Digital Commons Network^™

Graduate School Blog - September 2025 Volume 2, Cynthia Haynes, Cynthia Haynes

UofM Grad School Blog

In this September Blog volume 2, The University of Memphis graduate certificates provide a flexible, efficient, and affordable pathway for career growth, allowing students to gain specialized skills in as little as 18 months without committing to a full degree. With over 70 programs many offered online or in the evenings students can bridge the gap between knowledge and practice in fields such as Clinical Social Work, Play Therapy, Museum Studies, and Population Health. These four-course programs deliver immediate workplace value while keeping the option open for further graduate study. Highlighted by student experiences like Andrew Hashimura’s in College and …

Information Literacy Within And Beyond The Academy: Connecting The Framework To Social Work’S Accreditation Standards And Professional Code Of Ethics, Stephen Maher, Yali Feng, Olivia Given Castello, Carin Graves, Sarah C. Johnson

Staff Scholarship

In 2018, the Education and Behavioral Sciences Section (EBSS) Social Work Committee (the committee) began drafting its companion document to the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. It responded to the ACRL Information Literacy Frameworks and Standards Committee’s charge to utilize the Framework in context with the education standards, goals, and competencies within their respective disciplines by highlighting synergies between the Framework and the accreditation standards associated with social work schools and programs in the United States. The committee would also choose to connect the Framework to social work’s professional Code of Ethics in an attempt to …

Brownsville Taught Me: Reframing The Public Memory Of Brownsville’S History, Amyleth J. Vargas

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Brownsville is a small neighborhood in eastern Brooklyn, New York, with a rich activist past. Community leaders and organizers have used the tenets of urban education, Black history, grassroots organizing, and community planning as the bases of their struggles for the expansion of justice and equality for Brownsville residents. This thesis discusses Brownsville’s rich history of activism. I use autoethnography, archival materials, and the theoretical framework of public memory to explore this rich history. The recovered stories about Brownsville that I recount here are designed to dispel misrepresentations of the community that have shaped the public memory of Brownsville. In …

Disability Theatre Communities: Engaging Artists And Audiences In Contemporary International Performance, Joseph Paul Hill

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

“Disability Theatre Communities” examines how communities are constructed in, through, and around contemporary international disability theatre performances. It explores ideas of community formation and intersection across three case studies to elucidate the various ways in which disability theatre artists, productions, companies, and organizations attract, engage, and educate variable artist and audience communities. The project analyzes Rome, Italy’s Teatro Patologico and its Integrated Theatre of Emotion, a theatrical training program for neurodivergent performers; Wales-based writer, theatre-maker, and dramaturg Kaite O’Reilly, whose international collaborations center d/Deaf and disabled performers and foreground audience accessibility; and the biennial BIT (Blind in Theatre) International Festival …

Development Of The Negative Attitudes Toward Nonbinary Individuals Scale, Jenna Sue Lehmann

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Research within the field of psychology examining the experiences of transgender individuals and prejudice toward transgender individuals has increased in recent history alongside the conscious awareness of transgender individuals within the United States. The research that has been conducted has primarily focused on transgender individuals broadly as a group on binary transgender individuals. As, such measures of prejudice toward these groups have been developed and validated. Although the study of nonbinary experiences and prejudice is developing, there has been no extant measure of prejudice toward nonbinary individuals specifically. A measure of prejudice toward this group is needed to (1) examine …

The Impact Of Supervisor Cultural Humility On The Supervisory Working Alliance Among International Trainees, Fanchen Gao

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Supervisor cultural humility has been theorized to contribute to stronger supervisory working alliances (SWA), yet limited research has examined its role within multicultural contexts involving international trainees. Guided by the Multicultural Orientation framework, this study explored whether supervisors’ cultural humility predicted the quality of the supervisory working alliance, whether the relationship differed based on participant role (supervisor or trainee), and whether international trainees’ cultural backgrounds influenced their perceptions of the SWA. The sample included 72 participants from counseling and psychology training programs in the United States, consisting of international trainees and clinical supervisors. Participants completed an online survey assessing cultural …

Stand For Support, Shatter The Silence: Administrative Approaches To Eradicate Bullying In Higher Education, Elaine M. Mora, Shawn P. Saladin

Journal of Research Initiatives

Bullying in higher education has become a widespread and complex issue that affects staff, faculty, and students worldwide, causing a detrimental impact on both psychological health and academic achievement. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the phenomenon, encompassing all its manifestations, underlying causes, and significant consequences. The study, which draws on academic literature, outlines the various forms of bullying, including cyberbullying, mobbing, microaggressions, and social exclusion, and highlights the adverse effects these behaviors have on both individuals and academic communities. The research emphasizes how critical it is to comprehend the power relationships that exist in higher education settings and …

Me, Myself, And Others: Emphasizing Identity Through Social-Emotional Learning As A Contributor To Adolescent Development, Marie Hall

Journal of Research Initiatives

Adolescence is a remarkable developmental period where figuring out who you are can feel essential. Relationships and sense of self are at the forefront during this period, as establishing a sense of connection can lead to positive social experiences that contribute to a myriad of benefits, ultimately facilitating positive life outcomes. School is often a central location for engagement, where relationships and a sense of self are explored, thereby serving as a primary social structure for youth. While adverse outcomes have been identified through this developmental period, school-based interventions that promote positive identity development and social connection have begun to …

How Graduates Of Color Developed Marketable Skills As On-Campus Student Employees, Christopher A. Burnett, Z.W. Taylor

Journal of Research Initiatives

Research on how students of color are employed in on-campus student affairs positions and the development of their marketable skills for post-graduation employment is limited. To address this gap, this study examined the experiences of 12 students of color in student affairs roles. The goal was to understand how these students benefitted from their on-campus employment, developed valuable skills, and secured job opportunities after graduation.

The findings indicate that students of color were able to readily identify and communicate the marketable skills they acquired during their time as students. These skills include management, teamwork facilitation, digital literacy, and the ability …

Beyond The Data: Establishing Relationships, Honoring Lived Experience, And Highlighting Qualitative Community Research With Military-Connected Families As An Exemplar, Georgia L. Mckown, Abigail T. Stephan

Publications

Qualitative research inquiry that centers vulnerable communities requires more than methodological rigor—it necessitates deep, authentic engagement with the populations involved. This paper explores strategies qualitative researchers can use to foster meaningful, ethical, and transparent relationships with participants and community partners throughout the research process. Illustrated through applied vignettes from our experience carrying out focus group research with military-connected teens and families, we share strategies for conducting community research through intentional preparation, thoughtful recruitment, innovative data collection, reflexive analyses, and sustained follow-up efforts that contribute to community trust and the co-production of knowledge. We highlight the importance of meeting communities where …

Police Chief Turnover In Texas: Do Institutional Environments Matter?, Yudu Li

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The field of organizational studies has extensively examined factors influencing the turnover and succession of public officers, yet limited attention has been given to chiefs of police. Using institutional theory as a framework, this study explores police chief turnover by focusing on the institutional environment and the relationships between police chiefs and key individuals and entities within their communities. Utilizing survey data collected from police chiefs attending mandatory training programs designed for new appointees, the analysis reveals that police chief turnover is substantially associated with the quality of relationships with key stakeholders within the institutional environments, both individually and collectively. …

Soci 468.01: Homocide, Mark Heiigs

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Opioid Withdrawal Treatment: Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone), Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways

No abstract provided.

Stand For Support, Shatter The Silence: Administrative Approaches To Eradicate Bullying In Higher Education, Elaine M. Mora, Shawn P. Saladin

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

Bullying in higher education has become a widespread and complex issue that affects staff, faculty, and students worldwide, causing a detrimental impact on both psychological health and academic achievement. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the phenomenon, encompassing all its manifestations, underlying causes, and significant consequences. The study, which draws on academic literature, outlines the various forms of bullying, including cyberbullying, mobbing, microaggressions, and social exclusion, and highlights the adverse effects these behaviors have on both individuals and academic communities. The research emphasizes how critical it is to comprehend the power relationships that exist in higher education settings and …

Dental Shame: A Call For Understanding And Addressing The Role Of Shame In Oral Health, Louise Folker, Luna Dolezal, Astrid Pernille Jespersen, Martha Paisi, Lyndsey Withers, Christina Worle, Esben Boeskov Øzhayat

Peninsula Medical School

This commentary highlights dental shame as a pervasive but underexplored phenomenon with significant implications for oral health and systemic inequities. It proposes dental shame as a critical lens for understanding and addressing the complex interplay between personal, social, economic, cultural and systemic factors contributing to oral health challenges. Drawing on interdisciplinary expertise, the authors collectively propose that dental shame is both a consequence and determinant of oral health issues, leading to a self-reinforcing dynamic of avoidance, withdrawal and exacerbated inequities. They identify five key aspects of oral health where dental shame warrants deeper investigation: clinical encounters, care and social services, …

"I Probably Wouldn't Be As Happy": Childhood Parental Separation And Posttraumatic Growth Narratives From Eight College Students, Meagan C. Arrastia-Chisholm, Hoa Nguyen, Africa Pippin, Heather M. Kelley Ph.D.

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Parental separation during childhood leads to long-lasting psychological and socioemotional impact on the lives of emerging adults as they transition into higher education. The long-term effects of childhood parental separation on college students' academic performance, physical health, and overall mental wellbeing are well-documented. However, students can develop resilience to cope with challenging family and life experiences and even demonstrate post-traumatic growth. Post-traumatic growth refers to the positive changes and experiences college students discover after enduring life disruptions, such as being separated from their parents at an early age. To better understand the connection between parental separation and posttraumatic growth, a …

Unveiling The Veil: Understanding The Intersection Of Racism And Body Image Among Vietnamese American Young Adults, Thien Dang, Meekyung Han

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Asian Americans have experienced persistent gendered racism, racial microaggressions, and orientalism. These factors have contributed to dissatisfaction with their body image and have led some individuals to turn to body modification in order to cope with psychological distress and conform to White beauty standards. However, limited research has explored how Vietnamese Americans—one of the fastest-growing Asian American populations—experience and navigate racial dynamics related to body image, particularly in relation to gender differences and the role of cultural identity. To address this knowledge gap, a qualitative study was conducted to explore the intersection of racism, internalized racism, and body image dissatisfaction, …

Shaping Youth Ministry: Exploring Influences On Youth Pastors’ Approaches To Programme Design, Timothy A. Mullen, Trudi Cooper

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The literature on youth ministry practices is mostly anecdotal, and empirical research into the practices, goals, and meanings of youth ministry to youth pastors is rare, especially in Australia. In this study, 20 youth pastors in Perth, Western Australia, were interviewed about their goals, priorities, practices, training, and what influenced them. This study forms part of a larger doctoral research project. The interview data were analysed utilising a phenomenological approach, drawing upon Goffman’s framing analysis to examine the link between ‘meaning making’ and explicit and tacit motivations for youth ministry practice. The research found that youth pastors were most often …

Harnessing The Electronic Health Record To Identify And Enroll People With Epilepsy Into A Self-Management Program: Implementation And Scalability In A Clinical Setting, Clara Adeniyi, Richard Barigye, Jessica Black, Nicole Fiorelli, Carrie Rogers, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Rationale: “Self-management for people with epilepsy and a history of negative health events” (SMART) is an 8-week, remotely delivered, Epilepsy Self-Management (ESM) program. The ongoing EXPANDing self-management support in healthcare networks (EXPAND) initiative leveraged the Electronic Health Record (EHR) to identify SMART candidates, simplify recruitment, and reduce staff workload. Methods: This is an ongoing implementation effort at two Level 4 Epilepsy Centers (Iowa and Cincinnati) using the Epic EHR which follows 9326 People With Epilepsy (PWE). The EHR uses pre-visit screening to identify PWE with a recent seizure; barriers to medication adherence; depression symptoms; age 18–25; or residence in rural …

Social Cognition As A Mediator Between Neurocognition And Functional Outcome In Early Course Schizophrenia, Anju Kotwani, Jessica A. Wojtalik, Douglas D. Gunzler, Wilson J. Brown, Rochanne L. Honarvar, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Social cognition is an established mediator between neurocognition and functional outcome in schizophrenia, but there is limited evidence for this model specifically in the early course, which is a critical window for intervention to reduce long-term disability. This study aimed to test the social cognition mediator model in the early course of schizophrenia and identify social cognitive subdomains that may have stronger indirect effects on the relationship between neurocognition and functional outcome. This secondary analysis utilized baseline cognitive and functional outcome data from a cognitive remediation trial for outpatients with early course schizophrenia (N = 102). A path analysis approach …

Social Cognition As A Mediator Between Neurocognition And Functional Outcome In Early Course Schizophrenia, Anju Kotwani, Jessica A. Wojtalik, Douglas D. Gunzler, Wilson J. Brown, Rochanne L. Honarvar, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Social cognition is an established mediator between neurocognition and functional outcome in schizophrenia, but there is limited evidence for this model specifically in the early course, which is a critical window for intervention to reduce long-term disability. This study aimed to test the social cognition mediator model in the early course of schizophrenia and identify social cognitive subdomains that may have stronger indirect effects on the relationship between neurocognition and functional outcome. This secondary analysis utilized baseline cognitive and functional outcome data from a cognitive remediation trial for outpatients with early course schizophrenia (N = 102). A path analysis approach …

Launching! To Adulthood, A Culturally Adapted Treatment Program For Military-Dependent Autistic Young Adults And Their Military Parents: A Pilot Study, Antonio F Pagán, Jordan Kenemore, Maj Mark Ahlenius, Linda Hernandez, Stephen Armstrong, Katherine A Loveland, Ron Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Military-dependent young adults (17-25 years old) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face significant barriers to accessing services during their transition to adulthood. Frequent relocations, disrupted care, and limited ASD-tailored interventions exacerbate the challenges for these families, with many young adults experiencing a "service cliff" as they age out of pediatric care and school-based services. Addressing these gaps is critical, particularly given the rising mental health challenges and executive dysfunction in this population. This study evaluates the preliminary efficacy of an adapted telehealth intervention, the Military-Launching! program, designed to support young adults with ASD and their military families.

Materials and …

¡Iniciando! La Adultez (Launching! To Adulthood): A Cultural And Linguistic Adaptation Of A Group Therapy Program For Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder Transitioning To Adulthood, Antonio F Pagán, Katherine A Loveland, Ron Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: The transition to adulthood is a formative period of development for young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as they work towards independence and managing adult responsibilities. While evidence-based interventions have been developed for young adults with ASD, they have rarely been culturally and linguistically adapted for the Latino, Spanish-speaking community. The present study provided initial feasibility and acceptability data for a therapy program for Latino young adults with ASD transitioning to adulthood and their Spanish-speaking parents.

Methods: The culturally adapted and translated intervention, called ¡Iniciando! la Adultez, is a 10-week therapy program based on an evidence-based treatment ( …

Old Frames On New Media: Health Misinformation In Black Digital Communities, Merriah Croston

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Growing evidence suggests that health misinformation has the potential to proliferate on social media. However, our understanding of the problem’s magnitude continues to evolve. Despite several studies on health misinformation and Black communities in the United States (U.S.), few of these studies characterize misinformation within digital settings. This dissertation seeks to address this gap by: 1) synthesizing the literature on health misinformation and Black communities to identify prevalent misinformation topics and claims, characteristics of exposure to and belief in these topics and claims, and successful intervention strategies; 2) quantifying and characterizing the volume of COVID-19 misinformation on Black Twitter during …

The Blacker The Berry: Food Environments And Intake Associated With Perinatal Depression And Secondary Breastfeeding Outcomes Among Black Americans In The St. Louis Metropolitan Area, Najjuwah S. Walden

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between the food environment, intake, and health is complex. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if food environments in proximity to Black pregnant women in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area were associated with prenatal eating habits and if these eating habits were associated with the risk of developing depressive symptoms in pregnancy and postpartum. The study also aimed to understand if there was a relationship between prenatal eating habits and the decision to breastfeed and if the onset of postpartum depressive symptoms has any effect on this relationship. Due to the importance of nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods …

2+2 Doesn't Always Equal 4: A Mixed Methods Approach To U.S.-Born Children Of Immigrants' Cultural Identities And Belonging, Teriin Lee

Dissertations

Within the next generation, one in five adults born in the United States will be a child of immigrants. Despite this, research on children of immigrants is limited. Specifically, the scholarship on this growing demographic limited their experiences to cultural identity, as it pertains to belonging. Simply put, the literature supposes that children of immigrants’ cultural identities define their sense of belonging. Moreover, the literature lacks insight into the lived experiences of children of immigrants, despite the increasing prevalence of this population.

This study aimed to address how children of immigrants experience cultural identity and belonging. A mixed methods research …

Open Science Is Coming To Theory Construction: The Case Of Document Analysis, Sarah R. Bostrom, Gina L. Levalley, Katrina Cooley, Richard E. Niemeyer

The Qualitative Report

Growing concerns about the reproducibility of scientific findings have led to efforts to enhance the transparency and rigor of social science research. Improving the accuracy and precision of theory development and adopting Open Science practices, such as open data, are widely considered effective means to achieve these ends. However, current Open Science practices primarily target quantitative methodologies and tend to ignore qualitative methods, like document analysis, due to perceived insurmountable obstacles. Since document analysis is often crucial for constructing accurate and precise theories, the inability to integrate Open Science practices with qualitative research methods undermines the effectiveness of these solutions …

Learning How To Interview For Qualitative Research, Kathryn Roulston, Brigette A. Herron, Caprial Farrington

The Qualitative Report

A key component of qualitative methods coursework has been the interview assignment, which typically prepares scholars to conduct in-person, individual, and open-ended interviews. This study examined what novice researchers did and learned during an interview assignment in an introductory qualitative methods course. Interview transcripts and reflections from 12 graduate students who enrolled in an online or face-to-face section of the course were analyzed. Findings review students’ reflections on the process of conducting the interview project, beginning with the preparation phase, what they discussed concerning how the interviews transpired and their experiences of the transcription process. The article reports on how …

Relational Online Teaching: Connecting With Students At A Distance, Laura Sheets, Robert J. Snyder

University Libraries Faculty Publications

Relational teaching pedagogies place the connection between instructor and student at the heart of student learning. These practices can include creating community, designing interactive learning experiences, and recognizing the student as a whole person. But in an online classroom, relational pedagogies must be woven into the course design and the instructor must be intentional about their desire to connect with students. In this article, the authors will demonstrate how they applied the Five Good Things from Relational Cultural Theory to an asynchronous information literacy course in order to connect with students in an online learning environment.

Meningkatkan Interaksi Siswa Smk Melalui Pembelajaran Cooperative Learning Tipe Stad, Suci Ramadhani, Agung Witjoro

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

This study aimed to explore the role of the learning environment and classroom atmosphere as central factors influencing student motivation during instruction. Based on learning motivation theory, factors such as safety, social support, student engagement, and physical comfort can significantly affect motivation, whereas an uncomfortable or unsupportive classroom may inhibit it. Positive social interaction and mutual trust among students also play important roles in supporting motivation. The study specifically evaluated the effectiveness of the Student Teams–Achievement Divisions (STAD) cooperative learning model in increasing engagement and interaction among students in the Social Work program at SMKN 2 Malang. By emphasizing teamwork …