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Jtc 25: Achieving A Lifelong Dream, Staff Report

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2025 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

Parental Deprivation: The Impact Of Parental Leave Policy On Infant Attachment, Development, And Posterity, Grace E. Snyder

Senior Honors Theses

This literature review evaluates the lack of paid parental leave policy in the United States through the lens of attachment theory. While attachment theory has been extensively studied in the fields of Psychology and Social Work, a lack of research has been conducted to connect this theory to parental leave policy. The literature review examines parental leave policy and attachment theory along with how these topics connect. Social work is a profession that values the importance of human relationships and social justice, so understanding this relationship is important in forming the disciplinary knowledge upon which evidence-based advocacy is built.

Queer In & Out Of Montana: Oral Histories Of The Lgbtq+ Exodus From Montana, Erin Heaton

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This presentation will summarize findings from six oral histories of LGBTQ+ people who lived in Montana, but have left or are leaving in the near future. This presentation will explore the questions: Why are queer and transgender people leaving Montana? What are common experiences for LGBTQ+ people living in Montana? The answer to these questions will be derived from the stories of the Narrators who provided their oral histories. The questions utilized in the oral histories covered topics of identity, “coming out,” living history, cultural observations, community experiences and perceptions, well-being, healthcare, laws, and reasons for leaving. Thematic Analysis was …

Montana Assault Resource Index, Storytelling & Education (Mt A.R.I.S.E.): Breaking Barriers To Disclosure Of Sexual Violence In The Lgbtq+ Community, Olivia G. Donohue, Kate Bick, Cana Odegaard, Emma Hixson

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This project aims to address the unique needs of LEGBTQ+ survivors of sexual violence, through the enhancement of social support and resource accessibility for this marginalized group, particularly reaching those in rural settings like Montana. Existing literature highlights significant failures to understand the intersectional vulnerabilities and resilience factors impacting recovery and outcomes among LGBTQ+ individuals. Often, studies neglect specific subgroups, including transgender individuals, bisexual persons, and nonbinary survivors, and do not implement comprehensive, intersectional frameworks that capture the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. In rural areas, LGBTQ+ individuals face systemic issues, such as restricted access to supportive healthcare, social …

Recognizing Child Maltreatment: A Study Of Knowledge & Practice In Sacred Heart Students, Alicia Sanders, Francesca Lanni

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Social Media On Substance Use Tendencies, Alyssa Sawka

Academic Festival

The purpose of this research study is to investigate the relationship between social media usage and substance use tendencies among college students. Our study surveys Sacred Heart University students with an aim to understand their attitude towards social media’s influence on substance use on college campuses and collect data to analyze if there is a positive correlation between higher levels of substance use and higher levels of social media use.

Warning! Revising Academic Warning Notifications To Support Students’ Emotions, Motivation, And Help-Seeking, Sophia Grace Rogers, Magdalene Martha Corrodino, Michele L. Chu, Gianna Ivette Quintana

Academic Festival

Struggling college students who receive academic warning notifications often have higher dropout rates than similarly performing peers who do not receive such notifications. This trend is partly driven by feelings of failure and shame, which undermine academic perseverance. To address this, we revised academic warning notifications to be more psychologically attuned—specifically, to support students’ self-worth, capability, and sense of belonging. In Study 1 (N = 247 SHU students), we compared students’ perceptions of a revised academic notification (v. 2.0) to a standard notification (v. 1.0). As expected, most students preferred the revised notification (83.6%) over the standard (16.4%). Further, students …

Service Dogs "Heal": A Service Learning Immersive Experience Raising Puppies For Disabled Teens, Mackenzie Hamilton, Beverly Banerji, Elizabeth Bickett, Jessica Bogucki, Natalia Ferrulli, Julia Parlapiano, Annika Westra, Caroline Campanella, Harley Mae Jimenez

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Thc On People In Recovery, April Jackson-Andal

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

In Montana, on January 1, 2022, cannabis became legal for recreational use. This policy has been adopted in several other states as well. The impact of THC on recovery has not been widely researched and, therefore, not fully understood. Addiction clinics are responsible for supporting individuals through their recovery journey, and probation offices are meant to uphold those on probation to their regulations. Therefore, professionals working in these agencies may have insight into how THC impacts recovery. In 2024, I quantitatively surveyed professionals (n=13) working in addiction clinics or probation and parole offices in Helena, MT, on their perspectives of …

Exploring The Impacts Of Secondary/Foreign Language Acquisition In Childhood Development, Malone A. Ingram

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The central topic of my research project explores the positive impacts that early second language acquisition has on childhood development . I examine its effect through the lens of bilingual education in Missoula County Public Schools, identifying possible shortcomings in the language education programs in elementary schools, as well as feasible solutions. I approach this research from two distinct directions: a literature review and original data collection. I will analyse existing studies and information relating to bilingualism and its positive impact on childhood development. This will provide context and support for my interview questions. Next, for my own independent research, …

Advocating For Anti-War Education In The University Of Montana's Social Work Program, David Payseno

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) code of ethics, social workers have a professional responsibility to challenge social injustice and pursue social change on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed peoples. As such, I believe the absence of education and political action regarding war in the social work undergraduate program would be a lapse in the responsibilities of the social work profession as detailed by the NASW. While every human being on earth is subject to harm by military conflict, it is those of us who are the most vulnerable and oppressed that inevitably suffer the greatest consequences. …

Memory Stewardship: Preventing Confabulation In Child Victim Statements, Dixie Blair Ivey

Master of Arts in Human Services

Confabulation consists of a false memory report. Some scholars consider confabulation a clinical symptom of a neurological disorder. Others view the subject more broadly. Regardless of the boundaries of the definition, confabulation is an example of false memory. False memory reports can occur under many circumstances. The details of these circumstances, as well as the general cognitive processes that dictate memory, are important to understand, particularly to those who rely on memory for the purposes of forensic investigations. In order to use memory statements to reliable effect, the investigator or interviewer must understand how their own actions, the actions of …

The Bison, April, 25, 2025

The Bison Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Alternative Solutions For Leadership To Attract Qualified Behavioral Health Professionals In Rural Areas, Jerilyn Ann Durst

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The challenge of attracting qualified behavioral health professionals to positions in rural areas has been widely recognized. Underserved population segments, issues unique to clinicians practicing in rural areas, and a lack of effective recruitment incentives impact not only an organization but also the community it serves. The subject of this qualitative case study was a private behavioral health office located in a rural community. Semistructured interviews were held with five behavioral health leaders of this organization in addition to a review of organizational records. The Baldridge Performance Excellence Program was the conceptual framework that grounded this study. Qualitative analysis, including …

Jtc 25: Perseverance Pays Off, Pam Starling

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2025 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

Jtc 25: Education Across Generations, Staff Report

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2025 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

Intimacy Versus Isolation In Adults With Intellectual Or Developmental Disabilities: An Educational Video-Series For Caregivers, Aubrey Lynn Brinkley

Student Capstone Papers

Caregivers of care-recipients with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) do not have sufficient resources to assist their care-recipients with the adult developmental stage of intimacy versus isolation. This capstone considers the occupational and developmental impacts that growing individuals with IDD face, namely the developmental stages including healthy relationships, sexual safety, and intimacy. The literature review covers the scientific, statistical, and historical importance of this developmental milestone. Varied opinions and needs that surround the subject of intimacy and healthy relationships for adults with IDD were considered. Sexual abuse statistics were highlighted. A multitude of feedback from organizations, personal caregivers, scientists, psychologists, …

Analysis Of The At-Risk Mental Health Of Military Children And Proposed Intervention Plans To Be Implemented By Mental Health Professionals, Claire E. Anderson

Senior Honors Theses

Mental health for military children is an unseen life-threatening epidemic that must be brought to the attention of Americans. The statistics surrounding the mental health of the average military child are alarming and saddening. Access and knowledge of mental health resources for military children may significantly decrease the high percentage of military children who experience poor mental health. To raise awareness, increase research findings, and support military children well, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of the problem both presently and historically, to be aware of current resources in place, to understand current and past policies surrounding the …

Daca’S Impact On Recipients: Interviews With Three Daca Recipients From Michigan, Jazmin Moron

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the lived experiences of three Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients residing in Michigan. It examines how DACA has impacted their lives across three distinct phases: pre-DACA, while applying for DACA, and post-DACA. Through qualitative, semi-structured interviews, this research uncovers key themes: normal childhood, proof of presence, skeptical DACA future, and restricted immigration pathways. While DACA offered recipients increased opportunities in education, employment, and stability, it also imposed systemic challenges such as costly renewals, limited career growth, and continued legal uncertainty. By focusing on Michigan—a state with a relatively small Hispanic/Latino population—this study highlights the unique …

Psychological Development: Cognition, Emotions, Personality, Anita Knight Kuhnley, Kelly Carapezza, Gary Sibcy

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Adolescence is considered the age that bridges childhood and adulthood, Erik Erikson, who has contributed much to our understanding of the developmental stages described adolescence as, “the age mediating between childhood and adulthood (Erikson, 1997, p.xi).” Adolescence includes the sometimes tumultuous years between the ages of 11 and 21, and the Eriksons addressed this as one stage (Newman and Newman, 2013). Some authors attribute the fact that adolescence is such a trying time to the fact that adolescents lose synapses in the brain specifically in the primary visual cortex at a rate of 5,000 per second (Bears, Connor, and Paradiso, …

The Relationship Between Psychological Distress, Work Burnout, And Firearm Ownership Among Correctional Officers, Corey Tolliver

Academic Festival

Introduction. This study examines the relationship between psychological distress, work burnout, and firearm ownership among correctional officers. Methods. Using secondary cross-sectional data, we investigated psychological distress, work burnout, and the impact of firearm ownership among 211 correctional officers (COs). Results. Psychological distress is alarmingly high across all racial/ethnic groups, with the vast majority classified as likely to have a severe mental disorder. White COs exhibit the highest mean distress scores. Over half of the COs enrolled reported owning a firearm (54.5%). Those who reported having to own a firearm tended to have higher work burnout compared to those who never …

Empowering Youth: Risk Factors Of Juvenile Delinquency, Shannon Keenan

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Medication Card Implementation In Public Health Clinics To Increase Health Literacy Within Older Adults In Rural Communities, Abigail Mulcahy, Audrey Ehling, Cecelia Braun, Janae Salvetti, Jocelyn Liddell, Joshua Boen, Madison Henneman, Zoe Dreckmann

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Health literacy in older adults living in a rural community continues to be a barrier to care. Improving health literacy though enhancing communication between patients and healthcare providers is essential in improving health literacy in the community.

An Occupational Therapy Approach For Implementing A Parent-Led Intervention Strategy In Infant/ Toddler Feeding: Inservice Training And Guidelines, Kimberly Holt

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

Abstract

Objective: 25-45% of typically developing children have feeding or mealtime problems. 80% of children with physical or neurological impairment will be diagnosed with a feeding delay. In rural settings, waitlists for feeding therapists are long, and families travel long distances for specialized feeding therapy. A provider-coached, parent-led feeding intervention method is needed to meet the needs of families and improve the quality of home-visiting healthcare services.

Methods: Five continuing in-service education training sessions for local community health professionals were conducted. Each in-person or online session lasted between 45 and 120 minutes and aimed to promote a parent-led …

Teaching About Bodily Autonomy In The Early Childhood Classroom, Alaina Foster

Honors Projects

Research and evidence-based practices for the need to implement instructional materials in regard to elementary bodily autonomy and childhood sexual assault prevention education in the general education classroom.

Leadership In The Construction Industry: An Lmx Analysis, Jackson Wicker

Honors Projects

The purpose of this study is to research the different styles of leadership that are currently used in the construction industry and how LMX effects leaders and their employees relationships. This study seeks to try and answer the question of how different styles of leadership contribute to employee and leader relationships in the construction industry. This study uses content analysis in order to find major themes about LMX relationships and leadership styles and how they affect leader-follower relationships, and effectiveness in the construction industry.

Breaking Down Mental Health Barriers And Overcoming Generational Stigma In Black America, Ayana White

2025 Student Academic Showcase

Cultural beliefs, historical trauma, and societal pressures shape the stigma surrounding mental health in African American communities. Mental health struggles are often seen as a sign of weakness, deepened by mistrust of medical professionals due to past abuses, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the exploitation of Henrietta Lacks. This mistrust, combined with societal expectations and stereotypes, discourages open conversations about mental health. African Americans are less likely to seek professional help, with studies showing only 25% of Black individuals pursue mental health treatment compared to 40% of their Caucasian counterparts. Some of these barriers include the criminalization of …

African American Men’S Experiences In Mental Health Treatment Services In Rural Mississippi, Kimberly Jenkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health disorders affect African American men similarly compared to their racial/ethnic counterparts. The problem is African American men do not access and engage in mental health services continuously, which affects their mental health outcomes. Grounded in ecological systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore experiences of African American men, who have accessed and engaged in mental health treatment services. This study had three research questions focused on African American men’s perspectives on mental health services, personal experiences with mental health providers, and barriers they encountered when engaging in services. Participants were eight young adult African …

Developing An Ethical Trauma-Informed Pilot Process For The Inclusion Of Physical Violence In Visual Rhetoric Instruction, S. B. Mccullouch

Feminist Pedagogy

Interpersonal, gun-related, and other types of physical violence are all too common experiences for students. This critical commentary centers on the introduction of an expansive view of visual rhetoric, including the visible signs of physical violence, in an undergraduate writing class. This serves as a way of exploring broad notions of communication and physical violence as suasive in some contexts. An examination of the visible symbols of physical force is provided with trauma-informed methods.

Elementary Education Capstone, Emily Rindos

Academic Festival

This capstone project focuses on developing and implementing a literacy unit centered on textual evidence. The unit includes three lesson plans designed to help students understand how to find, analyze, and use textual evidence to support their ideas. Each lesson builds on the previous one, using a mix of direct instruction, guided practice, and independent work to gradually increase student confidence and skill in citing evidence.

To measure student understanding, a variety of assessments were integrated throughout the unit. These included formative assessments, such as class discussions and written responses, as well as summative assessments that evaluated students’ ability to …