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Grounding Human Value: A Critical Evaluation Of Naturalism And A Defense Of Christianity As The Basis For Human Value And The Moral Status Of The Unborn, Jacob Vazquez

Masters Theses

This thesis will explore the grounding of personhood and seeks to convince atheist readers who adhere to naturalism that abortion is wrong because human beings are made in the image of God, as the Christian doctrine of the Imago Dei teaches. This will be done by taking the reader on a journey or a map, in which various secular (non-religious) destinations are visited before finally reaching the final theological conclusion as presented above. The evidence culminated from each of the secular stops will end up supporting the argument from the Imago Dei against abortion.

For instance, Chapter 1 will consist …

Gospel-Centric Liturgy For Contemporary Worship: A Biblical Basis For Locally Crafted Worship Songs, Adriane M. Blanco

Masters Theses

Despite a cultural shift toward creating original worship music in churches today, there remains a need for new songs that reinforce biblical theology and foster spiritual formation through an intentional gospel-centric liturgy contextualized for the local congregation. Such a gospel liturgy consists of a cycle of songs that, with each weekly gathering of the church body, reiterates the revelation of God's presence, humanity’s sinful nature, Christ’s work of salvation, and the believer’s response in worship. At the same time, it is essential to emphasize spiritual songs that express the heartfelt emotions of the worshiper, maintaining a balance in properly worshiping …

The Fruit Of The Spirit Beyond Sunday: A Practical Implementation Of The Fruit Of The Spirit Through Visual And Experiential Learning, Amy English

Masters Theses

In today’s world, modern Christian women recognize the importance of the Fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and temperance—but many Christian women find it difficult to consistently put these virtues into practice. A key reason for this struggle is the lack of practical methods and visual reminders that help women recall and apply these qualities in their daily lives. Without clear, accessible ways to nurture these spiritual fruits, believers may find that their growth in these areas is limited or inconsistent.

This thesis explores how combining intentional spiritual habits with creative visual tools can make …

Hugs In Hues, Shivani Pednekar

Theses

Hugs in Hues is an animated short film about social anxiety, emotional expression, and discomfort with physical touch. The story follows Tina, a young artist who struggles to express how she feels. When she pulls away from a hug from her friend Emily, Tina escapes into a painting-like 2D world made from her drawings. This imagined world reflects Tina’s emotions. The colors, textures, and spaces change based on how she feels. Her anxiety, fear of rejection, and need for safety take visual form. The real world feels sharp and rigid, while Tina’s illustrated world feels soft, imperfect, and expressive. Animation …

Understanding Medication Adherence Among American Indian/Alaska Native People With Type 2 Diabetes Within A Commercial Health System, Leandra Bitterfeld

Dissertations

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults experience higher rates of type 2 diabetes and worse glycemic control than non-Hispanic White Americans. Despite the importance of medication adherence for T2DM management, there is only one study in the last 15 years examining the relationship between medication adherence and A1C among AI/ANs. Furthermore, T2DM research among AI/ANs has largely been conducted within Indian Health Service and Tribal healthcare systems, though most AI/ANs live outside of reservations, meaning many use commercial health systems. The purpose of this dissertation is twofold. We sought to first understand the experience of AI/AN people accessing T2DM in a …

Mae Enewsbrief July-Sept 2025, Department Of Mechanical And Aerospace Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Conducting A Historical Map Collection Condition Assessment Survey At The Rochester Public Library, Ron Martin-Dent

Library Faculty Publications

Historical maps retain tremendous research value in the digital era. While many libraries have digitized their maps to expand research access, challenges remain for preserving physical maps. This project report describes a collection condition assessment survey at a public library using free online tools and volunteer hours to identify preservation issues and develop strategies to improve collection care. Collection condition surveys can serve as a road map for further preservation, conservation, and digitization projects.

Intradistrict Inequality: Examining Educational Opportunity In Richmond Elementary Schools, Tara Sheehan

Honors Theses

Educational inequality in the U.S. is often discussed across district lines, but differences between schools within the same district are just as significant. This paper examines intradistrict disparities in Richmond Public Schools (RPS) by comparing William Fox Elementary and Broad Rock Elementary. Although both schools operate under the same district, they serve very different student populations and produce markedly different outcomes. William Fox serves mostly White and economically advantaged students, with higher test scores, lower absenteeism, fewer behavioral incidents, and access to a wide range of enrichment programs. Broad Rock, on the other hand, serves predominantly Hispanic and Black students, …

Unresectable Angiosarcoma Of The Head And Neck: A Case Report Highlighting Genomic Alterations, Targeted Therapy, And Clinical Response, Vasisht Karri, Samir Dalia

Student Publications

Angiosarcoma of the head and neck is an aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options when unresectable. We report the case of a 73-year-old male with advanced scalp and neck angiosarcoma characterized by MYC amplification and high tumor mutational burden. He received a multimodal treatment strategy including dual immune checkpoint blockade (nivolumab and ipilimumab) combined with cabozantinib, followed by paclitaxel and subsequent pazopanib. This approach achieved prolonged disease control exceeding 18 months, with manageable toxicities through dose adjustments and supportive care. Genomic profiling guided therapeutic decisions and highlighted the role of MYC amplification and tumor mutational burden as potential biomarkers for …

Homelessness Among Utah Women: A 2025 Update, Robyn C. Blackburn, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

In 2025, the total number of Utah residents experiencing homelessness on any given night grew to 4,584,¹ up from 3,131 in 2020² (a 46.4% increase), as reported in our 2022 research snapshot³ on this topic, and an 18.0% increase from 2024.⁴ According to The Office of Homeless Services under the Utah Department of Workforce Services, the number of people who accessed homelessness services in Utah sometime during the year grew 27.2% between 2021 and 2025, from 24,037⁵ to 30,578 individuals.⁶ Homelessness continues to remain a concern for many Utah women and families, and it …

Hollywood, Ai, And The Moral Universe: An Analysis Of The Terminator And Battlestar Galactica, Lara Sumera Samms

Masters Theses

This thesis defends the argument that depictions of artificial intelligence in Hollywood film and television point to a moral universe. Films The Terminator (1984) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), as well as the television series Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009) are analyzed to find clues of moral facts. This research paper submits that these stories add weight to the moral argument and provide evidence that humans implicitly recognize a moral universe. Such acknowledgment of moral structures cannot be adequately explained within a secular framework such as utilitarianism or evolutionary ethics. However, the Christian worldview frames reality around the existence of God, …

Nearly All Vermonters Expect White Christmas, Four In Ten Have Real Trees This Year 12/16/2025, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

Four in ten Vermont residents will have a real Christmas tree this year and most often cite the look or smell or tradition as the reason. Seven in eight Vermonters plan to celebrate Christmas, most of whom will celebrate it as a family or cultural holiday rather than a religious one. Given the heavy early snows, most Vermonters expect a white Christmas.

Successful Treatment Of Comorbid Sapho Syndrome And Hidradenitis Suppurativa With Upadacitinib, Deepika Narayanan, Tiffaney Tran, Valeria Duque-Clavijo, Hung Q Doan, Stephen K Tyring

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Writing A Phd Thesis In Counterpoint To Its Traditional Map: Writing To And With Theories And Concepts Encountered In The Doing Of Doctoral Studies, Mary Catherine Garland

Professional Services

This article offers insights into challenges encountered in the landscaping of a doctoral thesis written in counterpoint with its traditional map. The inspiration behind the author’s thesis is a sixteen-year-old withdrawn from an English Further Education college on her first day. Consequently, the thesis troubles seemingly rigid orthodox academic structures and writing conventions, which potentially act as a barrier to learning. Animating the (non)methodological approaches of a PhD thesis written for everyone denied the opportunity of fulfilling their academic potential, this paper engages with speculative and experimental approaches to research, asking not ‘what is’, but ‘what if’.

How Racism Affects Attitudes About Post-Secondary Education, Anne Duong

Masters Theses (Archived)

As the number of students of color in America continues to increase each year, these minority groups remain underrepresented in higher education. The educational system must adapt and make changes to better serve the diverse cultures and backgrounds of new students. Recognizing the presence of structural and systemic racism in American history, this research aims to explore whether racism affects students' learning experiences in K-12 schools and how this, in turn, influences their attitudes toward pursuing post-secondary education. The study focuses on high school students in 12th grade from a Texas public school, representing the backgrounds of students of color. …

Petty Cash Funds And Change Funds Policy

Business & Finance Policies

This policy provides direction on petty cash funds and change funds and clarifies appropriate uses and oversight of such funds while ensuring compliance with all state, federal, and Board of Regents (BOR) requirements.

Regio- And Stereoselective Halogenation By An Iron(Ii)- And 2-Oxoglutarate-Dependent Halogenase In The Biosynthesis Of Halogenated Nucleosides, Philip M. Palacios, Xiaoyun Li, Simahudeen Bathir Jaber Sathik Rifayee, Haoyu Tang, Tatyana Karabencheva-Christova, Christo Christov, Wei-Chen Chang, Yisong Guo

Michigan Tech Publications

Iron(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent (Fe/2OG) enzymes have garnered strong research interest in past decades due to their ability to catalyze regio- and stereoselective C-H functionalization via a single reactive intermediate, the oxyferryl species. In addition to the hydroxylation reaction that is commonly observed, other reaction outcomes have also been discovered in Fe/2OG enzymes. Among them, halogenation has attracted much research effort with the goal of revealing the molecular determinants to favor halogenation over hydroxylation however, a full mechanistic picture is still missing. In this study, by investigating a recently identified Fe/2OG halogenase, AdeV, from the biosynthetic pathway of Adechlorin, we show, …

More Than Half Of Granite Staters Will Have Artificial Trees This Christmas 12/16/2025, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

The trend towards artificial Christmas trees in New Hampshire continues apace, with just over half of state residents preferring them. Residents who prefer artificial trees most often say they like them because they already have one, they create less mess, and they last longer, while those who prefer real trees mention tradition or the look or smell. Nearly all New Hampshire residents plan on celebrating Christmas, and most primarily celebrate it as a family or cultural holiday rather than a religious holiday. More than three-quarters of Granite Staters expect a white Christmas, up from four in ten who felt that …

Beheld To Behold: A Rhetorical Theology Of Otherness In Acts, Hannah E. Gross

Masters Theses

The phenomena of otherness foundationally grounds this work. A micro-concept of Martin Buber’s I and Thou Theory, otherness is central to this study particularly as it is rhetorically situated in the work of Acts. The research draws from ideological criticism to produce a rhetorical theology. Findings uncover two primary relational dynamics of otherness: (1) God to the believer to the unbeliever and (2) God to the believer to the believer. These constructions of dialogical engagement in Acts are donned witness and withness, offering keen insight on a rhetorical theology of otherness.

Learning To View Christianity As True Myth And How It Should Influence Both Our Thinking And Our Actions, Joshua Jaccob Hazeldine

Masters Theses

Often, Christianity and the Scriptures are viewed through either a purely academic lens or an emotionally based lens. While both methods have value and use, they also have major flaws that can hinder our growth and understanding. This thesis presents a more effective approach to understanding the Scriptures and our Christian faith. By combining both the heart and the mind, we have a method that can see the truth and logic of Christianity without missing the wonder and amazement of Christianity. This method was called True Myth by C.S. Lewis, for it acknowledges the total truth of everything in Christianity …

Aeolian Tones: A Book Of Minor Poetry About Isolation And The Space Between Disconnection And Connection, Thaddeus Tague

Masters Theses

This is the artistic statement for Aeolian Tones, the poetry chapbook that will serve as my thesis. In this accompanying paper, I explore the vision, process, and inspiration behind the various themes in the chapbook, as well as the overall goal. I hope to provide personal context for the writing's purpose, as well as offer reflections and interpretive guidelines for how the poetry can and should be understood. In this work, I aim to provide a space for readers seeking reflections on loneliness, healing, profound pain, and disconnection.

Next, the literature review will examine ten modern works of minor non-epic …

Archetypes: Angels Of Literary Art; Demons Of Science, Ronald A. Davidson

Masters Theses

This Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing thesis focuses on archetypal literary theory and criticism and their application to Bushido of the Cur, a novella by Ronald A. Davidson. The critical analysis will evaluate the characters in the novella and identify how their roles in the story align with everyday human experiences, suggesting the existence of a literary collective unconscious. The creative manuscript, Bushido of the Cur, exploits the craft of character development to present a storyline that feels authentic, even though it is a work of historical fiction in the western noir genre. The goal of the manuscript is …

Operation Evil Empire: The Strategic Weaponization Of Rhetoric In Psychological Warfare, Sabrina Marie Smith

Masters Theses

The Cold War redefined warfare around information, ideology, and perception. Victory depended less on territory and more on legitimacy. In 1983, Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union were extremely high. President Ronald Reagan’s “Evil Empire” speech emerged at a critical juncture, marking a pivotal moment when U.S. foreign policy embraced assertive ideological confrontation. The rhetoric of this speech did more than address the American public; it served as a strategic instrument aimed at weakening Soviet ideological cohesion. It became a turning point in U.S. Cold War rhetoric, targeting both the Soviet leadership and its oppressed …

The Ultra Dilemma: Understanding The Impact Of Ultra-Processed Food, Cassia Elizabeth Brenning

Masters Theses

Ultra-processed food dominates the market, making up an estimated 73% of the national food supply and costing 52% less than healthier, minimally- processed alternatives (Ravandi et al). With such a large supply, there is a great demand to sell these products to consumers. Major food corporations rely on misleading labels, heavy marketing, and industry-funded research to manipulate consumers into buying more of their products. While these products are cheap, quick, convenient, and delicious, they are not components of a healthy diet.

This thesis argues that the best way to tackle the issue of ultra-processed food is by redirecting focus from …

Covid-19 Event Impact: Religious/Spiritual Coping And Posttraumatic Growth In Adult Female Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Mindy Barrett Perlman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique collective trauma that has disproportionately impacted vulnerable populations, including adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). This quantitative, non-experimental, correlational study examined the relationship between spiritual/religious coping and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among this population, while also exploring the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the mediating role of religious/spiritual coping. Grounded in Tedeschi and Calhoun’s Posttraumatic Growth Theory and Pargament’s Religious Coping Theory, this study utilized the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE), and the Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R) adapted for COVID-19 to assess trauma exposure, …

An Examination Of Perceptions Of Strangers' Trustworthiness: A Comparison Of Religious Beliefs, Angelia Theresa Hogan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

When Panikkar wrote that the “meeting of religions is an inescapable fact of today,” he was describing the very premise of this study. The continual social interactions between people of different faiths and beliefs require an understanding of both perceptions and prejudices in order to help foster trust and cooperation in a global setting. The availability of current data on unimpeded and immediate perceptions of the social trustworthiness of a photographed face on the part of people of different religious beliefs is sorely lacking. This study examined whether people with six different religious affiliations assigned different levels of trustworthiness to …

Procedure As Power: The Rule Of Arcadius In Constantinople, 395–408, Matthew Lloyd Talmage

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation reinterprets the reign of the Eastern Roman emperor Arcadius (395-408 CE), challenging the entrenched view of a passive figurehead by arguing that he governed through indirect, procedure-driven rule. It analyzes how Arcadius shaped outcomes via law, office rotation, ecclesiastical appointments, and controlled visibility while shifting political risk to ministers and bishops through strategic inaction. Focusing on Constantinople and the Eastern court between the deaths of Theodosius I (395) and Arcadius (408), the study employs process-tracing with falsifiable indicators: legal addressee patterns as proxies for routing nodes, rotation cadence in senior posts as a balancing and audit tool, and …

Childhood Trauma And Adult Psychological Disorders: A Case Study, Jessica Marie Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Childhood trauma including experiences of sexual, physical and emotional abuse, neglect and exposure to violence has been widely recognized as a significant risk factor for the development of psychological disorders in adulthood. Such early life adversities can disrupt emotional, cognitive, and social development which can contribute to long-term mental health challenges. This qualitative study aimed to explore and understand how childhood trauma influenced adult psychological disorders, not only by examining direct impacts but also by identifying perceived moderating factors that shaped incarcerated individuals’ outcomes. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research investigated the lived experiences of adult incarcerated males …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study: Exploring Special Education And General Education Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Teaching Phonemic Awareness To English Language Learners, Nicholas Kenneth Hebert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study described teachers' experiences teaching phonological awareness to English Language Learners in New York State. The theory guiding the study is Bandura’s work on self-efficacy from his social cognitive theory (SCT). Bandura’s work on self-efficacy provided a framework to answer the central research question: what are the lived experiences of kindergarten through grade 5 special education and general education teachers regarding self-efficacy teaching phonemic awareness to English Language Learners (ELLs)? There were 10 special education and general education teachers who have a master's and have worked with ELLs within the last 5 years. Purposeful, …

The Great Hawaiian Revival: A Historical Survey Of The Totality Of Events Of The Great Hawaiian Revival From 1836-1842, Nicholas A. Freeman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

While much has been written on the Great Hawaiian Revival, most has provided a general historical overview in which the primary focus has been on the great missionary Titus Coan and the immense revival that took place at the church in Hilo, Hawai’i. However, this paper argues that, when digging a little deeper, one soon discovers that there was so much more to the story. Beginning with prior, smaller revivals reported in Honolulu, Lahaina, Waimea, and Kaua’i before 1837, along with the revival noted among the missionaries themselves in 1836 during their annual mission meeting on Oahu, the great revival’s …