Digital Commons Network^™

A Systems And Innovation Approach To Attune Grantmaking For Early Childhood To What Matters Most At The Point Of Service, Wally Patawaran

The Foundation Review

This article discusses how and why The JPB Foundation, a nationally focused private philanthropy in the United States, promoted multistakeholder innovations as it evolved its strategy for early childhood health equity. Through coordinated grantmaking, its cross-sector partnerships over the past decade shifted the science, clinical practice, and public discourse on early life stress.

Building on field learning and trusted relationships, JPB and its partners paved the way for a reimagined paradigm of care that brings ecosystem stakeholders together to overcome competing frictions inhibiting their mutual flourishing. Working collaboratively with grantees as their champion and thought partner, JPB formulated an agenda …

A Historical Analysis Of Infant Mortality In South Carolina From 1920-1970, Allison Ritchie

Senior Theses

This study uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to investigate racial and spatial inequalities in South Carolina infant mortality rates (IMR’s) between 1920-1970. In the 20th century, IMR’s declined throughout the United States, primarily due to economic growth, increased sanitation, and improved medical knowledge. Factors such as systemic racism and lack of healthcare access resulted in higher IMR’s for Black infants and infants living in rural areas. In 1920, South Carolina’s Black IMR was 1.5 times higher than the white IMR; by 1970 the difference expanded to 1.9, reflecting a 27% rise. The disparity between Black and white IMR’s increased in …

A Call To Strengthen International Collaboration To Assess Climate Change Effects In Polar Regions, Clare B. Gaffey, Narissa Bax, Naomi Krauzig, Kévin Tougeron

Student Publications [Scholarly]

Climate change is exerting complex and transformative effects in the Arctic and Antarctic; regions that are essential to global climate, biodiversity, and sustainable futures. Given the polar regions’ roles in Earth’s system, a robust, coordinated, and innovative strategy to monitor and manage climate change effects is needed. Insufficient baseline data, inconsistent international collaboration, and short-term financing are obstacles to effectively monitor these changes. This hinders our understanding of biodiversity shifts, their implications for food security, and climate change mitigation. Confronting the impacts of climate change will require interdisciplinary collaboration and genuine participation of nations, including Indigenous communities. This sentiment includes …

Resourcing Transformational Strategies: How Funding With The Right Timescales, Places, And Relationships Can Advance Multiracial Feminist Democracy, Lauren Jacobs, Elly Matsumura, Rachel Rosner, Eric Wat

The Foundation Review

This article explores how philanthropy can support movement organizations and networks organizing for long-term power building that transforms who holds governing power. PowerSwitch Action, a network of influential regional advocacy and organizing groups in the U.S., draws on a recent evaluation that laid out key elements of its approach to the work to share learnings in hopes that they will benefit both other movement organizations and the philanthropic sector that provides critical backing to the field.

Specifically, the article identifies three recommendations for funders: 1) support long-term efforts to shift governing power rather than expecting quick victories; 2 recognize how …

Public History In The Middle School Classroom, Victoria L. Sanchez

Capstone Projects

This project was inspired by my own experience as a middle school classroom teacher and seeks to highlight the crossover between public history pedagogies and middle school social studies instruction. The project’s main focus lies on providing social studies educators with resources to learn about, teach, and integrate classroom projects that draw on public history pedagogies and methods. I created the public PHxMS website to achieve this goal. The intended impact of this site, upon being shared with educators, is to increase awareness about and interest in the field of public history, provide a resource for educators who might be …

Thesuppression Ofcoffeehouses: Acomparisonofthe17thcentury Londonandmoderncoffeeshopmovements, E. Spring Iskra

Selected Honors Theses

The coffeehouses of the 17th century in London were places of vibrant political discourse. Patrons of the shops could sit for hours debating relevant societal matters for hours with strangers of all different backgrounds. This environment was well-aligned with the theories introduced by Jürgen Habermas regarding the public sphere. Are contemporary coffee shops still places of vibrant discourse? In order to answer this question, an ethnographic study was conducted in a mid-sized city in central Florida analyzing nine local coffee shops. The analysis consisted of three primary categories: layout and design, discursive resources, and public events. The findings of this …

The Cultural Role Of Rice Cultivation In Female Workforce Participation In India, Gautam Hazarika

School of Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

Rice and wheat are India's staple cereal crops and there is significant regional variation in the suitability to the cultivation of each. Both are so-called ‘plough-positive’ crops, whose cultivation is benefited by ploughing. It has previously been argued that the ancient adoption of the plough, a heavy implement better suited to handling by men, was a factor in the evolution of cultural norms prescribing a domestic role for women in society (Boserup, 1970). This study contends that rice is an anomalous plough-positive crop in that its cultivation, highly labor-intensive, has traditionally required much female labor. This, it is argued, may …

October 2024 Library & Learning Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library & Learning Dean’S Office Communications Team

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the October 2024 (Volume 3, Issue 2) Library & Learning Newsletter.

Exploring Blind And Low-Vision Youth’S Digital Access Needs In School: Toward Accessible Instructional Technologies, Natalie L. Shaheen

Faculty Publications - College of Education

Blind and low-vision (BLV) youth have been excluded from technology-mediated learning in school for two decades due to the systemic inaccessibility of K-12 instructional technologies. Accessibility guidelines that address BLV youth’s needs would help schools address this systemic inequity. But such guidelines do not yet exist nor does the robust knowledgebase required to write them. Herein, I report three key findings from a mixed methods user study of BLV youth’s lived experiences learning with access technologies (AT) and instructional technologies in US schools. First, these youth participants are using a broader range of AT than youth in previous studies. Second, …

Choosing To Bear Arms: Resistance And Identity Formation Through Louisiana’S Free Afro Creole Militia, Victoria Mcfarlane

History Theses & Dissertations

This thesis examines how African and Afro Creole men utilized the availability of and demand for forced and voluntary militia service under French, Spanish, and American governance as a mode of resistance to discrimination and repression within the social structures of the region. The influence and connections built through militia service were engaged to protect and preserve rights, customs, and opportunities for the Afro Creole community. From the establishment of the Louisiana colony until the Civil War, African and Afro Creole men utilized the service required in defense of their new home to gain freedoms, expand their personal and community …

Legitimacy At Sea: Expanding Considerations Of Sea Control, Ian Birdwell

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Sea control has been marketed and accepted as a norm within the global commons, with a variety of states arguing for their visions of control to be viewed as legitimate. As a piece of the global commons, sea lanes are a critical enabler for the global economy and possess significant military and political significance, yet the literature revolving around ideas of sea control treats it as a military achievement at the end of a campaign and remains focused on naval power as the key mechanism for state involvement. What best explains the mechanism states use to achieve sea control, especially …

Different Shapes Of My Name, Aanya Tamrakar '28

Best First-Year Seminar Writing

No abstract provided.

Understanding Russian Hybrid Warfare Against Europe In The Energy Sector And In The Future ‘Energy-Resources-Climate’ Security Nexus., Maurizio Geri

Journal of Strategic Security

To avoid escalations to full kinetic (military) wars is imperative to win the non-kinetic part of the so-called “hybrid warfare”, which use both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. The goal of the non-kinetic methods of hybrid warfare, or as others call it “grey zone” activities, or “subthreshold” tactics, is to defeat hearts and minds, as well as pockets, of adversaries, with social, political, and economic tools. This article focuses on energy as the crucial sector of the economic tools, and specifically uses an innovative approach, what the author calls the ‘energy-resources-climate security nexus’, as a new battleground for future strategic competition …

Crimen En La Frontera: Exploring Texas-Mexico Border Crimes Using A Geospatial Analysis, Carlos Alvarez, Jascha Wagner

Journal of Strategic Security

Border crimes threaten public safety and security in the United States and the US-Mexico border region. Several evaluations support that data-driven, place-based crime prevention approaches can complement current public safety strategies and help reduce crime. Accordingly, place-based crime prevention may successfully prevent border crimes since these are inherently spatial. However, few studies have analyzed the geographies of Texas-Mexico border crimes, and assessments of data-driven, place-based crime prevention strategies of border crimes still lack a solid empirical foundation – especially in more rural border communities. To address this issue, this study builds police report data (Border Incident Assessment Report (BIAR)), used …

Redbird Scholar, Vol. 10, No. 1 (Fall 2024), Illinois State University, Office Of The Vice President For Research And Graduate Studies

Redbird Scholar

No abstract provided.

Mixed Methods Study Protocol: Language Identity, Discrimination, And Mental Health Among Multilingual 1.5 Generation Asian/Asian American Immigrant Young Adults, Chulwoo Park, Mark Edberg, Janet Yougi Bang, Avizia Yim Long

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Language identity, an understudied factor, can influence isolation and discrimination, leading to disparities in well-being and mental health among immigrants. This study aims to investigate the role of language identity on structural racism and discrimination among 1.5 generation Asian/Asian American immigrants in a diverse U.S. state. We developed a three-step sequential approach: Stage 1—qualitative analysis (1A, focus group discussion; 1B, in-depth interviews); Stage 2—quantitative analysis (2A, language identity measurement scale; 2B, cross-sectional online survey; 2C, multivariate multiple linear regression); Stage 3—another round of qualitative analysis (3A, follow-up in-depth chronological interviews). Therefore, this study will contribute to the field by introducing …

Workforce Education And Labor Market Demands For North Carolina Community Colleges, Christina Anne Bunch

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

In response to evolving labor market demands, community colleges play a crucial role in providing accessible, high-quality education that addresses regional workforce needs. However, they face challenges such as declining enrollments, misalignment with local market needs, and limited resources for curriculum adaptation. These obstacles threaten the ability of community colleges to prepare students for the rapidly changing workforce. This study examines how workforce development administrators collaborate with local industry partners to align programs with labor market demands, ensuring community colleges remain relevant and adaptable. Grounded in Human Capital Theory, which links education and economic growth, this qualitative study focuses on …

Disciplinary Differences And Scholarly Literature: Faculty Experiences With Discovery, Browsing, And Format, Chad E. Buckley, Rachel E. Scott, Anne Shelley, Cassie Thayer-Styes, Julie A. Murphy

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

This study reports faculty experiences regarding the discovery of scholarly content, highlighting similarities and differences across a range of academic disciplines. The authors interviewed twenty-five faculty members at a public, high-research university in the Midwest to explore the intersections of discovery, browsing, and format from diverse disciplinary perspectives. Although most participants rely on similar discovery tools such as library catalogs and databases and Google Scholar, their discovery techniques varied according to the discipline and type of research being done. Browsing is not a standard method for discovery, but it is still done selectively and strategically by some scholars. Journal articles …

Pagbabalik-Tanaw Sa Maagang Malay Ni Jose Rizal Sa Kakanyahang Malay At Pagsipat Sa Kinahinatnang Pananangkapan At Retorikang Politikal Dito Noong Dantaon 20, Axle Christien J. Tugano

Journal Article

Batay sa isinusulong na mandato ng General Education (GE) Courses Program ng University of the Philippines (UP), kinakailangang maisingkaw sa pag-aaral at/o pagtuturo ng PI 10 (Philippine Institutions: The Life, Works, and Writings of Jose Rizal) ang panlipunang saysay (social utility) ni Jose Rizal tungo sa pagiging makatao at makabayan ng mga Pilipino. Kaakibat ng preskripsiyong ito ang integratibong paghuhugpong sa kaniyang kaisipan sa iba’t ibang disiplina at paksa. Layunin ng pag-aaral na ito ang integratibong pagsasalok sa katuturan ni Rizal sa iba pang kurso ng kasaysayan katulad ng HIST 1 (Philippine History) o KAS 1 (Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas) bilang …

Influence Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) On Decision-Making For Market-Entry Strategies In Emerging Economies, Tejas Deshpande

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

International firms with growth-oriented business models face a complex array of factors when planning to enter emerging markets. These markets are characterized by dynamic socio-economic and geopolitical conditions, often resulting in limited market intelligence and a fragmented understanding of the business ecosystem. To succeed, firms must align their short-term objectives and long-term strategic goals with the specific characteristics of these target markets.

Decision-making in such environments is fraught with uncertainty and is critical in determining the success or failure of market-entry strategies. While business leaders rely on their cognition and heuristics to navigate these challenges, the complexity and volume of …

Fragmentation In Global Climate Governance: What Lessons From Covid-19?, Sivan Shlomo Agnon

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

No abstract provided.

Geoscience Student Organizations At The University Of Tennessee At Martin, Michael A. Gibson, Natalie Hudson

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

In celebration of 2022 Sigma Gamma Epsilon 46th National Convention being hosted by the University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin), Eta Alpha Chapter, this paper serves a synopsis that celebrates the history of student clubs and professional organizations in the geosciences program at UT Martin. The first geoscience student organization officially recognized by the University was devoted to geology, the GeoClub, and established in 1970 and still serves as the primary student organization for all of the geosciences. UT Martin established the Eta Alpha Chapter of Sigma Gamma Epsilon honor society in 1997. A Travel and Tourism club was …

A History Of The Geology Program At The University Of Tennessee At Martin, Michael A. Gibson

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The teaching of geology has as long a history as The University of Tennessee at Martin has itself, extending back to 1901 when the first geology class was offered at the campus’s original institution, Hall-Moody Institute, a small Baptist college. Geology, usually with geography, was offered as a service course to the primary programs of agriculture, education and, later, engineering. Faculty turnover during these formative years was frequent. When the school was acquired by the University of Tennessee in 1927 and became UT Junior College, geology remained a service course. Geology offerings had been expanding since 1947 and, in 1951, …

Examining The Relationship Between Land-Use Cover Change And Sociodemographic Characteristics: A Case Study Of Madison County, Tennessee, Thomas A. Depriest Jr., Anzhelia Antipova, Hsiang-Te Kung, Esra Ozdenerol

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

This study sought to holistically examine urbanization in Jackson, Madison County, TN. In order to accomplish this objective, a study of land-use and land cover (LULC) change in Madison County, TN from 1992–2011 was conducted. Once completed, noted changes in LULC were then compared to certain socio-demographic factors; these included, population, population density, point distance, central business district, and distance to roads. To determine if any significant relationships existed between socio-demographic factors and quantified LULC changes Spearman’s Correlations were utilized. Relationships between socio-demographic factors and land-use indicators were established as urban areas grew, agricultural and forested areas declined, and population …

Impact Of Urbanization On Estimated Surface Runoff And Resulting Issuance Of Flash Flood Warnings In Jackson, Tennessee, Thomas A. Depriest Jr., Dorian J. Burnette, Ryan Parish, Hsiang-Te Kung

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

Land-use and land cover (LULC) changes for the Jackson, TN area from 1992–2011 were evaluated based on data from the National Landcover Database. During the time of study, this area underwent noted changes in LULC with an increase in the area defined as urban and decreases in forested and agricultural areas. This study also makes note of the increase in the number of days flash flood warnings were issued during the 1990’s as compared to the 2000’s. During the same time period, high intensity rainfall events during 1990’s (n=198) did not appreciably increase when compared to the 2000’s (n=208); therefore, …

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Student Research Poster Session, Geological Society Of America Annual Meeting 2023, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Usa, Scott Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon sponsors an annual poster session at every Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America. The 35th Sigma Gamma Epsilon undergraduate research poster session took place during the 2023 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, on Monday, October 16, 2022. Sixty-three (63) posters were presented in Exhibit Hall B at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center between 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM at the poster session. Titles, authors (italics for the presenting author), affiliations, and abstracts for each poster are listed in this report.

Latent Representation Learning For Geospatial Entities, Ween Jiann Lee, Hady Wirawan Lauw

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Representation learning has been instrumental in the success of machine learning, offering compact and performant data representations for diverse downstream tasks. In the spatial domain, it has been pivotal in extracting latent patterns from various data types, including points, polylines, polygons, and networked structures. However, existing approaches often fall short of explicitly capturing both semantic and spatial information, relying on proxies and synthetic features. This article presents GeoNN, a novel graph neural network-based model designed to learn spatially-aware embeddings for geospatial entities. GeoNN leverages edge features generated from geodesic functions, dynamically selecting relevant features based on relative locations. It introduces …

The Use Of Developmental Program Evaluation For State Continued Approval In Educator Preparation, Suzanne L. Roberts

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Working as a teacher educator today means working under an ever-present regulatory gaze. Accountability mechanisms, including state program approval processes, have been layered resulting in complexity. External assessments have failed to provide the data needed to support continuous improvement. There have been calls for combining external and internal evaluation processes to better drive continuous improvement. Developmental Program Evaluation (DPE) is an approach that claims to support program development in the middle space between top-down and bottom-up forces. This study examines the use of DPE in the middle space between mandated state approval processes and a small educator preparation program’s effort …

An Introduction To Open-Source Geographic Information Systems (Gis): Qgis, Ashley York

Library Workshops

In general, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide a framework for gathering, organizing, and analyzing spatial data, that is visualized through maps. By arranging spatial information into coincident layers, GIS analyses help reveal deeper insights into a study area by identifying not only where features of interest are located, but also why patterns or processes are occurring. However, a number of various GIS software and online mapping platforms exist, each with a different range of analysis capabilities, but also with different accessibility limitations in terms of user cost (e.g., open-source vs. commercial). In this introductory workshop, participants will become familiar with …

Introduction To The Special Topics Issue On Rural Multilingual Education, Maria Coady, Diego Román

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.