Digital Commons Network^™

Belonging Starts With You: Exploring Trust, Belonging, And Spiritual Connection In The Success Of Culturally Diverse Students In Higher Education, Moises Aguirre

Theses and Dissertations

Cultivating trust and belonging is essential for student success in higher education, particularly for students from diverse cultural backgrounds (DCB) who face unique challenges in developing these connections. Research highlights lower levels of trust reported by DCB students toward peers and institutions, adversely impacting their academic performance and social integration (Van Maele & Van Houtte, 2010). The urgency of these issues is underscored by the demographic evolution in Utah's educational system, with projections indicating significant growth of students' diversity by 2065 (Hollingshaus et al., 2019). Because of these projected developments, this study investigates how DCB students conceptualize and experience trust …

What's The Joke Princess?: A Qualitative Analysis On The Comic Representation Of Women In Disney Sitcoms, Julia J. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the comedic representation of women in recent Disney sitcoms (2019"“2025), focusing on the framing devices, stereotypes, and situational contexts through which gendered humor is constructed and reinforced. Drawing from existing literature on comedic archetypes, the study identifies six historically dominant comedic frames and reveals eleven emergent subframes that complicate, reinforce, or expand these traditional portrayals. Through qualitative content analysis and systematic coding of selected Disney sitcoms, this study identifies consistent character traits and comedic techniques that span multiple frames and contexts, revealing how these patterns influence audience perceptions of femininity. The study situates these frames within three …

A Dna Damage Analysis Of Breast Cancer Cells Under Cyclic Mechanical Actuation, Maria C. Macias, Madison Howard, Luis Solorio

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Metastasis is the leading cause of mortality in breast cancer, yet tumor cell behavior and their response to mechanical cues in the pre-metastatic niche remains poorly understood. This study investigates how breast cancer cells respond to strain mimicking lung tissue dynamics, with a focus on DNA damage. Using a custom-designed micro-actuating lung model, we cultured mApple at p53BP1 and H2B-GFP reporter cells on fibrillar fibronectin-coated substrates subjected to cyclic mechanical forces that simulate respiratory motion. A group of cells were treated with escalating concentrations of Niraparib (0.1–10 µM), a PARP inhibitor, as a positive control. To visualize and quantify DNA …

Exploring Open Pedagogy Principles: A Qualitative Study Of Undergraduate Experiences, Staci Gilpin, Stephanie Rollag Yoon, Virginia Clinton-Lisell

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

Open pedagogy, characterisedby students creating or co-creating artefacts that others may use, offers transformative opportunities for students to move beyond passive learning into active content creation. This qualitative study examines the experiences of 25 undergraduate students who engage with open pedagogy principles, including creation-centred learning, collaboration, audience engagement, and the integration of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Creative Commons (CC) licensing. Using surveys and interviews, we identified three key themes: the importance of real audiences, authentic connections over prescribed collaborations, and rethinking the role of Creative Commons. Findings suggest that open pedagogy enhances student engagement and provides meaningful, real-world applications …

Annual Maximum Snow Loads For Weather Stations Outside Of The Conterminous United States, Nicholas Brimhall, Brennan L. Bean, Marc Maguire, Bikram Bhusal, Maha Moussa

Browse all Datasets

Historical records of snow observations are critical for civil engineering, climate modeling, and risk assessment. While a robust dataset of annual maximum snow loads has been developed for the conterminous United States, a similar dataset does not exist for areas of interest in areas outside of the conterminous United States (OCONUS). This dataset contains over 280,000 annual maximum SWE values across over 7,400 OCONUS stations, both from the Global Historical Climatology-Daily (GHCND) network provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and from country-specific networks of weather stations from international meteorological agencies. This dataset will be valuable for civil …

“Falling Short Of Our Humanity”: Shame And Queer Catholic Families, M.T. Davila

Religious & Theological Studies Faculty Publications

Queer Catholic Families (QCF) negotiate a complicated landscape of belonging and exclusion in the church that they love. In this dynamic, shame figures as a theological and moral qualifier of their experience when observed through the lens of the Catholic Church's teaching on sexuality and gender. Understanding how shame is experienced in these families, how it deepens a rift between families and the community, and how families find ways to nourish and preserve their links to the Church, ought to be a primary ethical and pastoral task of the Church.

The Implementation Of Culturally Responsive Curricula: A Moral Obligation, Kira I. Vasquez

Masters Projects

Culturally responsive education has long been accepted as critical to supporting students’ academic, social and emotional success at school–particularly for those from historically marginalized communities. Under the current presidential administration, however, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives have come under attack, and many educators avoid their professional and moral obligation to implement culturally responsive curriculum for fear of political and professional repercussions. Grounded in Gloria Ladson-Billing’s theory of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP) and Gholdy Muhammad’s framework of Culturally and Historically Responsive Education (CHRE), this project aims to reaffirm the value of culturally responsive teaching and learning. Chapter One outlines the problem, …

Examining Light-Circadian Interactions In Regulation Of Amyloid Plaque Pathology, Melvin William King

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Circadian disruption has long been appreciated as a downstream consequence of Alzheimer’s Disease in humans. However, an upstream role for circadian disruption in regulating AD pathology remains an open question. The mammalian circadian system is hierarchical, with cellular clocks – driven largely by BMAL1 – synchronized by the hypothalamic SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) via a combination of hormonal and synaptic cues. To assess the relative contributions of each component to Alzheimer’s Disease pathology, we crossed mice harboring either microglial (Cx3cr1/Lyz2-Cre) or GABAergic (VGAT-iCre, expressed in more than 95% of the SCN) BMAL1-knockout to mouse models of Aβ aggregation (5xFAD; APP/PS1-21), which …

Learning From Conditional Data Distributions, Jizhou Huang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Traditional machine learning paradigms often rely on a single global model trained on an entire dataset, aiming for broad generalization across all instances. However, in many real-world applications, the underlying data distribution is heterogeneous, and meaningful predictions often require models that focus on specific subpopulations rather than treating the data as a whole. This motivates the study of learning from conditional distributions, a framework where predictive models are designed to capture the structure and properties of restricted subsets of the data, leading to improved accuracy, fairness, and interpretability. This dissertation explores three key subproblems that exemplify different aspects of learning …

Postpartum Experiences Of Arab Women And The Educational Role Of The Mother, Diana Ikki

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women in the Arab world traditionally observe a 40-day postpartum rest period, during which they rest, follow specific rituals, and learn to care for their newborn under the guidance and care of a family matriarch, typically their mother. Despite the prevalence of this practice, there is limited empirical research exploring the educational role of Arab mothers during their daughters' postpartum period; this qualitative study addressed this gap. Foundational to this study’s theoretical framework was Ramona Mercer’s theory of maternal role attainment. The study addressed two research questions: how Arab women describe their postpartum experiences and the educational role their mothers …

Social Justice & Advocacy In Human Services, Cailyn F. Green, Bernadet Dejonge, Nikki Golden, Kim Brayton, Carrie Steinman, Shannon Raybold

Milne Open Textbooks

Read this book online at: https://milnepublishing.geneseo.edu/social-justice-in-human-services/

Social Justice & Advocacy in Human Services delves into the complex realm of social justice, offering a deep dive into historical roots and theories to practical applications in the field. This text covers fundamental concepts, including power, privilege, and oppression, and explores critical issues like racism, gender, sexuality, poverty, religion, and disability in the context of the United States. The last section of the book hones in on the field of human services, discussing power, privilege, and bias in this context, and lastly exploring equitable distribution, human rights, and the systems and entry points …

Exploring The Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of African American Women With Past Criminal Histories, Georgett Tracyann Kerr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the reintegration experiences of African American women with prior criminal histories, focusing on how they navigated systemic barriers and demonstrated resilience. These women often face compounded challenges stemming from systemic racism, gender discrimination, and economic hardship, which hinder successful reentry into society following incarceration. Historical policies such as the War on Drugs and the Welfare Reform Act disproportionately impacted African American women, contributing to higher arrest rates and increased stigma within the criminal justice system. Upon release, many encounters significant barriers to employment, housing, mental health care, and social acceptance. Despite these adversaries, some African …

The Effects Of An Undergraduate Peer Mentoring Program On Belonging And Success, Alexa Darracq

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if participation in an undergraduate peer mentoring program led to increased feelings of belonging and success compared to students who have never received BYU ComD peer mentoring. Outcomes were measured using pre- and post-experiment surveys and focus groups. This study had ten participants in the experimental group and 12 participants in the control group with seven participants from the experimental group who participated in the focus groups. Analysis of the results determined there were three key findings from the study: mentees benefited from the peer mentoring program, students signed up to receive …

School Leadership Preparation Program Redesign: Purpose, Process, And Perspective, Rebecca L. Gerber

Theses and Dissertations

This paper reviews a collaborative effort between Brigham Young University's Educational Leadership and Foundations (EDLF) department and five school districts to redesign the School Leadership Preparation Program. The initiative aimed to bridge gaps between the practical needs of schools and the offerings of the university. A qualitative case study was conducted, focusing on three key groups: EDLF faculty, school district leaders involved in the redesign committee, and recent graduates of the updated program. Through detailed interviews, valuable insights were gathered into participants' experiences and perceptions concerning six major commitments of the newly designed program. This approach provided insights about the …

Humans Rule? Implications Of Religious Undergraduates’ Changing Environmental Perceptions, J. Robert Nielson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Addressing climate change requires correctly appraising one’s ethic toward the Earth. Historically, people have navigated their relationship to the natural world via environmental ethics of both religious and secular origin. Aldo Leopold described developing this relationship via the land ethic, a culturally informed process, as “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.” A land ethic provides a reference point from which individuals and societies make decisions about the Earth and its resources. This thesis considers the evolving land ethic of a young population of conservative Christian students at Brigham Young University with two separate cohorts of non-biology major undergraduates enrolled …

Protective Multi-Stressor Interactions In The Anthropocene: Key Considerations For Investigating Cross-Tolerance In A Conservation Context, Essie M Rodgers, Simone Baldanzi, Michael Collins, W Wesley Dowd, Lauric Feugere, Giovanna Mottola, Fanny Vermandele, Daniel F Gomez Isaza

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

In the Anthropocene, species are increasingly faced with multiple stressors that are more severe and less predictable than before. While multiple stressors often interact to affect organisms negatively, sometimes these interactions can be beneficial, enhancing resilience through cross-protection. Cross-protection interactions occur when exposure to one stressor, such as elevated temperature, enhances an organism’s tolerance to a different stressor, like hypoxia, through shared protective mechanisms or signaling pathways. Understanding the potential for cross-protection to combat rapid and diverse environmental change is crucial for conservation, as it potentially alters the predicted consequences of such change. Here, we outline 10 key considerations for …

Lindenwood Digest, July 30, 2025, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

The Lindenwood Digest has been a digital employee newsletter since 2009.

Humor Subversif Dalam Video Musik Balance Ton Quoi Oleh Angele, Nur Annisa Khalish Zarkasya, Airin Miranda

Multikultura

The phenomenon of the #MeToo and #BalanceTonPorc hashtags became the focus of attention in various parts of the world in 2017. It was first popularized by Alyssa Milano on her Twitter account using the #MeToo hashtag, and later followed by Sandra Muller with #BalanceTonPorc in France. The feminist movement on social media inspired many artists and musicians, including Angèle, a singer from Belgium. She released a song and music video titled "Balance Ton Quoi" (2019), in which she expressed that the activist spirit of feminism resides within her, turning her song into a feminist anthem. The messages conveyed in her …

Semangka Sebagai Simbol Perjuangan Rakyat Palestina, Khaulah Tsabita Madaniyyah, Letmiros Letmiros

Multikultura

This study aims to analyze how the watermelon is used, interpreted, and disseminated as a symbol of resistance and a form of expression of solidarity with the Palestinian struggle on social media. The research employs a descriptive qualitative approach through various literature sources. It draws upon Roland Barthes’ (1977) theory of signs and meaning to examine the symbolic use of the watermelon in this context. The findings reveal that the watermelon, whose internal colors resemble those of the Palestinian flag—green (rind) symbolizing resilience, white (inner rind) symbolizing sincerity, red (flesh) symbolizing courage, and black (seeds) symbolizing the emerging younger generation—has …

Tindak Tutur Mengkritik Dalam Serial Bahasa Arab Crashing Eid /Jāyibatu Al-‘Īdi/, Childa Nurhannah, Wiwin Triwinarti

Multikultura

The speech act of criticizing is a statement that contains assessment, expression, and emotion towards the behavior and words of the speech partner or the object of criticism. The data corpus studied in this research is the speech act of criticizing in the Arabic series from Saudi Arabia جايبة العيد or Crashing Eid which aired on Netflix in 2023. This descriptive qualitative research data is processed with free listening and note-taking techniques. This study aims to analyze the form of criticizing speech acts in the Hijazi dialect of Arabic contained in the series and classify criticizing speech acts with direct …

Alasan, Fungsi Dan Penilaian Penggunaan Straattal Pada Episode Pertama De Tatta’S (2024), Rusmasiela Mewipiana Presilla, Andrea Pradsna Paramita Djarwo

Multikultura

This study examines the use of straattaal vocabulary in the television series De Tatta’s (2024), along with language attitudes and linguistic accommodation among youth in the Randstad region of the Netherlands. Straattaal is a form of street language that has developed within the Netherlands’ multicultural urban environments and is primarily used by young people as a means of social expression and identity. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method, combining dialogue analysis from the first episode of De Tatta’s with data collected through questionnaires distributed to respondents residing in the Netherlands. The analysis is based on Leech’s (1981) theory of …

Penerapan Hormat Circulaire 1904 Dalam Pandangan Surat Kabar Di Hindia-Belanda (1904-1906), Karen Qursyah, R Achmad Sunjayadi

Multikultura

This study examines the use of straattaal vocabulary in the television series De Tatta’s (2024), along with language attitudes and linguistic accommodation among youth in the Randstad region of the Netherlands. Straattaal is a form of street language that has developed within the Netherlands’ multicultural urban environments and is primarily used by young people as a means of social expression and identity. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method, combining dialogue analysis from the first episode of De Tatta’s with data collected through questionnaires distributed to respondents residing in the Netherlands. The analysis is based on Leech’s (1981) theory of …

Ilusi Kemiskinan Dan Hiperrealitas Dalam Film Pourris Gâtés (2021), Felisya Dara Safitri, Azkiya Nisa

Multikultura

This study examines the representation of the bourgeois class in the film Pourris Gâtés (2021) by Nicolas Cuche through the theoretical lens of Jean Baudrillard’s concept of hyperreality and Fredric Jameson’s notion of pastiche. The research problem focuses on how Pourris Gâtés depicts the simulated social transformation of the bourgeois class through the illusion of consumerism and hyperreality. The study employs film discourse analysis using both narrative and visual approaches, grounded in media ideology theory, hyperreality, and the consumption of signs. The findings indicate that the main characters undergo a symbolic transformation rather than a structural change. Their identities are …

Epistemologi Intelijen Dalam Narasi Negara Yang Bias Tentang Gerwani Dalam G30s 1965, Nadilya Adhwari Firyasa, Donny Gahral Adian, Meutia Irina Mukhlis

Multikultura

This study analyzed epistemic bias in the state’s narrative about Gerwani during the 1965 G30S event using the epistemology of intelligence approach. Through a qualitative philosophical method, this research evaluated the state’s processes of information acquisition, interpretation, and dissemination, focusing on the identification of political bias, gender bias, confirmation bias, framing effects, overconfidence bias, as well as the use of misinformation and disinformation. The findings revealed that the state’s narrative about Gerwani was systematically constructed to support the New Order regime’s political agenda through the manipulation of information. These biases led to dangerous epistemic failures and justified violence and the …

The Pharaohs’ Golden Parade: Dampak Pemindahan Mumi Ke Nmec Terhadap Budaya Dan Pariwisata, Putra Pandu Dewanata, Apipudin Apipudin

Multikultura

Acara pemindahan mumi-mumi firaun dari Museum Mesir di Tahrir ke The National Museum Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) pada 3 April 2021, dikenal sebagai "The Pharaohs' Golden Parade". Acara ini merupakan momen bersejarah yang tidak hanya menarik perhatian lokal, tetapi juga internasional. Penilitian ini berfokus pada dampak acara pemindahan mumi firaun dari museum Mesir di Tahrir, Cairo ke The National Museum Egyptian Civilization (NMEC). Penelitian ini mengeksplorasi bagaimana dampak dari acara pemindahan mumi Firaun dari Museum mesir di Tahrir ke the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) dari aspek budaya dan pariwisata. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus. Penelitian …

Kuliner Sebagai Representasi Identitas Diaspora Korea Di Amerika Serikat: Studi Kasus Juru Masak Edward Lee, Jasmine Anindita Radianti, Zaini Zaini

Multikultura

In recent years, the popularity of Korean cuisine has experienced a significant increase, in parallel with the growing influence of the Korean Wave (hallyu) across various countries. Beyond this cultural phenomenon, Korean diaspora communities have also played a crucial role in promoting Korean cuisine on a global scale. This study aims to analyze the representation of Korean-American diaspora identity through a case study of culinary presentation innovations by chef Edward Lee in the reality show Culinary Class Wars. The research adopts a descriptive qualitative method. The findings indicate that Edward Lee’s diasporic identity is represented through the …

Studium Punctum: Politik Citra Putin Dalam Foto Саммит Стран Брикс 2024 / Sammit Stran Briks (Ktt Brics 2024), Dyah Hayu Permatasari Wahyuningsih, Banggas Limbong

Multikultura

This research takes a data corpus in the form of visuals provided by five Russian digital news channels with a focus on the image of Vladimir Putin as the leader of Russia at the BRICS Summit congress in Kazan in 2024. The author will analyze five online news channels from Russia published between October 23, 2024 and October 25, 2024 with headlines related to the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan. The method used in this research is a descriptive analysis method. Through this research, the author will explain the meaning contained in the visualization of these online news as a …

Majapahit Sebagai Simbol Kekuasaan: Pengaruhnya Terhadap Visi Politik Di Indonesia, Ahda Abid Al Ghiffari, Dwi Mulyatari, Didik Pradjoko

Multikultura

This article examines the image of Majapahit as a symbol of power and political construction in Indonesia in the early 20^th century AD until the 1960s. Majapahit is known in the imagined of past greatness. Its image was then accepted in the context of nationalism, revolutionary ideology, and the struggle against colonialism. Over its development, the symbols and constructions of the image of Majapahit shaped its influence in the political vision of nationalists in Indonesia. Entering the era of Indonesian Independence, the debate about Majapahit had formed an elements in the national political vision. This article aims to …

Pemasaran Lintas Budaya Melalui Iklan Produk Makanan Indonesia Di Negara-Negara Arab, Dhannya Febryana

Multikultura

This paper analyzes the media discourse surrounding advertisements for Indonesian food products, such as the instant noodle brand Indomie, in Arab countries. The expansion of Indonesian food products in international markets, including in Arab nations, is largely driven by effective and culturally adaptive marketing strategies. This study focuses on the analysis of television commercials and advertising posters, aiming to uncover how linguistic, semiotic, and sociocultural elements are employed to construct persuasive advertising messages. The method used is discourse analysis, with data comprising transcripts of television advertisements and visual elements from promotional posters. The advertising strategies of these products seek …

Lanskap Linguistik Di Taman Literasi Martha Christina Tiahahu, Jakarta Selatan, Suryani Indrastuti, Sri Munawarah

Multikultura

Taman Literasi Martha Christina Tiahahu (TLMCT) is a tourist attraction located in South Jakarta that has been established since 1948. As a tourist attraction, TLMCT has signages and facility markers to facilitate visitors to find and utilize the facilities at the park. Those signs use code preference, inscription, and emplacement to maximize the information delivery. The formulation of the problem in this research is how the code preference, inscription, and emplacement of linguistic landscape (LL) at TLMCT. This research aims to explain the code preference, inscription, and emplacement of LL at TLMCT. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used in this …