Digital Commons Network^™

“The Distance And Time Difference Aren’T Helping”: Family Communication Practices Of African Graduate Students Adapting To A New Country, Hummuh Abubakar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how international graduate students maintained long-distance communication with family members while adapting to life in the United States. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with seven international students, the research explored how participants sustained emotional closeness, manage disclosure, and select communication media across geographic distance. Guided by Communication Privacy Management Theory and Media Richness Theory, the study analyzed how students regulated private information and strategically used video calls, voice calls, and messaging platforms to meet relational and emotional needs. Findings revealed four primary themes: reliance on digital communication technologies; the emotional and psychological functions of family communication; structural …

Resource Allocation Trade-Offs Between Longevity And Reproduction In Daphnia Magna, Amelia Pearson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although trade-offs between longevity and reproduction have been described for a long time, the genetic mechanisms by which organisms modulate allocation of resources between these two essential processes remain poorly understood, due to their complex nature and their modification by existing nutritional states and environmental cues. Daphnia magna represents a valuable model for investigation in this area due to their moderate lifespan and cyclic parthenogenetic mode of reproduction, allowing for the easy study of gene by environment interactions. This dissertation first investigates the change in mortality, reproduction, activity, and gene expression when fully fed Daphnia and calorically restricted Daphnia are …

Branding The Protector And Helper: How The U.S. Army National Guard Presents Itself In Humanitarian Outreach, Aaron Otoo Acromond

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how the United States Army National Guard constructs and communicates its humanitarian identity during domestic disaster response through official social media. Addressing limited scholarship on how hybrid military institutions frame their roles in domestic crises, the research applies qualitative content analysis to visual and textual posts from official Facebook and Instagram accounts during three disasters: Hurricane Ian (2022), the Hawaii Wildfires (2023), and Hurricane Helene (2024). The analysis identifies three communication themes: operational preparedness and technical capacity, humanitarian assistance to affected civilians, and collaboration with civilian agencies. These narratives portray the National Guard as a professional and …

Evaluation Of Otolith Microchemistry For Identifying Walleye Stocked As Fry Or Fingerlings, Joshua Fluur

Theses

Walleye (Sander vitreus) is a popular sport fish whose populations are often supported by maintenance or supplemental stocking, with most fish stocked as fry, fingerlings, or advanced fingerlings. Evaluation of stocking efficacy is important to inform decisions regarding fish stocking rates and sizes and allocating hatchery fish to locations where maintenance or supplemental stocking is most needed. Several types of artificial tags or marks have been proven useful in the identification of stocked fish, but they often have various drawbacks. Natural chemical markers in otoliths offer several advantages compared to conventional tags or marks and can be used to identify …

Indiana Bat Population Dynamics In The Midst Of Climate Change And White-Nose Syndrome, Lexie Ann Schwartz

Theses

Climate change and emerging diseases are altering species distributions and ecosystem dynamics worldwide. For temperate insectivorous bats in North America, food availability and winter climate influence hibernation energetics and survival. As climate warming alters insect phenology, these changes are likely to have an impact on hibernating bats. Many cavernicolous bats in North America are also threatened by white-nose syndrome (WNS), a newly emerged fungal disease devastating bat populations. This study examined the distribution of hibernating Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) over time throughout their range. I used long-term weather data to simulate seasonal insect availability, the spring and autumn transitory periods, …

Los Juegos De Rol Como Una Herramienta Psicoeducativa, Víctor E. Quintana Villarreal

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

Los juegos de rol han funcionado durante mucho tiempo como un medio para compartir y crear historias en conjunto con colegas y amigos. De ellos, se desprenden también habilidades y herramientas fundamentales para la vida, por lo que un método para sistematizar estos juegos de tablero y dados a funciones educativas es necesario para potenciarlos como herramientas psicoeducativas.

La siguiente, es una propuesta planteada desde el marco constructivista para generar espacios con los juegos de rol como eje central del aprendizaje, y se relatan a través de un marco teórico, seguido de una proposición metodológica, una serie de pasos para …

Journal Of Roleplaying Studies And Steam (Jrpssteam) Vol. 5 [2026], Número 1 (Issue 1), Romano Ponce-Díaz Phd, Cristo Leon, Ivan Avila, Sarah Lynne Bowman, Kjell Hedgard Hugaas, Alexandra Schreiber Ma, Jaime Eduardo García Maya, Víctor Emmanuel Quintana Villarreal Vic Emma, Francisco Gonzalez Ing., Daniel Romero Benguigui, Antonio Roda-Martínez

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

El presente número del Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM examina la convergencia entre las prácticas lúdicas, el diseño narrativo y los procesos de mediación sociocultural en la investigación contemporánea. Las contribuciones reunidas en este número abordan el juego de rol como un dispositivo de producción de conocimiento, intervención psicoeducativa y reelaboración de representaciones culturales. Nos podemos atrever a señalar que la educación es la convergencia entre la ludología, las ciencias sociales, los estudios visuales y el análisis cultural; entendiendo a la educación como la actividad consciente e intencionada de transmitir información y conocimientos a las siguientes generaciones.

Martin Heidegger …

Confluence: From Barrier To Connection: Reconnecting The Lower Ninth Ward To The Industrial Canal Through An Inhabitable Water Edge, Ciara Albrecht

Architecture Theses

Confluence reimagines the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans as a resilient waterfront community shaped by memory, ecology, and adaptive housing. Located along the Industrial Canal at the site of the 2005 levee breach, the project replaces defensive separation with an inhabitable water edge composed of amphibious housing, public circulation, constructed wetlands, visible water systems, and an underground memorial. The thesis argues that post-disaster rebuilding cannot be measured only by infrastructure or replacement housing, but by dignity, return, cultural identity, public health, and long-term stewardship. Through buoyant foundations, concealed mooring systems, passive climate strategies, and a spatial sequence that moves …

The Social Seam: Combating Social Isolation Through Architecture, Elissa Hammrich

Architecture Theses

A lack of walkable environments and well-supported public spaces has created a crisis of social disconnection across the United States. Historically, dating back to the public squares of ancient Greece, the public realm was a place of communal ritual from which citizens drew their primary identity. Today, however, modern cities are driven by commerce and technology, rapidly losing the genuine spaces that create face-to-face human interaction. By prioritizing the efficient movement of vehicles and goods over human connection, it has left behind fractured, isolated communities.

This thesis explores architectural strategies to combat this social isolation, focusing specifically on the Near …

Bridging The Urban Moat In Downtown Fargo: Downtown Riverfront Reconnection, Haitham Al Nemri

Architecture Theses

Downtown Fargo is the city's cultural and economic hub, but it is currently constrained by a lack of riverfront activation and an outdated limited variety of building typologies and uses along the eastern downtown edge. The main issue is the lack of a clear physical connection bridging the infrastructure that cuts the civic core off from the Red River. This thesis tackles this problem by proposing a "Reconnection Framework" that combines reusing existing infrastructure, adapting to the harsh "Winter City" climate, and adding mid-scale residential housing, to expand housing options in Fargo downtown. The design proposal transforms the downtown riverfront, …

Cold Climate Urban Riverfront Development: Using People-First Design To Connect Fargo's Downtown To The River, Jade Biewer

Architecture Theses

This thesis examines the intersection of urban design, riverfront development, and cold climate design to establish a framework for a mixed-use riverfront project in Fargo’s Downtown. By synthesizing theories on public space revitalization, key considerations in waterfront development and research on climatic responses for cold weather cities, this research identifies key principles to support year-round urban life along the riverfront. By using downtown Fargo and the Red River as a reference this research synthesizes knowledge on these subjects in order to work towards creating a design proposal for an urban riverfront development prioritizing outdoor space, year-round use, resiliency, and a …

Life & Death: How Adaptive Reuse Can Reimagine Dying Malls & Their Role In Their Communities, Kennedy Grant

Architecture Theses

Across the US, many malls have been left vacant due to widespread decline, leaving valuable urban land underutilized. This is not a liability, but an opportunity to adaptively reuse these sites and transform them into community hubs. Through research into the history of malls in the US, the current state of retail, theories of place, adaptive reuse strategies and case studies, five principles of adaptive reuse were derived to guide the design. The results of my research suggest that connection to the context, diverse program, community, sustainability, and human centered design can make former malls vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable parts …

Beyond The Battlefield: Architecture As A Path To Veteran Recovery, Alexandria Hamman

Architecture Theses

For many United States veterans, the transition home is not a return to stability, but the beginning of a new and often unseen mental health challenges. This thesis explores the role of architecture in supporting the recovery and reintegration of United States veterans facing mental health challenges and homelessness. Existing mental health and transitional housing facilities are often sterile and institutional, overlooking the impact of the built environment on psychological well-being. This project proposes a combined transitional housing and mental health rehabilitation facility designed to reduce the stigma of veterans needing help, promote stability, and help reintegrate them into a …

Fields Of Home: Dignified Housing Design For Migrant Farmworkers In Rural North Dakota And Rural Minnesota, Kenady Slominski

Architecture Theses

Migrant agricultural workers are often faced with challenges regarding their housing. These housing conditions lack privacy, permanence, and a connection to the community. Existing solutions tend to prioritize efficiency and cost over the emotional, social, and cultural needs of residents. Therefore, the existing solutions are unable to create a sense of dignity. Additionally, there is limited regional research addressing migrant worker housing conditions in Minnesota and North Dakota specifically.

This project explores how architectural design can improve living conditions through a focus on dignity and community integration. The proposed development consists of duplex homes in one- and two-bedroom units with …

Creative Placemaking: Using Makerspace Infrastructure To Support Circular Communities, Grace Dejong

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates how makerspaces can function as critical social and economic infrastructure within processes of urban regeneration, particularly in post-industrial contexts. Drawing from creative placemaking scholarship, and quantitative and qualitative data on entrepreneurship and making cultures, the research examines making as both a cultural practice and an economic catalyst. Centered on a vacant industrial infill site, the project explores how spaces for production, learning, and gathering can support creative labor, small-scale manufacturing, and community resilience. By bridging societal issues with architectural application, the thesis addresses gaps between discussions of creativity, sustainability, and their spatial implementation. Through an integrated program …

Life Beyond Architecture, Mauro Benvenutto

Architecture Theses

This thesis argues that the loss of public life in many contemporary American cities cannot be explained by architecture alone. While placeless, standardized, and emotionally thin architecture remains an important symptom of the problem, the deeper condition is urban: cities and neighborhoods have been reorganized around the private automobile, separated land uses, oversized parking fields, high-speed commercial corridors, and development models that prioritize convenience and efficiency over human scale. The result is an environment where people technically have access to buildings, sidewalks, shops, and roads, but often lack meaningful freedom of choice. Walking, biking, transit, lingering, and informal social life …

Reminiscing: Architectural Impressions That Last, Ryann Vetsch

Architecture Theses

This research explores the relatively unknown intersection of human memory and architectural design to determine the characteristics of a memorable place. Through synthesis of psychological literature on memory and architectural theory, in conjunction with case study analysis, a “Hypothetical Memorability Network" was established. Within this network, five psychological characteristics act in sequence to provide the necessary tools for creating a long-term episodic memory: attention, emotion, place, meaning, and story.

These psychological characteristics were developed into a Memorable Design Framework to be used as a guide to creating memorable architectural projects. Testing the design framework, the research found is applied to …

Wellness Through Architecture: Connecting Nordic Wellness Traditions With Architecture To Promote Human Well-Being, Morgan Mae Klimpel

Architecture Theses

In society, the need for spaces that promote wellbeing has become increasingly pressing. Modern lifestyles are often defined by constant stimulation and high stress, leaving us with limited opportunities to truly recharge. Since architecture is the framework for how we experience the built environment, it plays a critical role in shaping our mental, physical, and emotional health. The historic Lutsen Lodge site currently sits undeveloped after being destroyed by a fire in February 2024. Representing a key extension of the Lutsen Resort, this location embodies a long-standing tradition of hospitality and the unique cultural heritage of the North Shore. This …

Sanctuary: Caring For The Whole Person In A Fragmented World, Hazel Elizabeth Chvatal

Architecture Theses

Drawing especially upon the writings of Alberto Perez-Gomez, this thesis claims that today’s built environment neglects social and spiritual wellbeing. Efficiency and productivity take priority over meaning and wellbeing, and many spaces fail to provide any context about relationship to a larger reality. Taking inspiration from the traditions of Benedictine monks and nuns, this architecture thesis proposes ritual as a means to invite participation and emphasize connection. A design process of artefactual making grounds the embodied experience in layers of authentic cultural, historical, and scientific realities. Through a layered, narrative-driven design approach, this thesis seeks to address social and spiritual …

Behind The Badge: Rethinking The Police Department As A Functional Workplace, Benjamin Michael

Architecture Theses

While traditional design approaches often emphasize public engagement and community visibility, this project centers on the needs of law enforcement personnel, recognizing the high-stress, high-stakes nature of their work. By integrating architectural strategies that reduce stress, foster relaxation, and support daily workflows, the design aims to improve officer morale, enhance focus, and increase job retention. Key features include dedicated decompression zones, wellness and fitness facilities, natural lighting and biophilic elements, and spatial layouts that support efficient operations while promoting a sense of safety and comfort.

Front Matter: Proceedings Of The 2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference At West Virginia University, Teaching And Learning Center

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

No abstract provided.

Secondary Traumatic Stress Among U.S Army Active-Duty Social Workers., Jennifer Frazier

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) and its relationship with functional impairment among U.S. Army active-duty social workers. These social workers practice in a uniquely demanding environment, balancing constant exposure to service members’ and families’ trauma narratives as well as organizational mandates. A mixed-method, exploratory, cross-sectional design was used, with data collected via an online survey. Resulting in a sample of fifteen, recruited via a Facebook group for Army Social Workers. Analysis focused on patterns and associations rather than causal conclusions, due to the sample size and design, and should be interpreted cautiously. Patterns …

Hearing Northern New Mexico's Silenced Voices: Exploring Intersectionality And Allyship., Cheri Loggains

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Hearing Northern New Mexico’s Silenced Voices: Exploring Intersectionality & Allyship Cheri Loggains, MSW, LCSW March 27, 2026 Oversimplified social constructs of identity and power were intentionally used in Northern New Mexico (NNM) by White settlers to perpetuate oppression. This oversimplification contributes to a false narrative of New Mexico centering White experiences and creating a hegemonic system of power. The repercussions of such acts are under new scrutiny, which calls out performative allyship. However, performative allyship is scarcely studied in current literature, even though it is a natural microcosm for examining the relational dynamics of power. The current literature also implies …

Attitudes, Behaviors, And Co-Workers Influence Of Those Who Provide Mental Health Support Services To Refugees And Immigrants., Irene Boamah

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

ABSTRACT

ATTITUDES, BEHAVIORS, AND CO-WORKERS INFLUENCE OF THOSE WHO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES TO REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS

Irene A. Boamah

April 3, 2026

Refugees and immigrants face a variety of mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Despite these mental health issues, there is limited research examining the attitudes, behaviors and coworkers’ influence on those who provide mental health support services to this population. This study examines the relationships between the demographic and professional characteristics of mental health support service providers in Kentucky and the stigmas they may have toward refugees and immigrants.

A cross-sectional …

Safe At Work: A Case Study On The Healthcare Response To Employee Disclosures Of Domestic Violence., Victoria Dobson

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Domestic violence is a pervasive issue that impacts individuals and communities at every level, including professionally. Despite this known impact, workplace-based interventions to address such violence, aside from leave policies, are seldom implemented, especially in healthcare settings. This paper presents a case study on a healthcare organization’s response to employee disclosures of domestic violence.  A retrospective review of HR data, five semi-structured interviews, and a survey of hospital leadership were conducted to explore employee experiences and preliminary outcomes associated with a workplace domestic violence leave policy and concurrent, on-site supportive services (Safe At Work Program) offered to employees experiencing domestic …

Increasing Food Resource Awareness Among College Students In Monterey County, Lesley Martinez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Food insecurity is a growing concern in Monterey County, particularly impacting underserved communities, including college students. This capstone project aims to address the need for food resource awareness among college students at Hartnell College, while providing a nutritional cultural tailored plant-based meal. College students have an overwhelming amount of pressure balancing school work and their own personal lives. Outside barriers, such as food insecurity, have an adverse influence on their well-being, which can impact their academic performance in their studies. El Mercado is a basic needs resource center located at Hartnell College, supporting students with free basic need supplies located …

Integrating Organizational Theory In Student Employee Development Across Dispersed Workplaces, Anica C. Chesnut

Master of Public Administration Capstone Papers

Managing and developing staff at university residential desks presents unique challenges. One challenge is the complexity of supervising student employees while allowing them the opportunity to grow as well. Another challenge is the dispersed nature of residential desks across a university campus. Satellite desks present a difficulty to maintain community, a positive work culture, continuity of expectations, and procedures. Several organizational theory frameworks can be directly applied to the organization in order to reduce challenges. This capstone paper utilizes literature review and examination of current practices, to provide context of current inefficiencies while also critically analyzing pain points within the …

Christian-Based Community Engagement And Loneliness Among College Students, Ayodeji Fayemi

Master's Theses & Other Graduate Student Works

Loneliness among college students is a growing public health concern with significant implications for mental and physical well-being. Despite living in highly connected environments, many students report profound feelings of loneliness, which can exacerbate mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety. Loneliness also influences cognitive and social processes and has been linked to physical health risks, highlighting the need for effective interventions. This study examined whether Christian-based community engagement served as a protective factor against loneliness among college students. Grounded in Social Support Theory, the study assessed associations among loneliness, general social support, church-based support, religious coping, institutional integration, …

Efficacy Of Implicit Bias Training Within The Hazel Park Police Department, Luke Londo

Master of Public Administration Capstone Papers

Among the many desired outcomes for uniformed police officers who undergo implicit bias training is a reduction in the level of discriminatory conduct related to such biases. Current research on the subject offers mixed results, and nearly all existing studies do not provide an empirical measurement of efficacy or other outcomes beyond officer sentiment. This case study examines and measures the impact of implicit bias trainings, which is a requirement for officers within the Hazel Park Police Department in Michigan, prior and subsequent to certification by using raw and sustained complaints of discriminatory conduct allegedly perpetrated by Hazel Park police …

Body Worn Cameras For The Madison Police Department, Caleb Wright

Master of Public Administration Capstone Papers

Body-worn cameras for law enforcement officers can ensure accountability of the officers and transparency to the public. Though body-worn cameras have become increasingly popular in police departments, some departments do not use them. The Madison Police Department is one of these departments. Body-worn cameras have been implemented with policy models in many surrounding departments in Wisconsin and have proved to hold officers accountable and ensure transparency during complaints and cases. Leveraging literature on integrated policy approach and policy implementation, this capstone paper summarizes the needs and benefits of body-worn cameras for the MPD. This paper contributes to broader debates on …