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Faculty Authors 2025: University Library, Erin Sheffner

Faculty Authors and Sponsored Grant Recipients Reception Bibliographies

An annotated bibliography compiled by the University Library of the publications featured by the Library Faculty at the annual Faculty Authors and Creators Reception at Governors State University.

Polymorph V. “Stochastic Parrot”, Lin Allen

Communication Studies Faculty Publications

This mock trial script is based on Thaler v. Perlmutter, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, (2025), which upheld the ruling that artificial intelligence cannot be classified as an “inventor”, rendering AI ineligible for copyrighting. The futuristic scenario is based on the case being adjudicated before a fictional court: The Adjudicator of Artificial Intelligence. Plaintiff will be represented by “Polymorph,” aka Stephen Thaler, An Individual Appellant, and Respondent will be represented by “Stochastic Parrot,” aka Shira Perlmutter, in her official capacity as Register of copyrights and Director of the United States Copyright Office and U.S. …

Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention Spring 2025 Newsletter, University Of Northern Iowa. Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention.

Patricia A. Tomson Center for Violence Prevention Newsletter

Contents:

--- Central College Train the Trainers
--- Spring 2025 MVP Train the Trainers
--- MVP Student Leadership Summit
--- Dan Marburger MVP Advocacy Award Ceremony
--- Iowa High School Athletic Association's Conference Connections
--- Oelwein Hearts Diversity Night
--- UNI College of Education's 2025 Social and Emotional Learning Conference
--- Iowa Healthiest State Initiative Conference
--- SAAM Panel Event
--- Tomson Scholars

Csbs Kudos, Spring 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Social And Behavioral Sciences.

CSBS Kudos

Contents:

--- Faculty Accolades
--- CSBS Awards
--- Promotions
--- Retirements: Robert Dise; Carolyn Hildebrandt
--- Scott Peters talks civics education on "Iowa Press"
--- Kelli Snyder receives Iowa Athletic Trainers' Society Educator of the Year Award
--- Nancy Kertz named to 2025 Great Iowa Nurses
--- Bill Henninger receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar award for spring 2025
--- A legacy of leadership
--- UNI Center for Civic Education hosts naturalization ceremony
--- PATCVP hosts inaugural Dan Marburger MVP Advocacy Awards
--- UNI public health students earn top honors at national competition
--- UNI expands access to offer Master’s in History …

Chalmers Library Research Award Winner 2 2025, Chau Vu

Chalmers Library Research Award

No abstract provided.

Chalmers Library Research Award Winner 1 2025, Tasnim Islam Orco

Chalmers Library Research Award

No abstract provided.

Open Educational Resources For A More Just Romanticism, Leila Walker

Publications and Research

Efforts to diversify the field of Romanticism, long overdue, have intensified

recently, and many Romanticist organizations now sponsor programmes

aimed at amplifying Black and Brown voices. Most of these efforts have

focused on content: how to present Romanticism as a global movement

and include non-white authors in our anthologies and syllabi. While these

much-needed changes address some of the field’s traditional blind spots,

they do little to materially benefit our most vulnerable students or to

address the structural barriers that maintain Romanticism’s exclusionary

status quo. Open educational resources, or OERs, are one way to begin

productively transforming the way the …

Expressions 2025, Brody Nicholaisen, Tonya Quinn, Emily Hockett, Lily Christensen, Quinn Harbison, Nate Hochstetler, Thomas Corrigan, Julianna Rosendahl, Nora Ausman

Expressions

This year’s two distinctly different covers were illustrated and designed by Graphic Design students Calvin DeZwaan (cover shown here) and Zack DeFrancisco.

Policing Borders, Abandoning Rights: The Human Cost Of Eu Frontier Policy And Civil Society’S Response, Abena Afriyie

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research examines the human rights consequences of recent shifts in the European Union and Spain’s immigration policies, which increasingly prioritize deterrence, externalization, and securitization over the protection of migrants’ rights. These policies, often framed as measures to combat irregular migration, have included the outsourcing of border control to third countries, such as Libya and Morocco, as well as the criminalization of humanitarian organizations engaged in search and rescue operations. By outsourcing border control to third countries, these policies exacerbate misinformation and anti-immigration sentiment while pushing asylum seekers into perilous transit routes fraught with abuse. Such strategies push migrants into …

Understanding Populism In Spain: Root Causes, Political Impacts, And Containment Strategies, Yuliu Huang

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper investigates the rise of populism in Spain, examining its root causes, political consequences, and potential strategies for democratic resilience. Spain presents a unique case of simultaneous left-wing and right-wing populist surges, embodied by the Podemos and V ox parties, respectively. Through a mixed-methods approach that includes a literature review and semi-structured interviews, the paper identifies economic inequality, political corruption, and cultural anxieties as the primary drivers of populist sentiment. It analyzes how these movements have reshaped Spain’s political landscape, such as dismantling the PSOE and PP duopoly in parliament, altering public policy priorities, and exacerbating political polarization. The …

Maude Valérie White During The British Musical Renaissance, Hannah Kelley

HON 399 Study Abroad Posters

Despite the societal and professional constraints placed on female composers during the British Musical Renaissance, Maude Valérie White navigated these challenges by adapting her compositions to commercial expectations while maintaining artistic integrity.

Louis Wain And The Popularization Of House Cats In England, Madison Fama

HON 399 Study Abroad Posters

Louis Wain (1860-1939) was a British artist who changed the public's perspective of house cats. Wain was an incredibly talented artist who attended the prestigious West London School of Art and went into work as an illustrator. In 1884, he married a woman named Elizabeth Richardson and together they had a house cat named Peter. However, Elizabeth developed breast cancer and passed away shortly after their wedding. In her sickness, Wain drew pictures of Peter to raise her spirits. He used Peter as a muse after her passing, and his art of cats quickly got incredibly popular. Wain illustrated his …

Katherine Parr: More Than Just The One Who Survived, Ashton Lucky

HON 399 Study Abroad Posters

Katherine Parr is often remembered merely as the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII, known for being the one to survive the infamous monarch. Yet, condensing her legacy to this one role overlooks her impact on our history. Parr was a devoted scholar, profound author, beloved stepmother, advocate for education, and avid Protestant reformer. Her contributions, rooted in her beliefs, make it clear that she is perhaps one of the most influential queens in history.

Sylvanian Families And Cultural Storytelling: A Cross-Cultural Analysis Of Toys As Educators, Karlie Sikorski

HON 399 Study Abroad Posters

Sylvanian Families toys serve as cultural educators, reflecting and reinforcing societal values through culturally specific playsets in the UK and Japan.

Traumatic Brain Injury Prevention Through Helmet Safety Education For Parents And Free Helmets For Elementary-Aged School Children, Kelli E. Camp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Problem Description: Head injuries from bicycle accidents are a leading cause of emergency visits among elementary-aged children, particularly in rural areas (Safe Kids Worldwide, 2017). Helmets significantly reduce traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) up to 88% (Field Neurosciences Institute, n.d.). However, low-income families, especially in rural areas, often lack access to helmets and safety education, resulting in lower helmet use and higher injury rates. These challenges are amplified in communities facing high traffic injury rates, limited access to safety resources, and economic constraints (Gilna et al., 2022; World Health Organization, 2023).

Setting: This project took place in Othello, WA (pop. 8,915), …

Grand Valley Magazine, Vol. 24, No. 2, Spring 2025, Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley Magazine

Grand Valley Magazine is a quarterly publication about Grand Valley State University produced by University Communications since 2001.

Ica Newsletter, Spring 2025, Iowa Communication Association

ICA Newsletter

Contents:

--- President's Note
--- 2025 ICA Conference
--- G. Jon Hall Panel Call: AI in Research
--- Westphal Student Paper Call - 2025
--- Call for Outstanding Adjunct Teacher Award
--- Call for Outstanding New Teacher Award
--- Inaugural ICA Book Club
--- 2025 Call for Submissions
--- ICA Board

The Unique Advantages And Disadvantages Of Film Production In The Rural Southeast, Brayden Shouse

Honors Theses

This article aims at uncovering the unique advantages and disadvantages to film production in the rural southeast. It does this in two ways: by conducting interviews with film production professions who have experience with film production in the rural south and by looking at outside sources of information related to the topic. This article then connects the two and finds that many of the outside sources strengthen the claims and opinions made by the film professionals. Some of the claims made by these professionals with backing by outside sources include: stereotypes about the rural south are prevalent in films and …

The Lara Croft Effect: The Sexualization Of Women In Video Games And Its Impact On Violence Against Women, Madeline G. Bowen

Honors Theses

Abstract

While violence against women is frequently associated with pornography consumption, this study expands the conversation by examining the broader media landscape, specifically, the impact of sexualized portrayals of women in video games. As gaming becomes increasingly mainstream, young audiences are routinely exposed to hypersexualized content that may shape attitudes toward gender and sexuality. This research investigates the relationship between the consumption of sexualized video game content and pornography use, as well as their combined influence on attitudes toward women and gender-based violence. Utilizing a survey distributed through online forums, gaming communities, and flyers at Eastern Kentucky University, the study …

Navigating Peril: The Impact Of Modern-Day Somali Piracy On Global Shipping Industries, Rachel A. Morton

Honors Theses

This thesis addresses the issue of modern-day Somali piracy and the impacts it has had on the global shipping industry. As a persisting problem in the 21st century, piracy has had dramatic effects on the global economy, with billions of dollars being spent in reaction to the crisis. Piracy has become a resurging problem in recent years, and it is essential to understand the logistical and financial implications of piracy in the past so that the problem does not persist.

Piracy in Somalia, is ultimately a result of state failure, demonstrated by the lack of government effectiveness and scarce employment …

Delulu Is The Solulu: The Role Of Social Media In The Spread Of Misinformation About Autism Spectrum Disorder, Shelby L. Collett

Honors Theses

Social media has become a platform many use to connect with others and to learn and spread new information. However, concerns have been raised regarding the general population’s media literacy skills. These concerns have only grown as more and more people use social media to share information about mental and neurodevelopmental disorders that may not be entirely true. As misinformation regarding mental disorders has grown, as has self-diagnosis rates, particularly for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Little research exists on how adept college students are at discerning between accurate and inaccurate information, especially when it comes to ASD. The purpose of …

The Weight Of Feeding The World: Stress In Kentucky Farmers, Natalie Tolle

Honors Theses

Agriculture work (farming, fishing, and forestry) is one of the most stressful jobs, with one of the highest suicide rates among all major job occupation groups. The stress that farmers face is often out of their control, stemming mainly from weather and financial concerns. This topic has been researched extensively in many countries around the world, however, research and literature are lacking in the United States, and specifically in the state of Kentucky. This study aimed to investigate the stress that Kentucky farmers face, how they cope with that stress, if it impacts their mental health, and how social support …

“Left, Right, Your Left”: Marching Towards Equality In The U. S. Army, Zachary C. Creekmore

Honors Theses

The United States Army has transformed from a force shaped by exclusion to one striving for inclusion. This thesis explores the Army’s ongoing journey toward equality, focusing on how historically marginalized groups—such as racial minorities, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals—have fought for and gained the right to serve. It examines the impact of these changes on the Army’s structure, culture, and institutional identity.

Guided by four core questions, the research investigates: How have protected groups gained equality, and how has that affected the Army? Are all soldiers treated fairly under current policies? Should individuals once disqualified for mental health conditions be …

The Evolution Of Ems: Chauffeur To Clinician, Allie L. Lamb

Honors Theses

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are young and developing. These agencies provide pre-hospital care to individuals in communities across the United States. Despite their prevalence, research on EMS and its history is lacking. This study tracks the evolution of EMS in the United States by outlining its history, investigating major events during its life span, identifying major positive or negative influencing factors on its evolution, and conducting a survey to analyze the thoughts of the modern provider. The outline of the evolution of EMS exemplifies the evolution of the provider, which leads to the primary question. Are EMS providers clinicians? The …

I Lost My Grandmother’S Hanbok: A Thematic Series Of Paintings Exploring Of The Loss Of Culture In A Mixed-Race Korean American Home, Cadance G. Thompson

Honors Theses

Mixed-race individuals feel conflicted at their place in American society. They fit in with their cultural heritage, but also their American heritage. This creates a split where they may identify more with one or the other. This may be due to the lack of diversity where they live, the desire to fit in, or lack of participating in their own culture. This series of paintings explores the self-identification of me, a mixed-race Korean and White woman from Appalachia. The acrylic paintings explore themes of self-identification and cultural heritage with the goal of determining which group I identify with more. The …

Traditions And Transitions: Intergenerational Family Relationships And Gender Roles In Appalachian Families, Abigail L. Belcher

Honors Theses

For hundreds of years the people of the Appalachian Mountains have come under scrutiny for their “backwards” and “outdated” customs. Often seen as inferior by the wider world, much nuance of Appalachian culture is overlooked and reduced to harmful stereotypes. Terms such as “hillbilly” or “redneck” serve to single out and label the people of Appalachia as “other.” Recent scholarship has taken to try and work around such stereotypes yet often fails to observe Appalachia through the eyes of its people, not generalized statistics. The practice of conducting and collecting Oral History serves to situate a select group of people’s …

Processing In Purgatory: The Hero’S Journey And Narrative Game Design, Margaret L. Abner

Honors Theses

Due to how young the game industry is, clear guidelines for how narrative game design should be structured have not yet been formed. This paper delves into the idea of the Hero’s Journey, a classic premise within storytelling and how it does and does not work when applied to the video game format. To help research this idea, I created a narrative heavy video game called Processing in Purgatory as a part of my thesis and used it as an example while exploring each step of the Hero’s Journey. What becomes clear is that video games have two separate hero’s …

Taking Advantage Of Rural Families: How The Opioid Epidemic Targeted Appalachian Communities, Dominic C. Acciardo

Honors Theses

Since the opioid epidemic began in the 1990s, it has caused over 500,000 deaths and left thousands more with lifelong addiction struggles, but this tragedy was not evenly distributed throughout the US. The damage caused by the opioid epidemic was specifically felt in Appalachia and other rural regions like it. This thesis describes the factors present in both the Appalachian community and the opioid epidemic that resulted in this crisis being so devastating to the region. The reliance on labor-intensive blue-collar work, close family bonds, and the high presence of poverty in the region made it a sought-after target of …

Creatine Supplementation Is Safe, Beneficial Throughout The Lifespan, And Should Not Be Restricted, Richard Kreider, Andrew Jagim, Jose Antonio, Douglas Kalman, Chad Kerksick, Jeffrey R. Stout, Robert Wildman, Rick Collins, Diego A. Bonilla

Faculty Scholarship

As researchers investigating creatine supplementation, we have become increasingly concerned about reports that government agencies are attempting to restrict the sale of dietary supplements, including dietary supplements containing creatine, to children and adolescents. Creatine is a naturally occurring compound found in every cell in the human body that plays a critical role in cellular metabolism. The daily turnover of creatine is about 2–4 grams/day, depending on muscle mass and physical activity levels (1, 2). About half of the daily need for creatine is synthesized in the body from amino acids (arginine, glycine, methionine) and stored as free creatine or phosphocreatine …

Strong Democracies Need Reliable Citations, Margie Alsbrook

Articles

Legal systems must hold the trust of citizens in order for democracies to survive. Unfortunately, the American legal system is suffering from an unprecedented credibility crisis. Analyses of the roots of this problem have largely focused on political causes, with blame going to an array of issues ranging from the partisan nature of the judicial appointment process to the lack of ethical oversight for judges with lifetime appointments to the bench.

Thus far, scholarly articles analyzing the modern erosion of precedent have generally examined precedent from political or subject-matter-specific perspectives. This Article takes a more universal approach by discussing the …