Thandwa Maphalala

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Age-disparate relationships are causing a public health threat in South Africa and the region at large. However, these relationships and their effects are not unique to South Africa. There has been substantial research conducted to explore the social, cultural or economic meaning of this relationship type, its causes and effects in sub-Saharan Africa or in the interest of individual countries in the region. However, South Africa presents a special case for further study because the older men that adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) date and have sex with are commonly referred to as blessers.

The purpose of this …

Fears And Pains And Rages: The Psychology Of Gandalf's Anger, Nicholas Birns

Journal of Tolkien Research

We are used to seeing emotions in Tolkien as coded morally. Lust or possessiveness is evil whereas care and forbearance are good. There are some emotions, though, that cross these moral boundaries and one of these is anger Moreover, anger in Tolkien is very coded in terms of gender, as it is nearly always male rage. After examining the cases of Saruman and Wormtongue (angry because the world will not cooperate with their plans) and Thingol (angry because he realizes he has just postponed his doom rather than staved it off), we will examine the case of Gandalf. Gandalf is …

Joy In Lifelong Learning: An Introduction To Planning For Learning Disabilities In Museum Education, Elaine L. Davis

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

For over a century, the role of museums as learning institutions has been considered alongside that of schools. However, special education practices are rarely adapted for museum education, requiring educators in museum contexts to undertake extra work to accommodate those with learning disabilities. This thesis used Qualitative Comparative Analysis and Textual Analysis to review pedagogical white papers and academic research on museum programs aimed at neurodivergent audiences. The findings were used to create a professional development guide for museum educators at a range of different types of museums.

The Experience Of Spirituality And Self-Image In Sexually Abused Women, Nereyda Sullins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

I explored the role of spirituality and self-image in the healing processes of adult women who have experienced sexual abuse. Using trauma theory as a guiding framework, I sought to understand how survivors engage with spirituality to reconstruct their identities and navigate their recovery. I aimed to contribute to the growing body of literature on trauma recovery by offering insights into the ways survivors integrate spiritual practices and self-perceptions to foster resilience. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to capture the lived experiences of 12 women who had experienced sexual abuse and engaged with spirituality as a coping mechanism. Thematic …

Multifaceted Roles Of Epac Signaling In Renal Functions, Oleh Pochynyuk, Kyrylo Pyrshev, Xiaodong Cheng

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a fundamental secondary messenger capable of rapidly amplifying and propagating cellular signals in response to various extracellular stimuli. cAMP plays a significant role in hormone-mediated regulation of renal fluid and electrolyte balance. Impaired signaling of cAMP has been linked to a variety of pathological ramifications in the kidneys. This review explores the physiological functions of exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac) in renal water balance and the regulation of solute transport in the renal tubule. Additionally, the involvement of Epac signaling in renal pathologies such as acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and polycystic …

“You See, I Am Over Here Throwing Up, No I Am Not Doing Good”: Exploring Ways Maternal Mortality Rates Are Influenced And Amplified By Racial And Class Status Inequities Among Women Of African-Descent, Shukura Ayoluwa Umi, Phd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Previous data suggest that maternal mortality is an issue drastically affecting African-Descent women since the maternal mortality rate was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for European-Descent women. Considering the data, my study aimed to showcase, beyond the statistics, the communication exchanges and lived experiences surrounding maternal mortality discourse among African-Descent women in Shelby County, Tennessee. This study was one of the first of its kind to capture data, in Shelby County, TN, which led me to develop these research questions: RQ1) What are the personal communication experiences of African-Descent women regarding prenatal, labor, and antenatal …

The Role Of Popular Culture In Decolonial Transformative Learning: A Racially Minoritized Adult Educator's Journey, Riyad Shahjahan

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

While a growing body of literature examines the role of popular culture in transformative learning, much of it centers on fostering transformative experiences among learners, rather than educators themselves. This paper addresses that gap by exploring how popular culture enhances transformative learning for racially minoritized adult educators. Drawing from my experiences as a graduate instructor at a predominantly white institution, I reflect on how engaging with popular cultural texts facilitated my own transformative learning within my teaching practice. Grounded in decolonial theory, which emphasizes the inclusion of Indigenous and marginalized knowledges while confronting contemporary colonial oppressions, my reflexive approach highlights …

‘Amazigh Literary Space’: Intersection And Hybridity Across Languages And Media, Daniela Merolla

Journal of Amazigh Studies

My contribution will focus on multilingualism and multimedia in the ‘Amazigh literary and cinematographic space’ (Merolla De l’art, “Amazigh/Berber Literature”). Examining this notion coined in the 1990’s (Merolla “Gender and Community”) allows us to reflect on ongoing debates regarding North African literatures in postcolonial contexts. It also helps to see that Amazigh/Berber literature solely defined as Amazigh-language production tends to isolate works and performances that engage with multiple languages and literary traditions, cultural intersections, and hybridization in North Africa and its diasporas. The discussion is contextualized within the historical development of what is sometimes referred to as the “North …

Lubin Business Magazine Spring 2025

Lubin Business Magazine

No abstract provided.

Towards Distributed Creativity: Understanding Generative Ai In The Context Of Design Philosophy And The Material Turn, Ákos Schneider, Dávid Csűrös

Experiential Knowledge (EKSIG) Conference Series

This study examines the transformative role of generative AI (GenAI) in design through the lens of the material turn, which foregrounds materiality’s agency in shaping human practices. In this context, GenAI is not a mere tool but an active participant in co-creation, challenging subject-object distinctions in design philosophy. Drawing on ontological design, postphenomenology, cognitive science, and material engagement theory, we reinterpret creativity as an emergent phenomenon within sociomaterial networks. Our framework reveals design as a relational process, where creativity unfolds through adaptive interactions, shifting the designer’s role from control to orchestration. We conclude by highlighting the subject- and object-decentered interpretation …

Beyond Brotherhood And Sisterhood: Leading With Awareness To Forge Inclusive Relationships In Fsl, Natalie O'Neal

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my study was to explore strategies that enhance fraternity and sorority members’ capacity to build relationships across identity differences at the University of San Diego (USD). The research question that guided my study was: How can I help USD’s Fraternity and Sorority Life Office provide a capacity-building model for fraternity and sorority members to cultivate relationships across identity differences? My research utilized three cycles of workshops, surveys, and interviews. Key findings highlight the essential role of identity work in fostering self-awareness and social awareness, the challenges of discussing identity in FSL, and the need for dedicated spaces …

Employee Salary Report [University Of Missouri - St. Louis] 2025, University Of Missouri-St. Louis

UMSL Salary Report

No abstract provided.

Empoderamiento De Mujeres Negras En Cuba: Descolonialidad En La Agencia De Sus Vidas. Encuentros Entre La Interseccionalidad Y La Perspectiva Epistemológica Compleja, Elvira Edwards Vázquez

PALARA: Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association

En el presente trabajo se estudia el tema del empoderamiento de las mujeres negras en Cuba desde una perspectiva transdisciplinar. Para ello, se establece un diálogo de saberes diversos provenientes de la Psicología, la Sociología, la Filosofía, la Teoría de la comunicación, la Historia, los Estudios culturales y el Pensamiento complejo. Esto permite una mirada a la agencia de vida y al empoderamiento, desde un posicionamiento descolonial, en medio de las transformaciones que se suceden en el país. El resultado más importante es el intercambio entre las perspectivas epistemológicas interseccionalidad y complejidad. Este orienta nuevas prácticas para docentes, investigadores y …

Examining The Relationship Between Teacher Characteristics And African American Vernacular English (Aave): A Quantitative Study, Mary Michelle Porter

Theses & Dissertations

African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is a distinct linguistic variety characterized by unique grammatical and phonological features. Despite its linguistic legitimacy, AAVE is often subject to negative perceptions that can adversely affect the educational experiences of students who speak it. The purpose of this study is to examine elementary school teachers’ attitudes toward AAVE and how these are influenced by demographic factors. Forty-eight teachers from Suffolk, New York, and Houston, Texas, participated in a survey that included demographic questions and the Language Attitude Scale (LAS), a validated instrument for assessing attitudes toward AAVE. Demographic variables included age, race, years of …

Essential Knowledge For Serving Bilingual Youth: The Perspectives Of Adult Former English Learners, Maneka Deanna Brooks

Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study, framed by dignity-focused language policy and intersectional anti-adultism, investigates how 74 adults misclassified as English learners (ELs) during U.S. K-12 education conceptualize essential knowledge for educating bilingual students. Through semi-structured interviews, participants stressed two key areas for schools that serve bilingual students: recognizing students’ nuanced linguistic histories and acknowledging students as education partners. The findings emphasize centering impacted individuals’ perspectives, advocating for eliminating racial bias in EL policy implementation, and addressing institutionalized adultism in EL policy. Implications include the need for professional learning, policy, and practices prioritizing EL youths’ perspectives.

Hooves, Paws, And Patriarchy: Reimagining A Multispecies Society In Late Chosŏn Korea, Jenny Paszik

Theses - ALL

In late Chosŏn Korea, domesticated animals were more than passive fixtures of human society and culture, but rather active participants in the negotiation of social power dynamics. This paper proposes a species-inclusive reading of Chosŏn society, focusing on the eighteenth century, to expand our understanding from a patriarchal system to a kyriarchal framework. This thesis examines how horses, dogs, and sacrificial animals were enmeshed in intersecting hierarchies of gender and social class in urban and peripheral spaces. I argue that while interactions and conceptions of animals were shaped by the prevailing Confucian worldview, these relationships also worked reciprocally to reinforce, …

Reckoning With An Icon: Exploring The Activism Of Mĩcere Githae Mũgo, Erica Charles Kiduko

Theses - ALL

This thesis examines the activism of Mĩcere Gīthae Mũgo, a distinguished Kenyan literary scholar, playwright, and feminist, whose works remain a vital part of twentieth and twenty-first century liberational struggles across Africa and the diaspora. Through a critical analysis of her literary projects, academic work, and political engagements, this study explores how Mũgo’s intellectual interventions challenged colonial, postcolonial, and patriarchal structures. It draws on feminist, Pan-Africanist, and decolonial theoretical frameworks, to situate career struggles for intellectual freedom, gender justice, and cultural reclamation. The thesis investigates foundational elements of Mugo activism, employing a multi-method qualitative approach: that includes textual analysis, oral …

Persuasion Knowledge As A Continuum: Understanding Engagement In Livestream Commerce Between China And The U.S., Bryce Whitwam

Dissertations - ALL

Livestream shopping on social media platforms represents a merging of real-time social interaction and e-commerce. This dissertation examines the divergent engagement levels of Chinese and American consumers in livestream commerce by integrating the Persuasion Knowledge Model (PKM) and the Heuristic-Systematic Model (HSM) to explain differences in trust formation and purchase behaviors. While cultural convergence theory suggests increasing similarities in digital commerce behaviors across markets, findings reveal that persuasion knowledge development, shaped by exposure to commercial persuasion attempts, creates distinct information-processing patterns that persist despite technological convergence. Through a mixed-method comparative study, this research demonstrates that Chinese consumers in a mature …

What Makes Me Feel Cold Is Not Winter Or Night, Yushan Liu

Theses - ALL

This thesis examines how cinematic form can render visible the lived experiences of displacement, temporal disjunction, and marginalization among transnational subjects, particularly international students navigating between legal regimes, emotional landscapes, and cultural systems. Through a practice-led methodology anchored in film theory, phenomenology, and spatial analysis, the project explores how space and time function not as narrative backdrops but as agents of affective rupture. The film WHAT MAKES ME FEEL COLD IS NOT WINTER OR NIGHT employs disjunctive spaces—such as parking garages, mini-golf courses, and restaurant interiors—as sites of perceptual tension, drawing from Deleuze’s concept of the “any-space-whatever.” These locations, stripped …

What We Carry Carries Us: Narratives Of African Immigrants Through Cultural Artifacts In The United States, Faizat Oladunni Asifat

Theses - ALL

In this thesis, I explore how African immigrants in Syracuse, New York, use cultural objects to navigate identity, memory, and belonging in a new environment. Through interviews, story circles, and personal narratives, it examines how everyday items transform into meaningful symbols of home, acting as emotional anchors and ways to preserve culture. The study reveals that these objects, though initially practical, gain significance through migration, helping individuals cope with the experience, maintain ties to their heritage, and negotiate hybrid identities. However, their meanings are fluid: some objects retain emotional and cultural weight, while others fade as immigrants adapt. Beyond personal …

The Monumental Challenges Of Pastmaking, Tyler Davis Youngman

Dissertations - ALL

Pastmaking is a process in which agents exercise power to make or use documents depicting a past that can be given or taken as historical truth. Such documents often possess narrative elements perceived for use in heritage formation, collective remembering, and identity maintenance practices such as storytelling. Pastmaking encompasses the performative creation of historical knowledge. The implications of pastmaking prompt considerable pause about: (1) who gets spoken for in (re-)tellings of prior events, (2) how agents arrive at consensus to determine what is historically known, and (3) how knowledge is lost or gained when historical narratives get (re-)written, a particularly …

Memetics Reinformed: Three Informational Developments Of Memes, Alexander O. Smith

Dissertations - ALL

Memetics and information have been connected since Richard Dawkins defined memes in 1976. Yet, information studies rarely contributes despite the connection. This dissertation develops a memetic program that exists within an information framework. An information-centric study of memes offers answers to questions of cultural dynamics, meaning production, and applies to questions in cultural heritage informatics and knowledge organization. This proposal offers a theoretically and empirically connected space within an information-centric development of memetics. What is provided is a three paper dissertation. These three papers include a (1) literature review and citation analysis paper, (2) a preliminary theory-method paper exemplifying a …

Breaking News And Broken Hopes: Inter-Korean Engagement And The Emotional Consequences Of Media Framing, Sophia Lizanne Trombley

Honors Theses

This thesis analyzes two periods of pro-North Korean engagement regimes in South Korea during the presidencies of Kim Dae-jung (1998-2003), Roh Moo-hyun (2003-2008), and Moon Jae-in (2017-2023). Through analysis of the three aforementioned presidents’ initiatives for engagement with the North, categorization of news headlines from two major South Korean sources, and public opinion polls, I argue that especially high and low emotional reactions among the South Korean public during these periods were exacerbated by news media’s overly dramatized portrayal of inter-Korean interactions, both big and small. This has led to desensitization and emotional exhaustion among the South Korean public, causing …