Digital Commons Network^™

Roots Of The Human Psyche: The Spiritual Connection Of Nature With The Mind, Dania Hussain Abdulmunem, Nadia Ali Ismael

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Seamus Justin Heaney (1939-2013) was intensely engaged in nature in a way that differed from the usual concept of nature representing beauty, love, and romance. Heaney's role in portraying nature is unique. Describing nature from a deeper perspective reveals what nature hides in terms of darkness and violence. This image encourages people to contemplate more deeply because beauty may conceal a lot of sadness and grief. The poet intends to reflect on the events of the conflicts in Ireland and around the world through nature. Just as nature conceals darkness, so does the individual conceal the inner meaning of his …

Inkomoko, Isabelle Pink, Saron Weldemariam, Julia Routh

Miller Center Fellowship

This report presents the findings of our eight-week field research project with Inkomoko, a social enterprise supporting entrepreneurs across East and Central Africa. Our project examined the feasibility of transforming Inkomoko’s investment arm into an independent microfinance institution (MFI) to expand flexible, sustainable access to capital. In addition, we explored how such a shift could improve equitable lending for women entrepreneurs, who continue to face systemic barriers in financing and growth opportunities. Through nearly 50 interviews conducted in 10 communities across Rwanda and Kenya, our team engaged with a diverse range of Inkomoko clients, including refugees and host-country natives, small-scale …

Testing Tocqueville’S Troops: American Democracy At War In Mexico, Corbin V. Cali

History Theses

This thesis explores Alexis de Tocqueville's theory of democratic armies through the lens of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), testing his predictions about how democratic social conditions influence military institutions and performance. Tocqueville argued that armies in democratic societies would face tensions between egalitarian ideals and military discipline, with citizen-soldiers resisting hierarchy while professional officers, often isolated from civil society, grew dangerously ambitious for war. He predicted that democratic armies would show energetic initiative but struggle with weak formal discipline, and that equality would fundamentally change the relationship between the military and the broader society. The Mexican-American War serves as an …

Travels In West Africa: A Critical Edition, Erere Iwhi

Student Works

First published in 1897, Mary Henrietta Kingsley’s Travels in West Africa became one of the most influential travel narratives of the Victorian era, changing the way British audiences encountered accounts of West Africa and its peoples. This critical edition examines the book not only as a travel narrative but also as a material artifact shaped by the historical, publishing, and cultural networks that guided its production, circulation, and reception. Extending its analysis beyond Kingsley's experiences of exploration, this edition investigates the forces behind the book’s creation, including Kingsley’s intellectual development, her identity as an independent female traveler and writer, and …

Praise With Pipes And Strings: An Exploration Of American Protestant Hymnody Through New Arrangements For Flute And Piano, Dominic J. Baldoni

Dissertations, 2020-current

This project presents five hymn tunes from the American Protestant (A.P.) tradition arranged for flute and piano, accompanied by a scholarly analysis of the historical, liturgical, and practical aspects of A.P. hymnody and congregational song. The accompanying document explores the development of A.P. hymnody, the background of each selected tune, the role of instruments, primarily the flute, in worship, and the challenges faced by church musicians in the twenty-first century. By examining both vocal and instrumental iterations of these melodies throughout history, the analysis aims to inform performers and program planners about stylistic and contextual considerations for contemporary services and …

Irregularities In The Dynamics Of Large Networks: Cases On Social Networks And The Internet, Dheeman Saha, Abdullah Mueen, Shuang Luan, Afsah Anwar, Yangsun Hong

Computer Science ETDs

Dynamic networks capture evolving relationships among entities, and irregularities in their behavior often signal significant events. This dissertation investigates such irregularities across social and infrastructural networks. First, we analyze Twitter (prior to its rebranding to X) to characterize influencers, introducing a follower-overlap similarity measure that identifies micro-influencers beyond content-based methods.

We then examine election-related irregularities by comparing suspended and non-suspended accounts during the 2020 U.S. presidential election, revealing behavioral patterns linked to misinformation and coordinated manipulation.

Next, we develop an algorithm to infer post-specific diffusion networks, reconstructing who-saw-from-whom pathways for tweets at scale. This method uncovers structural differences in diffusion …

The Remnants Of Nyc's Asylum Shelters, Charles Finnerty

Capstones

Since the spring of 2022, over 200,000 migrants and asylum seekers have arrived in New York City. For three years, the Eric Adams administration’s response shifted constantly, from welcoming new arrivals with open arms, to clashing with the Biden White House over federal support, to collaborating with the Trump administration’s mass deportation regime

Behind all these headlines and political fights, the city’s outer borough neighborhoods have absorbed new arrivals in school systems, gig work economies and over 150 shelters. Local government and corporate news media have largely failed to inform the public about the city's shelter program, allowing confusion and …

Just A Place Or A Just Place?: Domestic Violence, Urban-Rural Differences, And Access To Justice, Cassie Chambers Armstrong

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Academic Ophthalmology Physician Financial Compensation In The United States: Trends And Distribution By Rank, Sex, Race/Ethnicity, And Geography, Sofia Miguez, Dheeman Futela, Victoria Marks, Jessica Chow, Ajay Malhotra

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: Despite diversity efforts, under-representation and compensation inequities persist in academic ophthalmology.

Purpose: To investigate the trends and distribution of academic ophthalmology physician financial compensation in the United States and compare them by rank, sex, race/ethnicity of faculty, and geographic location of programs. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, retrospective study of the compensation of full-time ophthalmology faculty with a medical doctorate or equivalent degree at U.S. medical schools from 2017 to 2023. This national study uses data from the AAMC Faculty Salary Report. The main outcome measure was total compensation. Total compensation was analyzed by faculty rank …

Womeninophthalmology: Gender Diversity In Ophthalmology Residency Program Social Media, Aretha Zhu, Jasmine Mahajan, Owais M. Aftab, Tyler P. Steidl, Daniela Yakobashvili, Priya Tailor, Rashika Verma, Catherine Ye, Rose S. Maisner, Miriam Habiel

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose: Although women constitute a significant portion of medical students and physicians, representation of women in ophthalmology is relatively low. Residency programs are increasingly using social media to showcase and represent their program culture. The purpose of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to assess representation of gender diversity in social media posts by U.S. ophthalmology residency programs.

Methods: Instagram, Facebook, and TwitterTwitter/X accounts of ophthalmology residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education were identified. Social media posts from 2019-2021 were analyzed for representation of gender diversity and/or explicit statements regarding gender diversity. Program metrics, including geographic …

A Geological And Geochemical Study Of The Philipsburg Mining District, Granite County, Montana, Celine M. Beaucamp

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Philipsburg district, renowned for its rich mining history, has contributed significantly to Montana's mineral production, ranking as the state's second-most productive district. Active from 1865 to the 1980s, it yielded an impressive array of Ag (50-60 million oz), with notable outputs of Au, Zn, Pb, Cu, and battery-grade MnO2. The district features Cordilleran polymetallic veins, some of which are along bedding in Mississippian and Devonian limestone, and others are steeply dipping quartz veins in silicate-rich sedimentary rocks and in the Philipsburg batholith. The veins exhibit a district-wide mineral zonation, marked by Cu- and Ag-rich ores near granite porphyries, with …

Bicultural Identity, Work-Life Balance And Mental Health Outcomes In Swana Students, Julie M. Salama

Master's Theses

Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) college students navigate academic demands alongside immigration-salient stressors that may shape their mental health and academic performance. This study examined generational status (Gen 1 vs. Gen 2+), identity conflict, ethnic identity, and work–life balance (WLB) in overall GPA and major GPA, and mental health outcomes of depression (PHQ-9), and anxiety (GAD-7) among SWANA students (N = 35). Two one-way MANOVAs found no generational differences for academics (overall/major GPA) or mental health (PHQ-9/GAD-7). Identity conflict was unrelated to GPA or symptoms but was positively associated with ethnic identity, while WLB was negatively correlated with depression …

Holding Space, Creating Change: A Journey Through Social Work, Angela M. Millet

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Holding Space, Creating Change reflects my journey through the Master of Social Work program and the personal, academic, and professional growth that shaped my emerging identity as a social worker. Rooted in a person-in-environment perspective and guided by trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and justice-oriented frameworks, this portfolio integrates my learning across coursework, practicum experiences, and community-based work. I trace my development from an early interest in macro-level advocacy to a deep commitment to clinical practice grounded in empathy, connection, and humility.

Throughout this portfolio, I demonstrate competence across the advanced generalist dimensions of ethical practice, ADEI engagement, research-informed practice, policy analysis, …

Learning, Becoming, And Practicing: My Msw Portfolio, Mario G. Colucci

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

The Safety Net And The Gig Economy: Policy Attitudes And Political Participation, Juhyun Bae, Jake Haselswerdt

School of Political Science, Public Affairs, Legal and Security Studies Faculty Publications

The emergence of the so-called gig economy has reshaped the labor market and, potentially, the politics of the safety net. Much of the American welfare state is based on a traditional model of employment, excluding most gig workers from benefits like subsidized employer-provided health insurance and unemployment insurance. Despite these trends, there is little research on how these changes might affect politics. Are gig workers likely to become a relevant constituency on social welfare and other issues? To address this, we conducted a unique online survey examining policy attitudes and political behaviors among gig workers compared with traditional workers. Our …

California Water Reuse: State Of The Industry As Direct Potable Reuse Comes Online, Guy Gutterman

Master's Projects and Capstones

Since the early 1900’s, California has found ways to reuse its wastewater, and in 2023 the state added a new method, Direct Potable Reuse (DPR), to its toolkit. DPR allows for advanced treated wastewater to be sent directly to a drinking water system, without an environmental buffer. Through a synthesis of the literature and related government documents of the state's water reuse history, an analysis of regional water recycling trends, and a survey of water utility professionals, this paper aims to understand DPR's future role in securing California's water supply. Historically, public perception has delayed adoption and development of California's …

Multiple Oceanic Sources Of Alkylamines In Southern Ocean Atmospheres, Manuel Dall´Osto, Mark F. Fitzsimons, James Brean, Preston Chebai Akenga, A. Jones, Tom Lachlan-Cope, Ana Sotomayor, Elisa Berdalet, Dolors Vaque, Roy M. Harrison, Karam Mansour, Matteo Rinaldi, Stefano Decesari, David Beddows, Marco Paglione

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Measurements of pre-industrial conditions are of paramount importance for understanding historical climate change. The Southern Ocean and Antarctic continent are some of the least polluted environments on planet Earth. Alkylamines can rapidly partition into aerosols, increasing their mass, as well as form new particles altogether. We demonstrate the importance of pelagic “open ocean” (OO) and sympagic “sea ice” (SI) regions in supplying distinct organic nitrogen aerosol components. In the aerosol phase, dimethylamine (DMA) and trimethylamine (TMA) are both secondary, though DMA likely originates mainly from pelagic regions, while TMA is associated mainly with sympagic regions. Parallel measurements in ice and …

Barriers To Higher Education In Mississippi Prisons: A Systematic Literature Review And Policy Analysis, Ashley Elizabeth Weathers

Theses and Dissertations

Higher education in prison reduces recidivism and improves reentry outcomes, yet Mississippi’s prison education programs remain underdeveloped due to financial constraints, policy challenges, and systemic barriers. While national research on prison education is expanding, Mississippi-specific policy evaluations remain limited. This capstone employs a desk-based research methodology, integrating a systematic literature review and policy analysis to examine these challenges. The study synthesizes recent research on the impact of prison education, funding limitations, and policy frameworks, addressing a critical gap in state-specific policy evaluation. The policy analysis evaluates Mississippi’s correctional education policies and funding mechanisms, using Southwest Mississippi Community College’s (SMCC) Prison …

Evaluating Avian And Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Communities In Wetland Reserve Easements In The Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Kara Michelle Hall

Theses and Dissertations

During the 19th and 20th centuries, nearly 80% of historic bottomland hardwood forests (BLHFs) in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) was converted to cropland. Efforts to enhance and restore wetlands on marginal farmland have occurred since the early 1990s through the Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) and other programs, yet few studies have evaluated ecological impacts of WREs. I conducted avian and aquatic macroinvertebrate surveys across WREs, croplands, and historic minimally disturbed wetlands to index abundance, richness, and diversity. I found WREs had less overall avian abundance, richness, and diversity than reference wetlands, whereas WREs exceeded crop sites in total richness …

A Case Study On Redesigning Classroom Activities And Assessments For Generation Z Students, Sushma Shrinivasan

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the dynamic interplay between pedagogical strategies, learner diversity, and emerging educational technologies through three interconnected studies. Study 1 compares Traditional instruction, Problem-Based Learning (PBL), and Simulation-Based Learning (SBL), revealing that while PBL and SBL enhance student performance—particularly PBL—their impact on perceived learning varies. Notably, SBL reduced perceived learning despite strong outcomes, underscoring the affective and metacognitive complexities of active learning. Study 2 examines the role of demographic factors such as gender, ethnicity, employment, and first-generation status, finding no significant main effects but identifying a key two-way and three-way interactions, suggesting that instructional effectiveness is influenced by the …

International Law, Adam Chilton, Weijia Rao

Faculty Scholarship

International law has, historically, been best understood as a body of principles and rules that govern the interactions between sovereign states and regulate how sovereign states can behave outside their borders. Over time, international law has evolved to regulate a broader range of subjects than just exterritorial activities—including the treatment of citizens or migrants within a country’s borders—and to regulate a greater range of actors than just sovereign states—including private individuals, corporations, and other nonstate actors. This body of principles and rules comes from several sources, including treaties and conventions, customary international law, judicial opinions, and academic articles and treatises …

2023u_Approved_Sm03_Pm_Bs-Environmental-Science-Curr-Update, Undergraduate Curriculum Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2022u_Nhp59_Approved_New-Program_Bs-Public-Health-Rev2, Undergraduate Curriculum Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2022u_Approved_Lac177_Cd_Span-4423-Contemporary-Peninsular-Spanish-Literature, Undergraduate Curriculum Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2023u_Approved_Lac17_Name-Change_Dept-Of-Criminology-Sociology-And-Geography, Undergraduate Curriculum Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2022u_Approved_Lac172_Cd_Posc-4223-Middle-Eastern-Political-Systems, Undergraduate Curriculum Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2022u_Approved_Lac171_Cd_Posc-3223-European-Political-Systems, Undergraduate Curriculum Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2022u_Approved_Lac170_Cd_Posc-3213-African-Political-Systems, Undergraduate Curriculum Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2022u_Approved_Lac157_Cm_Eng-3473-Contemporary-Literature, Undergraduate Curriculum Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2022u_Approved_Lac156_Cm_Eng-3453-Global-Literature, Undergraduate Curriculum Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.