Digital Commons Network^™

Rosenzweig's Elements And Universal History, Martin Zwick

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper uses Rosenzweig’s conception of the three elements of God, World, and Human from The Star of Redemption in a model of universal history. The model also has some relation to Rosenzweig’s geopolitical essay, Globus, which is very different from the meta-historical Star. Based on a systems-theoretic schema of events and processes, the model views human history in terms of three linked processes: a primary process labeled “World” – the origin and development of human society embedded in nature, a secondary process labeled “God” – the origin and development of the Axial religions and philosophies, and a …

As-1008-26 Resolution On Proposed New Degree Program: Bachelor Of Arts In Women’S, Gender, And Queer Studies (Wgqs), Women's, Gender And Queer Studies Department

Academic Senate Resolutions

Resolves that the Academic Senate of Cal Poly approves the new degree program for the Bachelor of Arts in Women’s, Gender, and Queer Studies (WGQS) for final review by the Chancellor’s Office.

Comparing Two Frameworks For Categorizing Attitudes Towards Climate Change, Lilliana Campbell

Honors Capstones

This study compares the Six Americas framework (Maibach et al., 2011) and a Climate Change Denial framework categorizing individuals as deniers or non-deniers (Valentiner et al., in preparation). It was hypothesized that the Six Americas dismissive category would substantially overlap with the denier classification.

Participants (N = 334) were students in Introduction to Psychology courses at Northern Illinois University in Spring semester 2026. Participants completed the Six Americas Super Short Survey (SASSY) and the Climate Change Acceptance and Denial scales.

Only modest correspondence between the SASSY segments and the climate change denial framework. Although the relationship between these classification systems …

Impact Of Provider Confidence And Psychiatric Referrals Through Education And Implementation Of The Gad-7 Anxiety Screening Tool In An Outpatient Family Clinic, Maceline E. Check

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Gaps in provider and nurse confidence in identifying and managing anxiety disorders in outpatient family clinic settings contribute to underdiagnosis, delayed intervention, and reduced psychiatric referrals. This quality improvement project evaluated the impact of provider education and implementation of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) screening tool on provider and nurse confidence and appropriate psychiatric referral rates, with the goal of improving clinical decision-making and standardizing anxiety screening practices. The project was guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice. Using a quasi-experimental pre- and post-intervention design, providers and nurses in an outpatient family clinic received structured, …

Ar Bubble Car: A Cross-Vehicle Visual Social System For Autonomous Mobility, Bingchang Zhang

Theses

AR Bubble Car argues that in L4/L5 autonomous mobility, or high to fully automated driving, the car should be understood not only as a transportation device but also as a visible social interface in public space. As driving becomes less central, the role of the vehicle shifts from control and movement alone toward passenger experience, expression, and communication. In response, AR Bubble Car proposes a transparent visual bubble around compatible vehicles, allowing passengers to share lightweight content through window-based AR. Rather than treating the car as a private entertainment container, the system explores how vehicles might become moving social nodes …

When The Apple Falls Far From The Tree: The Effect Of Parental Education Level And Socioeconomic Status Mindset On Academic Achievement, Adrienne Chinski, Alexis Jankowski, David Valentiner

Honors Capstones

Mindsets are the implicit perspectives that individuals have about their qualities. A growth mindset is the belief that one’s qualities can be improved through hard work. Growth mindsets about socioeconomic status (SES) have been associated with higher academic achievement for high school students. The present study is an extension of previous research examining socioeconomic status mindset impacts on school engagement. This study also investigates how parental education level impacts grades and credit hours earned in the context of SES Mindset.

This study used a diverse sample of 272 undergraduate students enrolled in the Introduction to Psychology course at NIU. Measures …

The Wager Of Speech, And The Maneuver Of The Dream In The Clinic Of Psychosis, Christopher Meyer

Middle Voices

Psychoanalysis, especially in the clinic of psychosis and extreme states, requires a wager on the part of the analyst. This wager welcomes the speech of the analysand regarding a censored unconscious. In the clinic of psychosis, the analyst’s reference to the dream in the establishment of the frame of the treatment is a maneuver that creates a working space that reveals the subjective history of the analysand. This history concerns key moments of trauma in which the speaking being found themselves without resort or resource to speech or language to represent their experience. The discourse of the delusion arises in …

Psycho-Pathology And Links Between Neurosis And Psychosis, B. Mason Judy, John Dall'aglio

Middle Voices

Commentary

The Secretary Of Alienation: Metaphor And Metapsychology, Anna Kreienberg

Middle Voices

Commentary

An Interview With Stijn Vanheule, Phd Following His Talk: “The Clinic Of Psychoanalysis In Times Of Capitalism”, Stijn Vanheule

Middle Voices

An interview with Stijn Vanheule

University Bands

Bailey School of Music Concert Programs

Brandon Meeks & Rachel Sorenson, Conductors

Staff Educational Impact On School-Based Mental Health Services: A Scoping Review, Daniel J. Kim, Di'yana Fisher, Laura Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Cne, Fnap

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

            Trends are consistently increasing among adolescents in regard to mental health diagnoses and suicide risks, which emphasizes the necessity for early identification via school-based psychiatric screenings. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) has proven effective in uncovering symptoms of depression; variable application and limited staff knowledge continue to be substantial hurdles. This scoping review examined the influence of staff education and training on the efficacy of school-based psychiatric screening.

Methods

            PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, Elsevier, Google Scholar, and JAMA were utilized to conduct this scoping review. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025 were included if they involved adolescents aged 13-18, …

The Integration Of Mental Health Services Within The Black Church: A Literature Review Of Systematic Inequalities, Stigma, And Culturally Responsive Approaches, Grace N. Wingate

Honors College Theses

Black American Christians in predominantly Black churches often face limited access to adequate mental health resources due to historical mistrust, systemic inequalities, and cultural stigma. These barriers are rooted in longstanding distrust of psychological services, the underrepresentation of Black mental health care professionals, and the high cost and inaccessibility of care. Additionally, stigma within Black Christian communities may discourage individuals from seeking help from mental health professionals, particularly when such care is perceived as conflicting with religious beliefs. Despite these challenges, Black churches remain central and trusted institutions within their communities, positioning them as crucial sites for mental health support. …

Covid Minds: A Thematic Review Of The Pandemic On Neural Mechanisms And Political Polarization, Madison Jeffries

Honors Projects

This paper analyzes how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced political polarization in the United States by examining the interactions between social system disruption, psychological stress, and underlying neurological behaviors. While previous research has extensively discussed pandemic's influence on public health and societal breakdowns, studies fail to examine how these disruptions shaped political divisions. This study synthesizes interdisciplinary literature on pandemic-induced stressors and analyzes factors, including institutional mistrust and social isolation, and how these experiences shape political behavior and perspectives. Applying research from psychology and neuroscience, the paper argues that prolonged exposure to pandemic-related stressors changed neurological and behavioral patterns in response …

Cultivating The Dream In African American Men Through Black Excellence And Success, Sylvia Lawan Branch

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Achieving Black Excellence has been a goal for African American men for several decades; yet this movement has been hindered by social, emotional, and discriminatory life experiences from early childhood through adulthood. Black Excellence has been a phrase used in recent years to highlight achievements for African American men in wealth, mental health, well-being, fatherhood, and academic achievement. The main objective of this dissertation was to define and examine dimensions of Black Excellence among African American men, including elements that contributed to personal fulfillment and broader social impact. To determine recommendations to achieve Black Excellence (Scott, 2017), 10 semistructured interviews …

Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders In The Perioperative Period: A Quality Improvement Project, Brooke Popejoy, Connor Lebsack, Rena Bish

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Student Projects

Background & Significance: Management of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders during the perioperative period presents ongoing ethical and clinical challenges. Variability in provider knowledge and documentation can compromise patient autonomy and safety. Despite institutional policies, such as Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s “Goals of Care Directive,” inconsistent adherence remains common.

Review of Literature Findings: Evidence reveals that limited provider education contributes to uncertainty in managing perioperative DNRs. Studies by Baumann et al. (2017), Chappell et al. (2023), and Crowe and Marsh (2023) support targeted educational interventions to improve provider competence and consistency with national guidelines regarding required reconsideration.

Methods: Preintervention and postintervention surveys will be …

Riding The End-Tidal Wave: Enhancing Nurse Confidence And Clinical Competence On Capnography Waveform Interpretation, Megan Monda, Kirk Wallis, Rachel Zehner

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Student Projects

This quality improvement project addressed inconsistent use of end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) monitoring among nurses in the Cardiac Procedure Center (CPC) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Although capnography detects respiratory compromise earlier than pulse oximetry, limited staff education contributed to variability in waveform interpretation and clinical response. Guided by Kurt Lewin’s Change Model and the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle, four structured one-hour educational sessions were delivered to CPC nurses and supplemented with hands-on practice and visual cognitive aids. Pre-, immediate post-, and two-week post-education surveys evaluated changes in knowledge, confidence, and clinical skill. Mean knowledge scores improved from 65% at baseline to 75% immediately …

Enhancing Anesthesia Clinicians’ Knowledge And Confidence In Prophylactic Antibiotic Selection For Patients Receiving Concomitant Therapeutic Antimicrobials, Nicholas Rangel, Michela Williams, Amber Theisen

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Student Projects

: Background and Review of Literature: Antibiotics are essential for preventing surgical site infections (SSIs), but improper selection can contribute to antimicrobial resistance, increased costs, and patient harm. Studies show that clinical decision support (CDS) tools can improve antibiotic prescribing practices using evidence-based guidelines.  Purpose: This project aimed to integrate a revised CDS tool into the workflow of a anesthesia clinicians at a midwestern academic medical center, incorporating allergy-specific guidelines and antimicrobial substitution recommendations for patients on concomitant therapeutic antimicrobials (CTA) to improve decision-making. Methods: This project used pre- and post-surveys to assess clinicians’ knowledge, confidence, and satisfaction in selecting …

Quality Improvement Project: Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing Education On Staff Perceived Knowledge, Kaonta Spencer

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

A community hospital set strategic goals to achieve Vizient top-decile performance and drive continuous improvement by reducing surgical site infection (SSI) rates. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to support this goal by implementing an evidence-based educational intervention to improve nurses' perceived knowledge and self-reported ability with the chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing protocol for hysterectomy patients. Guided by Lewin's Change Theory, the Iowa Model Revised, and the Iowa Implementation Framework, the educational intervention applied a structured approach to address behavioral and organizational barriers contributing to protocol noncompliance. A quantitative, quasi-experimental pre- and post-intervention design was used to evaluate …

Quality Improvement Project: Improving Interdisciplinary Care In Nursing Education Through Simulation, Anna Williams

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Interprofessional education (IPE) is essential in preparing nursing students for effective teamwork and communication in clinical practice and is supported by the literature as improving these outcomes. However, limited faculty training in interprofessional simulation design contributes to reduced IPE opportunities within nursing curricula. A needs assessment at the project site identified a lack of structured, hands-on training for simulation faculty, resulting in decreased faculty confidence and limited implementation of IPE simulations. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate whether a structured training intervention improved simulation faculty self-efficacy in developing and implementing IPE simulations. Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory guided …

Quality Improvement Project Reducing Attrition Rates In Nursing Students: Evaluating The Enhanced Student Success Program, Jason Grigg

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The high attrition rate in the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) program created an opportunity to develop the enhanced Student Success Program (eSSP). This is a faculty-based quality improvement project designed to increase support for students at risk of withdrawal from the AASN program. The aim of eSSP is to reduce attrition rates, however, this project evaluated only short-term changes in faculty confidence. Using Lewin's Change Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior as a guide, this QI implemented a one-group pre-post experimental design to determine whether a short eSSP training program, combined with a 5-week implementation period, …

Quality Improvement Project : Educating Critical Care Nurses On Braden Scale And Sskin Care Bundle To Impact Pressure Injuries, Andrea Garrett

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) increase patients' risk of infection, prolonged hospitalization, death, and healthcare costs. The Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) has shown that implementing a standardized skin assessment process and a care bundle helps prevent skin injuries. A critical care unit (CCU) at an acute care 339-bed hospital in Southaven, MS, has seen an increase in HAPIs. This quality improvement project aimed to educate CCU nurses about the Braden Scale and the SSKIN care bundle to impact pressure injuries in the CCU within 8 weeks. Education on the Braden Scale and the Skin, Sensory, Keep Moving, Incontinence, …

Quality Improvement Project: Faculty Development For Understanding And Utilization Of Exam Data, Deanne Hutchens

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement project focused on inconsistent use and understanding of exam data among Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) faculty, which can influence teaching decisions and student success. Many nursing faculty enter education with strong clinical backgrounds but limited experience working with exam statistics such as item difficulty, discrimination values, and Kuder-Richardson 20 (KR-20) reliability. Without a consistent approach, exam results may not be fully used to guide remediation or adjust instruction. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project examined whether a structured faculty development session could improve faculty confidence and ability to interpret and apply exam data. A pre- …

Quality Improvement Project: Evaluating The Impact Of Provider Education On Sbirt On Screening For Suds, Faith Ogala

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a serious public health issue in people with psychiatric disorders. However, diagnosis and treatment are often delayed, leading to poor treatment outcomes and increased social and economic costs. The purpose and aim of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to educate providers on the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model to facilitate the timely diagnosis of SUDs in patients with dual diagnoses. The key outcomes were provider knowledge and SBIRT implementation rates. The Donabedian Model of Healthcare Quality assessed the outcomes, whereas Lewin’s Change Model guided implementation. The project employed …

A Functional Nutrition Literature Review For Brain Fog And Adhd-Like Symptoms In Adults, Natalie Elisani Aldahondo-Matos

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and ADHD-like symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating, mental fatigue, and problems with executive functioning, are increasingly recognized in adults. Although medication is commonly used to manage ADHD, there is growing interest in whether nutrition may also play a role in supporting brain function and attention. Several nutrients involved in brain health including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, magnesium, iron, and choline  have been suggested as potential contributors to cognitive performance and attention. However, the research examining the connection between diet and ADHD symptoms is still limited and sometimes shows mixed results.

The purpose of this project was …

Quality Improvement Project Ai-Powered Conversations: Enhancing Nursing Students’ Interview Skills, Judy K. Staley

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Professional communication is an essential skill for nursing students, particularly in job interviews. Deficits in professional communication can negatively impact future employment and accreditation outcomes. Current practices in faculty-led mock interviews can be limited by time constraints and the need for consistent feedback, underscoring the need for a more consistent and effective method supported by current evidence-based literature. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to evaluate whether integrating AI-assisted mock interviews into faculty-led practices influences faculty perceptions of student preparedness. Guided by Kotter’s Change Model and supported by the constructivist framework, the project aimed to enhance the effectiveness …

Thinking With The Feet In The Clinic Of Psychosis, Jed Wilson

Middle Voices

In his later work, Lacan makes occasional reference to the idea of “thinking with the feet.” An equivocal formulation, it first seems to suggest that thought and language can be regarded as physical processes—not occurring in some homunculan disembodied brain or mind, but in the real of the body. Equally, it can call to mind the idea of thinking “on” one’s feet, in the manner of adaptive improvisation. Going further, could we not also say that it points to the possibility of setting something in motion (as in walking, dancing, going somewhere—all the things we do with the feet) as …

Facilitators And Barriers To Engagement In A Virtual Mindfulness Program Among Healthcare Workers, Yu-Ping Chang, Tess Bernardo, Allie Nickel, Linda Steeg

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Purpose: Healthcare professionals experience ongoing stress and burnout from heavy workloads and emotional demands. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has strong evidence for enhancing emotional regulation, resilience, and well-being. Despite its proven benefits, adoption remains limited across individuals and organizations. Identifying key facilitators and barriers is essential for sustainable integration into healthcare practice. This presentation explores healthcare workers’ perceived barriers and facilitators to participating in an eight-week virtual MBSR program.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using individual interviews with healthcare workers who completed the virtual MBSR program delivered by certified trainers aimed at improving workplace resilience. Four trained research staff …

New Nurse Faculty Mentorship: A Quality Improvement Project, Kimberly B. Porter

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The ongoing nursing faculty shortage limits program capacity and makes it harder to retain novice nurse educators transitioning from clinical practice to academia. The literature highlights issues such as insufficient mentorship, role confusion, and a lack of structured support as key factors contributing to early faculty attrition. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to implement and evaluate an evidence-based mentorship program to improve perceptions of mentorship effectiveness among new-to-academia nurse faculty in a School of Nursing in Arkansas. The purpose was to implement and evaluate a mentorship program designed to improve perceptions of mentorship among new-to-academia nurse faculty. The project …

Supporting Advanced Practice Providers (Apps) Through Second Victim Experiences (Sves), Al-Zada Aguilar

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background/Significance: SVEs describe the physiological, psychological, and professional impact experienced by providers involved in near misses, adverse events, and unanticipated patient outcomes.^1-3 Studies estimate that more than half of providers have SVEs and their sequelae at least once in their lifetime, further exacerbated by a lack of institutional support, potentially contributing to burnout, compassion fatigue, and attrition.^1-4 Existing literature addresses SVE in physicians and nurses; even so, the literature is sparse when it comes to APPs, providers positioned between nursing and medical models, often navigating clinical spaces without structured support systems.

Purpose: To develop an evidence-supported, system-level framework …