Digital Commons Network^™

176th Commencement, Fall

Commencement Programs

Commencement program (graduate and undergraduate exercises) for fall 2025

Archivist, Subject Librarian, And Education Faculty Collaboration: Co-Instruction In History Of Education Classes, Laura Cameron, Kara Flynn

Collaborative Librarianship

In many academic libraries, primary source instruction happens in a vacuum, and students don’t always make connections between the skills they learn in a primary source instruction session and skills they may have already learned in information literacy-focused library instruction that they have participated in previous courses. This case study describes the design and objectives of an instructional partnership formed between an Education & Engagement Archivist, Education Librarian, and History of Education professor at a public, four-year university. The Education & Engagement Archivist and Education Librarian worked in tandem to develop interconnected lesson plans, allowing the Education & Engagement Archivist …

2023u_Approved_Lac46_Reconfiguration_Bs-Fashion-Merchandising-And-Marketing, Undergraduate Curriculum Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2023u_Approved_Lac54_Cert-Deletion_Digital-Humanties, Undergraduate Curriculum Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2023u_Approved_Lac31_Emphasis-Deletion_Bfa-Graphic-Design-Digital-Design-Emphasis, Undergraduate Curriculum Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2023u_Approved_Lac30_New-Emphasis_Bfa-Art-Emphasis-Art-History, Undergraduate Curriculum Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

From The Editors, Peter Hoehnle, Carol Medlicott, Joshua Fleer, Heather Van Wormer, Ruth Lambach, Susan Love Brown

Communal Societies

No abstract provided.

Review Of Down In The Chapel: Religious Life In An American Prison, Brad Stoddard

Communal Societies

No abstract provided.

Review Of Thin Description: Ethnography And The African Hebrew Israelites Of Jerusalem, Emily Suzanne Clark

Communal Societies

No abstract provided.

Being The Change: Food, Nonviolence, And Self-Sufficiency In Contemporary Intentional Communities, A. Whitney Stanford

Communal Societies

No abstract provided.

The Coronation Of James J. Strang And The Making Of Beaver Island Mormonism, Christopher James Blythe

Communal Societies

No abstract provided.

Society Of Biblical Literature Honors Ud Religious Studies Scholar, Lauren Mccarty

College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom

A UD religious studies scholar won an international award for a paper regarding gender and sexuality in the Bible.

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 …

A Critical Comparative Analysis Of The Ecclesiologies Of Carl F. H. Henry And James H. Cone Through The Lens Of Social Consciousness: Towards A Liberative Ecclesiology, Phyllis D. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The doctrine of the Church has remained a controversial and enigmatic topic for centuries. Since its inception, scholars have debated the doctrine of the Church, challenged its boundaries, and questioned its role in society. As contemporary society evolves, the Church encounters multifaceted challenges, compelling it to adapt while maintaining its spiritual mission. To address this concern, this study analyzes the ecclesiologies of Carl F. H. Henry and James H. Cone through the lens of social consciousness. A critical comparative analysis provides the most dynamic framework for examining these perspectives. By exploring probable theological points of convergence and divergence, this study …

Kenyon Collegian - December 4, 2025

The Kenyon Collegian

No abstract provided.

Treatment Concerning Grief Disorder After Covid-19: Can Spiritual Care Help?, Tamika Marie Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The phenomenological study described the experiences of spiritual care for adults who lost a loved one due to COVID-19 in Texas. The theory guiding the study was Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy, which was humanity’s search for meaning in a finite world governed by spiritual principles (García-Alandete, 2024; Parker, 2022; Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014). Grief was one of the occurrences that grappled with humanity’s understanding of life. Death was a universal phenomenon, and grief occurred as a response to a loss (Fernández & González-González, 2022). Research shows that symptoms of grief dissipate over time. When it was accompanied by prolonged time or …

In His Own Words? An Argument For Jesus As The Origin Of The Antithesis Formula In Matthew 5:21–48, Michael W. Herbert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explores the origin and authenticity of the antithesis formula, “You have heard that it was said…[OT reference]…but I say to you…,” which appears only in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt 5:21–48). This uniqueness of the antithesis formula contributes to it being one of the most intriguing yet contentious New Testament phrases. As such, there is no scholarly consensus regarding the origin of the antithesis formula. The relevant English language literature presents theories concerning the origin of the antithesis formula that generally conform to form-critical, source-critical, and redaction-critical approaches. However, this literature lacks an extended argument for this formula …

Fall 2025 Student Scholar Symposium Abstract Volume, Chapman University Center For Undergraduate Excellence

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

No abstract provided.

Bridging Machine Learning And Islamic Scholarship: A Study In Hadith Translation And Similarity Analysis, Asiyah R. Speight

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Translation of Islamic religious texts poses unique challenges requiring both linguistic and theological expertise. This study explores the application of neural machine translation (NMT) models to Arabic-English hadith translation while analyzing semantic similarity patterns across different human translations. Using the complete Sahih Bukhari corpus (7,550 hadiths) as the primary dataset, we adopt a dual approach combining transfer learning and comprehensive neural network analysis to demonstrate the critical impact of corpus size on model performance.

First, we fine-tune a pre-trained MarianMT Arabic-English translation model on the full Sahih Bukhari corpus, comparing models trained on 40 hadiths versus 7,550 hadiths. Performance is …

Crafting Playful Data Engagement: Designing Textile-Based Workshops For Participants From Diverse Backgrounds, Chengtian Li, Jianrui Zhao, Xinru Zhu, Chihiro Sato, Kayoko Nohara

IASDR Conference Series

Building on craft’s material, narrative, and embodied dimensions—well established in design research—this study explores how textile-based making can foster playful engagement with personal data. As data practices shift beyond performance-oriented dashboards toward more expressive and situated forms, textile craft offers an alternative mode for materializing data through hands-on interaction. We conducted three workshops with participant groups of varying expertise in craft and data—crochet hobbyists, data-science students, and community organisers—with each workshop employing textile techniques tailored to their backgrounds. Our findings show that participants creatively negotiated material constraints and affordances to engage with their data in ways aligned with the playful …

The Role Of Religion In Ensuring National Security In Kazakhstan, Nurzhan Arystanbekuly Tursin Nur, Mukhan Issakhan, Shamshadin Kerim, Kovalev Dmitriy, Kalimash Begalinova

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article explores the foundations of state policy aimed at ensuring religious stability in Kazakhstan. It analyzes the scientific basis of religious studies, principles of tolerance toward the country’s traditional religions, and the role of religion in maintaining national security. The methodology, goals, and objectives of the study are shaped by the interdisciplinary nature of the subject. The research examines state and interfaith relations, the development of freedom of religion, its integration into domestic and international law, and ways of resolving legal contradictions, traditions, and stereotypes. The theoretical framework relies on the works of domestic and foreign scholars devoted to …

Adventism In The Ukrainian Ssr During The Post-War Period (1946–1952): Structure, Activities, And Relations With The Authorities (A Case Study Of Vinnytsia Region)., Anatoliy A. Voynarovskiy Skiy

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article contributes to the study of Adventism as a Protestant movement and examines its structure, activities, and interactions with Soviet authorities in the Ukrainian SSR during the post-war period (1946–1952). Particular attention is paid to the organizational characteristics and functioning of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (hereinafter SDA), which, among Ukrainian SSR regions, had the largest number of adherents in Vinnytsia region. In the present-day context of Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty, formation of the national church, and protection of religious freedoms for all citizens, particular attention should be paid to understanding the role of religious institutions in the development of …

Religious Communication In Ukraine's Media Space As Factor In The Formation Of Confessional Identity, Oleh Sokolovskyi, Dmytro Garaschuk

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article presents a comprehensive study within religious studies of religious periodicals in Ukraine from the early 1990s to the present. It attempts to analyze the dynamics of the emergence and transformation of printed religious mass media in the context of the democratization of social life, changes in the information environment, and the development of civil society. It is noted that religious periodicals occupy a special place within the media landscape, since they perform not only the function of conveying information but also tasks of catechesis, spiritual-educational ministry, the formation of value orientations, and the preservation of cultural-historical heritage.

The …

Religion And Human Rights In The Realities Of The Russian-Ukrainian War, Andrii Marchenko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of the relationship between religion and human rights in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. It is noted that Russia’s expansion results in a decrease in religious freedom in the temporarily occupied lands, a narrowing of the scope of this fundamental norm. At the same time, the author emphasizes not only the violations of the rights and freedoms of believers in the temporarily occupied territories of the country caused by external factors, but also some internal problems of the socio-religious life of modern Ukraine.The article analyzes the actions of the Ukrainian authorities to …

“Mysterium Tremendum Et Fascinans”: Melian’S And Lúthien’S Numinosity, Alexandra (Oleksandra) Filonenko

Mythopoeic Society Seminar Proceedings

At the heart of all the positive changes in Middle-earth, and at the starting point for undoing the great evil wrought by male characters (divine or otherwise), are two female characters: Melian the Maia and her daughter Lúthien. They form a kind of mythological complex of mother and daughter goddesses, similar to that of Demeter and Persephone. Melian, as a static, maternal figure, forms a sacred centre of Beleriand to which all in need of protection gravitate, while Lúthien, representing a dynamic principle, can be considered the greatest hero of Tolkien’s Legendarium, performing feats unmatched by any male character. Yet …

A Lineage Of Contemporary Jazz Violin, Tsu Hao Kuo

Dissertations

The development of jazz violin has always been multifaceted. Not only has it followed the evolution of jazz, but it has also established its own parallel genres. Since the swing era, the violin no longer remains a top choice for jazz musicians as opposed to early jazz musicians who often doubled on string instruments. Intriguingly, the decline of its popularity in larger ensembles did not inhibit the growth of the jazz violin. Not only did jazz violinists thrive in small jazz ensembles, but its distinct blend with other string music genres also reached styles beyond the common narrative of jazz …

External Funding Bulletin July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025, Office Of Research And Creative Activity, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Sponsored Programs Bulletins

No abstract provided.

Ud In The News Nov. 22-30, University Of Dayton

News Releases

UD President Eric Spina wrote an op-ed for the Dayton Daily News about how international students contribute to our academic, intellectual, economic and cultural vibrancy. Local media also featured UD's Nativity exhibit and new partnership with IBM.

...Of Cabbages And Kings, Fall 2025, Emeriti Society, University Of The Pacific

Emeriti Newsletter: "...Of Cabbages and Kings"

"...Of Cabbages and Kings" is the newsletter of the University of the Pacific Emeriti Society. Read more about the Emeriti Society of Pacific by clicking here.

Identity And Representation In Contemporary Art: An Inclusive 400/500-Level Art History Seminar Course, Laura E. Franz

Theses

This project is an upper-level art history seminar addressing identity and representation – specifically related to race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality – in contemporary art. Primarily a discussion-based course, the course is focused on inclusivity and is highly structured, with weekly low-stakes assignments that provide students with ample opportunities to practice engaging with academic texts. Designed for students with varying levels of academic skills, it is built around current non-academic articles that students select via an online survey. Students then “unpack” the “big ideas” in each of the four chosen non-academic articles via a cluster of academic readings and videos …