Digital Commons Network^™

Do Themes Improve Visitor Outcomes In Interpretive Programs?, Amber K. Hawes

All Theses

Thematic interpretation is widely promoted as being integral to an effective interpretive program. Some studies have suggested that thematic interpretation may enhance visitor outcomes; however, park visitor demographics have changed over the last decade, and others have suggested alternative approaches. In this study, we systematically observed live interpretive programs at 330 programs at 52 National Parks across the United States, monitored the extent and characteristics of theme usage, and collected visitor surveys immediately following each program. We used these data to determine the influence of the presence and characteristics of themes and theme questions on visitor outcomes. The results suggest …

Letter From The Editors, Raven L. Jones, Tanya Upthegrove Gregory, Alexandra M. Sánchez

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

No abstract provided.

Student Spotlight, David Herron Iii

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

No abstract provided.

August 2025, Pacific Alumni Association

Alumni News & Events

No abstract provided.

Georgia Library Spotlight: Poetry Spotlight: A Collaborative Effort, Tarmaria Chenta Davis

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

My Own Private Library, Colette Drouillard

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Book Review: The Zombie Memes Of Dixie, Alyshia K. Bagley

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Ai Governance In China: A Tale Of Three Digital Empires, Charles C. Wang, Siyi Lin, Xia Wu, Yiman Li

UC Law SF International Law Review

Since 2021, China has strategically expedited artificial intelligence (AI) legislation and refined algorithmic governance to compete with the US and the EU. The rapid growth of algorithm filing cases is a direct result of the “Made in China 2025” Initiative which prioritizes AI development driven by domestic leading tech companies like DeepSeek. As world-class digital powers, China, the US, and the EU diverge in their categorization of AI risks and adoption of regulatory measures. China’s centralized single-agency regulatory infrastructure differs from the multi-agency and decentralized governance models in the US and the EU, respectively. China does not impose the same …

Electrophysiological Markers Of Emotion Dysregulation In Autistic Youth, Rachel G. Mcdonald

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Emotion dysregulation (ED) is a transdiagnostic mechanism that is conceptualized as difficultly regulating emotions and deploying appropriate regulation strategies in response to environmental stimuli. Meta-analyses suggest that autistic people, across the lifespan, experience more severe ED as compared to both neurotypical people and those with mental health conditions. Despite elevated risk and evidence linking ED to disruptions in neural mechanisms, no studies to date have examined neural markers of ED in autistic populations. The current project uses multi-method and multi-informant measurement to examine similarities and differences in neural mechanisms of ED in autistic and non-autistic populations. Forty-four youth aged 11—17 …

An Examination Of The Lived Experiences Of Community College Students Of Color Who Utilize On-Campus Food Pantries, Maria Luisa Marte

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In this dissertation, I present the findings of a descriptive phenomenological study I conducted focused on examining the experiences of community college students of color who utilize on-campus food pantries, aiming to understand how these resources impact their well-being. Through in-depth interviews, two central themes emerged. The first theme, Introduction to the On-Campus Food Pantry, highlights the accessibility of the service, with participants emphasizing the simplicity and efficiency of the registration process as a key factor in their initial engagement. The second theme, Experiences Using the Pantry, reveals that students found the pantry environment to be welcoming and non-stigmatizing, fostering …

"It's A Calling That Won't Let You Rest": The Experiences Of Counselor Educators Of Color Who Teach Social Justice, Sunanda M. Sharma

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Social justice advocacy has been described as a foundational ethical duty for all professional counselors (American Counseling Association, 2014). Counselor educators of color (CEOCs) have advocated for the advancement of multiculturalism and social justice in counseling (Sue et al., 1992; Vera & Speight, 2003). However, their lived experiences are not well-accounted for in the counseling literature. Grounded in critical race theory (CRT) (Delgado & Stefancic, 2017), this phenomenological study sought to explore the lived experiences of CEOCs who teach students to engage in systemic social justice advocacy (SSJA). Eleven participants described the essence of their experiences and four themes emerged …

The Lived Personal History Of Queer Teachers Engaged In Queer Pedagogy, Michael C. Shera

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This study examines a group of five queer teachers of varied ages and genders who discussed their lived experiences navigating the heteronormativity of public school structures in conjunction with their work using queer pedagogy to support students. It answers the research question: How does the lived personal history of queer educators influence how, when, and in what ways they take up queer pedagogy? Employing a life history interview methodology, along with queer theory as a theoretical framework, this study explores intersections of the participants’ life history and their engagement in queer pedagogy to examine why and how they are driven …

A Collaborative Teaching Approach: Teaching Emergent Bilinguals In Higher Education, Erika Oliveros

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This dissertation examines the collaboration between two college instructors, one in writing and one in psychology, to enhance support for emergent bilinguals at a private university in the northeastern United States. While collaboration among educators is widely encouraged in K–12 settings, it is far less common and studied in higher education, particularly in relation to language-minoritized students. Through an action research model, this study examines how our informal exchanges evolved into a more intentional and reflective collaboration over time. Grounded in the frameworks of translanguaging (García, 2009) and community cultural wealth (Yosso, 2005), the study traces the evolution of our …

Fair + Equitable August/September 2025, International Association Of Assessing Officers

Fair + Equitable

The August/September 2025 issue of F+E offers a number of stories on the upcoming annual conference in Orlando, including:

• Orlando's must-try dining
• Updated annual conference session schedule
• 2026 IAAO Board candidate profiles
• IAAO's new podcast for the assessment community
• IAAO and TAF met in KC work on efforts to gain acceptance of mass appraisal experience at the state level
• Review of upcoming property tax policy and administrative survey results
• Resources and assistance offered by The Paul V. Corusy Memorial Library to IAAO members
• Albuquerque turning motels into housing
• Thought leader article on what property assessment professionals needs to know
• New …

Parent Perception Of Preschool Programs: Improving Parent Knowledge Of Preschool Programs Through Targeted Recruitment, Meredith Lynn Drake

All Dissertations

Parent knowledge of preschool enrollment processes and the benefit of early education has been an issue at Mountain Elementary. Early childhood learning opportunities are a predictor of later academic success, and it is important that parents know about the available opportunities for early learning in public schools.

The purpose of this intervention is to create a targeted parent outreach program to recruit students to the four-year-old kindergarten programs at Mountain Elementary. This study attempts to answer whether targeted outreach increases enrollment numbers at Mountain Elementary.

After conducting two parent outreach events and creating two video-based social media posts, I analyzed …

A Pilot Study Exploring Vitamin D, Mental Health, And Gastrointestinal Health In Humans, Brianna C. Williams

Master's Theses

Mental disorders are experienced by nearly one billion people worldwide. Depression is one of the most common. Treatments exist, yet a devastating 75% of individuals suffering from depression do not receive adequate treatment. An emerging treatment strategy includes exploring the connection between mental health and nutrition, which includes the areas of gut health and nutrient deficiencies. Vitamin D is obtained through food, supplements, and sunlight. Many individuals are considered deficient (25[OH]D concentrations < 12 ng/mL) or insufficient (25[OH]D concentrations < 20 ng/mL). Purpose: This study aimed to explore mental and gastrointestinal (GI) health using surveys and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) concentrations, a biomarker of GI health, in individuals considered 25(OH)D deficient (DEF) vs not deficient (N-DEF). Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited physically active participants aged 18-45 years who underwent three evaluations in one visit. Health was assessed using surveys to evaluate mental health, GI symptoms, and vitamin D intake. Serum from fasting blood samples was used with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine 25(OH)D and LBP concentrations. Unpaired t-tests were used to compare DEF vs N-DEF and significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Thirty-two participants (mean age 25.3 ± 6.3 years) with mean and body fat percentage of 24.0% ± 10.7%, were placed into DEF (n=16) and N-DEF (n=16) categories. Interestingly, five of the 16 participants in DEF (31%) showed some level of depression (scores ranging from mild to severe) and only two of the 16 participants in N-DEF iv (13%) scored positively in the depression category (scores ranging from mild to moderate). Additionally, the participant with the lowest 25(OH)D concentration (5.42 ng/mL) was the only participant to meet the “severe” depression category criteria, with a score of 24 compared to other participants who scored within 0-16. Also, the only participant who scored “severe” in the stress category, was in the bottom 20% of 25(OH)D concentrations. As for GI health, the difference between average GI scores and average serum LBP concentrations between the groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion: There were no significant differences between DEF and N-DEF in perceived depression (p = 0.16), anxiety (p = 1.0), stress (p = 0.96), GI symptoms (P values ranged from 0.27 to 1.00), nor in LBP concentrations (p = 0.77). Funding: Support was received from the Graduate Student Association and College of Natural Health Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado.

Effects Of Chronic Marijuana Use On Postural Control During Quiet Standing, Johnathon S. Ashcraft

Master's Theses

Marijuana, Cannabis Sativa, is the most commonly used recreational drug in the United States, with more than 60 million people reporting use in 2022 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2023). As marijuana consumption has increased, so have questions surrounding its acute and long-term effects. Its acute effects are well documented; however, the long-term effects are not as well understood. It is hypothesized that chronic marijuana users will exhibit a decrease in postural stability during quiet standing when compared to non-users, so the purpose of this study was to compare postural control of chronic marijuana users and non-users in …

Investigating The Influence Of Experimental Parameters On The Formation Of Gold Nanoparticles: A Green Synthesis And Design Of Experiments Approach, Isaac Opeyemi Subuloye

Master's Theses

This thesis examines the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles using catechin, a naturally occurring plant-derived compound, as both a reducing and capping agent. The synthesis process was guided by a structured Design of Experiments (DOE) methodology to ensure systematic investigation and optimization. A two-phase experimental approach was adopted. First, a full factorial screening design was used to evaluate the effects of catechin concentration, NaOH concentration, and pre-reaction time. This was followed by an optimization phase using a face-centered composite design to identify conditions that produce nanoparticles with ideal characteristics. The nanoparticles were analyzed using UV-visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering …

Cultivating Identity, Workforce Readiness, And Heutagogical Lifelong Learning: The Case For Student-Trained Ai Agents In Postsecondary Education, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

The accelerated integration of human-centered artificial intelligence and human-computer intelligent interaction (HCII) into postsecondary education has inaugurated a paradigm shift in how learners develop cognitive, socio emotional, and professional competencies. This article argues that requiring students to iteratively build and refine custom AI agents—digital “clones” or GPTs trained on their evolving beliefs, knowledge, values, and interests addresses three pressing challenges facing contemporary higher education. First, the process of self-modeling via agent training compels deep self-reflection, fostering socio-economic development and identity formation during the critical neurodevelopmental period that extends into the mid-twenties. Second, as industry trends increasingly prioritize the creation of …

A Word From The Writing Team (August 2025), Pam Walter, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Publications Spotlight
• Join the Last Summer Writing Warriors Session Tomorrow
• Check out our Fall Workshops
• Two Ways to Fund Open Access Fees

White Piedra, Jane Hong, Andrew Tran, Lisa Gelles

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Ideological (Mis)Framing Of Comparative Procedure, Stefania Cirillo

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

This article critiques the pervasive role of ideology in comparative studies of civil procedure, rejecting the notion that scholarly interpretation is purely technical. It highlights three main harms of ideological influence: misinterpretations of legal systems, flawed rule transplants, and exclusion of Global South perspectives. These drawbacks stem from the comparatist’s tendency to adjust reality to fit ideological preconceptions, leading to distortions in comparative analysis. While ideology often distorts comparative analysis, its complete exclusion risks neglecting moral and social dimensions. Thus, the article calls for a balanced methodology: a descriptive analysis rooted in culturalism to account for the ideological and societal …

The Legal Framework Of Smart Contracts In The Arabian Gulf, Ilias Bantekas, Ameneh Yousuf Saif Al-Hosseini

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

New tools have aided contractual transactions, particularly so-called smart contracts. Such tools have an impact on the formation of contracts and the implementation of the parties’ mutual obligations. Entities in the Arab world have generally hesitated to apply smart contract technology to high-end transactions out of fear that at some point these will not sit comfortably with existing legislation. The civil law landscape is still blurry. This article focuses on analyzing the legal framework of smart contracts in selected Arab countries and uses English smart contract regulation in order to compare how their regulation was tamed there and whether the …

Punishment In “Disneyland”: A Magical Review Of Singaporean Sentencing Law, Policy & Practice, Lucas Brolin

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

Staying in Singapore is like visiting Disneyland, with a catch: Imagine indulging in the world’s most magical place, but Jeffrey Katzenberg gives you a walloping if you cut in line. Deploying this self-described “winning formula,” Singapore quickly rose to prosperity. Admirers and critics mutually note Singapore’s cleanliness, safety, and efficiency. Empirical metrics suggest these accolades are not anecdotal: Singapore scores at the top of global development indexes, boasts a low crime rate and high judicial clearance rate, has comprehensive infrastructure, clean public facilities and streets, and more. Singapore’s governance is rightly credited for its prosperous outcomes. However, it also invites …

“Economic Abuse” As An Element Of Domestic Violence Against Women: A Comparative Analysis Of Sri Lanka And United Kingdom, Pavithra Rajendran

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

Economic abuse, though not a new concept in commercial law, remains underdefined and underutilized in the context of domestic violence, particularly violence against women. Recent scholarly discussions emphasize the need for a clear definition of economic abuse in this context: "Economic abuse entails a deliberate pattern of control where individuals disrupt their partner's ability to acquire, use, and maintain economic resources." This highlights economic abuse as a powerful tool of control, with perpetrators employing various strategies to assert dominance. Scholars often distinguish economic abuse from financial abuse, a crucial differentiation, especially with the recent enactment of the United Kingdom’s Domestic …

Volume 15, Issue 2 - Full Issue

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Upcoming Events

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

No abstract provided.

Empowering Writers: Integrating Digital Prewriting Tools In The Research Writing Process, Heather A. Rundo

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

This practitioner article explores the integration of digital prewriting tools, specifically MindMeister and VoiceThread, in a high school sophomore honors English class during a research writing unit. The author, a classroom teacher, discusses the challenges students face in research writing and seeks to enhance their confidence and organization skills. Drawing insights from student and teacher perspectives on writing strengths and weaknesses, the article delves into the significance of prewriting as a fundamental component of the writing process.

Bridging Intercultural Divides In A Digitally Interconnected World, Jaimee Stuart, Andre Pekerti

Regional Conferences of IACCP

This volume contains the program and abstracts of the joint IAIR & IACCP Conference in Brisbane, Australia, from June 26 to July 1, 2025. It was the 28th Regional Conference of IACCP.

Navigating Transportation Barriers: Older Adults’ Familiarity With New Mobility Options And Perceptions Toward Autonomous Vehicles In Arkansas, Arna Nishita Nithila, Suman Kumar Mitra, Michelle Gray, Alishia Juanelle Ferguson, Jennifer D. Webb

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The objective of this study is to analyze older adults’ familiarity with new transportation options (ride-hailing services, bike-share services, and shared e-scooter services) and their perception towards autonomous vehicles (fully autonomous cars), as well as how transportation barriers influence their familiarity and perceptions, in Arkansas, a predominantly rural state. Data from 775 older adults aged 60 years or older were collected between October 2021 and October 2022. To fulfill the study objective, the study used Latent Class Cluster Analysis to segment older adults into classes based on their familiarity with new transportation options and their perceptions of autonomous vehicles. The …