Digital Commons Network^™

Ethics Of Domestic Violence Punishments In The Nfl, Jesse Lichti

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Everyday Nonverbal Communication: A Comparative Study Of South And East Asian And The Mid-Atlantic United States Cultures, Jamila Jones

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

People communicate not only through spoken and written language but also through facial expressions, gestures, and eye contact. Nonverbal communication is a vital part of everyday life across cultures. Grounded by qualitative interviews and observational analysis, this study explores people’s perceptions and experiences of intercultural nonverbal communication, comparing South and East Asian cultures with those in the mid-Atlantic United States. The goal is to enhance understanding of differences using social learning theory to adapt to foreign cultures and facilitate communication when spoken language is not an option. This study can help mitigate miscommunication and foster cross-cultural connections as the global …

Parallel Paths:, Jacob Jones

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Building Up Borders: Political Framing And Anti-Immigration Attitudes In Hungary And The United States, Jacobsen Gamble

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

In the Summer of 2015, the European Union was faced with an unprecedented immigration crisis. In response, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán unleashed a vigorous anti-immigration campaign, focusing on the cultural, security, and economic threats that Hungary would be burdened with. This was done through negative political framing, via Orbán’s speech acts, the governing Fidesz-KDNP’s political propaganda, and the government’s control of the media. Furthermore, since 2016, the United States has experienced its own issues with immigration. This topic became and has remained one of the most salient throughout Donald Trump’s three presidential campaigns. Like Orbán, Trump has used negative political …

F1'S Marketing Drive: Cracking The Code To Capturing The U.S. Market, Matt Fox

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Formula 1 (F1) has historically faced challenges establishing itself in the American sports market dominated by NASCAR and IndyCar. F1 has been long perceived as a European-centric sport, which has led to struggles with inconsistent U.S.-based Grand Prix events, premium ticket pricing, and a lack of American drivers. Liberty Media's acquisition in 2017 marked a turning point, introducing innovative marketing strategies like digital engagement, new U.S. events, and the Netflix series "Drive to Survive." These efforts have driven tremendous growth, with increased viewership and attendance for U.S. fans. However, while F1 averages 1.1 million U.S. viewers per race, this remains …

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of Dance Movements In Enhancing Activities Of Daily Living For Geriatric Patients And Relevant Implications For Nursing Care, Rachel Bruce

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Within the healthcare industry, the geriatric population holds a unique set of patient-care needs due to a myriad of physical and cognitive challenges that are not present in other subcategories of the population (Cremer et al., 2023). The presentation of these challenges can negatively impact a patient’s quality of life and their overall independence, which in turn decreases their overall quality of life (Cremer et al., 2023). One specific challenge healthcare providers must consider when caring for elderly patients is the reduced range of mobility typically associated with growing older (Machacova et al., 2015; Hartigan, 2007; Sinoff & Ore, 1997; …

Transnational Methodological Engagements With Artistic Narratives: Challenging Hierarchies And Building Community, Lauren Stetz

The Qualitative Report

Through the analysis Violence Against Women Art Map Project, a publicly accessible online platform that utilizes data visualization to understand the contextual complexities of violence against women (VAW), this article explores how comics and narrative artworks can be utilized to provide voice on sensitive or controversial subject matter, challenge accepted societal hierarchies and norms and build community. Considering social media as a transnational dialogic space, graphic works within online spaces can provide qualitative researchers with the potential to expose the multilayered and entangled experiences of individuals across cultures and to interrupt frequently silenced issues that often go unwitnessed and unspoken. …

Reimagining Pedagogies Of The Prison Yard: Using Ethnotheatre To Embody Transcarceral Conocimiento, Mabelle Reynoso

Dissertations

Latinxs make up 40% of California's population but account for 45% of the prison population and 47% of the jail population (Sawyer, 2023). Their overrepresentation in carceral custody not only impacts the individual but also affects families and communities by limiting access to social, political, and educational capital and agency. In response to gaps in research specific to the collateral impact, this interdisciplinary arts-based qualitative study highlights the experiences of five formerly incarcerated Latino men who participated in an Arts in Corrections playwriting class during their time in a California state prison. This study foregrounds their knowledge as cuentistas (storytellers), …

Liberatory Love: Exploring Educators’ Perspectives In Alternative Education, Kamala J. Mallipudi

Dissertations

Establishing an operational understanding of love is difficult. The struggle is magnified when attempting to create a shared vision of love across a group of educators. As Freire (1970/2005) and Darder (2011) affirmed, academic success is advanced when educators demonstrate love as part of their praxis. Continuation high schools represent a population of at-promise students who stand to gain much when their educators employ liberatory love practices. This study examined how educators’ perceptions about liberatory love are shifted or formed when they read, discuss, and reflect on the topic with their colleagues. This study drew on critical pedagogy and engaged …

Belonging Is Resistance: Illuminating The Power Of Women Of Color Mid-Level Administrators In Higher Education, Rachelle Ann Martinez

Dissertations

Resistance has long been a mechanism through which the dominant norms of society are challenged in the name of social justice. White supremacy, heteropatriarchy, and neoliberalism make it difficult for institutions of higher education to increase diversity, advance equity, and prioritize inclusion. Although these systems of domination adversely impact the belonging of all campus stakeholders, the experiences of mid-level administrators are relatively overlooked, and feeling undervalued and underappreciated is a top reason for many, especially women and people of color, who leave the profession altogether. This qualitative study utilized narrative inquiry to understand how dominant societal norms adversely impact the …

Post Racial Reckoning: Montessori Instructors' Perspectives On Teaching Through An Antibias Antiracist Lens, Jasmine E. Williams

Dissertations

Prior to the racial reckoning of 2020, Montessori teacher education programs (MTEPs) have only narrowly focused on social justice education (Aronson et al., 2020; Bartolomè, 2004; Cook, 2015; Cross, 2005; D’Cruz, 2022; King, 1991). Although MTEPs began to respond differently post-reckoning, support for implementing practices like antibias antiracist (ABAR) instruction was often absent. This study sought to understand how the racial reckoning and efforts to include an ABAR lens impacted the teaching practices of instructors in MTEPs. While ABAR-related studies exist in general teacher education (Blanchard et al., 2018; Madkins & Nazar, 2022; Martinez-Alba, Herrera, & Hersi, 2022), few focus …

The Integration Struggles Of Myanmar/Burmese-Catholic Youth Refugees In The United States, Nant Thazin Shwe

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Myanmar, previously known as Burma, generates a significant yearly refugee exodus stemming from ongoing ethnic conflicts, political instability, human rights violations, and the targeted persecution of Christian minority groups. Individuals seek shelter and improved opportunities in other nations. From 2011 to 2023, for example, Burmese refugees represented the largest group among U.S. refugee arrivals, accounting for 18 per cent.

Presently, there is a lack of knowledge about what the Burmese-Catholic youth refugees experiences during their integration journey into the US society. This qualitative study aimed to shed light on how the larger socio-cultural and religious environment intersects with Burmese-Catholic …

180th Commencement University Of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame

Commencement Programs

• SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 4
• HEARING IMPAIRED INFORMATION 9
• GRADUATE SCHOOL 10
• MENDOZA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS GRADUATE BUSINESS 30
• GRADUATE ARCHITECTURE 36
• LAW SCHOOL 37
• UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY 40
• COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS 42
• COLLEGE OF SCIENCE 50
• COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 55
• MENDOZA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS 60
• SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE 66
• KEOUGH SCHOOL OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS 66
• VALEDICTORIAN CANDIDATES 67
• EMERITI FACULTY 67
• HONOR SOCIETIES 68
• AWARDS AND PRIZES 74
• TASSELS 98

From Bystanders To Upstanders: A Multi-Level Strategy To Combat Human Trafficking In Hospitality, Aili Wu, Wei Wei, Lu Zhang

ICHRIE Research Reports

Human trafficking, a prevalent hidden crime, continues to be a pressing concern in the hospitality industry. However, the effectiveness of existing anti-human trafficking programs in improving employee response behaviors remains unknown. This report evaluates the effectiveness of training messages to capture hospitality employees’ attention, facilitating empathy and willingness to help the victims. It further explores the facilitators and barriers influencing employees’ responses to human trafficking after training. The findings from this report provide a practical guide for hospitality practitioners to develop and refine ongoing training programs, strengthening employees’ commitment to combating human trafficking. Beyond general training, this report offers a …

Looking Forward To It: Investigating The Role Of Anhedonia In Episodic Future Thinking, Sarah Corner, Alicia E. Meuret

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

Episodic future thinking, or our ability to simulate personal future events, is implicated in a range of important functioning from problem solving to emotion regulation. However, individuals with clinical diagnoses like depression and schizophrenia struggle to produce future thinking that is vivid and detailed. While these deficits mirror well-document autobiographical memory deficits, they remain poorly understood. The current study aimed to examine the role of anhedonia in episodic future thinking vividness using a within-subjects dimensional approach. A mixed sample of sixty-five undergraduate students and community adults completed two future thinking tasks and one autobiographical memory across two study visits, during …

A Comparison Of Museums From The U.S. And Mexico Within National History, Leticia M. De León

Museum Studies Theses

With the creation of nation-states, the implementation of museums within a society is used to propagate a national agenda. A Comparison of Museums From the U.S. and Mexico Within National History will discuss the social and historical contexts of public museums in the modern nations of Mexico and the United States of America. Using Benedict Anderson’s definition of a nation, this thesis will conduct a comparison between the two countries in how their museums uphold their chosen national identities. The topics of religion, politics, colonization, race relations, and more will be explored in a discussion of how these phenomena play …

Between Two Countries: The Impact Of Globalization And Deglobalization On Generation 1.5 Chinese International Students In The U.S., Meiyi Jin

Communication ETDs

This study examines how Generation 1.5 Chinese international students, those who moved to the U.S. as teenagers and completed secondary education there, construct their identities amid globalization and the growing trend of deglobalization. Through in-depth interviews with 10 participants, it explores how they navigate their transnational experiences, negotiate belonging, and respond to shifting cultural expectations and perceptions from both China and the U.S. Using critical thematic analysis, the study goes beyond identifying recurring themes by analyzing the power relations, discourses, and sociopolitical dynamics that shape participants’ experiences. Findings reveal that geopolitical tensions, restrictive policies, and evolving public discourse in both …

Using Natural Materials In Art Therapy To Address Accessibility And Well-Being In Low-Income Older Adults, Ahlyana J. Richardson

Expressive Therapies Theses

This study investigated the implementation of natural materials during the artmaking processes in an older adult art therapy group (eco-art therapy), and its effects on their well-being and the role of accessibility in their lives. An open-studio approach was applied to emphasize the artmaking process being driven by the participants independently, while also sharing a collaborative space and creating community with each other. There was an exception to this condition in this study, being that the participants were encouraged to ask for assistance in using unconventional materials in their artwork if they felt they needed it. The participants were older …

Quixotes, Quacks, And Laughing Philosophers: Humor And Intellectual Authority In The Long Eighteenth Century, Macklin Fanning

English Theses and Dissertations

Quixotes, Quacks, and Laughing Philosophers: Humor and Intellectual Authority in the Long Eighteenth Century recovers the fascinating and forgotten story of John Elliot (1747–1787), a novelist, physician, mad scientist, pioneering optical theorist, criminal lunatic, and Gothic antihero whose life and work illuminate a strange new history of science, medicine, law, and literature in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Asymmetric, Carboxy And Ester Functionalized Fluorophthalocyanines: Synthesis, Adsorption, And Reactivity, Sean J. Scally

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Strong electron-deficient compounds, fluorinated metal phthalocyanines (F_xPcM), exhibit enhanced photosensitizing properties, making them optimal candidates for photocatalytic studies. Perfluoroalkyl-substituted phthalocyanines are notably thermally robust materials that are chemically inert and resistant to electrophilic, nucleophilic, and radical, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) attacks. These properties can be attributed to their ‘Teflon-like’ inert organic shield that surrounds a reactive metal center, as well as their complete (x = 16, 40, 64), or almost complete (x = 48) lack of C-H bonds. Third-generation, functionalized, asymmetric phthalocyanines are of interest due to their ability to bind to oxidic supports via a carboxyl …

The Theology Of Home: Cultivating Faith And Belonging Through Community And Hospitality As A Reflection Of God’S Presence In The Community And Church, Carrie C. Teller

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

This dissertation examines the essential human need for belonging and its theological significance in shaping faith, identity, and community. Drawing on biblical texts, historical theological perspectives, and contemporary ecclesiological discourse, this study explores the church as a spiritual home—a sacred space of belonging where relationships foster deeper engagement with God and one another. This study contends that the modern church is in decline, and to revitalize it, we must reclaim the ecclesial essence of home. Rather than relying on institutional structures or programming strategies, churches must prioritize relational engagement and radical hospitality and cultivate authentic communities. Organizations like Mission Waco …

Migrant Women Along The Us-Mexico Border: Femicide And Gender Based Violence, Rylee Bondeson

Senior Theses

This paper examines the social and political factors that affect the rates of gender based violence against migrant women in areas around the US-Mexico border.

Towards Inclusive Advocacy: Addressing Colonial Legacies, Evangelical Influence, And Nationalism In Uganda’S Lgbtqi+ Rights Movement, Rodrigo Pedraza Calleja

Senior Theses

This thesis explores Uganda’s homophobic legislation and attitudes, rooted in colonial morality codes and reinforced by U.S. evangelical campaigns. It critiques Western advocacy approaches and emphasizes grassroots efforts rooted in Uganda’s indigenous values. The research offers a framework for advancing LGBTQ+ rights that balances cultural sensitivity with universal human rights.

#Justicepouradama : The Problem Of Police Brutality With French Police Targeting Former French African Colony Immigrants, Madalyn Von Hassel

Senior Theses

There is an urgent need to address systemic police violence and racial profiling in France, particularly against Black and African communities. It poses a critical question: how do instances of police brutality reflect and reinforce systemic discrimination in French society, and what can be done to dismantle these structures? To answer this, the analysis begins with the 2005 riots, a landmark moment of collective outrage triggered by police actions, which set a precedent for future protests and highlighted the grievances of marginalized communities in the banlieues. It then shifts to the death of Adama Traoré in 2016, whose case became …

Mexico's Gender Violence Alerts: Ambiguous, Under-Resourced, And Uneven Impacts On Women’S Human Rights, Molly Ewing

Senior Theses

Mexico has some of the highest rates of violence against women and femicide in the world and these numbers continue to rise. Over the past few decades, Mexico has attempted to address this issue through a series of penal code reforms, social campaigns, and comprehensive legislation, but the impacts of such measures are undercut and unevenly felt due to a series of under looked contributing factors. Mexico is the first in the world to implement the Gender Violence Alert Mechanism (AVGM), which was established under the General Law on Women’s Access to a Life Free from Violence (LGAMVLV) of 200. …

“I’M Not Belgian, I’M European”: Ontological Security, Common Security & Defense Policy, And Evolving Identity Dynamics Within The European Union, Madeleine Bamford

Senior Theses

Identity dynamics worldwide continue to impact global integration and defense policy. This study aims to fill a gap in scholarship: how political science research can zoom in on the individual and produce effective research at the singular level through ontological security theory. Drawing on Eurobarometer studies and social media comments, this study delineates the evolution of European identity dynamics from 1975 to 2024. The study considers how the idea of ‘Home,’ the othering of outside peoples, and perceived physical security contribute to the constituent perception of defense policy. Furthermore, this study examines various European Union policies that have impacted collective …

Immigrants’ Inhumanity To Immigrants: The Failings Of Modern Us Immigration Policies Through The Lens Of Mauritanian Asylum Seekers, Karuna Kayembe

Senior Theses

By analyzing firsthand accounts of Mauritanian migrants gathered at The Migrant Center of St. Francis Church of Assisi, this paper explores the systemic inequities of U.S. immigration law and enforcement, particularly its impact on African migrants. The research argues that these lived experiences expose the disconnect between official narratives of welcoming migrants and the harsh realities of the immigration system, making a case for a more humane and equitable framework. This will be accomplished by first setting the scene on Mauritania and the culture and history that backs up how the migrants act and why they chose America to emigrate. …

Revolution Beneath The Burqa: Afghan Women’S Grassroots Resistance And A Goal Of Sustainable Change Under The Taliban (1990s-2000s), Ava Stover

Senior Theses

This case study examines two juxtaposing initiatives; The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) and Beauty Without Borders, and their differing approaches to addressing systemic oppression and empowering Afghan women post-Taliban takeover in 1996. RAWA employs a grassroots model while Beauty Without Borders, a Western-led initiative, emphasizes beautification. The study considers RAWA’s effectiveness in addressing structural inequalities while highlighting the limitations of externally driven programs like Beauty Without Borders. This analysis contributes to understanding how grassroots movements can achieve sustainable systemic change, while the West’s continuous misinterpretation of cultures and lifestyles different from their own has perpetuated failed …

Japan’S “Other”: An Investigation Into Nihonjinron’S Influence On Japanese Society, James Novello

Senior Theses

This thesis explores nihonjinron's - a post-war genre of literature concerning what it means to be Japanese - possible influence in Japanese society by examining the prevalence of foreigner stereotypes among the Japanese public. Through examining Harumi Befu's "Hegemony of Homogeneity," Japanese textbooks, entertainment media, private rent housing discrimination, and a survey on immigration sentiments, there is correlational evidence suggesting nihonjinron beliefs may still prevalent in Japanese society.

France’S Exclusion Politics: Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric And Political Capital (1972-2002), Alicia Strader

Senior Theses

This thesis explores the politics of exclusion in France, focusing on how immigrants have been marginalized due to politicians' strategic use of anti-immigrant rhetoric. The study examines the rise of Jean-Marie Le Pen, and the increasing political capital gained through his xenophobic platform, highlighting the pivotal moment when other politicians began to adopt similar tactics to secure their own electoral success. By examining secondary sources and magazine articles from 1972 to 2002, this research investigates how the politicization of immigration issues contributed to the marginalization of immigrant communities in France. It argues that the exploitation of anti-immigrant sentiment, particularly after …