Digital Commons Network^™

Resurrecting The Lost City Of Kaskaskia: An Archival, Gis, And Archaeological Investigation Of Illinois’ First Capital, Rebecca Ramey

Theses

This thesis centers around the question of how much remains of historical Kaskaskia, Illinois in the archaeological context, and examines the common historical narrative and its lack of inclusion of non-white voices. Kaskaskia was a vibrant, diasporic community that shaped the founding of Illinois. Through archival research, ArcGIS, geophysical surveys, and an archaeological investigation, this thesis proves that it is possible to bring those voices back through the archaeological record. Kaskaskia has long been ignored by the broader research community, and this thesis aims to show just how much potential Kaskaskia has at contributing to our understanding of the founding …

A Sharper, Stronger Reality: Rememory In Octavia Butler's Kindred, Rachael E. Vargas

Research Papers

This research paper applies epigenetic research and Toni Morrison’s concept of “rememory” to analyze Octavia Butler’s novel, Kindred. This research demonstrates that, through the use of rememory, form, and genre, Butler creates an allegory for epigenetic trauma inheritance within the novel. Dana’s experiences of physical injury disablement serve to exemplify one of the many lived aftermaths of American Chattel Slavery experienced by DACS.

The Epic Work Of Grief: Loss And Narrative Evolution From Classical Epic To Beloved, Marie Manassee

Yale Divinity School Theses

This thesis examines the evolution of the epic tradition through Virgil’s Aeneid, Dante’s Purgatorio, and Toni Morrison’s Beloved, arguing that grief functions as the central force through which epic form is continually reshaped across historical and cultural contexts. While epic is often associated with heroic conquest, divine destiny, or national foundation, this project contends that the genre is equally structured by acts of loss, mourning, and departure. In the Aeneid, grief becomes the condition of imperial becoming, as Aeneas’s movement toward Rome depends upon the relinquishment of personal attachments and the transformation of loss into historical action. Dante’s Purgatorio inherits …

Linking Urban Forest Ecosystem Services With The Sustainable Development Goals: A Bibliometric And Thematic Synthesis (2008–2022), Whisnu Febry Afrianto, Muhammad Ilham

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Despite growing recognition of urban forests as vital providers of ecosystem services (ES) that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), existing scientific literature remains fragmented and lacks a comprehensive synthesis. This study addresses that gap through a systematic bibliometric analysis of global research on urban forestry ecosystem services published between 2008 and 2022, encompassing 229 articles. The analysis examined the three main classifications of ecosystem services and all 17 SDGs. Publications on urban forestry ecosystem services have shown a steady increase since 2008, peaking between 2018 and 2022, while citation counts reached their highest point in 2012 and gradually declined …

Influence Of Pruning And Organic Fertiliser On 9-Month-Old Ginger Productivity In An Acacia Auriculiformis Agroforestry, Yuda Vatra Erlangga, Arom Figyantika, Cintya Nurul Apsari, Rizki Bagus Indratmoko, Muhammad Syahru Ramadhan, Anastasya Clara Srinila Tampubolon, Fanny Elisabeth Panjaitan

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Acacia auriculiformis (formis) offers various advantages that can be integrated with agricultural crops like ginger (Zingiber officinale var. amarum) through agroforestry systems. Pruning and fertilisation are potential strategies to optimise this approach. However, existing research remains limited. Further quantification and analysis are required to elucidate the effects of pruning on the growth of 7-year-old formis trees 11 months after treatment. In addition, more comprehensive studies are needed to examine the combined effects of pruning and organic fertiliser on the growth, productivity, and gingerol content of 9-month-old ginger plants. This research employed a Split-Plot Randomised Complete Block Design, examining the …

Species Diversity And Estimation Of Aboveground Carbon Stocks In Sugar Palm Forest And Lowland Forest In Negeri Hatusua, Maluku, Irwanto Irwanto, Andjela Sahupala, Febian Tetelay, Yulianus Komul

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Tropical forests are essential for climate change mitigation, but limited data on species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in Indonesia constrain evidence-based forest management. This study aims to assess species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in sugar palm forests and lowland forests in Negeri Hatusua, Maluku Province, Indonesia. Vegetation analysis was employed to determine species structure and diversity, while carbon stock measurement and calculation followed the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 7724:2019) for land-based carbon assessment, with certain modifications. The results indicated that the species diversity index in the sugar palm forest was 2.21 for trees, 1.95 for poles, 2.26 for …

Addressing Socioeconomic Factors Related To Health Disparities In Predominantly Hispanic Texas Communities, Gabriela M. Gomez

Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the socioeconomic factors that influenced health outcomes in predominantly Hispanic Texas communities in San Antonio, Texas. Few studies have been conducted that address how socioeconomic conditions have shaped the lives of the Hispanic population in Texas, indicating a significant gap in the research. The research question guiding this study asked: How do Hispanic individuals between the ages of 26 and 64 who live in predominantly Hispanic communities describe health disparities in San Antonio, Texas? To address the research question, a qualitative inquiry was conducted using semi-structured in-person interviews with participants who met the inclusion criteria. A …

Exploring The Transformative Effects Of Executive Coaching On Leaders: A Qualitative Study, Dwayne Norman

Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation examines the transformative effects of executive coaching on leaders’ development, personal growth, decision-making, and overall effectiveness across varied organizational contexts. Grounded in authentic leadership theory and employing a generic qualitative inquiry design, the study investigated how leaders who completed executive coaching describe changes in their behavior and mindset. Eleven experienced leaders participated in semi-structured interviews selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis, guided by the cyclical and inductive coding methods of Saldana (2021), generated 187 initial codes, which were distilled into 72 final codes. These final codes were then further refined into twelve categories and four overarching themes: …

A Case Study Of Doctoral Students' Perspectives Of The Drastic Move From An In-Person To Virtual Environment During Covid-19, Martha Patricia Cias

Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative case research study investigated the students’ perspectives during the drastic transition from an in-person to a virtual environment during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) at the doctoral level. The findings were grouped into six themes and revealed (a) the loss of structure and increased isolation, (b) development of online literacy and increased flexibility, (c) social movements stress and peer/professor support, (d) emotional resilience and resource use, (e) recognition of hybrid and mentorship models, and (f) the need for institutional preparedness considering students as stakeholders/customers. Concluding with the acknowledgement of the capacity of doctoral students to adapt in an unforeseen …

The Faculty's Perception Of The Role Of Equity In The Formation Of Cooperative Learning Groups In University Classrooms: A Qualitative Inquiry, Ethel Nwogu

Theses & Dissertations

THE FACULTY’S PERCEPTION OF THE ROLE OF EQUITY IN THE FORMATION OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING GROUPS IN UNIVERSITY CLASSROOMS: A QUALITATIVE INQUIRY

Submitted by Ethel K. Nwogu A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, Texas December 2025

This study investigates how university faculty perceive and apply equity in the formation of cooperative learning groups. It examines the beliefs guiding instructional decisions and the practical strategies used to ensure fairness and inclusion. The central purpose is to understand how equitable group formation practices influence student …

2026 Spring Commencement, Tennessee State University

TSU Commencements 2025-Present – Mr. Dwayne Tucker, President

No abstract provided.

Processing Conditions In Narrative Interpretation: A Structural Account Of Cf/Ef Divergence In "The Clerk's Tale”, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

This paper applies the framework established in Paper 19, "Cognition Is Not Content: A Structural Account of Processing Conditions," to re-describe Chaucer's "The Clerk's Tale" from The Canterbury Tales.

The same narrative produces two incompatible interpretations: a record of domestic violence, and a story of genuine love. This divergence does not arise from differences in ethical judgment or emotional response. It arises from structural differences in the conditions under which information is reconstructed.

This paper does three things. First, it analyzes the characters Walter and Griselda in terms of CF (Core-foregrounded) and EF (Modulation-foregrounded) processing conditions. Second, it describes …

Where Springs Not Fail, Hannah Guo

Graduate Thesis Collection

Where Springs Not Fail is a 23-minute multimovement work for mixed choir, mezzo-soprano and baritone soloists, and a chamber instrumental ensemble. Drawing texts from Gerard Manley Hopkins and Rabindranath Tagore, the composition explores themes of spiritual darkness, anxiety, and a profound yearning for hope—shared human experiences that are often under-acknowledged. The work aims to reside between sacred and secular expressions, offering a space of vulnerability, reflection, and honesty for performers and listeners alike.

The composition engages a wide range of stylistic influences, including serial and minimalist techniques, chant-like melodic writing, modal language, and motivic symbolism. Structured as an arch form, …

Moral Injury Among Healthcare Chaplains: Responding To Systemic Racism Through Ethical Advocacy And Spiritual Care, Stephanie Drew

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

Systemic racism against minorities has woven its way into every facet of everyday existence, especially for Black Americans, and Healthcare is no exception. There are numerous proven instances of unfair and inequitable treatment of marginalized patients throughout the Healthcare system, and some have even caused Black patients to lose their lives. The mistreatment of Black and Brown people during perhaps one of the most vulnerable times of their lives is well documented dating back centuries. There are massive cuts to Medicaid, and insurance premiums are steadily going up making it very cumbersome for the poor and disenfranchised to navigate the …

The Role And Impact Of Servant Leaders In The Clinical Physical Therapy Space, Amelia Moor

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Servant leadership is an approach that is committed to improving the lives of others. The patient-centered model, commonly taught in healthcare courses, follows a structure that resembles the practice of servant leadership. Through this study, the clinical application of servant leadership was explored further. Physical therapy was the primary focus of understanding servant leadership in healthcare settings. Qualitative research was conducted using a phronetic iterative approach. Results displayed a recognition and usage of the servant leadership model in physical therapy settings, despite administrative and structural barriers.

Curriculum Evaluation For Imagiedu, Madison Leigh Marchand

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This research examines whether or not ImagiEdu's curriculum aligns with the Indiana Academic Standards for K-8 Computer Science, and to determine if it meets the requirements to be approved as "High-Quality Curricular Materials" by the Indiana Department of Education (DOE). ImagiEdu is an award-winning technology education startup from Sweden, and provides inclusive coding education tools designed to help students imagine their future in the tech world. In this project, the DOE's 2024-2025 High-Quality Curricular Materials Rubric was used to evaluate ImagiEdu's curriculum, including its Scope and Sequence, Teacher Handbook, and over 25 Lesson Plans. The evaluation focused on four main …

Partners In Crime: Unraveling Accomplice Involvement In Jury Verdicts, Daphne A. Murray

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The present study is only the second investigation to examine the effects of accomplice witness testimony on jury decision making. For this study, participants read a trial transcript of an assault case in which the defendant was accused of starting a physical altercation. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions where we varied the level of involvement of the accomplice. The three conditions included Accomplice-Altercation where the accomplice was directly involved in the altercation and threw a few punches, Accomplice-Lookout where the accomplice served as a lookout for police arrival, and a No Accomplice condition. The results of …

Illuminating Success: Student And Teacher Perception On Media Center Brainlit Lighting, Jase M. H. Ide

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Lighting plays a critical role in shaping learning environments, yet its influence on students’ cognitive, emotional, and physiological functioning is often overlooked in educational research. This study examined the perceived impact of BrainLit’s biocentric lighting, a daylight-simulating system designed to support circadian rhythms, within an educational setting. The research focused on Sycamore School, the first early childhood through eighth-grade school in the United States to implement BrainLit biocentric lighting. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through interviews with third- and eighth-grade students and faculty members in the school’s Media Center. Transcribed interviews were analyzed thematically to identify patterns …

Cyanine Dyes As Next-Generation Fluorophores: Applications In Cell Sorting And Fingerprinting Technologies, Super-Multiplexed Spectroscopy, Biomedical Imaging, And Beyond, Lucas Allen Davis

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

As biochemical, pharmaceutical, and medical sciences advance, the demand for technologies capable of probing multiple cellular targets simultaneously continues to increase. Super-multiplexed spectroscopic techniques offer a pathway toward comprehensive cellular fingerprinting by overcoming the spectral limitations of conventional fluorescence labeling. By circumventing the traditional “color barrier,” cyanine-based Raman tags enable the simultaneous discrimination of numerous cellular morphologies, allowing spectroscopy and imaging to be integrated for high-dimensional cellular analysis. Technologies developed in Goda Lab—including high-throughput flow cytometry, virtual freezing fluorescence imaging (VIFFI), Fourier-transform coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (FT-CARS), and MERdot nanoparticles—address longstanding trade-offs between throughput, resolution, sensitivity, and multiplexing capacity. Central …

Dis/Remembrance: Expressions Of Intergenerational Memory And Where Legacy Lingers: American Warfare, 50 Years From Saigon, Eli(Se) Davidson

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Over fifty years from the Fall of Saigon, the United States continues to question its participation in unjust warfare, both as a nation and as a people. This study examines the transmission of war stories amongst families: specifically, what becomes negotiated in the thresholds of memory and narrative, and what might become of those spaces across past, present, and future. While prior discourse has centered on the authority and authenticity of war memory through political discourse, historical narrative, and public memorialization, the role of storytelling within families remains underexplored. This research addresses that gap through interdisciplinary inquiry and qualitative ethnography …

Shark Immunology And Its Biomedical Potential: Evolution, Innovation, And The Imperative Of Conservation, Reesha Bhagat

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This review aims to shed light on a significant ecological deficit and its implications for the future of science and medicine. Sharks possess a uniquely adaptive, cancer-resistant, and evolutionarily refined immune system with transformative biomedical potential, making their conservation a scientific and medical imperative. We are losing something medically irreplaceable, and we don’t even fully understand it yet. Shark conservation is a pressing scientific imperative because sharks are ecologically essential and represent an irreplaceable biomedical resource.

Religious Discrimination In The Hiring Process Through Examination Of Subtle Resume Cues, Sadie Nelson

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The information included on a resume is a key indicator of a person’s qualifications and experience that will help them succeed at a job. Defining characteristics like a person’s race, ethnicity, gender, or religion are often conveyed through subtle cues on a resume. These subtle cues have the ability to induce unconscious biases that can result in discrimination throughout the hiring process. In contrast to prior research, which has primarily used names and photographs as cues for conveying membership in a protected group, this study examined cues conveyed through the affiliations and activities presented on a resume. A survey containing …

From Viewer To Participant: Building Emotional Stakes And Audience Advocacy Through Original Film Marketing In The Internet Age, Andy Joshua Pal

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Film marketing has always been a vital part of engaging audiences with motion pictures, particularly for original intellectual property (IP) projects striving to build a passionate fanbase. In the 1950s and 1960s, filmmaking pioneers Alfred Hitchcock and William Castle revolutionized original movie campaigns, laying the foundation for audience engagement through two main, opposite strategies: secrecy for horror and horror-adjacent releases and transparency for non-horror releases. The Blair Witch Project (Sánchez and Myrick, 1999)’s marketing became the defining film campaign of the internet age, drawing upon Hitchcock and Castle’s secretive approaches by pioneering alternate reality games (ARGs). This strategy, which lets …

Bioshock: An Objectivist Counter Discourse On Ayn Rand’S Atlas Shrugged, Tucker M. Hurst

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The aim for this thesis is to discuss the themes and story structure of Bioshock with respect to Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged by deconstructing the relationship between both pieces of media as Bioshock representing a counter discourse to Rand’s objectivism. This will be done by examining both stories under a philosophical and economic lens to determine the main pillars of objectivism presented in Atlas Shrugged, then moving on to Bioshock’s dissection of these ideals when enforced on a secluded society. In doing so, not only is a better understanding of Rand’s philosophy obtained by presenting a form of case study …

Can Teaching Intervention Practices To Future Educators Lead To Improvements In Sel Skills For Their Future Students?, Emma Elizabeth Magee

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

A student will spend about 15,210 hours and 2,160 days at school from kindergarten-12th grade. With students spending an immense amount of their early life stages in school, it is crucial to identify the missing pieces in a students’ education, so that students can feel satisfied and prepared for their next steps in life after completing their K-12 educational experience. Research shows that social-emotional skills can increase a student’s educational journey and participation, and therefore the connection between academic learning and social-emotional development must be discussed or taught more in schools (Elias, 2009). In order to teach the connection between …

The Role Of Reflection In Shifting Motivations To Confront Racial Prejudice, Keira Nicole Salt

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Confrontation is shown to reduce expressions of racial prejudice. However, a person’s motivations to confront can change how effective the confrontation is in shifting attitudes. Confronting prejudice can be driven by internal motivations, such as personal values, or external motivations, like social approval. Through two studies, I investigated whether reflecting on the drawbacks of performative activism (motivation condition) affected individuals' motivation to confront prejudice. I hypothesized that individuals (especially those with the strongest external motivations) would shift to be more internal when reflecting on the issues of performative activism compared to a control condition. In online Study 1A, I found …

Perceived Threats To Masculinity: How Honor, Just World Beliefs, And Hostile Attribution Bias Shape Attitudes Toward Feminism, Alayna Joy Barton

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Masculine Honor Ideology, often endorsed by men, emphasizes the importance of maintaining status and reputation from any perceived threats, usually through aggression and confrontation. A possible justification for this ideology is Just World Beliefs, the trust that society is fair and righteous, even if it perpetuates inequality. Conversely, feminism at its core aims to dismantle all systems and beliefs that perpetuate gender inequality, posing a threat to masculine honor and Just World Beliefs. This type of threat often elicits hostility from men high in honor, especially when they exhibit hostile attribution bias. Those who display this bias may perceive ambiguous …

Understanding First-Name Diversification In The United States, 1910-2020, Riley Nicole Mehall

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This study investigates how demographic and cultural changes influenced first-name diversification in the United States between 1910 and 2020. Three main explanations are proposed: Solidarity and Diffusion, Multiculturalism, and Familial Modernization. The normalized Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) was employed to track name diversity for each state–year–sex group. Then, statistical analysis, including two-way fixed-effects linear regression, was completed. This analysis finds a clear correlation between first-name diversity and measures of population density, ethnoracial diversity, and household structure. This supports the conclusion that shifts in socio-demographic composition and cultural values over time played a significant role in shaping naming practices. Ultimately, this study …

Mapping And Evaluating Butler University's Dining And Accommodation Messaging For Students With Dietary Restrictions, Cassia Belle Campbell

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Food-centered traditions are central to campus belonging, yet for students with medical dietary restrictions (e.g., celiac disease, severe food allergies), shared meals can become sites of stigma, exclusion, and heightened self-monitoring. Prior research frames these conditions as “invisible disabilities” (Davis, 2005) and highlights dynamics such as hypervigilance and disclosure fatigue (Schelly et al., 2022), which can be intensified when institutional processes are unclear or inconsistently communicated. This project examines how institutional messaging shapes the navigational burden students may experience when seeking safe participation in dining and campus life.

This study uses an artifact-based analysis of existing Butler University communication materials …

Playful Music Learning In Piano Lessons: Implications For Intrinsic Motivation And Sustained Engagement, Cora Lynne Hart

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Within the field of piano pedagogy, there is a great need to adapt teaching strategies to a new generation of learners. Traditional pedagogical methods are not always conducive to student-directed, process-based, and most importantly, joyful learning. The beginning elementary level is the most critical time to start a student’s musical journey with positivity and encouragement, and is a time when these teaching strategies make a profound impact. This thesis explores how play activities can facilitate engaging musical experiences that are more aligned with children’s natural way of learning. Through a literature review, the thesis synthesizes existing research on child learning …