Msw Portfolio, Jasmine J. Klingaman

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This Master of Social Work (MSW) portfolio presents a comprehensive demonstration of professional growth and mastery of the ten core competencies as aligned with the standards of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Department of Social Work. Through selected artifacts and critical reflection, the portfolio illustrates the integration of knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes essential for advanced integrated practice. Emphasis is placed on ethical and professional behavior, engagement with diversity and difference, and the application of research-informed and evidence-based practice. The portfolio further highlights competence in policy practice, engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation across …

Professional Portfolio: Becoming A Justice-Centered Practitioner, Akemi Nakagawa

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This professional portfolio reflects my learning through this program, including the knowledge and skills I have developed, how my learning has been shaped by the people I have learned from and alongside, and what I will carry forward into future practice. I share my developing theoretical orientation that guides my thinking and practice, grounded predominantly in the Reproductive Justice framework, Critical Social Work, Janet Finn’s Just Practice framework, and by the work and wisdom of Paulo Freire–particularly his pedagogy of popular education.

This portfolio also reflects my ongoing development as a social worker who is committed to advancing intersectional justice …

Brief Reviews Of Books And Products: Theses On The Metaphors Of Digital-Textual History, David Advent

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

Theses on the Metaphors of Digital-Textual History is an exploration of seven key metaphors that Martin Paul Eve, Professor of Literature, Technology, and Publishing at Birkbeck College, University of London, argues have structured our cultural and linguistic understandings of the world around us. Eve organizes the book around eight chapters (“theses”), with each metaphor comprising a separate chapter. The theses are connected thematically in pairs, save for the closing chapter. Eve decodes each metaphor into its basic elements and interweaves the complex digital and textual histories behind each metaphor. Overwhelmingly, Eve wants readers to recognize how striking the parallels are …

Practicing What I Value: Growth And Identity In Social Work, Janelle Diane Schmit

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio showcases my growth as a social worker during the MSW program, highlighting both my academic accomplishments and practicum experiences. It contains artifacts that illustrate my proficiency in the key areas of social work practice. Guided by my personal and professional values, my work focuses on empowering individuals and communities in a variety of settings.

Integrative Synchronicity: Learning To Hold The Space Between, Kelsey M. Bogumill

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Portfolio, Hannah N. Vasquez

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio documents my development as a Master of Social Work student, demonstrating integration of relational, trauma-informed practice with systems-level analysis. Drawing on coursework and practicum experiences, it illustrates competency across micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice. Selected artifacts highlight the application of theoretical frameworks, engagement in critical self-reflection, and a commitment to advancing social justice. Particular emphasis is placed on caregiver engagement, community-based practice, and addressing structural barriers that impact well-being. Overall, this portfolio reflects my readiness for professional social work practice and my commitment to equitable, relationship-centered, and systems-informed approaches.

Msw Portfolio, Trebor J.C. Riddle

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Introduction

My development throughout the Master of Social Work program at the University of Montana has been guided by a longstanding understanding that social work is more than direct service. This belief was central to my decision to pursue an MSW rather than a master’s degree in counseling. While I value clinical skill and therapeutic relationships, I have always been drawn to the broader scope of social work, the profession’s commitment to social justice, systems change, and the integration of individual well-being with structural transformation. Over the course of this program, that orientation has deepened and become more theoretically grounded, …

Modalities Of Vision Restoration In Optic Neuropathies And Retinal Disease, Batsheva Rubin, Fabio Lavinsky, Rachel Cain, Ajay E. Kuriyan, Gadi Wollstein, Ronald Zambrano, Joel Schuman

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

Visual impairment affects over 250 million people globally and carries a significant psychosocial and economic burden. In recent years, rapid advancements in biomedical engineering and regenerative medicine have driven the development of innovative therapies aimed at restoring visual function. Here, we first provide an overview of the visual pathway, imaging modalities, and the psychosocial and economic burden of vision loss. Then we review four vision restoration approaches: gene and stem cell therapies, optogenetics, retinal prosthetic devices, and visual pathway electrical stimulation. For each therapeutic approach, the mechanism of action, clinical outcomes, adverse events, and current limitations are discussed. Stem cell …

Serological Evidence Of Onchocerca Volvulus Exposure And Entomological Indicators Of Parasite Transmission, Didier Kapuku Bakajika

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Pioneering Change: Digital Reformatting For Sustainable Av Stewardship, Cory Nimer, Ben Harry, Abby Beazer, Miya Jensen, Michael Gates, Karen Glenn

Faculty Publications

Archives and libraries face growing preservation challenges from aging audiovisual collections due to carrier degradation and playback equipment obsolescence. As the media becomes more difficult to access, its archival value decreases, leading to questions about its ongoing storage. One proposed solution has been to digitize and discard the original media, preserving the recordings as digital masters with derivative files for public access. The suggestion to reformat audiovisual materials raises questions for cultural heritage professionals, and each stakeholder group may have its own concerns. Yet as media capture and digital preservation technology improve, to maintain our program's sustainability, we have begun …

Prevalence Of Adverse Events Following T-Cell Redirecting Therapies In Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Pooled Analysis, Abhiraj Saxena, Marc Yorker, Nicholas Zorko, Vivek Narayan, Bilal Siddiqui, Biren Saraiya, William Tester, Patrick Mille, Amy Shaver, Nikita Nikita, Grace Lu-Yao, W. Kevin Kelly, Kevin K. Zarrabi

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: T-cell redirecting therapies, including T-cell engagers (TCEs) and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T), are under investigation in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Despite their promising therapeutic potential, these therapies remain in early stages of development due to treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). This study aims to quantify the frequency and severity of adverse events in clinical trials with a pooled analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, CINHAL, Scopus, and Ovid was conducted to identify clinical trials evaluating TCEs or CAR-T in patients with mCRPC. Types and frequencies of TRAEs were collected and analyzed using a random-effects model. …

Sir Gawain, The Travelling Sun Of Medieval Literature, Leah H. Dascoli

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper examines Sir Gawain’s roles in Medieval Arthurian literature from various geolinguistical regions in Europe. Starting in the twelfth century and extending to the late fifteenth century, there is a shift in literary legends that can be glimpsed through understanding what roles the authors of the Arthurian genre use for Sir Gawain.

By incorporating evidence within the text and supplementary evidence of historical context during which the stories were written and translated, this study seeks to create a discussion between the more obscure sources and more circulating sources in which Sir Gawain is a common factor. It argues that …

How To Fail At Faith, Olivia R. Bacon

Honors Theses

How to Fail at Faith tells the story of Ruth, a girl in middle school who begins to doubt her faith in the Christian God. With these doubts come existential questions, fear, and, most strangely, a voice that narrates Ruth’s everyday activities inside her head. Ruth is scared this voice means she is only a character inside a story, but is even more scared to tell her parents about her internal struggles. As Ruth grapples with her faith, this “narrator” becomes a tangible support amid uncertainties. Ruth surrenders to trusting God after fighting her doubts, and discovers that her mysterious …

Developing Spanish-Language Campus Tours To Enhance Accessibility And Competitive Recruitment At The University Of Mississippi, Caitlyn E. Culpepper

Honors Theses

This thesis proposes and outlines an initiative that would bring Spanish-language campus tours and visit resources to the University of Mississippi, increasing accessibility to the campus visit experience while also providing institutional benefits within a competitive recruitment landscape. Through a review of current literature on Hispanic/Latino students in higher education, institutional enrollment and recruitment data, comparative research on peer institutions, and conversations with university professionals, this project explores the role that language accessibility, family engagement, and campus visits play in the college decision-making process.

Findings suggest that Hispanic/Latino students remain an underrepresented yet rapidly growing population in higher education and …

Beyond Barriers: Understanding The Struggles And Support Systems For English Language Learners In Mississippi Public Schools, Gurkirt K. Sandhu

Honors Theses

English Language Learners (ELL) make up a growing portion of Mississippi’s public school population, yet questions remain about how effectively schools are supporting their academic development. This study explores the structure and implementation of ELL programs in the state of Mississippi, with a focus on how these programs are experienced by those directly involved: ELL administrators, parents, teachers, and former ELL students. By examining both institutional practices and personal perspectives, this study aims to better understand the strengths and limitations of the present Mississippi ELL support systems. This study employed a qualitative approach to gather insights from the above-mentioned individuals …

Learning Through Play: The Effects Of Play-Based Instruction On Literacy Development, Jherica Goodgame

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the role of play-based learning in early literacy development, emphasizing its impact on student engagement, executive functioning, and overall academic success. Drawing from research and personal experience, it argues that play is not separate from learning but a critical component of it. This thesis also highlights the benefits of play for diverse learners and examines the challenges teachers face in implementing play-based instruction. It provides numerous examples of play-based instruction practiced in a real classroom setting with 17 students who are varying from early kindergarten to late kindergarten levels. This thesis seeks to demonstrate the importance of …

The Influence Of The Federalist Society On Originalism In Supreme Court Opinions, Edoardo Santopuoli

Honors Theses

This thesis will investigate the influence of the Federalist Society on the use of originalism in Supreme Court opinions. To investigate this influence, justices that served on the Supreme Court from 1994 to 2022 are categorized based on whether or not they are affiliated with the Federalist Society. Then using artificial intelligence (ChatGPT version 5.3), ten Supreme Court opinions known to be originalist are used as a baseline for artificial intelligence to know what an originalist opinion looks like. Then, all majority opinions of the Supreme Court from that timeframe are scored from 1-10, with 10 meaning an opinion is …

Gendered Politics Of Pictures: How Images In A Pakistani English Textbook Homogenize Female Identities, Liaquat Ali Channa

The Qualitative Report

This qualitative multimodal analytical study draws upon Kress and van Leeuwen’s ideas about pictures and problematizes textbooks of English that supposedly teach only English in Pakistan. It aims to understand the identities of an adult female as shown in the images of an English textbook. It uses Foucault’s theories of discourse and discursive formation, and a Vygotskian sociocultural view of the development of consciousness. By following Braun and Clarke (2006, 2019), all the pictures of the My English Book 4 are first analyzed thematically. Later, O’Toole’s (1994) method of analyzing pictures is employed for a detailed examination of a representative …

Exploring Grounded Theory In Educational Research: Literature Review, Reflexivity, And Conceptual Development In Doctoral Research, Huidan Niu

The Qualitative Report

My article explores the application of grounded theory in educational research, focusing on the literature review process, reflexivity, and conceptual development. I address common misconceptions about grounded theory, especially for novice researchers, and advocate for its use as a comprehensive methodology rather than solely as a data analysis tool. Drawing on my doctoral research experience, I argue that grounded theory offers a valuable framework for fostering theoretical sensitivity and independence, making it particularly suitable for educational research. Through detailed examination, I offer novice researchers practical strategies for navigating the methodological complexities of grounded theory and for contributing conceptually robust and …

Tensions, Characteristics, And Methods Surrounding Critical Autoethnographic Narrative: A Dialogic Review Of Bedrettin Yazan’S Autoethnography In Language Education, Meryem Büşra Ünsal, Ufuk Keleş

The Qualitative Report

In this book review, the authors critically explore Bedrettin Yazan’s Autoethnography in Language Education, which addresses theoretical, methodological, and ethical dimensions of autoethnography in applied linguistics and teacher education. Organized as a reconstructed scholarly dialogue between a doctoral advisor - Ufuk, and a doctoral researcher - Meryem, the review systematically outlines the book’s central arguments, chapter structure, and contributions to qualitative research. Attention is given to Yazan’s positioning of autoethnography as an onto-ethico-epistemological stance, his engagement with debates surrounding legitimacy and rigor, and his discussion of reflexivity, identity, and emotional labor in research. The review also highlights the book’s practical …

A Quality Improvement Initiative Evaluating Factors Influencing Patient Experience With Virtual Reality During Awake​ Interventional Radiology Procedures, Quynh Dao-Payne

Doctoral Projects

Procedural anxiety and pain are common among pediatric patients undergoing awake interventional radiology (IR) procedures and may negatively affect patient comfort, cooperation, and overall patient experience. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising nonpharmacologic intervention to reduce anxiety and improve patient-centered outcomes. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate patient-reported experiences and perceived outcomes associated with VR use during awake pediatric IR procedures at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.​ A qualitative descriptive quality improvement design was utilized. Twenty pediatric​ patients ages 10–21 years undergoing awake IR procedures with VR as part of standard clinical​ care completed structured …

"En Papel,” Not In Practice: Indigenous Autonomy And The Structural Barriers To Land And Resource Control In Bolivia, Andrew F. Purcell

Honors Theses

This thesis examines why Bolivia’s 2009 plurinational constitution—despite its strong recognition of Indigenous autonomy, collective territory, and prior consultation—often produces rights that remain “en papel” rather than in practice. Based on one month of fieldwork in Tumupasa, Chojasivi, La Paz, El Alto, and Santa Cruz, the study draws on interviews, participant observation, and NGO documents to analyze the structural barriers that prevent constitutional guarantees from becoming enforceable governance tools. This gap between recognition and implementation structures the central research question: why do Bolivia’s constitutional and legal protections for indigenous land and resource rights function as symbolic guarantees rather than enforceable …

Linkedin Growth & Engagement Analysis, Dora Nguyen

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This report presents a data analysis of the LinkedIn marketing efforts of the Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute (PEAAII) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The analysis examines follower growth trends, audience demographics, engagement patterns, and content performance between February and April 2026. Findings highlight significant organic growth driven primarily by AI Workshop Series and event-related content, along with increased visibility through reposts and audience engagement. The report also identifies opportunities to expand reach through consistent posting, collaborations, interactive AI content, and broader community engagement initiatives. Recommendations are provided to support continued audience growth and strengthen the Institute’s digital …

Staff Education To Implement The Phq-9 Assessment Tool In Crisis/Trauma Services, Lewis Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Values-Based Clinical Ethics: A New Model Of Health And Ethics Consultation For Patients Suffering In Extremis, Adam Trainer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation argues that contemporary clinical ethics is inadequately equipped to support patients suffering in extremis because it relies on an insufficiently discriminating account of health and a constrained model of moral reasoning. Drawing on Bernard Lonergan, it reconceives health as an emergent, multi-layered, heuristic notion shaped by biological, psychological, social, and existential goods. On that basis, it critiques principlism’s global applicability thesis and the undergirding claim that its principles form part of the common morality, arguing that this justificatory structure is philosophically insufficient and practically limited for clinical ethics in cases marked by profound suffering, moral plurality, and normative …

Breaking Barriers: The Impact Of Recruitment And Retention On Black Educator Representation In K–12 Schools And Strategies For Advancing Equity, Wynter Williams-Adams

LMU Theses and Dissertations

The underrepresentation of African American teachers in California K–12 public schools remain a persistent and systemic issue that directly impacts student outcomes and school climate. This qualitative study investigates the barriers that affect both the recruitment and retention of African American teachers across multiple stages of the educator pipeline, including college seniors considering teaching, early-career teachers, veteran educators, and former teachers who exited the profession. Using a grounded theory approach (Glaser & Strauss, 1967; Charmaz, 2014) and guided by Critical Race Theory (CRT) (Bell, 1992; Crenshaw, 1996), Cultural Reproduction Theory (Bourdieu, 1977), and Organizational Theory (Fayol, 1949; Capper, 2018) this …

Combined Ema Tools To Assess Stress And Glycemia In Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes, Jorden G. Rieke

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

This study aims to provide preliminary evidence of the feasibility and acceptability of using combined ecological momentary assessment (EMA) tools to assess psychological stress and glycemia in young adults with T1D.

Identifying Novel Gene Dysregulation Associated With Opioid Overdose Death: A Meta-Analysis Of Differential Gene Expression In Human Prefrontal Cortex, Javan K Carter, Bryan C Quach, Caryn Willis, Melyssa S Minto, Dana B Hancock, Janitza Montalvo-Ortiz, Olivia Corradin, Ryan W Logan, Consuelo Walss-Bass, Brion S Maher, Eric Otto Johnson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Only recently have human postmortem brain studies of differential gene expression (DGE) associated with opioid overdose death (OOD) been published; sample sizes from these studies have been modest (N = 40-153). To increase statistical power to identify OOD-associated genes, we leveraged human prefrontal cortex RNA-seq data from four independent OOD studies and conducted a transcriptome-wide DGE meta-analysis (N = 272). Using a unified gene expression data processing and analysis framework across studies, we meta-analyzed 20, 098 genes and found 335 significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by OOD status (false discovery rate <  0.05). Of these, 66 DEGs were among the list of 303 genes reported as OOD-associated in prior prefrontal cortex molecular studies (e.g., genes/gene families OPRK1, NPAS4, DUSP, EGR). The remaining 269 DEGs were not previously reported (e.g., NR4A2, SYT1, HCRTR2, BDNF). There was little evidence of genetic drivers for the observed differences in gene expression between opioid addiction cases and controls. Enrichment analyses for the DEGs across molecular pathway and biological process databases highlight an interconnected set of genes and pathways linked to orexin and tyrosine kinase receptors through MEK/ERK/MAPK signaling to affect neuronal plasticity.

Dna Methylation Signatures Associated With Bipolar Disorder In Peripheral Blood Improve Prediction Models, Markos Tesfaye, Anne-Kristin Stavrum, Kira D Höffler, Kevin S O'Connell, Friederike S David, Melanie E Garrett, Sonia Hesam-Shariati, Bronwyn J Overs, Claudia Pisanu, Luana Spano, Oliver J Watkeys, Antoine Weihs, Rafaella Ardau, Allison E Ashley-Koch, Lavinia Athanasiu, Jean C Beckham, Kyle J Bourassa, Caterina Chillotti, Srdjan Djurovic, Ole K Drange, Josef Frank, Anouar Khayachi, Nathan A Kimbrel, Lourdes Martorell, Susanne Meinert, Ingrid Melle, Gunnar Morken, Pasquale Paribello, Marco Pinna, Gloria Roberts, Guy Rouleau, Peter R Schofield, Esteban Sepúlveda, Giovanni Severino, Vidar M Steen, Frederike Stein, Fabian Streit, Va Mid-Atlantic Mirecc Workgroup, Trine Vik Lagerberg, Martin Alda, Udo Dannlowski, Andreas J Forstner, Janice M Fullerton, Hans J Grabe, Melissa J Green, Tilo Kircher, Javier Labad, Mirko Manchia, Philip B Mitchell, Jair C Soares, Alessio Squassina, Alexander Teumer, Leonardo Tondo, Elisabet Vilella, Ole A Andreassen, Boris Chaumette, Gabriel R Fries, Stephanie Le Hellard

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a major mood disorder influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. While DNA methylation from peripheral tissues can reflect both genetic and environmental influences and reveal insights into disease biology, it remains understudied in BD. DNA methylation signatures may complement polygenic scores (PGS) and hold potential as biomarkers. Here, we conducted the largest epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of BD to date and evaluated the predictive value of polymethylation scores (PMS) in classifying case-control status.

Methods: DNA methylation from peripheral blood of 1729 cases and 1747 controls, comprising twelve cohorts, was obtained. We performed meta-analyses for …

Social Prescribing For Refugee Populations: A Rapid Realist Review Of International Evidence, Victoria Touzel, Doreen Reifegerste, Luisa Bartz, Anna-Lena Esser, Kerryn Husk

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundSocial prescribing offers potential for addressing social determinants of health and supporting health equity among disadvantaged groups. However, evidence for refugee populations remains limited, despite this group facing profound social and systemic barriers. This rapid realist review synthesizes social prescribing and comparable social-capital based intervention evidence to address this gap.MethodsWe conducted a RAMESES-compliant rapid realist review supported by an expert advisory board. Searches across six databases (2014–2024) were supplemented by grey literature and citation chasing strategies. Eligible studies included refugee, asylum-seekers and forcibly displaced populations engaged in either formal social prescribing or comparably operationalized social-capital interventions. Synthesis developed Context-Mechanism-Outcome configurations …