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Southern Adventist University Commencement Winter 2025, Southern Adventist University

Commencement Programs

Program for Southern Adventist University Winter 2025 graduation. The commencement service took place on December 18, 2025 at 7 pm in Iles Physical Education Center.

Transforming Shrm; Applying The Kotter Method To Niu Shrm, Hunter J. Egelhoff

Honors Capstones

This capstone project examines how Northern Illinois University’s Society for Human Resource Management transformed its organizational structure and programming to better prepare students for today’s competitive job market. With workforce demands shifting toward practical experience, employer expectations have exceeded what traditional classroom education alone provides, creating a growing gap between student readiness and career requirements. To address this disconnect, NIU SHRM applied Kotter’s Eight-Step Change Model to restructure leadership roles, integrate experience-based learning, and enhance student engagement through workshops, partnerships, and leadership development opportunities. This change initiative resulted in increased visibility, participation, and measurable short-term successes that now serve as …

Housing Burden And Insurance Expenditures, Melanie M. Lytell

Honors Capstones

Housing costs shape the way families spend on protection and security. This study looks at how the share of income devoted to housing, the housing burden, influences household spending on four types of insurance: vehicle, life, personal, and health. Using data from nearly 92,000 households and regression models that account for state differences, I find that even small increases in housing burden shift insurance choices in meaningful ways. A one‑percentage‑point rise in housing burden is linked to a 2.1% increase in vehicle insurance spending and a 0.5% increase in life insurance, but a 0.7% decrease in personal insurance and a …

Investigating Factors That Affect Total Ige Antibody Levels Of A Canine Population In Louisville, Ky, Iris N. Gillespie

Undergraduate Theses

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a genetically predisposed condition that causes inflammatory and pruritic (itchy) skin reactions in response to environmental and food allergens. The main purpose of this study is to determine if there is a correlation between pollen counts and total canine IgE antibody levels of dogs living in Louisville, KY. Additionally, data is analyzed to look for trends documented in previous studies related to the impacts of sex, age, and allergic symptoms on total IgE count. In collaboration with the Downtown Animal Hospital, blood samples were drawn from 16 dogs at one point in February (when pollen …

The Heart Of Leadership: What Is The Importance Of Emotional Intelligence In Leadership?, Catherine E. Lee

M.S. in Leadership

Emotional intelligence is a concept that has been gaining traction in recent decades, and organizations have been trying to assess its place within leadership and training. Previous research on this topic has shown the growing importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace, with particular attention to employee retention and satisfaction. By using a mixed methods approach to understand the importance of emotional intelligence (EI), this paper explores the specific components of EI employees look for in an organization and a leader. Using a survey of almost one hundred respondents and six in-depth interviews, EI was determined to have a significant …

Improving Communication To Enhance Health Literacy And Self-Management Of Heart Failure: Protocol For A Multimethod Study, Neda Karimi, Francesco De Toni, Walter Abhayaratna, Blake Askelin, Philip Currie, Karol Edge, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Elizabeth Fewster, Liza Goncharov, Nisha Jijo, Susy Macqueen, Nilufeur Mckay, Suzanne Raine, Amineh Rashidi, Christopher Rouen, Rosemary Saunders, Peter Schulz, Rhea Tecson, Diana Slade

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction Self-care plays a pivotal role in the management of heart failure (HF). Health literacy and empowerment are considered the prerequisites of effective self-care. This project aims to improve self-management in people with HF by describing, analysing and enhancing the communication practices of clinicians and patients to support people with HF to increase their health literacy skills and participate in shared decision-making. Methods and analysis A multimethod research design incorporating an interview component, a concurrent mixed-methods component and a pilot intervention study is used. The study is currently being conducted at two Australian hospitals in metropolitan areas (one public and …

Health-Related Quality Of Life In The Era Of Immune Checkpoint Blockade: What Do Patient-Reported Outcomes Reveal?, Alexandra M Dunker, Neha Malik, Kathryn J Krause, Emily Z Keung, Jason B Liu, Elise F Nassif Haddad, Neeta Somaiah, Heather G Lyu, Christina L Roland

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment by providing durable survival gains, but understanding their effects on patient health-related quality of life (HRQL) is critical.

Methods: We performed a narrative review of cross-sectional surveys, early-phase trials, and large-scale phase II and III randomized controlled clinical trials assessing FDA-approved ICIs, including programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors, programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, with emphasis on patient-reported HRQL. Validated HRQL instruments were summarized, and for pivotal trials, the positioning of HRQL outcomes as primary, secondary, or exploratory endpoints was taken …

Economics Of The Olympics: Impact Of Bidding For And Hosting The Olympic Games On International Openness, Adalynn Cherry

Pennsylvania Economic Review

This study investigates how hosting and unsuccessfully bidding to host the Olympic Games impacts total international trade and influences a country’s openness. This relationship is analyzed using the gravity model of trade to perform a regression analysis of total trade levels from 2000 to 2018. The results of this study did not support the idea that hosting the Olympic Games impacts total trade; although, they did show a strong and permanent positive relationship between unsuccessfully bidding to host the Olympic Games and total international trade. These findings highlight the benefits of the Olympic bidding and candidature process as a policy …

The Safety Kuznets Curve: Context In Occupational Safety, Andy Knickerbocker

ASEM Capstones

2025 ASEM 620 Capstone Project

Closeness, Conflict, And Achievement: The Role Of Parent–Child Relationships In Homeschooled And Public-Schooled Children, Celeste Gonçalves Tomaz

Honors Capstones

The parent–child relationship has been found to be a predictor of children’s academic and socio-emotional outcomes, with parent-child closeness linked to motivation and persistence (Mo & Singh, 2008; Silinskas & Kikas, 2022) and parent-child conflict associated with emotional and behavioral difficulties (Dotterer et al., 2008; Pinquart, 2017). The homeschooling context may increase these associations since children spend more time with their parents, who have caregiving and instructional roles (Padilla, 2021; Thomas, 2016). Even with growing research on academic and socio-emotional outcomes, few studies have examined whether the strength of the parent–child relationship is influenced negatively or positively by schooling type. …

Ract: Ranking-Aware Chain-Of-Thought Optimization For Llms, Haowei Liu, Xuyang Wu, Guohao Sun, Hsin-Tai Wu, Zhiqiang Tao, Yi Fang

Computer Science and Engineering

In information retrieval, large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated remarkable potential in text reranking tasks by leveraging their sophisticated natural language understanding and advanced reasoning capabilities. However, conventional supervised fine-tuning approaches for specializing LLMs in ranking tasks often lead to significant degradation of the models' general-purpose abilities. To address this fundamental challenge, this paper presents a novel methodology that strategically combines Chain-of-Thought (CoT) prompting techniques with an innovative two-stage training pipeline consisting of Supervised Fine-Tuning followed by Ranking Preference Optimization (SFT-RPO). The Chain-of-Thought prompting component encourages models to explicitly articulate their reasoning process during ranking decisions, creating a transparent pathway …

Changing Opinions: The Supreme Court After Dobbs, Lora E. Judge

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Reception Of Neurodiversity Represented Within Netflix’S Wednesday, Anna Stevens

Graduate Theses & Dissertations

This paper explores how neurodiversity is represented through popular media - particularly Netflix's show Wednesday - and aims to discuss the effects this representation could have in regards to how it's received by the public, as well as those who are neurodiverse.

Factors Associated With Medication Adherence And Systolic And Diastolic Blood Pressure Of Hypertensive Patients, Hamka Ziddan, Meity Ardiana, Linda Dewanti, Anudya Kartika Ratri

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Uncontrolled hypertension can cause complications such as heart disease, brain disease, kidney disease, and other diseases. Medication adherence is a primary factor in controlling blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients. This study aims to provide an overview of the factors associated with medication adherence of hypertensive patients treated at Taman Public Health Center in Sidoarjo, Indonesia. This study used a cross-sectional approach involving hypertensive patients. This study employed consecutive sampling, with the number of samples comprised of patients undergoing outpatient care from January 2, 2023, to February 25, 2023, totaling 103 respondents. The study employed the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale …

How Risk Factors Significantly Affect The Incidence Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Tarus, Kupang, I Made Subhawa Harsa, Prisilia Christin Velisites Masneno, Eva Diah Setijowati, Andra Agnez Al Aska

Folia Medica Indonesiana

The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is influenced by both unmodifiable factors, such as age, family history, education, and employment status, as well as modifiable factors, including obesity, diet, physical activity, and smoking habits. Researchers have recognized the necessity of research on risk factors for T2DM across various regions. However, the findings have been inconsistent. The absence of research on risk factors for T2DM in some regions has necessitated the conduct of studies in these areas, particularly in primary health care facilities such as Community Health Centers (\textit{Puskesmas}). This study aims to control the risk factors that contribute …

Operationalizing Flourishing In Bsn Nursing Education: A Cipp- Driven Strategy, Kennedy E. Hochstedler, Elizabeth Morse

DNP Projects

Operationalizing Flourishing in BSN Nursing Education: A CIPP- Driven Strategy

Double Burden Stress In Women And The Role Of Psycho-Religious Worship In Alleviating It, Fahmi Mandala Putra, Zata Ismah, Rizky Indah Syahfitri, Citra Cahyati Nasution, Az-Zahra Atika Putri, Fitria Amirah, Tri Amelia Rahmitha Helmi

Folia Medica Indonesiana

It has been recognized that women are twice as likely to experience depression compared to men. In addition to biological vulnerability, there is also a combined effect of bearing the burden of household responsibilities while contributing financially through employment. One coping strategy that helps women endure these challenges is meditation, which in Islam includes the practice of dhikr (remembrance of God). This study aims to analyze the phenomenon of double burden stress in women and how psychoreligious practices can help reduce stress levels. The study employed a prospective cohort design, tracking the respondents' dhikr habits over a 21-day period. On …

Innovative Offshore Transition-To-Practice Model For International Nurses Using Tele-Simulation, Lisa Mceathron, Christian Striggow, Jose Arnold Tariga

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Empirical evidence underscores the importance of optimal nurse staffing in delivering high-quality patient care, improving outcomes, and enhancing nurse well-being. Internationally educated nurses (IENs) play a crucial role in addressing staffing shortages in the United States, yet they face challenges in bridging gaps between varying international nursing standards and US healthcare practices. Innovative approaches are essential to ensure their readiness to integrate effectively prior to arrival.

The International Transition to Practice Program leverages tele-simulation as a pioneering strategy to address these challenges, providing an offshore, immersive learning experience for IENs. This program was implemented from July 2023 to September 2024, …

A Mobile Meditation Application To Impact Nursing And Nursing Student Stress, Lisa Corry

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Nurses care for all members of the community and are expected to be representatives of good health. They often place the needs of their patients before their own while they are faced with a variety of stressful situations and working environments (Linton & Koonmen, 2020). Nurses experience high levels of stress which can have negative effects on an individual. Over time, untreated stress for nurses may lead to burnout or compassion fatigue which has been associated with poor patient outcomes, decreased patient satisfaction, and high attrition rates (Bonamer & Aquino-Russel, 2019). This can result in increased costs related to callouts, …

Elm: The Case Of Experiential Programming, Matthew Miller, Lynette Campogiani

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

Experiential Programs (EPs) provide immersive, destination-focused experiences within luxury resort settings. However, research has yet to apply the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) to examine how guests evaluate their experiences with EPs, particularly within luxury tourism or resort contexts. Using the ELM framework, this study examined how the experience of luxury resort EPs influences guests’ revisit intentions. Guests’ experiences were categorized into central and peripheral processing cues and qualitative interview responses were analyzed. The findings indicate that elements such as ambient music and scenic views associated with peripheral processing had a significantly stronger positive impact on guests’ intentions to return than …

Islamic Prophetic Counseling: An Intervention Strategy In Developing Students' Noble Character, Hardi Santosa, Ahmad Zaki Annafiri, Iin Inawati, Akhmad Fajar Prasetya, Muhammad Sabri Bin Sahrir

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

This study aims to test the effectiveness of Islamic prophetic counseling in developing students' noble morals. The research method uses a true experiment involving a control group. The selection of the control group uses the waiting-list control group model, with consideration of the ethical aspects of the study. The research sample involved 244 students captured the profile of noble morals and their spiritual activism. While the hypothesis test involved 50 students who were divided into control and experimental groups. The sample selection was carried out randomly with the random assignment technique. The research data were collected using a noble moral …

Bloom: A Low-Cost, Open-Source, Companion Social Robot, Deekshita Senthil Kumar, Sebastian Ramirez-Vallejo, Xiangfei Kong, Zhao Han

Bellini College REU Symposium (BCREUS)

The rapid growth of the aging population has increased rates of loneliness, depression, and cognitive decline among older adults, particularly those living alone or with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Socially assistive robots such as Paro have demonstrated therapeutic and emotional benefits; however, existing systems remain costly and inaccessible. This project introduces Bloom, a low-cost, physically interactive social robot designed to provide emotional companionship and cognitive engagement.

Built on a Raspberry Pi 5 platform and inspired by the open-source Blossom robot, Bloom features a durable 3D-printed hard-shell design with motor-driven expressive movements that support tactile interaction. The system integrates …

Trauma-Informed Leaders: Shifting The Paradigm Of Professional Suicide Prevention, Janina Cich

Forensic Scholars Today

Trauma-informed Leaders: Shifting the Paradigm of Professional Suicide Prevention highlights how trauma-informed leadership can transform suicide prevention in law enforcement and other high-stress helping professions. Reflecting on current suicide data and first-responder research, the article outlines early warning signs, intervention strategies, and organizational wellness practices that drive agencies from reactive crisis response to proactive, culturally responsive care. Practical recommendations include leader-supported peer teams, sleep and micro-break interventions, and resilience-focused supports that foster psychological safety, reduce stigma, and normalize help‑seeking across the organization.

Forensic Neuroscience: A Brief Introduction, Jerrod Brown

Forensic Scholars Today

Forensic neuroscience is an emerging, multidisciplinary field that applies brain science to forensic mental health, criminal justice, and legal decision-making. This article summarizes how neuroscience can inform assessments, evaluations of criminal responsibility, case planning, treatment, and prevention for justice-involved populations, highlighting complementary disciplines and the need for ethical guidance, replication of findings, and specialized education before broad adoption in legal settings.

Artificial Minds, Alien Experiences: Navigating The Uncharted Territory Of Ai Phenomenology, Kevin H. Smith

University of Memphis Law Review

This Article advocates for a fundamental shift in the way artificial intelligence (“AI”) consciousness is evaluated, moving beyond anthropocentric models that rely on human cognitive benchmarks. Traditional tests, such as the Turing Test, assume that human-like behavior is the ultimate criterion for consciousness, overlooking the possibility of novel, non-human modes of consciousness. Instead, this Article proposes a multi-dimensional framework that assesses AI systems based on their unique architectures and cognitive processes. By combining dimensions such as information integration, autonomous goal-pursuit, metacognitive self-modeling, affective motivation, social communication, counterfactual simulation, imaginative reasoning, and causal modeling, this framework provides a comprehensive and empirically …

Clearing The Legal Fog: Navigating Conflicting Interpretations Of The Speedy Trial Act And The Insanity Defense Reform Act For Mentally Incompetent Defendants, Bridgette Mcinroe

University of Memphis Law Review

Jane, a 32-year-old individual, is facing federal criminal charges for an alleged white-collar offense that has a maximum punishment of one year in prison. On March 1, 2019, the court decides to assess Jane’s mental competency to stand trial due to concerns raised in the initial proceedings. The court, relying on the standards set forth by the United States Supreme Court,1 initiates a hearing to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to warrant a mental competency evaluation. After the competency hearing, the court concludes that there is a need for such a mental evaluation. Jane is then sent for an initial …

The Restatement Of Torts And Recovery For Loss Of The Human-Pet Bond Aftern An Intentional Tort, Merle H. Weiner

University of Memphis Law Review

Owners1 of pets2 are often unable to recover for the loss of the human-pet bond when their pets are tortiously injured or killed. However, empirical research confirms the owners may experience the loss as real harm.3 Pets have an especially important role in a “stressful and frenetic” world characterized by unstable family relationships.4 Indeed, a 2015 Harris Poll found that 95% of American dog and cat owners regard their pets as family members.5 This Article seeks to explain why some courts refuse to allow recovery for loss of the human-pet bond even in cases involving intentional torts, such as conversion …

Impact Of Test Conditions And Demographic Variables On Response Patterns In The Sdi-R 4.0, Cyrus R. Williams Iii, Kyle Lincoln, Robert D. Loper

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

This study investigates the impact of demographic variables and test conditions on response patterns within the Sexual Dependency Inventory-Revised (SDI-R 4.0), specifically focusing on their predictive value for high inconsistency, high exaggeration, and low underreporting scores. Employing logistic regression analyses on data from 2,212 participants, the findings reveal that pre-test delay time, age, and gender significantly influence these outcomes. These insights underscore the necessity for uniform testing conditions for the SDI-R 4.0 and the incorporation of demographic considerations in the interpretation of this and other sexual dependency assessments.

Keywords: Sexual Dependency Inventory, test conditions, demographic factors, test response patterns

The Connection Between Infidelity And Ptsd, Marissa Anderson

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

This literature review addresses infidelity and the current limitations of treatment approaches due to incongruences in definitions and clinical acknowledgment. Infidelity, as a phenomenon, is poorly understood due to varying morals, experiences, religious and cultural influences that alter personal and relational constructs and expectations specific to infidelity. One commonality among those who experience infidelity is the lingering traumatic impact due to the violation of personal and societal convictions observed by the betrayal of trust, loyalty, commitment, self-worth, power imbalances, and religious beliefs. However, current literature and approaches to infidelity fail to address the traumatic impact of discovering infidelity within a …

Individuals And Couples With Infertility: Quality Of Life, Relationship Satisfaction, Resilience, Depression, And Shame, Niko C. Wilson, Sejal Barden

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

This study examined the relationship between fertility-related quality of life, relationship satisfaction, resilience, depression, and shame in individuals and couples with infertility (N = 556). Using structural equation modeling (SEM) and the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM), the study assessed gender covariates and dyadic influences in couples (n = 52). SEM results showed fertility-related quality of life impacted resilience, depression, and shame, while its relational aspect influenced relationship satisfaction. APIM identified partner effects on relationship satisfaction and shame. Findings provide insights for counseling practices, promoting relationship well-being in couples facing infertility.