Digital Commons Network^™

Book Review: From The Editor, Jace Brown

The Utah English Journal

As I have worked with the reviewers on this edition of the Utah English Journal, I have found myself thinking often about community. I grew up in what was once a small town in central Utah, then moved to Ohio to pursue my PhD in Education. After graduating, I was beyond thrilled to accept a teaching position at Weber State University and return to my Utah community. It was with this perspective—of leaving, returning, and re-entering—that I began reflecting on the many communities in our lives: the communities where we grow up, the communities where we work, and the communities …

Book Review: A Most Perilous World: The True Story Of The Young Abolitionists And Their Crusade Against Slavery, Mercedes Allen

The Utah English Journal

A Most Perilous World brings the reader into the chaotic, tumultuous, and important days leading into the Civil War, during the war itself, and the Reconstruction Period (1854–1872). The book follows four lesser-known but vital historical figures: Lucy McKim, daughter of generational abolitionists; Lewis Douglass, the son of Frederick Douglass; George Garrison, son of abolitionist and journalist William Lloyd Garrison; and Charlotte Forten, daughter of free Blacks living in the north helping slaves to freedom. Though history remembers their parents more clearly, these young people prove that anyone, regardless of age, can make a difference—even when it seems hopeless.

Book Review: When We Ride, Madalynn Belliston

The Utah English Journal

What do you do when someone you love makes choices that can harm your future? This is the challenge for Diego Benevides in Rex Ogle’s novel in verse, When We Ride. Nicknamed by his best friend Lawson, he goes by Benny to everyone but mom. The novel opens with Benny’s life flashing before his eyes as a gun is pointed directly at him.

Book Review: The Ballerina Of Auschwitz, Kourtney Amodio

The Utah English Journal

Dr. Edith Eger’s young adult memoir, The Ballerina of Auschwitz, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of choosing how we respond to life’s darkest moments. As a sixteen-year-old Jewish ballerina, Edith was torn from her home in Hungary and sent to Auschwitz, where she endured unimaginable horrors, including being forced to dance for Josef Mengele on the night her parents were sent to the gas chambers. Yet this harrowing beginning is only part of her story. Edith’s journey from concentration camp survivor to renowned psychologist offers readers profound insights into trauma, …

Book Review: The Other Side Of Tomorrow, Adam Hellewell

The Utah English Journal

Yunho and Myunghee, the young protagonists of The Other Side of Tomorrow, written in verse by Tina Cho and illustrated by Deb JJ Lee, have not experienced a traditional happy childhood. For them, North Korea is the backdrop of their impoverished, lonely, and brutal adolescence.

Book Review: Pursuing Language And Metalinguistics In K-12 Classrooms: A Framework For Critical Engagement, Leah Day

The Utah English Journal

The linguistic diversity that exists in many classrooms in the United States, and Utah more specifically, creates the perfect opportunity for teachers and students to discuss the intersection between power, language, and identity. As the number of multilingual learners in our classrooms increases, the need for these talks grows more and more urgent. This book offers extensive professional development for practitioners hoping to incorporate more discussions of language and linguistic awareness in their classrooms with their students. It is an overview of a wide variety of research as well as practical applications in a teaching context. Throughout, there is an …

Book Review: Under The Same Stars, Sara Tesch

The Utah English Journal

On the front of the hardcover edition, acclaimed YA author Libba Bray intrigues the reader with three simple, telegraphic sentences: “Three rebels. Two murders. A century of secrets.” Using three distinct timelines, Bray creates a young adult novel perfect for fans of historical fiction and mysteries. Elements of young adult realism are also present within Bray’s 2025 novel, a Good Morning America Young Adult Book Club pick. Under the Same Stars brings the reader on a journey of self-discovery, mystery, and sacrifice in 1940s Germany, 1980s West Germany, and 2020 New York, stricken with COVID-19.

Book Review: J Vs. K, Miranda Folau

The Utah English Journal

J Vs. K is an engaging story about two fifth-grade boys who find themselves in a rivalry over the school competition to create the “best story”. The story begins when K, a new student, gains attention for his natural writing abilities. This is a threat to J, who dislikes reading and writing, but loves to draw. J has been so excited to enter the storytelling contest at school and has been dreaming of his year to shine and win, bringing fame to the fifth-grade class. The boys quickly find themselves in competition, and become very self-conscious as outside acknowledgements of …

Beyond The Book Report: Finding Student Voice Through Podcasting, Gaby Dawson, Johnny Allred

The Utah English Journal

“Mrs. Dawson, I never want to write another essay again,” a student groaned after class, clearly worn out by the end-of-term pileup of assignments. As a student teacher in a ninth-grade English Language Arts (ELA) classroom, Gaby could relate to her student’s fatigue— she only had one last reading unit to plan and teach before the end of the semester. However, with thoughts of winter break at the forefront of her students’ minds, Gaby noticed it was getting increasingly difficult to keep them engaged. To finish the semester strong, she needed a high-interest project and summative assessment that could reenergize …

Education Games For Kids Bookmark, Lorraine Sheldon

Publications

No abstract provided.

2024-2025 Annual Report, Tennessee Public Utility Commission

Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Special Tribute To Barbara A. Rider, Phd, Otrl, Faota

OJOT Sponsor Profiles

No abstract provided.

A Historic Trade Union Law Revision To Expand The Concept Of Employer In Korea, Aelim Yun

Dispatches

This dispatch illustrates the impact of the amendments on Korea’s legal framework for collective bargaining and strike action, and predict the impact of the amendments on the guarantee of collective labour rights, in particular for workers in non-standard forms of employment.

Video Instructions For Pre And Post Procedure Care: Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Project, Lynn V. Wojton

DNP Projects

Background: Patient adherence to pre- and post-procedure instructions is essential to ensuring optimal outcomes and patient satisfaction in cosmetic dermatology. However, patients frequently overlook or misunderstand written instructions, leading to suboptimal preparation and recovery experiences.

Project Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement initiative was to evaluate whether the implementation of short, accessible video-based instructions could improve patient understanding, adherence, and satisfaction compared to standard written instructions alone.

Methods: The project was conducted in a high-volume cosmetic dermatology practice in the Northeastern United States. A HIPAA-compliant platform using a video-based educational intervention was developed and implemented to supplement or replace …

Speculative Journeys Through Young Adult Graphic Novels: How Time Travel Interprets Trauma, Xhorxhina Gjergji

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines the significance of the speculative element of time travel in young adult graphic novels. The graphic novel format and its visual elements facilitate understanding of a fractured identity resulting from trauma. The speculative work of time travel allows consideration of “what-ifs.” This thesis focuses on three graphic novels, Displacement by Kiku Hughes, Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughn, and Orange by Ichigo Takano, in order to explore how time travel serves as a metaphor for the processing of trauma. These young adult graphic novels explore how someone’s relationship to time changes in the wake of traumatic events. …

Agile And Lean Frameworks For Enhancing Accountability And Efficiency In Public Financial Management Systems In Emerging Economies, Mercy Amuna, Eunice Acheabea Offei, Omowumi Folorunso, Charles Zormelo

Student Publications

Findings: This review reveals that Agile and Lean frameworks dramatically improve public financial management by improving fiscal accountability, budgeting efficiency, and service delivery. Drawing on 49 studies published between 2010 and 2025, the majority from emerging economies with selected comparative OECD cases, budgeting and procurement reforms emerged as the dominant sectors analysed. Agile’s iterative and adaptive approach allows governments to make real-time adjustments to budgets, enhancing the economy’s response to economic developments and crises. They focus on reducing waste and financial planning to ensure that public funds are allocated efficiently and effectively. Similarly, Rwanda and Nigeria demonstrate the benefits of …

Common Coastal Wildlife Of Bayboro Harbor, Oliver Laczko, Usf St. Petersburg Student Green Energy Fund (Sgef)

Bayboro Harbor Restoration

Educational sign located on the north side of the living shoreline on the USF St. Petersburg campus that is a comprehensive wildlife identification guide of common coastal wildlife found within Bayboro Harbor.

The Usf St. Petersburg Living Shoreline, 'Coastal Ecology At Work!', Oliver Laczko, Usf St. Petersburg Student Green Energy Fund (Sgef)

Bayboro Harbor Restoration

An image of graphic signage located on the shoreline of Bayboro Harbor on the USF St. Petersburg campus that provides information on the USF St. Peterburg Living Shoreline. This sign focuses on educating the public about Bayboro Harbor's coastal ecology, restoration, local history, and coastal resilience.

Family Law Agreement And The New Gender Bargains, June Carbone, Brian H. Bix

Articles

The great family law divide is said to be marriage, as marriage has emerged as a marker correlated with race and socioeconomic status. This article argues that the real family law divide, inside and outside of marriage, is agreement. Family law, and the family court system that implements it, produce agreement when legal rules, societal norms, and family court procedures operate together to encourage shared understandings expressed through statuses such as marriage or parenthood, and legally enforceable agreements. In an increasingly unequal society, the family understandings of the college-educated middle class have moved apart from those much less privileged in …

International Panther Monthly, January 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of International Engagement.

Office of International Engagement newsletter

Contents:

--- From the Director's Desk
--- Last Month with OIE
--- Student Spotlight
--- UNI's World Window
--- Did You Know?
--- Behind the Scenes
--- Next Month's Actvities
--- Find Connection at OIE
--- Get Involved

2026 Suffolk University Commencement Program, Law School, Suffolk University

Suffolk University Commencements

Suffolk University commencement programs detail the location, date, order of exercises, academic honors, speakers, administration, graduates, and other related information.

The Real Truth About Popular Mindfulness Apps: Mindfulness Or Market Share?, Jeremy T. Yencer

Mindfulness Studies Theses

The rapid expansion of mindfulness applications raises important questions about their authenticity. A central concern is whether these digital interventions are primarily motivated by genuine mindfulness education or by commercial interests seeking to maximize commercial metrics. This thesis addresses this issue by comprehensively assessing these applications against established ethical and educational standards. The study introduces the Alaya conceptual model, a novel evaluative framework that adapts the six domains of the MBI:TAC and incorporates two additional domains focused on commercial integrity, governance, and ethics. The Alaya framework utilizes a deterministic scoring mechanism to evaluate the integrity of digital applications, specifically their …

Minimizing The Incidence Of Falls On An Adult Inpatient Cardiac Step-Down Unit, La’Tricia Danielle Harvey

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Background: Inpatient falls are a significant risk to patient safety in acute care settings. Local Problem: A 24-bed adult cardiac step-down unit with elevated fall rate lacked standardized fall risk protocols. Methods: Iterative Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were used to implement, evaluate, and refine a structured workflow over 12 weeks. Interventions: A protocol-guided fall prevention checklist was deployed, supported staff education, peer coaching and leadership audits. Results: Nursing protocol knowledge increased from 83% to 93.11%, checklist compliance averaged 90%, and these process improvements correlated with a 83.3% reduction in the overall unit fall rate. Conclusions: Standardizing care via a protocol-guided fall …

Legal Professional Identity Development: An Exploration Of The Social And Emotional Processes By Which Law Students Transition From Novices To Professionals, David Hall Abney Ii

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

This dissertation seeks to heed the call for expansion of instructional communication research (ICR) beyond the undergraduate classroom and undergraduate learning objectives by exploring older learners and higher-order affective learning objectives. Legal professional identity development (LPID) is a discipline-specific type of higher-order affective learning that is conceptualized as a continuous nonlinear process that begins in law school and extends throughout a lawyer’s career, involving the internalization of the legal profession’s core values and norms and their integration with an evolving identity. Using a pragmatic ICR approach and a mixed-methods design, Phase 1 employed individual interviews and focus groups to investigate …

“We Do Things A Little Different Exactly As You'd Expect Here...": Egocentric Network Structures As Predictors Of Organizational Culture Type, Ray Celeste S. Tanner

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

This dissertation examines organizational culture as an outcome of communication structures by integrating the Competing Values Framework (CVF) with egocentric network analysis. Although CVF is one of the most widely used frameworks for diagnosing organizational culture and predicting organizational effectiveness, prior research has overwhelmingly treated culture as an independent variable. Responding to calls for greater attention to the antecedents of culture, this study reconceptualizes organizational culture as a dependent variable and investigates how individuals’ perceived communication networks predict perceptions of CVF culture types. Using egocentric network data collected from employees across a diverse range of organizations and industries, this study …

Purchasing A Healthier Future: A Nutrition-Focused, Community-Centered Approach To Reduce Obesity And Diabetes In Graves County, Kentucky, Marissa Stephens

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are among the most significant public health challenges in the United States, with Kentucky consistently ranking among the states with the highest prevalence of both conditions. Together, these conditions contribute to reduced quality of life, rising healthcare costs, and increased morbidity and mortality, underscoring the need for targeted, community-centered interventions. The disease burden of obesity and diabetes is particularly pronounced in rural areas, including the state’s westernmost region, the Jackson Purchase. Among rural populations, chronic disease risk is driven by a combination of factors, including low socioeconomic status, limited access to healthcare/supermarket options, and food …

Anchoring Roots And Spreading Branches: The Growth And Regulation Of Art Therapy In Singapore, Christine Phang

Art Therapy | Doctoral Dissertations

The development of art therapy in Singapore has advanced rapidly over the last two decades. Yet, to date, there has not been a comprehensive overview of art therapy in Singapore. Additionally, more research is needed to understand how the complex component of regulation can benefit the profession of art therapy. This study therefore set out to paint a picture of art therapy in Singapore, capture the art therapy community’s thoughts and opinions concerning regulation, and identify actionable ways to advance the profession. A mixed method design was employed which utilized a survey and interviews to gather quantitative, qualitative, and arts-informed …

Improving Hypertension Management With An Educational Patient Intervention Bundle, Gertie Silva

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Aim

Uncontrolled hypertension remains a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This quality improvement project aimed to improve hypertension knowledge and blood pressure control among adults with uncontrolled hypertension by implementing lifestyle counseling, home blood pressure monitoring, and regular follow-up.

Design

This quality improvement project used a pre- and post-intervention design.

Methods

Forty-one adults with uncontrolled hypertension took part in an eight-week educational program. Outcomes measured included weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and HK-LS scores. Descriptive statistics and paired-samples t-tests analyzed the results.

Results

Participants showed significant improvements in weight, blood pressure, and hypertension knowledge. Mean weight decreased from …

Reducing Live Discharges In Hospice Care Through A Bundled Intervention, Fiona P. White

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Introduction

 Among Medicare fee-for-service hospice beneficiaries, the national live discharge rate increased from 16.9% in FY2021 to 19.1% in FY2025. At a Medicare-certified hospice agency in a southern state, the pre-intervention live discharge rate of 35.3% substantially exceeded national norms, with 68.7% of events representing patient-initiated revocations.

Methods

 A pre-post quality improvement design guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework was implemented over 8 weeks at a single site with 106 newly admitted hospice patients and 15 clinical staff. The four-component bundled intervention comprised Revocation Risk Assessment administration within 24 hours of admission, structured patient and caregiver education within 72 hours of …

Toolkit To Prevent Venous Thromboembolism Among Surgical Patients, Carine Wawa

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 900,000 people in the United States are affected annually by venous thromboembolism (VTE) (CDC, 2025). The surgical patient population is vulnerable to VTE due to factors such as immobility, tissue injuries, and inflammatory responses. The lack of standardized protocols for surgical patients causes practice variability among healthcare providers and potentially increases the risk for preventable VTE events.

Methods: A toolkit to prevent VTE was developed utilizing the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) National Quality Measures Clearinghouse (NQMC). A literature review was conducted, reviewed, and graded using the …