Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing College Tuition And Wage Prospects For Careers In Archaeology, Angelina H. Gutierrez

Honors Capstones

The pressures of rising college tuition are raising questions about whether a degree in higher education is worth the return on investment in today's society and economy. This study aims to acknowledge the issues of affording college and the opportunities granted in the face of college wealth premiums from the perspective of the field of archaeology. The college wealth premium is understood as additionalopportunities and increased salaries offered to those with a degree in higher education compared to those without. Using the Midwestern United States as a case study, I discuss the gender/race wage gap, college debt, loan inequity, and …

Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy With Patient Education, Belle Grady, Victor Huber

Scholarship Pathways Program

Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy with Patient Education

Belle Grady, MD | Mentor: Victor Huber, PhD

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a complex global issue, exacerbated by pandemics and social media. In addition to hesitancy, state policies loosening childhood vaccine requirements and alternative vaccination schedules may contribute to recent vaccine-preventable illness outbreaks in the United States. In South Dakota alone, kindergarten vaccination rates have gradually declined over the past decade. Such vaccine hesitancy and decreasing vaccination rates is a public health concern and must be addressed. Accessible patient education resources on the topic are necessary to increase vaccination rates.

Project Description: This project …

Examining The Relationships Between Work Environment And Stress Coping Mechanisms With Burnout In Medical Students, Oluwafunke O. Ogunremi, Valeriy Kozmenko, Ethan Noble

Scholarship Pathways Program

Examining the relationships between work environment and stress coping mechanisms with burnout in medical students

 Oluwafunke Ogunremi, MS4

Mentor: Valeriy Kozmenko, MD

Introduction: Throughout the duration of medical training, learners are oftentimes overworked and faced with high levels of stress and pressure; this can decrease quality of life for many individuals.The goal of this study was to gain an understanding of how work environments and stress coping mechanisms play a role in the amount of burnout experienced by medical students. Burnout as defined by the Maslach’s Model, focuses on 3 key aspects: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishments. Here, …

Visual Arts And Humanities In Medical Education, Lauren Schild, Craig Uthe

Scholarship Pathways Program

Introduction: In medicine today, physicians are expected to be impartial, emotionally intelligent, and have the observational skills to pick up on and interpret ambiguous body language, skin changes, and hygiene factors which may aid in a diagnosis. However, medical students are often not directly taught these observational or emotional intelligence skills. Art has historically been used by the artist to express thoughts and emotions for themselves and to allow viewers to explore their own feelings. The aim of this course is to provide an opportunity for students to advance their observation and communication skills through the study and creation of …

Assessing Trends In Medical Students’ Perceptions Regarding Statistical Analysis, Ethan Noble, Valeriy Kozmenko, Paul Thompson

Scholarship Pathways Program

Assessing Trends in Medical Students’ Perceptions Regarding Data Analysis and Statistics Knowledge and Skills

Ethan Noble, MD | Mentors: Valeriy Kozmenko, MD, Paul Thompson, PhD

Introduction: The use of evidence-based medicine requires that physicians are able to properly analyze and interpret the results of new research. The development of new research and medical knowledge is swift, and a strong foundation in statistics and research is needed for physicians and medical students to keep up with new research. Curriculum in medical education often lacks in-depth coverage of the subject, and additional curriculum has been shown to enhance student confidence and ability …

Fabrication Of Ws₂ Thin Films Via Spray Pyrolysis With Comprehensive Structural, Electrical, And Chemoresistive Analyses Toward No₂ Detection, Chetan R. Yewale, Satish S. Mandawade, Rajendra V. Wagh, Umesh J. Tupe, Sajid Naeem, Arun V. Patil

Polytechnic Journal

Nanostructured metal sulphides are gaining attention as potential materials for resistive chemical sensors due to their high electrical conductivity and chemical stability compared to metal oxides. Among these, tungsten disulfide (WS₂), a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), stands out because of its distinctive electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. In this study, WS₂ thin films were synthesized on glass substrates using the spray pyrolysis technique. Structural and electrical characterizations revealed a highly porous, granular morphology with nanoparticle agglomerations, as observed through FESEM. XRD analysis confirmed a well-crystallized hexagonal WS₂ phase with an average crystallite size of 35.81 nm. The films exhibited a …

Communication Through Connection And Identity: Songwriting With People Living With Dementia, Sean Connolly

Expressive Therapies Theses

Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative condition associated with significant changes in communication, which can have profound effects on an individual’s autonomy, self-identity and quality of life. Rising global dementia rates underscore the urgent need to address these issues and expand approaches to care. This literature review examines current research on songwriting methods in music therapy for those living with dementia and investigates how songwriting might support communication for that population. The review explores a variety of music-based approaches, including both neurologic and music-centered frameworks, and highlights a range of songwriting techniques. The findings suggest that songwriting may facilitate communication beyond …

Inside The World Of Probation Officers: Challenges, Perspectives, And Purpose, Achilles A.C. Beumel

Honors Theses

In the United States, probation is the most commonly imposed criminal sentence, necessitating an abundance of probation officers (POs) to serve the system. Given high rates of failed reentry in tandem with high rates of recidivism, there have been calls for a reevaluation of post-conviction supervision systems and strategies, including the PO. The PO is the final form of assistance provided by the criminal justice system to those facing reentry and can heavily impact a client’s likelihood of recidivism. Despite years of research and attempted reform, more studies are still needed to determine strategies for successful reentry outcomes. This study …

Del Toro (Juan) V. State Of Nevada, 142 Nev. Adv. Op. 33 (May 7, 2026), Ashley Arita

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

Under NRS 176.0931, sex offenders are not required to complete their full registration period before becoming eligible for release from lifetime supervision.

Factors Relating To Memory, Kyra Vanheirseele

Honors Theses

Cognitive and emotional processes are increasingly recognized as important factors influencing memory functioning. In the current study, the associations between depressive symptoms, selfcritical rumination, sleep quality, and cognitive confidence with self-referent memory recall were examined in a sample of undergraduate students (N = 60; 70.0% female, 21.7% male; M age = 19.36 years, SD = 1.21). The sample was predominantly White (73.2%), with additional representation from Black or African American (14.3%), American Indian or Alaska Native (1.8%), Asian (1.8%), and other racial groups (8.9%). Using established self-report measures, participants reported on depressive symptoms (Schmitt & Maes, 2000; Sauer et al., …

"Maniac Murderer Of Six": Yellow Journalism In Early 20th Century North Dakota, Emma Kalk

Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Showcase

This project examines how early twentieth-century yellow journalism shaped public perception of crime in North Dakota through newspaper coverage of the Eugene Butler case. Following the 1915 discovery of six bodies beneath Butler’s former home near Niagara, North Dakota newspapers rapidly transformed the case into one of the state’s most sensational crime stories. Through analysis of regional newspaper articles, hospital accounts, and modern retellings, this project argues that journalists exaggerated details, repeated unverified claims, and relied on emotionally charged language to construct Butler’s public image as a violent “hermit” and “maniac.”

The project also explores contradictions within contemporary reporting, including …

Monotone Traveling Waves In A General Discrete Model For Populations With K-Generation Long-Term Memory, Austin Kernel Sanders

Theses and Dissertations

We investigate the spatial dynamics of a population modeled by a general discrete integrodifference equation incorporating k-generation long-term memory. While classical models rely solely on the im- mediately preceding state to determine population growth and dispersal, introducing multiple past states causes the associated evolution operator to lose compactness. Consequently, standard fixed- point theorems are insufficient to prove the existence of traveling wave solutions. We overcome this difficulty by constructing a time-independent moving frame operator and employing the monotone iteration method. By assuming the fecundity function is locally Lipschitz, bounded, and nondecreasing on a specified interval, and by relaxing continuity requirements …

2026 Spring Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Spring 2026 commencement program. Commencement was on Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8, 2026.

During the Commencement event, a complete list of graduates was provided online. This program was not published during the Commencement event. This digital copy is maintained in the repository for archival purposes.

Nudging Implementation Of Low Tidal Volume Ventilation: A Stepped Wedge, Cluster Randomized Trial, Meeta Prasad Kerlin, Michael O. Harhay, Fan Li, Dylan S. Small, Yingying Lu, Wei Wang, Barry D. Fuchs, Mark E. Mikkelsen, Teresa Tran, Aerielle Belk, Jasmine A. Silvestri, Tamar Klaiman, Stefania Scott, Elizabeth Levy, Michael W. Sjoding, Rachel Kohn, Karsten J. Roberts, Rinad S. Beidas, Scott D. Halpern

College of Health Professions Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: "Nudges" embedded in the electronic health record (EHR) facilitate desired decisions while preserving autonomy and may provide a scalable strategy to overcome the common implementation barrier of lack of knowledge about a best practice. We sought to test whether EHR-based nudges targeting two intensive care unit (ICU) clinician groups would safely increase evidence-based use of low tidal volume ventilation.

METHODS: We performed a stepped-wedge, cluster randomized, hybrid type 3 effectiveness-implementation trial in 12 ICUs from February 2021 to May 2023 to test three nudges targeting clinicians responsible for order entry and respiratory therapists responsible for operationalizing orders and documentation. …

Staff Education To Improve Appointment Adherence In Outpatient Behavioral Health, Yvonne Joseph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Dissertation: Exploring Asian Mental Health Counselors’ Views Of Their Education After Studying Abroad, Linda Ai Kuramoto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Fall-Prevention Program For A Long-Term Care Organization, Roslyn Y. Heyward

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Expertise First: Reflections On Informal Artificial Intelligence Mentoring In An Asynchronous Nursing Faculty Community, Anna Liza D. Villena Phd, Rn, Fnp-Bc

Journal of Online Mentoring

The integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education has arrived faster than the support structures designed to help faculty navigate it. This article reflects on one faculty member’s experience providing informal AI integration mentoring to nursing colleagues at Walden University, a fully asynchronous online graduate nursing program, where clinician-educators with deep disciplinary expertise often struggled to recognize that expertise as an asset in their interactions with AI tools.

Drawing on Rogers’ (2003) diffusion of innovations theory, the article describes the mentoring approach that emerged from practice, the central insight that faculty are not failing to integrate AI because …

Party, Place, And Pocketbooks: What Shapes Americans’ Trust In Political Institutions, Hwayong Shin

Weidenbaum Center Survey (WCS) Reports

Evidence from the Weidenbaum Center Surveys (Waves 6–8) suggests that trust in institutions has not simply evaporated. Instead, it is being sorted along several cleavages, such as partisanship, geography, and personal economic security. While trust in the federal government remains relatively low yet stable from May 2025 to March 2026, trust in specific institutions varies across partisan, geographic, and economic cleavages. This fragmentation of trust points to a potential challenge to the stability of American democracy.

A Critical Analysis Of The Influence Of Ideology On Education Governance In An Urban, Midwestern School District, Carl Bryan

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study examines how ideology operates within local education governance through a critical theoretical lens. As state and national education policies, accountability mandates, and partisan political discourse increasingly shape local school governance, this research investigates how power relations, ideological influences, and equity concerns are embedded in school board decision-making processes and public discourse. Addressing a gap in existing scholarship on ideology in education governance, the study employs a qualitative case study of an urban public school district in the Midwestern United States. Data sources include individual interviews with school board members, critical discourse analysis of school board meetings, and analysis …

How Changes In Mexican Immigration To The United States Affect Mexican Labor Markets, Gonzalo Ares De Parga-Regalado, Marta Prato

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Employment Research, Vol. 33, No. 2, April 2026

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Two Faculty Members Honored As 2026 Distinguished Professors, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi professors Barry Babin and John Bentley were recognized this week as Distinguished Professors for their devotion to training the next generation of pharmacists and business professionals.

Pedagogy In Context: How Private School Teachers Make Meaning Of Equity-Focused Teaching Practices, Savannah Shana Scarborough

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This pedagogical ethnography examines how teachers in a private school context understand and enact Culturally Relevant Education (CRE). While CRE emphasizes cultural competence and critical consciousness, less is known about how it is interpreted within private school settings, where institutional culture and community expectations shape pedagogy. This study explores how teachers engage culturally relevant commitments and how institutional context influences those practices.

A qualitative ethnographic design was used to examine classroom practice in a South Carolina private school. Data was collected through observations, semi-structured interviews, and teacher reflections from four Upper School teachers selected through purposive sampling. Analysis combined deductive …

The Ccu Disease Hunters: Putting Undergraduate Research To Work To Improve Community Health And Training The Next Generation Of Doctors, Paul E. Richardson

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Science In Service Of Society: My Journey In Immunology And Public Engagement, Prakash Nagarkatti

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Reptiles Of The Northeastern Piedmont Of South Carolina, Steven E. Fields

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Restoration Of Neural-Based Function: Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Research To Develop Neurorehabilitation Knowledge, Measures, And Tools To Improve Function In The Real World, Steven A. Kautz

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Clethra Alnifolia: A Fact Sheet For Seed Transfer Considerations, Taylor Houggy

Plant Science Articles

Clethra alnifolia is a highly prized fragrant deciduous shrub, often found in many home gardens across Eastern North America. Despite its popularity in the landscape industry, there is little research comparing C. alnifolia's natural habits in the wild to its habits as a landscaped cultivar. Information such as flowering phenology, genetic diversity, and growth habits have the potential to change considerably depending on C. alnifolia's location. Because of this, it is important that landscape growers as well as forest conservationists have access to ecological fact sheets in order to make informed decisions when transferring seed to different areas. In this …