Digital Commons Network^™

Motivated And Determined & Making A Difference As Executives (Mad & Made) In The Entertainment Industry: A Phenomenological Study Of Black Female Entertainment Industry Executives’ Challenges And Paths To Elevation, Angela M. Killens

Theses and Dissertations

Since the birth of the United States and the enslavement of Africans in America, Black women have had to navigate challenges in various industries to elevate toward, and excel in, positions of power. From grade school to the workplace, Black women have had to contend with racism, discrimination, and inequities that have been impediments despite their level of education and experience. With little literature specifically documenting the experiences of Black women who work on the corporate side of the entertainment industry, the data acquired from this qualitative phenomenological study provides insight into these women’s lives. The study discloses some of …

Development & Evaluation Of An Introductory Webinar Training For Mental Health Professionals Working With Perpetrators Of Child Sexual Abuse: A Strengths-Based Sociocultural Perspective, Angie Yvette Reyes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation project was to develop an introductory webinar resource to provide training of mental health professionals (MHPs) to work with perpetrators of child sexual abuse (PCSA). The training utilizes a strengths-based approach with a focus on sociocultural considerations for working with this population. A literature review revealed a gap in resources, treatment, and clinical training pertaining to PCSA. The results of an initial training needs survey among MHPs indicated that MHPs do not receive education or training on PCSA and could benefit from training. Through this webinar training, MHPs acquire a basic understanding of PCSA and …

Developing A Quaker Theology Of Place: Community Flourishing In An Era Of Climate Change, Cherice Bock

Quaker Religious Thought

Expressions of Quakerism in the past have not generally been particularly connected to the places in which they are located. Members of the Religious Society of Friends have emphasized the ability to connect with the sacred wherever one is, not only in a building set aside for worship or a holy site. The traditional Friends’ worship practice only requires meeting with others in silence to listen to the leading of the Spirit; this can be done anywhere and does not assume the geographical location is of particular importance. While the Friends witness that the presence of God is not limited …

Unenforceable Waivers, Edward K. Cheng, Ehud Guttel, Yuval Procaccia

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

Textbook tort law establishes that waivers of liability-—especially those involving physical harm-—are often unenforceable. This Essay demonstrates through an extensive survey of the case law that despite being unenforceable, such waivers remain in widespread use. Indeed, defendants frequently use waivers even when a court has previously declared their specific waivers to be void. So why do such waivers persist? Often the simple answer is to hoodwink would-be plaintiffs. Waivers serve as costless deterrents to tort claims: Either they dupe naïve victims into believing that their claims are barred, or if not, the defendant is no worse off than before. Such …

Time To Slapp Back: Advocating Against The Adverse Civil Liberties Implications Of Litigation That Undermines Public Participation, Jennifer Safstrom

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

Defamation law is a catchall term encompassing civil claims for reputational harm to an individual, including slander and libel. Defamation claims originated in English common law and have since evolved within the American legal system. Scholars have characterized the law of defamation as “a forest of complexities, overgrown with anomalies, inconsistencies, and perverse rigidities” and as a “‘fog of fictions, inferences, and presumptions.’” Amid these inherent variations and complexities of defamation law and litigation — including the largely state-specific nature of tort law development — emerges a disturbing trend across jurisdictions. In the modern era, defamation claims have been used …

Humanizing Learning: Concepts And Strategies To Design And Implement Now, Melony Shemberger

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

Humanizing teaching supports the affective and cognitive dimensions of learning. The concept often is used in online education, but it is necessary for any modality to build a learning environment that is relationship-rich. This article discusses the principles and elements of humanized learning, helpful theoretical frameworks, and strategies that can be implemented and practiced in any instructional setting.

New Normal Feels Anything But: Practical Strategies For Mental Wellness In The Pandemic Classroom, Maria Bane, Maggie Freeman

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

The COVID-19 pandemic continues highlighting the need for relationship-rich education, even while presenting challenges related to mental health and isolation for students and faculty. Return to face-to-face instruction has signaled a “new normal” that might feel anything but normal. This discussion draws on James Lang’s principles of small teaching, the idea that faculty can make small, manageable changes to teaching that significantly improve student learning and avoid faculty burnout. Specifically, motivation and growth mindset are explored to offer practical tips for promoting mental well-being in the classroom.

Applying Universal Design For Learning (Udl) Principles For Building Intentional Student-Faculty Relationships In An Online Graduate Program, Robert Legary Jr.

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

Student engagement in learning and relationship building among faculty and students can be challenging in an online learning environment. Relatedness and positive engagement with other students and faculty foster positive learning outcomes. The intentional application of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) engagement guidelines and checkpoints (CAST, 2018) with Chickering and Gamson’s (1999) Seven Principles for Good Practice accommodates learner variability and promotes relationship-building experiences. In an online M.Ed. program, key elements and strategies of the UDL engagement guidelines and the Seven Principles are integrated in curriculum, teaching methods, and learning activities. Implications for practice related to the application of …

Ungrading General Education: Preliminary Results From A Pilot Study, Stacey J. Korson, Eric B. Meiners, Matthew Howell, Alison Buck, Kaitlynn Moody, Matthew P. Winslow, Travis L. Martin, Anne Fleischer

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

A group of faculty members representing more than 20 courses listed in the Eastern Kentucky University General Education curriculum participated in a pilot program to test and measure the effectiveness of “ungraded” pedagogy. “Ungrading,” as defined by the group, can be any conscious effort to move student emphasis away from grades and onto learning. Given this definition, ungrading took many forms in the pilot: gradeless classrooms, grading contracts, and greater choice of assignments by students, to name a few. At the end of the semester, quantitative and qualitative data was gathered from student course evaluations; DFW and retention rates were …

Training University Tutors To Work With Bilingual Students, Sara Incera, Haleigh Hamilton, Angie J. Marroquin, Socorro Zaragoza, Trenia Napier, Lara Kristin Vance, Ashley Matthews Sweat, Judith L. Jenkins

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

The purpose of this project was to train university tutors to improve their support of bilingual students (ESL/ELL students). We developed an evidence-based training session that emphasizes university connectedness and cultural inclusion. This one-hour training included background information, tutoring tips, and time for discussion. The majority of tutors (44 out of 47) reported learning something helpful they could use when tutoring. While this intervention was specifically designed to target bilingual students, most evidence-based tips discussed here are applicable to all students. It is crucial to provide tutors with the skills and resources necessary to better connect with their students.

In-Class Laptop Use For Student Learning: A Pilot Study, Jiyeon Park, Abigail Aulbach

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

While laptops are considered an effective and critical learning tool, the effects of in-class laptop use on student learning remain controversial. Although many recent studies have found that in-class laptop use may produce negative effects in higher education, college students increasingly utilize their laptops in classrooms. To effectively integrate laptop use into lessons, we examined the effects of behavior strategies concerning in-class laptop use by undergraduate students. Throughout the course of a semester, participants were provided visual prompts, including "Red", “Yellow,” and "Green" codes, in accordance with class activities. The students’ attitudes and perspectives regarding the strategy were surveyed and …

Transforming Education: Using The Connectedness Cycle As A Framework For Instruction, Kimberly Vigil

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

The connectedness cycle is an emerging framework for practice that advances the understanding and implementation of relationship-rich educational practices. These relationship-rich educational practices allow for more meaningful student engagement, and they serve to enhance academic outcomes. When embodied and implemented by faculty, the connectedness cycle has the ability to transform education.

Using Interteaching In A Fully Asynchronous Online Honors Seminar Course, Steffen Wilson, Steven Shisley Dr.

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

This paper describes the modification of the Interteaching approach to simulate a seminar course in the asynchronous online course format. Each unit began with students answering a set of questions about a reading. Next, students had an interteaching discussion by reading and provided a brief comment on their classmate’s answers to each question. After this discussion, students completed a record sheet summarizing their reaction to the discussion and providing the course instructor with any remaining questions about the article content. Each unit ended with the course instructor providing students with a recorded wrap up video that discussed their unanswered questions …

Prevention Of Early Adolescent Substance Misuse And Addiction In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Alisha J. Thomas

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: This portfolio intends to educate children ages 9 to 11 about addiction and its effects in an effort to prevent future alcohol and drug experimentation.

Significant Findings: This paper explores the issue of early adolescent substance use in Bernalillo County, New Mexico also known as Albuquerque. According to the New Mexico Voices for Children (n.d.), in 2017, 9.6% of 12-17-year-olds within the county participated in binge drinking. Internal and external individual risk factors significantly influence a young person’s ambivalence, decision-making, and behaviors to use harmful substances such as alcohol and drugs. The Mexican-American population is a subgroup that …

Youth Mental Health Awareness, Hillsborough County, Fl, Kelce Minor

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: This social change portfolio aims to increase awareness of youth mental health and provide resources for easy access to mental health services, ultimately improving the psychological health outcomes of young people in Hillsborough County.

Significant Findings: Numerous adolescents in Hillsborough County report experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. The youths also lack mental health awareness and assistance access. The portfolio suggests increasing mental health resources, school-based programs, and mental health awareness campaigns to address these issues.

Adult Physical Inactivity In Baltimore, Md, Christopher Aitken

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this portfolio is to identify low cost, high access, and high participation community programs that will promote increased leisure time physical activity amongst Baltimore City adults ages 18 and older.

Significant Findings: Adults in Baltimore City, Maryland are less physically active on average than the rest of the United States (County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, 2022). A sedentary lifestyle places adults at greater risk of depression (Luo et al., 2022), low overall mood (DeMello et al., 2018), obesity (Ali & Kunugi, 2020), and higher hospitalization rates for comorbid mental health problems (Gupta et al., 2023). …

Serving Poverty & Homeless Populations Through Structured Encampments With Personal Interaction(S) And Healthcare Providers Volunteering., Abreana C. Howerton

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Significant Findings:

Poverty and homelessness have numerous effects on communities. These populations are usually transient, making it difficult to track their movements. Providing structured encampments affords homeless people the opportunity to feel safe, included, and helps healthcare professionals provide continuity of care. Homeless individuals are part of many communities and should be appropriately treated. Prevention theories can also be implemented into this population, providing resources and stabilized relationships while offering support through re-entry into the community. The Critical Time Intervention (CTI) provided evidence-based findings that can decrease homelessness by up to 67% in nine months (Arnold Foundation, 2018). Inadequate housing …

Police Excessive Use Of Force: Preventing Trauma-Induced Stress And Anxiety In The Black Community, St. Louis, Mo., Ashleigh A. Cole

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this portfolio is to increase awareness of mental health disparities in the Black community due to experiencing or witnessing police brutality.

Significant Findings: This brief explores issues of police excessive use of force during interactions with Blacks that result in trauma-induced stress and anxiety, whether witnessing or experiencing such brutality, for this marginalized population. In St. Louis, Missouri, Blacks who experience police use of force in person or “seeing a video of police use of force in the media” experience moderately high police contact anxiety (Murez, 2021, para. 7). The scope of the problem illuminates …

Preventing Veteran Suicide In Berkeley County, Sc, Jonathan F. Nelson

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: I want to reduce veteran suicide in Berkeley County South Carolina by developing a program based on Social Cognitive Theory and Community Organizing Theory which fosters relationships among veterans and helps them integrate within the civilian community. Significant Findings: Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, and is particularly prominent in the military veteran community which experiences a suicide rate 1.5 times greater than the civilian population (US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), 2022). As of the 2022 US census, Berkeley County, SC is home to over 20,600 and can expect to have approximately …

Increasing Ace Screenings In Wayne County, Amber Anderson

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The aim of this social change portfolio is to decrease Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Wayne County by highlighting the need for increased physician training, screenings, and resources. Significant Findings: The population of Wayne County, MI experiences a higher instance of poor mental health days per month than the national average (County Health Rankings, 2023). In fact, those citizens report having 14 or more poor mental health days per month which is significant considering that is more than half of each month. ACE screening can detect stressors earlier in life, allowing attention, resources, and education to be funneled …

Prevention Of Substance Use In Adolescents In Glenn County, California, Gabriela Gonzalez

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this prevention plan is to promote awareness of the adverse effects of substance use in Glenn County through workshops and work with schools and the community to increase resources for adolescents to decrease their partaking of substance use.

Significant Findings: The rates of adolescent substance use in Glenn County, California, have rapidly increased. From 2019 to 2021, marijuana usage in adolescents was 16% (California Department of Education, 2023), and 8.9% of adolescents reported consuming alcohol (National Center for Drug Statistics, 2023). There are many consequences of the early use of substances, like poorer verbal memory, …

Prevention, Consultation, And Advocacy For Teen And Young Adult Opioid Use, Wanda Kirkland

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of opioid prevention is to target teens and young adults to reduce or eliminate opioid use, misuse, and overdose. Significant Findings: The population of focus is teens and young adults who use or misuse opioids. The problem is that doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and policing have led to the use, misuse, and overdose in teens and young adults. Some key findings are that doctors' overly prescribing controlled substances because of their lack of education in pain management and knowledge of controlled substance misuse and addiction have contributed to teens' and young adults' use, misuse, and overdose of …

Reconnecting The Disconnected Youth Of Pasco County, Florida, Patrick Storer

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: Enable more students to cross the achievement gap between high school and

college.

Significant Findings: The development of this portfolio emphasized issue of teens from 16 to 19 years of age that are not enrolled in school. Pasco County touts a 91% graduation rate for high school seniors during the 2020-2021 school year. Although this percentage represents a vast majority of teens graduating, it undermines not the percentage, but the actual numbers of teens who do not. When crunching the numbers there are over 2,000 teens not enrolled in high school and not employed. The state, nor the …

Effects Of Poverty On Children's Mental Health In Orlando, Fl, Everlee R. Ensminger

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Significant Findings: Poverty significantly impacts children's mental, physical, and cognitive development, especially during the first five years of life. Children of color living in poverty face higher risk factors, impeded self-regulation abilities, prejudice, and discrimination associated with seeking and obtaining mental health treatment. The stigma and obstacles in accessing treatment, particularly for underrepresented groups, are significant issues in Orlando, FL. Prevention starts with utilizing theories such as the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), which deepen the understanding of how personal, environmental, and human behavior influence each other in an ongoing process. Collaboration and advocacy efforts between …

Preventing Consequences Of Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) In Black Youths In Oakland, Ca, Althea M. O'Brien

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this Social Change Portfolio is to create a prevention program that could be utilized by the counselor for Black youth in Oakland, California who have experienced adverse childhood experience (ACEs) in order to strengthen protective factors in Black youth, thus preventing future behavioral, mental, physical health, and downstream consequences (Bhushan et al., 2020).

Significant Findings: The population of focus are Black Youths, which are affected by ACES at disproportionate rates (Bhushan et al., 2020). According to the 2020 California Surgeon General’s Report, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is a health crisis; more than 6 out of …

Internal Funding Newsletter, Academic Year 2022-2023, Uno Office Of Research And Creative Activity

Internal Funding Newsletters

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is committed to exceptional education, groundbreaking research, and the life‐long success of our students and alumni. The 2022‐2023 Academic Year brought many exciting opportunities for us to invest in a multitude of funding programs that promote research and creative activity. This year’s programs provided over $350,000 for student and faculty projects that reflect the broad range of scholarly interests of the UNO community, including a women’s suffrage graphic novel and traveling exhibition, development of a robotics‐assisted drug discovery platform, workplace problem solving, and the effects of bison and cattle grazing on milkweeds and Monarch …

Crawling Out From Under: A Physical Therapist’S Celebration Of The Power Of Occupational Therapy, Natalie Michaels

Funded Scholarship

Isaacs’ syndrome, also known as Acquired Neuromyotonia, is a rare condition caused by continuous firing of the motor units, leading to twitching muscles and cramping that will persist even during sleep. The medical treatment of Isaacs’ syndrome is nondescript and arbitrary. Because of the rare incidence of the disorder, very few studies have been conducted to help determine the appropriate intervention for individuals with this affliction. This paper is a narrative case-study that offers a first-person account of a physical therapist with Isaacs’ syndrome and her journey through rehabilitation with her occupational therapist. The progress of this individual over time …

African American Youth-Identity, Invisible Powers & Hypnotic Blaxploitation-Themed Film Tropes: From Superfly & Drug Culture To Black Panther & Wakanda, Daniel Mitchell

Screenwriting and Film Studies Theses (MA/MFA)

This thesis project explores the most influential effect of the blaxploitation era. It is during a time shortly after the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, where black youth are still enduring identity issues. The point of departure for central discussion of this work revolves around the mesmerizing Hollywood blaxploitation film, Superfly. It arrived on the big screen in 1972. The hit movie and its soundtrack seemingly hypnotized countless young African American youth in urban areas to become drug dealers and users. This coincided with Nixon’s War on Drugs collusion with government agencies, and the secret COINTELPRO operation. They …

The Effects Of Relational Poverty: Healing Our Culture, Jenet Erickson

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

One of the most vexing challenges of our day is a profound hunger for connection, evidenced by an epidemic of loneliness, violence, relational poverty, and increasing mental health challenges. We are born to be in deep connection with others. As German analyst Frieda Fromm-Reichman wrote, “The longing for interpersonal intimacy stays with every human being from infancy through life, and there is no human being who is not threatened by its loss.” A radical cultural focus on autonomy with the associated ruptures in family stability, decreased religiosity and community engagement have increased loneliness in spite of the seeming “connectivity” of …

The Family Proclamation The Secular And Spiritual Context, Michael A. Goodman, W. Justin Dyer

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

Within the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” is arguably one of the most influential documents produced in the last hundred years. Since it was given in 1995, it has been cited more than 250 times in general conference, hangs on the walls of many Latter-day Saint homes, and is presented to leaders throughout the world. Indeed, in the first-ever meeting between a Pope and a President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson presented Pope Francis with two items: a Christus statue and a copy of the …