Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Viability Of Fully Online Asynchronous Physics Instruction In Formal Education, Clifton W. Massey-Noel

Physics Dissertations

In this dissertation we present results from two consecutive investigations into the fully online asynchronous modality in Physics Education. We first discuss the efficacy of a fully online asynchronous section of Modern Physics held in Fall 2024. The asynchronous section is compared with four prior partially-flipped sections of the same class, two of which were held in-person, and two of which were held synchronously online. Results suggest that all three modalities can be made to be about equally as effective. We also discuss the efficacy of a fully online asynchronous section of Calculus-Based Introductory Mechanics held in Fall 2025. The …

Equitable Siting Of Green Stormwater Infrastructure In Urban Areas For Flood Resilience In Vulnerable Communities, Elnaz Chitsazzadeh

Planning Dissertations

Cities face increasing pressure from rapid urbanization, aging gray infrastructure, intensifying rainfall, and uneven flood protection. In this context, green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) and other nature-based solutions are increasingly promoted as tools for climate adaptation, flood resilience, and environmental justice. Yet a central planning challenge remains: how to identify where GSI should be prioritized when flood-related physical burden, weak environmental protection, social vulnerability, and lower recovery capacity overlap. This dissertation addresses that challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, by examining how equitable GSI siting can support flood resilience in vulnerable urban neighborhoods.

Framed by urban resilience and environmental justice, the study …

Implementing Impact Data Collection And Program Evaluation In A Nonprofit, Jamie Devellis

OTD Capstones

This doctoral capstone highlights a gap between data collection practices and nonprofits, which impacts participation rates of children experiencing poverty. This gap is an issue for nonprofits because stakeholders and donors are more likely to fund organizations that can provide impact data about their services. This capstone addresses that gap through creating and implementing data collection and program evaluation for a grassroots nonprofit that funds enrichment programs for children experiencing poverty in southeastern Massachusetts. Data collected found that the program has a positive effect on the children and families of whom they serve that surpass their main goal of building …

Breaking The Boom-Bust Cycle: Supporting Pediatric Fatigue And Participation After Hsct Using The 5-Pet And Caregiver Education, Annelie Claire Kershaw

OTD Capstones

Pediatric patients recovering after hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) often experience persistent fatigue, physical deconditioning, cognitive changes, and decreased participation after discharge. Fatigue is complex and multidimensional, making it difficult for children to understand, communicate, and manage as they return to school, play, social activities, and daily life. Occupational therapists are well positioned to support participation, activity pacing, caregiver education, and health management for children recovering after HSCT.

This capstone project addressed the need for developmentally appropriate fatigue management resources through the creation of multiple deliverables. The primary deliverable was the 5-Zone Pediatric Energy and Fatigue Scale (5-PET), which is …

Pathways To Senior Leadership For Women In Student Affairs At Public Universities, Julie Lynn Anderson-Roy

All Capstone Projects

Access to higher education is a fight women won over a century ago; however, research shows that women remain underrepresented in leadership positions in higher education. Leadership roles in higher education, especially at public institutions, encompass a range of positions, including the president, provost, deans, and chairs of academic departments. Although higher education administration and student affairs continue to attract more women than men to graduate preparation programs, men hold more administrative positions. The imbalance of women in leadership roles is not only a national issue but also a global issue. The relevant purpose of this qualitative study was to …

Student Perceptions Of Autism Support Program Participation In Higher Education: Relationships To Academic, Psychological, And Social/Identity Success, Anne Frosh

All Capstone Projects

As the number of students with autism enrolling in higher education continues to rise, institutions have expanded autism support programs (ASPs) to promote student success and inclusion. Despite this growth, limited quantitative research has examined how participation in ASPs relates to students’ multidimensional perceptions of success. This quantitative, non-experimental study examined the relationship between ASP participation and student-reported outcomes across academic, psychological, and social/identity domains among college students with autism in the United States. Grounded in the Social Model of Disability and Critical Disability Studies, the study explored associations between ASP participation and perceived success, the importance of success, and …

Exploring Gaps And Opportunities For Nonprofit Support For African American Veterans: Insights From The Historymakers Digital Archive, Michael A. Davis Ii

All Capstone Projects

This study draws on qualitative thematic analysis of oral histories from The HistoryMakers Digital Archive to examine gaps in services experienced by African American veterans during their transition from military to civilian life and how nonprofit organizations can develop more resilient and equity-centered support systems to better meet veterans’ needs. The findings confirm existing literature that characterizes veteran reintegration as complex and multidimensional, while extending it by demonstrating how challenges such as mental health, employment instability, and housing insecurity are deeply interconnected and cumulative. The findings also reveal that African American veterans face additional structural barriers due to systemic inequalities …

From The Margins To Presidency: The Pathways Of African American Women Into Community College Leadership, Patricia A. Edmond

All Capstone Projects

African American women hold only 7% of community college presidencies nationally, a disparity rooted not in deficits of preparation or qualification but in structural conditions shaped by the intersection of race and gender bias. This phenomenological qualitative study explored the lived experiences of six African American women currently service as community college presidents, examining how race, gender, and mentorship influence their pathways, challenges, and success strategies. Guided by the theoretical frameworks of Black Feminist Through (Collins, 2000) and Intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989), the study collected data through semi-structured interviews, reflective narratives, and document analysis. Five themes emerged: Pathways and Access to …

Observation, Analysis, Compassion, William J. Maloney Dds, Pgcertmed, Facd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Drawing on examples from literature, art, and history, this article argues that optimal health care rests on a triad of observation, analysis, and compassion. Referencing physician-writers and keen observers such as Anton Chekhov, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Leonardo da Vinci, the discussion illustrates how careful attention to the human condition enhances diagnostic insight and ethical care. In the context of unprecedented global migration and strained health care systems, clinicians are challenged to move beyond technical competence toward a deeper understanding of patients’ fears, cultural barriers, and dignity. At the intersection of careful observation, thoughtful analysis, and genuine compassion, the highest …

Perceptions And Practices Of Incorporating Student-Centered Menu Items In School Meals, Kristi L. Lewis Phd, Rdn

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

Student-centered menu planning prioritizes learners’ preferences, nutritional needs, cultural relevance, and engagement in the development of school nutrition program offerings. Menus that reflect student preferences and incorporate student input are associated with increased meal participation and consumption. This study examined school nutrition professionals’ perceptions, best practices, and strategies for incorporating students’ voices into school-based menu planning and modification.

Using a participatory research approach, school nutrition professionals, administrators, United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service representatives, and State agency staff participated as expert panelists and survey respondents. A literature review and qualitative expert panel responses informed the development of …

Meeting The Challenges Of Serving Scratch-Prepared Foods In School Nutrition Programs, Keith Rushing Phd, Rd, Ruaa Al Juboori Phd, Mackinsey Shahan Phd, Rdn

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

The increasing prevalence of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in children’s diets presents a significant public health concern due to associations with obesity, metabolic disorders, poor cardiometabolic health, and reduced academic performance. Scratch cooking in school meal programs has emerged as a promising strategy for improving meal quality by emphasizing preparation from basic, minimally processed ingredients. Although research indicates that scratch-prepared meals can improve nutritional quality and student acceptance, implementation remains challenging due to operational, financial, and workforce barriers.

The purpose of this study was to identify challenges school nutrition professionals face when offering scratch-prepared meals, assess the national prevalence of these …

The Lie Group Basis Of Neuronal Membrane Architecture: Why The Hodgkin–Huxley Equations Take Their Form, Robert Melendy, Daniel Blue

Faculty Publications - Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

The Hodgkin–Huxley equations have successfully described neuronal excitability for over seventy years, yet their mathematical structure remains empirically justified rather than theoretically explained. Why are gating variables bounded between 0 and 1? Why does sodium conductance depend on m³h rather than other combinations? Why does potassium depend on n⁴? Why do all rate functions contain exponential voltage dependencies? Why are the kinetics first-order? We demonstrate that these structural features arise naturally from three fundamental physical symmetries governing ion channel dynamics: the compactness of conformational state space, the scaling invariance of membrane conductance, and temporal translation invariance. …

Balancing The Barre: Judicial Approaches To The Analysis Of Copyright Infringement Claims Of Choreographic Works, Sylvia R. Ofoma

Suffolk Journal of Trial and Appellate Advocacy

No abstract provided.

Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy Through Popular Music And Media In Elementary Music Education, Martina Vasil

Music Faculty Publications

Elementary music teachers in the United States face many challenges today, including an increasing cultural divide between teachers and students, worsening student behavior, and excessive exposure to technology in children’s lives. These challenges are magnified due to the hundreds of students elementary music teachers see weekly, the lack of teaching and planning time, and inadequate teaching resources, making it difficult to fully understand the culture and learning needs of every child. However, music educators may find culturally sustaining pedagogy (CSP) a useful tool for meeting the needs of a diverse student body. Further, when teachers engage in kid culture, the …

The Voices Of Women Politicians: Media Representation And Its Influence On Identity, Gender Bias, And Self-Presentation, Ariana J. Hernandez

Communication Theses

This study examines how women in politics view and respond to media representation, shifting the focus from analyzing content to understanding the personal experiences and strategic choices of the politicians themselves. Through semi-structured interviews with 15 women in political roles, the research looks at the mental and emotional effort needed to navigate a media landscape shaped by gender.

The findings highlight a significant gap between how these women see themselves and how the media portrays them. They often feel that professional credibility must be built over time rather than being granted automatically. Participants pointed out common gendered portrayals, such as …

Navigating Yellow Zone Sexual Misconduct Cases: Exploring Title Ix Administrators’ Discretion, Angela E. Hobbs

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations

This study examines how Title IX administrators exercise discretion when responding to ambiguous sexual misconduct reports referred to as yellow zone. The 2020 Title IX Rules and Regulations introduced a more restrictive definition of sexual misconduct, requiring behavior to be severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive (SPOO) to meet the threshold for formal institutional response. Despite the practical challenges these cases present for institutions, there is limited scholarly understanding of how Title IX administrators make decisions when responding to them. Guided by street-level bureaucracy theory (Lipsky, 1969, 1980, 2010), the study explored how institutional actors exercise discretion in response to regulatory …

Advancing Lipidomics Through Fluoroalcohol-Induced Multiphase Fractionation And Orthogonal Lc×Lc–Ms Detection, Md Al Amin

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations

Comprehensive characterization of the lipidome remains a significant analytical challenge due to the immense structural diversity, wide dynamic range, and complex physicochemical continuum of lipid species. Conventional extraction methods, such as those by Bligh–Dyer and Folch, and one-dimensional liquid chromatography (1D-LC) often fail to resolve this complexity, leading to chromatographic overlap, severe ion suppression, and limited coverage of low-abundance or highly hydrophobic species. This dissertation addresses these bottlenecks by establishing a separation-driven analytical framework that integrates novel fluoroalcohol-induced multiphase systems (FAiTPS) with orthogonal multidimensional liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC×LC–MS).

The core of this research is the development and physicochemical characterization of …

Sparks: A Love Story, Stacey Kramer

MA Projects

In 1953 Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns met through a mutual friend, thus sparking a romantic and creative partnership that would endure until late 1961. At a time when it was illegal to be in a same-sex relationship, these two artists collaborated and inspired each other, and together they changed the course of contemporary art. Breaking free of the Abstract Expressionists, they chartered an artistic path forward and beyond while working from their adjacent studios, sharing intimacies and a similar mindset.  The two artists often channeled a shared sensibility and aesthetic, developing their own symbolic language even as they avoided …

Transmission/Reception, Ma'ayan Noy

MA Projects

From the 1940’s to the 70’s the California-based artist Wallace Berman produced a wide-spreading oeuvre, encompassed drawing, collage, assemblage, single channel video, and three dimensional object making. His practice was deeply informed by his interest in Jazz, Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism, film, and poetry, and more. The transmission and reception of an everflowing stream of references which informs Berman’s creative intake and output adopts a mystical undertone in his grand oeuvre. The unifying theme for Transmission/Reception asserts the centrality of Kabbalistic influences on Berman’s practice, his affinity and spiritual regard for the act of creating. Transmission/Reception underscores Berman’s underlying belief …

He Rengao Super-Consciousness Imagery, A Global Touring Exhibition, Jun Dong

MA Projects

Focusing squarely on He Rengao’s long-developed visual philosophy, this exhibition will take the form of a solo presentation introducing Super-Consciousness Imagery to New York audiences. As one of China’s most established contemporary artists, He has spent decades refining a highly introspective and philosophically grounded painterly language. This exhibition aims to situate his mature body of work within an international conversation, foregrounding painting as a site where civilizational imagination, spiritual inquiry, and aesthetic experimentation converge. The exhibition title, Super-Consciousness Imagery, encapsulates two key elements central to He’s artistic practice; it refers to the expanded state of awareness the artist seeks to …

Caribbean Sensibility, Olivia A. Davis

MA Projects

The Caribbean is a region with a complex history, from the displacement of Indigenous communities to the forced migrations of the transatlantic slave trade and the arrival of indentured laborers from Asia. This has produced a region where questions of identity and belonging remain constant. Caribbean Sensibility explores how artists form the Caribbean and its diasporas navigate these complexities, transforming histories of displacement into creative expression. The exhibition draws on Trinidadian scholar Patricia Mohammed’s concept of a “Caribbean sensibility,” an emotional and aesthetic orientation based in hybridity. It is “the dissonance between a seemingly imported religion and our homegrown private …

Artisanal Retreats, Michelle Larose

MA Projects

Artisanal Retreats is a luxury travel provider blending holistic personal wellness with art creation, appreciation, education and collection. We offer our clients an unparalleled retreat experience at our 250-acre pastoral escape, combining traditional wellness amenities and activities with art focused pursuits to aid guests in achieving optimal Creative Wellness. Set on a gorgeous, historic farm near the bucolic town of Middleburg, Virginia, Artisanal Retreats’ guests are transported to a heightened level of relaxation and vitality through our exceptional programming and hospitality. Our team is comprised of seasoned professionals, from both the art world and the wellness industry, intent on bringing …

Authentic Transformational Leadership: A Model For Empowerment And Organizational Effectiveness For Training And Coaching Modern Ministry Leaders, David Macharia Njau

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined the influence of authentic transformational leadership on the integration of empowerment and organizational effectiveness among leaders and followers, as a holistic engagement process, to foster ethical leadership and flourishing communities within the Kenyan diaspora in Western Pennsylvania. The review examined the literature on the transformational leadership dimensions of idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration. Research investigated leader-follower reciprocal relationships to foster authentic transformational leadership and empowerment strategies for organizational effectiveness, setting a compelling vision and commitment for leaders and followers aligned with the organizational mission and strategy. This study concluded that authentic transformational leadership …

Equitable Grading: Practices, Challenges, And Implementation, Hannah Lauree Jacott

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Grading methods in K-12 education have remained largely unchanged over the past century. As schools consider revisiting grading policies, multiple factors influence the success and sustainability of reform efforts, particularly because grades serve conflicting purposes for various stakeholders. This thesis investigates traditional grading practices, reviews literature on equitable grading frameworks, and evaluates both existing and proposed grading practices in relation to the purpose of grading and principles of grading equity. The literature suggests that many commonly used grading practices, such as the inclusion of nonacademic behaviors and reliance on percentage-based systems, may reduce the accuracy and consistency of grades as …

Family Factors And Adolescent Behavior: How Parenting Practices And Parent-Child Relationships Shape Internalizing And Externalizing Behaviors, Angela J. Spikes

Social Work Dissertations

Mental health challenges can emerge across childhood and adolescence, often manifesting as internalizing and externalizing behaviors. These outcomes are shaped by the complex interplay of environmental and contextual influences, particularly parenting practices and family dynamics. This study examines how parental practices and caregiver-child relationship quality influence adolescent internalizing and externalizing behaviors while accounting for key sociodemographic factors, including sex, race/ethnicity, maternal education, income, and household structure. Using a longitudinal design, secondary data were drawn from the Future of Families and Child Well-being Study. The analytic sample included adolescents and caregivers with data from Wave 5 (Year 9) and Wave 6 …

Arts Cures: A Business Plan For Integrating Art As A Biometric Tool For Sensory Wellbeing In Commercial Ecosystems, Xinuo Zhang

MA Projects

In an era of heightened connectivity and data-driven metrics, modern society faces a crisis of sensory impoverishment and emotional disconnection. While technology quantifies human experience, it often fails to address the visceral need for authentic feeling. This business plan proposes "Arts Cures," a venture that repositions art from a passive commodity to an active, systemic solution for well-being. By leveraging insights from neuroscience, design theory, and existential philosophy, Arts Cures develops a suite of B2B and B2C services that integrate art as functional, biometric-responsive infrastructure. Our core offerings include AI-driven sensory pods for real-time emotional regulation, data-informed curatorial services for …

Galleriax: A Hybrid Digital Platform For Art, Technology, And Community, Catherine Wu

MA Projects

GalleriaX is a curated digital platform that brings together artists, collectors, and creative audiences through an ecosystem shaped by curation, technology, and community. The platform reimagines digital art engagement by combining editorial storytelling, membership-based participation, and long-term artist support. Rather than functioning as an open marketplace, GalleriaX offers a guided and context-driven environment where artworks, conversations, and cultural programs unfold with intention. The company operates at the intersection of art and technology, using digital tools to enhance, rather than replace, the human elements of taste, dialogue, and shared experience. Its approach blends the credibility of curatorial practice with the accessibility …

Ai Art Valuation Company: Artmetric, Zhuochen Tu

MA Projects

ArtMetric is a technology company dedicated to revolutionizing the art market. We have developed an AI-driven valuation platform designed to address the inefficiencies, high costs, and subjectivity inherent in traditional art appraisal. Users upload images of artworks through our platform to quickly receive a data-driven, and affordable valuation report. This report integrates AI visual analysis, real-time market data comparison, and optional expert verification, ensuring both speed and accuracy in valuation. Our target clients include collectors, artists, galleries, and insurance companies. We monetize through subscription services, one-time appraisals, and premium B2B solutions. As the art market accelerates its digital transformation, ArtMetric …

Objective Chance, Convulsive Beauty And The Marvelous Within Fashion, Ellen Silva

MA Projects

Objective Chance, Convulsive Beauty and The Marvelous within Fashion is an exhibition inspired by the early idea of Surrealism specifically how the concepts of objective chance, convulsive beauty and the marvelous are intertwined and represented within fashion in the 21st century. The audience will be able to witness for themselves the use of these themes throughout the Surrealist movement by viewing works of fashion and artwork side by side. Some of the references are unmistakable, but some of them must be viewed with more of a conceptual focus as Surrealism was not only an art movement, but originally a philosophical …

Integrating The Oriental Gaze: Japonisme And Kitagawa Utamaro’S Influence In The Parisian Art World Of The Late 19th Century, Wanda Irini Goudas

MA Theses

This thesis discusses the phenomenon of Japonisme in Paris, how it manifested in the market, its accompanying theoretical discourse, and its role in fostering artistic innovation. In 1853, Japan officially opened its borders for trade with the West, resulting in an unparalleled influx of objects and artwork from Japan. This generated a widespread fascination with Japanese material culture, culminating in the phenomenon known as Japonisme. Among the imported items, ukiyo-e woodblock prints or ‘images of the floating world,’ became very significant. Exhibited widely across Paris, their peculiar themes and unique formal qualities prompted theoretical discourse and inspired shifts in artistic …