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Work In Progress: The Impact Of Classroom Interventions On Student Success And Retention In Electric Circuits, Cherian Mathews

All Faculty Articles - School of Engineering and Computer Science

University of the Pacific has embarked on a university-wide endeavor to improve student success and retention. This effort involves academic coaches being placed in each unit, early grade reporting in the fifth week of the semester, follow-ups by faculty advisors and academic coaches for struggling students, and documentation of interactions with such students in the university CRM system. These follow-ups with students typically involve conversations to explore factors contributing to poor performance (e.g., health issues, excessive work hours, study skills), suggesting approaches to improve performance, and making referrals to care teams and supplemental instruction. Despite all these efforts, DFW rates …

Substitution Of Cannabis For Prescribed Medications In The Management Of Anxiety And Depression Among Midlife Women: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jocelyn Mueller, Jamia Sapp, Jennifer Attonito, Aditya Chakraborty, Karina Villalba

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background and Aims

Given the rising prevalence of cannabis use as an alternative strategy for managing mental health symptoms, there is a crucial need to understand the determinants of substitution behavior, particularly among midlife women who may experience distinct psychosocial and clinical profiles. This study examined the predictors of cannabis substitution among midlife women by comparing profiles of women who substituted cannabis for antidepressant medications versus those who substituted for anxiolytic medications.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of 172 women who reported substituting cannabis for either anxiety or depression medications was conducted. Measures included the PHQ-8, OASIS, AUDIT, and ACEs. Logistic …

Lived Experiences Of Men Working In Both White-Collar And Blue-Collar Jobs: A Systematic Literature Review, Pius Omolewa, John Bressan, Nassrine Noureddine, Adekemi Adedipe

All Faculty Scholarship

The objective of this systematic review was to identify, appraise, and meta-synthesize qualitative evidence regarding the experiences and perceptions of men in both white-collar and blue-collar jobs. The systematic review of qualitative studies searches was conducted in MEDLINE, Scopus, EBSCohost, ProQuest, CINAHL, and PsycINFO of articles published between 2005 and 2025 to ensure information is current and relevant to modern practices and to analyze trends and the evolution of a research field over a significant period of 20 years. In total, 2,074 articles were identified, and after screening using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, …

Personal Strength As A Core Dimension Of Posttraumatic Growth: A Multi-Method Study Of U.S. Military Veterans, Steven Moore

Social Work Dissertations

U.S. military veterans are frequently exposed to traumatic and morally challenging experiences that can disrupt core assumptions about identity, purpose, and control. While much of the veteran mental health literature has emphasized psychological distress and functional impairment, growing attention has been directed toward posttraumatic growth and strengths-based outcomes. This dissertation examined posttraumatic growth among U.S. military veterans with a specific focus on personal strength as a central dimension of growth following trauma.

Using a multi-method design, this dissertation integrated findings from three complementary studies. First, a scoping review mapped how posttraumatic growth, personal strength, and related constructs have been conceptualized, …

Que Ondee Sola - Winter 2026, Xavier Morales-Greene

Que Ondee Sola

Student publication founded in 1972, articles include:

Wear Your Crown Freely, Boricua Feminism and the Fight for Decolonization, Envision Community Services Provides 14 Years of Restorative Justice in Pilsen, If You Loved Me- Intimate Partner Violence in Latin Communities, Cosas and Linda from Guarida de Cosas, No Kings Protest 2025, We Won! HITN Takes Home Three Emmys at 68th New York Awards, Our History is a History of Solidarity, Ramon Lopez- The Ethnographer of Paseo Boricua, The United Shits of Amerikkka, Stop the Deportation of 340,000 Haitians with Temporary Protected Status, The Journey of South American Immigrants, Austin, Acostumbrando el …

Determinants Of Forward-Looking Information Disclosures Among Nonfinancial Firms In An Emerging Economy, Ikponmwosa Michael Igbinovia, Oluwaseun Joy Rapheal

Journal of Accounting Auditing and Business

The disclosure of Forward-looking information (FLI) is non-mandatory. The study investigates the determinants of FLI by examining specific corporate governance and firm-level variables known from disclosures literature to be core determinants of voluntary disclosures. The investigation relied on data from 29 non-financial listed companies in a developing country over the period 2018 to 2023. From a positivist philosophy, the study adopted a quantitative approach. The authors employed a comprehensive methodological approach, involving the use of Descriptive Statistics, Panel Correlation, Panel Hausman Test, and the Panel Random Effects Model (REM). A balanced panel of 174 firm year observations was used to …

Directing Young Actors, Mitchell Whelan

Theses : Honours

This reflective practice case study examines the studio environment of a small ensemble of female actors aged 16-19, in the rehearsal of a one-act play. Performing arts researchers working in youth spaces commonly adhere to conventions of ethnodrama and facilitate a process in which participants contribute personal stories as performance material. The present paper uses a published text (Slut by Patricia Cornelius) to position participants as actors, rather than devisors who must conjure original material. Through critical reflection, the project assesses the impact of developing performance material slowly while also making time for socialisation between castmates. Drawing on my repertoire …

Confessions From The Barre: Embodying The Impossible Ideal Body Worker, Jessica M. Rick

Faculty Publications - Communications

This autoethnographic manuscript examines how ideal worker norms operate through embodied discipline within commercial fitness culture by tracing my experiences as a plus-size barre instructor. Drawing on feminist autoethnography and organizational communication scholarship, I introduce the concept of the impossible ideal body worker to describe how instructors are simultaneously required as labor yet persistently misaligned with aspirational aesthetics. I analyze how fitness labor demands not only physical competence but aesthetic compliance, emotional regulation, and continual bodily self-surveillance. Structured to mirror the arc of a barre class – from Warmup to Cool Down – the manuscript reveals how organizational power circulates …

Artificial Intelligence Methods For Circadian Rhythm Recovery And Disease Identification From High-Dimensional Omics Data, Aram Ansary Ogholbake

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

High-throughput transcriptomic and proteomic technologies have enabled opportunities for studying biological processes and disease mechanisms. However, extracting meaningful biological information from these high-dimensional datasets remains challenging due to limited sample sizes, biological heterogeneity, measurement noise, and the absence of biological annotations. In particular, many molecular datasets lack temporal information required for circadian analysis, making the study of circadian rhythms difficult. Moreover, disease diagnosis and biomarker discovery from transcriptomic data often rely on complex machine learning models whose predictions are difficult to interpret and may not generalize well across independent datasets and experimental platforms. These limitations motivate the development of artificial …

5-Ht1a Receptor Gene Polymorphism (C-1019g) In Patients With Primary Premature Ejaculation, Ali Mohamed Ali Mahmoud, Mohamed Khaled Galal Selim, Sherif Refaat Ismael, Ahmad Shawki Hasan

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Twenty to thirty percent of men experience premature ejaculation (PE). The bioactive amine serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) produces a diverse array of outcomes in the brain and other tissues. Researchers investigated serotonin in relation to many other activities and events, including sexual functions. This study set out to investigate whether or not there is a correlation between intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) with the C-1019G promoter polymorphism (rs6295) in 5-HT1A receptor gene in men who have lifelong PE.

Methods: The current study included 50 cases with PE and 50 apparently healthy subjects as a control group. Participants were assessed for …

The Cost Of Care: A Mixed Methods Study Of Social Work Student Well-Being, Practicum Pay, And The Future Of Feminized Care In The Health Workforce, Christian Adeleke

Social Work Dissertations

Social work field education, commonly enacted as the practicum, is widely regarded as the profession’s signature pedagogy, yet its material conditions—particularly the prevalence of unpaid or minimally compensated placements—are rarely problematized. This dissertation examined the financial, academic, and well-being consequences of practicum participation among social work students and the mechanisms through which these consequences arise. Using an embedded mixed methods design, the study analyzed secondary data from the Payment for Placements (P4P) survey (N = 618), combining a moderated-mediation structural equation model with a reflexive thematic analysis of open-ended narrative responses. Drawing on feminist political economy and social reproduction …

Editorial For Issue 20(1), Jeff Moe, Peighton Corley, Aaron Albright

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Hello and welcome to the community of counselors, advocates, and scholars who read the Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling. In our era of continued political attacks and undermining of gender diverse and sexual orientation diverse people, our editorial board remains committed to creating knowledge that speaks to the inherent worth of LGBTQIQA+ people and related groups. Our histories and communities are dynamic, and we continue to shape standards of care and best practice that not only improve the mental health and well-being of gender diverse and sexual orientation diverse people but help improve the lives of all people …

Counseling And The Neurodiversity Paradigm: A Call To Action, Emily Goodman-Scott, Rawn Boulden, Aaron Albright, Jenna Alvarez, Betsy M. Perez

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

The counseling profession is rooted in prevention, wellness, mental health, and a critical social justice approach to serving historically marginalized communities, including people with disabilities. The overarching construct of disability comprises subtypes, such as neurodivergence. Given the prevalence of neurodivergent individuals worldwide (approximately 15%-20%), the counseling profession must be prepared to support this community. At the same time, there is a dearth of peer-reviewed literature on neurodiversity specifically for the counseling profession. In this article, we address a timely topic in the profession. We discuss utilizing a critical counseling lens and centering marginalized identities, such as people with disabilities; prominent …

Spirituality And Psychological Well-Being In College Students: Does Resilience Mediate This Relationship, Kevin C. Snow, Jessica Starken, Lindsay A. Phillips

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Given continued challenges of college transition and recent changes (e.g., COVID) leading to increased use of college counseling services and past studies exploring spiritualty/religion and resilience pertaining to psychological well-being (PWB), this study explored the relationship between spirituality, resilience, and PWB in college students. Three scales, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, and the Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale, were used to measure the relationship between spirituality, resilience, and PWB. Results of this study showed support for the relationship between spirituality, resilience, and PWB in college students. Results also lend support for future research exploring therapeutic incorporation of spirituality …

Back To The Drawing Board? Overdraft Fees, The Congressional Review Act, And The Cfpb's Path Back To Consumer Protection, Kaitlin A. Caruso

Faculty Publications

In late 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau adopted a rule aimed at addressing a longtime pain point for consumers: high, sometimes unpredictable, overdraft fees. The CFPB predicted that the rule would save consumers billions of dollars per year. But it was not to be. The second Trump Administration has taken unprecedented, sometimes unlawful, action to incapacitate and dismantle the CFPB. The President and Congress have also worked together to use an unusual statutory tool, the Congressional Review Act, to not only to kill the overdraft rule but also keep the CFPB from adopting any regulation that is “substantially the …

Allowing Unlimited Pfas Manufacturing Contradicts The Core Intention Of The European Union’S Pfas Restriction Proposal, Anna J. Miller, Amanda Rensmo, Ian Cousins, Rainer Lohmann, Gretta Goldenman, Dorte Herzke, Xenia Trier, Zhanyun Wang, Martin Scheringer

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Presence Of Legacy And Emerging Pfas In Human Liver Specimens Banked In The United States From 2000 To 2024, Juliana Agudelo Areiza, Jitka Becanova, Simon Vojta, Johanna Ganglbauer, Udayan Apte, Luigi Brunetti, Sean Kumer, Faiz Haque, Euna Kim, Elsie M. Sunderland, Rainer Lohmann, Fabian C. Fischer, Angela L. Slitt

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, bioaccumulative chemicals linked to liver toxicity and metabolic disease. 54 PFAS were measured in 211 adult human livers collected between 2000 and 2024 to reveal temporal trends, relative PFAS abundance, and demographic predictors of hepatic burden. PFAS were detected in 210 individuals, with 15 compounds found in ≥30 livers. Total summed PFAS concentrations decreased by 94% over the 24-year period in weighted linear regression, and by 68% after adjusting for age, sex, and liver health in multivariate models. Since 2019, a ∼950-fold variability in concentration was observed, and the PFAS profile in the …

Reverse Koebner Phenomenon In Linear Scalp Morphea Following Punch Biopsy: A Rare Therapeutic Response, Suhas C. Gowda, Akshay Samagani, Shreyas C. Gowda

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Morphea is a chronic immune-mediated fibrosing disorder characterized by excessive collagen deposition in the skin. Linear morphea of the scalp (en coup de sabre) commonly demonstrates the Koebner phenomenon, wherein lesions develop at sites of trauma; however, the reverse Koebner phenomenon—trauma-induced regression—is exceptionally rare. We report an unusual case of linear scalp morphea showing early regression following a diagnostic punch biopsy. A 71-year-old male presented with an asymptomatic, indurated linear plaque on the scalp of two months’ duration. Histopathology from a 3.5-mm punch biopsy confirmed morphea, demonstrating dense collagen bundles with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. At follow-up eight days after …

Humanizing The Base Of The Pyramid: Exploring The Influence Of Resource (Dis)Advantages On Value Creation, Ted London, Lisa Jones Christensen, Tyson Mackey, Alison Mackey, Heather Esper, Andrew Grogan-Kaylor

Faculty Publications

Base of the pyramid (BoP) scholarship emphasizes the potential for enterprises to generate profits by enhancing the wellbeing of the impoverished, often by selling socially-beneficial products (SBPs). Yet, many such BoP enterprises have experienced mixed results. We argue that this may stem from insufficient attention to how BoP consumers value SBPs and other products. We frame SBPs as a type of human capital investment and thus use human capital theory to study how the consumption of SBPs does or does not create value for consumers. Specifically, we use a novel data set from rural India to measure value creation in …

2026 Acropolis, Whittier College

Acropolis (Yearbook)

No abstract provided.

Experiencing Objectification In Platform Work: Food Delivery Riders’ Accounts Of Organizational Absence And Self-Valuation, Emerald Jay D. Ilac, Ma. Tonirose D. Mactal, Clarisse Aeaea M. Kilboy

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

This study aimed to explain how food delivery platform riders experience objectification in the context of platform-based work, with particular attention to how organizational practices and leadership shape experiences of marginalization, dignity, and voice. A qualitative design was employed using Descriptive Phenomenological Analysis. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine food delivery platform riders to describe the essential structures of their lived experiences of objectification. Subaltern Theory was used as an interpretive lens in making sense of the findings. Five experiential themes were identified: (1) leaders’ non-presence resulting in perceived abandonment, (2) leaders’ devaluing of food delivery riders, (3) social devaluation …

Removing Of Erroneous Penicillin Allergy Labels (Repeal), Neil Powell

School of Biomedical Sciences Theses

BackgroundPenicillin allergy records are common; 15% of hospital inpatients report a penicillin allergy record, but the majority, estimated to be >95%, can take penicillin after formal testing. Penicillin allergy records are associated with several patient, healthcare-system and wider societal harms thought to be due to the avoidance of non-penicillin antibiotics, which are often first line for common infections. Testing patients with penicillin allergy records and removing them if they test negative is called penicillin allergy de-labelling and is traditionally the role of allergists. More recently, non-allergy healthcare workers have been shown to be able to safely remove low risk penicillin …

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Resilience In Women's Lacrosse: An Ecological Dynamics Approach, Annika J. Wozney

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries remain a significant concern in the sport of women’s lacrosse due to the amount of cutting and rapid deceleration movements in the sport. Non-contact ACL injuries in women’s lacrosse arise from complex interactions involving biomechanical, anatomical, and neuromuscular factors. Traditional ACL injury prevention programs (IPPs) often focus on strengthening and neuromuscular training in controlled environments with pre-planned movements, which may not adequately simulate the cognitive demands and unpredictability during a competition. An ecological dynamics approach is proposed that considers the athlete, the game environment, and the immediate task to emphasize the athlete-environment relationship. By incorporating …

Hidden In The Heartland: Lgbtq+ Activism At Emu, 1977-2025, Jade D. Traska

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Through an analysis of historical editions of the Eastern Michigan University student newspaper, The Eastern Echo, I explore the history of queer student activism on EMU’s campus. Contextualized by broader LGBTQ+ history, I assess changes over time and common themes that defined LGBT student activism, revealing a rich history going back nearly six decades. The research was done in an effort to better understand how Eastern came to be known as one of the most diverse and accepting college campuses in Michigan.

The Role Of Resistance Training In Modifying Cardiovascular Diseases And Diabetes, Mikayla P. Rucinski

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This review of literature examines the role of resistance training as an effective intervention for modifying risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Evidence from clinical and exercise interventions indicates that resistance training improves glycemic control by increasing lean muscle mass, enhancing insulin sensitivity, and facilitating greater glucose uptake in individuals with diabetes. In addition, resistance training has been shown to reduce resting blood pressure, improve lipid profiles, enhance vascular function, and decrease fat mass. Collectively, these physiological adaptations contribute to lowering the development and progression of cardiovascular disease across various populations. The findings support resistance training as an …

Navigating The Intersection Of Faa Grant Assurances And Environmental Regulations: Assessing Impacts On Airport Sustainability Efforts, Chad D. Richards

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Airports in the United States operate within a very complicated regulatory environment that is shaped by federal aviation policy, environmental and state laws, and promises made to the federal government through sponsor assurances, also known as grant assurances. As environmental concerns surrounding aviation continuously grow, airports have been increasingly implementing sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency. Implementing these initiatives is often influenced by regulatory frameworks governing airport operations and infrastructure development. The goal is to examine how federal regulatory structures influence sustainability initiatives at U.S. airports by using a qualitative case study approach to examine sustainability …

The Effects Of Surf Film Viewing As A Dialectical Behavior Therapy-Aligned Intervention For Trauma-Related Symptoms, Ryan Papero

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This study examined whether viewing a surf film aligned with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) principles would reduce emotion dysregulation among trauma-exposed adults. Participants (N = 14) with self-reported childhood trauma were randomly assigned to view either The Endless Summer or a neutral industrial documentary. Emotion regulation was assessed using pre- and post-intervention Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) scores. An independent samples t-test comparing change scores indicated that the control group demonstrated a greater mean reduction in DERS scores (M = 6.13, SD = 5.22) than the surf group (M = 2.50, SD = 3.08); however, this difference was not …

The Effects Of A Thiamine Treatment On The Growth, Survival, And Foraging Behavior Of Thiamine-Deficient Michigan Lake Trout (Salvelinus Namaycush), Allie J. Muschong

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The Great Lakes top predator Salvelinus namaycush (lake trout) suffers from Thiamine Deficiency Complex (TDC), which causes neurological problems and inhibits survival in young lake trout. The lake trout population in northern Lake Michigan experiences insufficient natural recruitment, necessitating yearly stocking. Few treatments have been explored, but preliminary studies in a hatchery setting suggest that increasing tissue thiamine promotes survival; thus, we expected a novel thiamine treatment to boost the foraging rate and weight of lake trout fry. We raised the eggs of six wild lake trout pairs, and applied treatments at both the egg stage and the hatch stage. …

The Impact Of Michigan's Public Act 308 On Foster Care Outcomes: A Synthetic Control Analysis, Maruis D. Martello

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This paper evaluates the impact of Michigan’s 2014 Public Act 308 on foster care adoption outcomes. By converting traditional adoption subsidies into dynamic, redeterminable contracts, the policy aimed to reduce the financial uncertainty associated with adopting children with latent or evolving special needs. Using data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) from 2000 to 2022, we implement a generalized synthetic control method to account for unobserved time-varying heterogeneity. We find that the policy had no statistically significant impact on the aggregate adoption rate. However, it generated significant gains within targeted subpopulations, increasing the probability of …

How Candidates Campaign To Sway Minority Voter Bases, Katelyn Karwick

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Religious groups in the United States are making large partisan switches–decades-long Democrats are questioning their support and often change their vote to another party. This phenomenon contributed to Michigan’s flip to Republican in the 2024 presidential election, as well as divided Jewish support for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Past research has linked a positive correlation between religious participation and political mobilization, though the tactics used by campaigners to create this connection have gone under research. Looking at Donald Trump’s victory in Dearborn, Michigan in 2024 and Zohran Mamdani’s extensive New York City mayoral campaign, this study focuses …