Digital Commons Network^™

You Are What You Spray: How New Mexico Can Better Protect Farmworkers From Pesticides, Rachel Swanteson-Franz

Natural Resources Journal

The impact of pesticides on farmworkers is at the intersection of environmental and labor law. Existing federal regulations designed to protect farmworkers from pesticide exposure and illness have failed to adequately do so. While some states have tried to fill these gaps by enacting state regulations, New Mexico is not one of them. However, by borrowing and combining regulatory protections from other states, New Mexico could become a leader in this area. This note first provides a detailed summary of the federal protections and the regulatory history while summarizing criticisms from farmworker advocates. Next, it provides a comprehensive overview of …

Inclusive Workforce Development For An Equitable Low-Carbon Transition, Shannon Sanchez-Youngman, Gabriel Pacyniak, Melanie Sayuri Sonntag, Addison Fulton

Natural Resources Journal

The shift to a low-carbon economy will require a massive build out of low-carbon technologies, which in turn will require millions of new laborers with specific skills. Similarly, the decline of fossil-fuel industries will require retraining and new job opportunities for laborers in these fields. At the same time, there is an emerging scholarly focus on a “just transition” to a low-carbon economy. This essay conceptualizes inclusive workforce development as a key component of a just transition. Inclusive workforce development promotes policies that reach and effectively serve the broadest possible range of people and communities. In particular, inclusive workforce development …

Introduction, Danielle Lopez, Lauren Hewitt

Natural Resources Journal

No abstract provided.

Before The Streetlights Come On: Black America’S Urgent Call For Climate Solutions, Caroline Dunn

Natural Resources Journal

No abstract provided.

Blowing Through The Barriers Of Offshore Wind: Leveraging States' Authority To Ensure Energy Justice In Offshore Wind Development, Indya Woodfolk

Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum

No abstract provided.

On Valuing Community Environmental Management: Revenues, Costs Avoided, Economic Impacts, And Amenities, William N. Ferris

Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum

No abstract provided.

The Politics Of Being Heard: Communication And Power Struggles In Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Caroline Trejo

Master's Projects and Capstones

The environmental and public health challenges in Bayview-Hunters Point have catalyzed widespread community activism, as residents and advocates respond to the ongoing fallout from radiological contamination at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Communication plays a vital role in bridging the gap between affected communities and government entities throughout the cleanup process. This research asks: how have the communication strategies of advocacy groups influenced government actions and policies during the Bayview-Hunters Point Shipyard cleanup? To explore this question, I conducted semi-structured interviews with three community advocates, two former members of a non-partisan civil jury, one independent researcher, and one government official. …

Evaluating San Francisco Urban Green Spaces And Policy To Inform Future Decision-Making: How Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Can Be Prioritized And Incorporated In Urban Park Design And Planning Through A Decision-Making Tool, Holley Anne Maassen

Master's Projects and Capstones

Amid the current climate crisis, enhancing urban green spaces (UGS), parks, and open spaces with climate change adaptation (CCA) as a strategic pillar in San Francisco’s urban planning is an essential strategic pillar to develop more resilient cities. However, in complex bureaucratic landscapes, integrating CCA strategies that meet project goals while ensuring inclusive stakeholder engagement presents a challenge. This project presents the identification, development, and application of a holistic decision-making tool (DMT) in the form of a Pugh matrix/decision matrix and with a focus on urban planning in San Francisco, California. Key decision-making criteria are identified and weighted through a …

Gis And The 1944 U.S.–Mexico Treaty: Rethinking Transboundary Governance Under Climate And Demographic Stress, Pedro L. Sarabia

Master's Theses

This thesis examines the structural limitations of the 1944 U.S.–Mexico Water Treaty in the context of intensifying climate stress and growing population demand. Using GIS-based raster analysis of precipitation from 1981 to 2024, it maps hydrological trends in treaty-bound basins—particularly the Rio Grande and Lower Colorado—which exhibit persistently low and variable precipitation. These conditions, coupled with institutional rigidity, threaten the sustainability of binational water management. In addition to quantitative analysis, the study includes a qualitative assessment of transboundary governance dynamics, highlighting how institutional fragmentation and policy contention impede adaptive responses. The Treaty’s current surface-water-only framework excludes groundwater management, real-time data …

Climate Change Anxiety And Hope Both Predict Action: A Moderation Analysis, Yuhan Bi, Grace Hyde, Orei Z. Odents, Kai Okagawa, Cassandra Hoffman, Kimberly A. Barchard

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

Climate change is associated with extreme weather events that have devastating effects on communities worldwide. These events disrupt ecosystems, damage infrastructure, and influence physical and mental well-being. Urgent action is needed. Prior studies demonstrate that people are more likely to take action if they feel anxious about climate change and if they feel hopeful they can make a difference. However, we hypothesized that anxiety and hope would interact: that anxiety would only predict action when people felt hopeful. Therefore, we used path analysis to determine if hope moderates the relation between anxiety and action.

In a cross-sectional design, 500 United …

Shining Light On Solar Equity: Navigating Legal Barriers To Solar Energy For Low-Income Communities In Washington, Magdalena Larrain

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

While solar energy adoption has been growing rapidly across the United States, access to its benefits remains uneven. In Washington State, low-income households and marginalized communities often face significant barriers to participation in the clean energy transition. These include high upfront installation costs, limited financing options, and legal frameworks that fail to account for renters, multi-family dwellings, and communities without suitable rooftops. Additionally, outdated net metering policies and restrictive utility regulations further limit solar accessibility for those already burdened by energy insecurity. This article investigates the potential of community solar projects—shared solar installations that allow multiple households to subscribe and …

Passive Envelope Retrofits As Climate Justice Infrastructure Against Extreme Heat: A Gis-Guided Approach For Outdated Single-Family Homes In Urban California, Mert Oztekin Mr.

Master's Projects and Capstones

I examined the opportunities to enhance equity in energy performance, climate resilience, and environmental adaptation through climate-resilient envelope retrofitting and spatially guided implementation strategies (via mappings of the Urban Heat Island -UHI- and socio-economic vulnerability indicators). Passive envelope retrofits of attic insulation; high-performance windows; cool roofs; and green roofs / walls, are examined across multiple climate zones of California' aged single-family housing stock, focusing on the Disadvantaged Communities (DACs). Through spatial analysis, strong overlap between Urban Heat Island(UHI) exposure; pre-1980 housing; socioeconomic disadvantage, and thus the need for spatially-directed action is underlined. The policy landscape analysis provides confirmation of the …

E-Waste In Washington: A Looming Threat To Washington's Climate Future And Legal Solutions, Ibrahim Badawi

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

This paper explores the escalating issue of electronic waste (e-waste) in Washington State, examining its root causes—including manufacturer practices, consumer behavior, and the lack of strict regulations—and its profound impacts on the environment, human health, and climate change. While Washington State’s 2006 Electronic Product Recycling Law (EPRL) marked an important first step, the current measure is insufficient to address the growing crisis. This paper argues that the true solution to the e-waste crisis requires not only recycling regulations but also addressing the root causes to prevent e-waste before it is created by focusing on extending the lifespans of electronics. This …

Quantifying 14 Years Of Restoration Impact At A Los Angeles Park Using Remote Sensing, Alexa Siglar, Demian A. Willette

Honors Thesis

Ascot Hills Park is an urban park in the El Sereno neighborhood of east Los Angeles that has undergone continuous restoration efforts to reintroduce California native trees and shrubs from 2011-2025. This study seeks to understand how a 14 year period of continuous restoration by a variety of stakeholders has changed the park by asking the following question: How has native plant cover changed over time? To answer this question, the change in percent native plant cover at the park from 2011-2025 was quantified using satellite imagery and machine learning software in ArcGIS Pro. Satellite images and ArcGIS Pro were …

Community Strategy For Equitable Home Electrification, Alyson Bergomi, Kelbe Goupil, Kevin Emerson

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

Between 2021-2023, Utah Clean Energy collaborated with four community partners to develop the Community Strategy for Equitable Home Electrification. This involved developing an understanding of the barriers and challenges to home electrification, creating a vision statement for equitable home electrification, developing four high-priority solutions to the barriers to home electrification, and creating several action steps for each solution, all based on community input. This document is intended to inform and guide the design and implementation of programs and policies related to home efficiency and electrification that are intended to expand access for low-income and disadvantaged communities.

Academic Senate - Agenda, 5/13/2025, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Truest Potential Of Canvas: Self-Actualization And Art In The Criminal Justice Classroom, Rachel Johnnie Dimonda

Master’s Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Situated Truths: Models Of Interpretation In Designing With Data, Kevin Lahoda

Experiential Knowledge (EKSIG) Conference Series

Design work today is often found situated in multifaceted, interdisciplinary projects that attempt to address real world issues. Designers are useful in this pursuit as they act as agents who seek ways to use data to connect, synthesize, visualize, and interpret such issues in ways that are not as bound to disciplinary structures. As a counterpoint to the solution-centric, rationalist approach to design where the responsibility of the designer lies primarily in service to the development of well-rehearsed forms that manifest an implied underlying truth to data as given, this paper takes the position of recentering the experience and situatedness …

Spirituality And Outdoor Recreation In Higher Education, Sierra G. Hilton

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

The purpose of my project is to explore the role of spirituality in an outdoor recreation office called Outdoor Adventures at the University of San Diego. My project question is: How can I integrate spiritually focused activities in outdoor recreation to foster students’ faith and increase well-being? Themes that emerged included the perceived positivity of engaging with spirituality, the value of art in doing so, and the relevance of Catholic spirituality in the lives of college students and staff. Recommendations include the development of stronger partnerships with campus partners, the creation of a database for Catholic resources for student affairs …

Ethical Elegance: Navigating Consumer Morality And Production Practices In Fashion Through Analyzing Shein, Zara, & Vivienne Westwood, Joshua Todd Auskalnis

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis examines current gaps within sustainable business and sustainable fashion within the global fashion industry by carrying out a comparative analysis of the three companies: Shein, Zara, and Vivienne Westwood. These companies have different positions along the sustainability spectrum and offer insights into how profitability is weighed against environmental and ethical concerns. Chapter 1 addresses environmental sustainability, assessing how each brand is responsible for damaging the environment through overproduction, wastage, synthetic materials, and greenhouse gas emissions. Chapter 2 addresses ethical and social responsibility, considering workers' conditions, fair compensation, and labor protections along international supply chains. Chapter 3 draws on …

Environmental And Labor Exploitation In Dominican And Haitian Sugar Cane Plantations: A Failure To Achieve Sustainable Development Goals, Norah S. Mosquea

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper explores the dual issues of labor and environmental exploitation in sugar cane plantations in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, focusing on these countries' actions in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Chapter 1 outlines the relevant SDGs, particularly those addressing labor conditions and pollution reduction. It discusses several types of pollution and its impact on laborers and surrounding communities, framing these impacts within the concept of environmental justice. Additionally, it explains how plantation-related pollution degrades all four types of ecosystem services, emphasizing cultural ecosystem services that affect people's overall well-being. Chapter 2 inspects the historical context, …

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 …

The Rainbow Nation Goes Dark: Unjust Energy Production And Load Shedding In South Africa, Grace E. Yearwood

Student Theses 2015-Present

Numerous inequalities experienced by South Africans right now are a result of the country’s previous apartheid government. One example is South Africa’s current energy distribution, which is extremely inequitable across communities due to the structurally failing energy grid and corruption within the government. Energy distribution in South Africa encapsulates the practice of load shedding, which is essentially controlled rolling electrical blackouts. Chapter One examines quantitative data regarding energy production and distribution in South Africa, including the details of load shedding. Moreover, this chapter explores the negative relationship between energy production, load shedding, and ecosystem services. The quantitative data lays the …

Climate Change Behind Prison Walls: Environmental Justice, Prison Abolition, And Social Welfare, Mia Moody

Student Theses 2015-Present

Unbeknownst to many, human rights violations occur on a large scale behind prison walls. This paper examines some of these violations, especially those exacerbated by climate change, through an environmental lense in order to emphasize the need for social welfare-based solutions in the abolition of the prison industrial complex. It also seeks to illustrate the connection between the environmental justice movement and the prison abolition movement so that marginalized peoples may be free from shouldering disproportionate effects of environmental hazards and imprisonment. This paper is introduced with a brief overview of the human rights violations occurring in prisons. Using quantitative …

An Unrealized Solution: The Systemic Barriers Facing Green Hydrogen In The United States, Daniella Drespel

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis investigates the systemic barriers that hinder the development and implementation of green hydrogen in the United States. Beginning by tracing the two-century history of hydrogen energy, from early scientific discovery and utopian visions to cycles of hype, failure, and policy stagnation, this thesis examines why green hydrogen remains unrealized despite its transformative potential. Chapter I examines the environmental consequences of fossil fuel dependence and presents green hydrogen as a transformative energy alternative. Chapter II explores the technological landscape of hydrogen energy, detailing production methods, roadblocks to adoption, and ongoing U.S. hydrogen projects. Chapter III analyzes the economic dynamics …

Breaking Down Black Beauty: Deconstructing Unsustainable Racist Practices In The Beauty Industry, Jaron Givens

Student Theses 2015-Present

The glitter of the beauty industry creates an undeniably attractive fantasy. Cosmetics and dermatology allow for finding a new sense of self through beauty. However, is beauty's fantasy world accessible to everyone, specifically the Black dance community? The beauty industry, historically and presently, has disproportionate effects on people of color communities like the Black dance community. The unsustainable practices and toxic products in the beauty industry hinder the health of Black individuals at different rates than other racial counterparts. There is still work to be done in deconstructing the racist practices of the beauty industry and in facilitating environmentally sustainable …

Breaking Down Black Beauty: Deconstructing Unsustainable Racist Practices Within The Beauty Industry, Jaron Givens

Student Theses 2015-Present

The glitter of the beauty industry creates an undeniably attractive fantasy. Cosmetics and dermatology allow for finding a new sense of self through beauty. However, is beauty's fantasy world accessible to everyone, specifically the Black dance community? The beauty industry, historically and presently, has disproportionate effects on people of color communities like the Black dance community. The unsustainable practices and toxic products in the beauty industry hinder the health of Black individuals at different rates than other racial counterparts. There is still work to be done in deconstructing the racist practices of the beauty industry and in facilitating environmentally sustainable …

Msw Portfolio, Nannie R. Stewart

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Nannie Stewart, a student in the University of Montana's online MSW program, presents her portfolio and provides a narrative about several key topics from her coursework and practicum experiences. She highlights her theoretical orientation, emphasizing the humanistic and strength-based approaches when working with diverse clients, including young adults, adolescents, and the elderly. Nannie further covers her experiences addressing social, racial, and economic justice, and learned experiences from indigenous cultures. Nannie also discusses her engagement in simulated practice, which allowed her to develop skills in micro, mezzo, and macro-level interventions, such as creating a domestic violence support group and advocating for …

Msw Portfolio, Aubrey Henderson

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Comprehensive Collection of work that reflects my academic, professional, and personal growth throughout the Master of Social Work Program. It highlights my development across core Social Work competencies, advocacy, family reservation, and trauma-informed care in Indigenous communities. Each section showcases key assignments, reflections, and professional experiences demonstrating my ability.

Msw Portfolio, Katarina T. Keeler

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.