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Rhythms: Music At The University Of Northern Iowa, V44, Fall 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Rhythms: Music at the University of Northern Iowa

Contents:

From the Director --- 3
Community Outreach --- 8
Amplify Alumni --- 11
Mariachi in Iowa --- 12
Jazz Notes --- 13
Scholarship Benefit Concert --- 14
Student Awards and Honors --- 16
Student Spotlight --- 18
Emeritus Faculty News --- 19
Faculty News and Activities --- 20
Faculty Spotlight --- 23
New Faculty and Retirements --- 24
Alumni News and Updates --- 26
Alumni Spotlight --- 27
From the Foundation --- 29
Opportunities to Give --- 30
Spotlight Series 2025-26 --- 34
Snapshots --- 35

Freshman Comp Ii Eng 24xx, Joao M. Da Silva

Open Educational Resources

This course uses a memoir to elicit themes related to addiction, family and interpersonal relationships. Additionally, it invites students to develop their own voices as they engage with academic discourse in the disciplines of psychology and addiction studies.

David Tall And Advanced Mathematical Thinking, Keith Weber

The Mathematics Enthusiast

I discuss David Tall’s influence on advanced mathematical thinking.

Part 4: Epilogue, Corey Brady, Luis Moreno-Armella

The Mathematics Enthusiast

In closing our set of of articles, we reflect back on the nature of mathematical thinking and learning with representations, especially the computational, executable representations that are enabled by modern dynamic mathematics environments. These aspects of the development of mathematical ideas have profound implications for our approaches to the teaching and learning of Calculus. Our narrative approach has dramatized the radically fruitful and generative nature of the period during which the ideas of Calculus were stabilized (especially in the stories of Guillermo/Leibniz and Leonardo/Euler). An analogy between the development of the field and the development of individual learners, should caution …

Reliance, Support, And Caregiving Among Married Lgbtq+ Americans: Spousal And Family Relationships, Abbie E. Goldberg, Julianna Z. Smith, Brad Sears

Psychology

When LGBTQ+ people get married, they enter into a union that promises mutual reliance and caregiving, such as in the event of financial need or health care crisis. This mixed-methods study explores how 484 married LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States (192 cisgender men, 186 cisgender women, 106 trans/nonbinary) (a) negotiate disability (38% of couples) and illness in the context of unpaid and paid labor divisions, (b) provide care for each other, and (c) receive support from family in the face of health or financial needs. Findings revealed diversity in the ways that disability and illness shaped household and paid …

Determinants Of Uptake Of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women Of Reproductive Age In Makueni County, Lola Ndirangu

MSc in Advanced Practice Nursing

Background: Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in all women worldwide, with women in low and middle-income countries dying of the disease in disproportionate numbers because of late diagnosis and access to screening services. Sub-Saharan Africa is an under-researched area, and the level of screening uptake in Kenya, especially in rural and semi-arid areas, including Makueni County, is low. This research assessed the factors that determine the reproductive age women's screening uptake of breast cancer in Makueni County.

Methodology: The cross-sectional design was analytical and was conducted in Makueni County Referral Hospital, where 301 randomly chosen women …

Positive Depression Screen Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic At Aga Khan University Hospital, Michael Maina Muriithi

Master of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Introduction: One in seven women experience peripartum depression, a common disorder that can occur during pregnancy or in the postpartum phase. Women are particularly vulnerable to depressive symptoms during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period due to physiological changes during pregnancy as well as other sociocultural stressors. Peripartum depression is associated with significant maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes, including self-neglect, substance use, preterm birth, low birth weight and poor neurocognitive development, in offspring. There is a need to understand the prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms during pregnancy to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. To our knowledge, this …

Analysis Of The Status And Thematic Trends Of Ai For Science Research Abroad From 2015 To 2024, Fangyuan Wang, Huiting Xu, Jinghua Xue

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] This paper analyzes the relevant literature in the field of AI for Science（AI4S）in the WoS core database from 2015 to 2024, and sorts out the research status and development trends in this field, aiming to provide forward-looking insights for the application of AI technology in scientific research.

[Method/process] This paper combines bibliometric analysis with the BERTopic model to analyze the publication trends, publishing countries, core authors, and topic identification and development trends in the field of AI4S.

[Result/conclusion] Through bibliometric analysis, this paper reveals the exponential growth trend of AI4S-related literature, and finds that China ranks first in the …

Construction Of China's Online Platform Information Value Evaluation System, Shuyue Fang, Yuan Sun, Yuwei Ye, Liling Xia

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] This paper aims to explore the construction of the information value evaluation system of online platforms in China, so as to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for the information management of online platforms.

[Method/process] This paper firstly explores the connotation and dimension of the information value of the online platforms, and uses the analytic hierarchy process to distribute the weight, then,obtains the comprehensive evaluation results of the information value of each online platform through the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method.

[Result/discussion] Through the comprehensive evaluation of the information interaction platforms, the multilateral trading platforms and the complementary innovation platform, …

The Paradox Of The Person As A Natural Sign Of God, Chad Engelland

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

C. Stephen Evans, Living Accountably: Accountability As A Virtue, Michael W. Austin

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

Dipl 6005 Public International Law, Philip Moremen Phd

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course explores the nature and content of the law governing relations between states and relations between states, individuals, and other non-state actors. The first part of the course examines the building blocks of international law; the second part applies this framework to particular topics, such as the use of force, human rights, and humanitarian law. No prior knowledge of law is necessary. By the end of the course, students will possess an understanding of the operation of the international legal system and the role of international law in relations between states. Students will also gain an introduction to legal …

Dipl 6251 Justice, Truth, And Reconciliation In Post-Conflict Societies, Aaron Hale Ph.D.

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course seeks to address the choices and decisions that post-conflict states and the international community make in attempts to address past human rights abuses, concerns over reconciliation, and the socio-political challenges regarding justice, as well as more subjective issues like truth. How, and when, in light of weak national institutions do post-conflict states address past human rights abuses? Is there a tradeoff between states and societies that pursue justice over truth, or vice versa? Is there a “window of opportunity” to pursue reconciliation? Can justice truly be achieved in light of the enormous challenges that post-conflict states and societies …

Dipl 6000 Na/Wb Introduction To International Relations Theory And Diplomacy, Brian K. Muzas Phd

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course introduces students to the major theoretical traditions of international relations and diplomacy, with particular attention to how these theories help us understand contemporary challenges including cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, technological disruption, and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Asia. We will begin with a critical investigation of the competing assumptions and concepts that form the heart of various theoretical approaches to the study of world politics. As a class we will grapple with the key actors, processes, and variables highlighted by each theory, and assess their relative strengths and weaknesses in explaining both traditional interstate relations …

Dipl 4170 Aa/Na Topics In Economic Development, Omer Gokcekus Ph.D.

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course will provide students with an in-depth analysis of five aspects of economic development that are central in today’s world. To make sure that students gain the most relevant experiences, we will focus on the issues that international financial institutions—the World Bank & IMF—and the UNDP have been working on during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we will analyze the following 5 aspects of economic development: 1) poverty; 2) gender equality; 3) education; 4) corruption and 5) food security. Students will conduct background reading on assigned scholarly articles in order to gain contextual knowledge on these topics. We will subsequently …

Dipl 2101 Ab Ethnopolitical Landscapes, Assefaw Bariagaber Phd

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course surveys the politics of cultural and ethnic/national pluralism, understood mainly in terms of the cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity that shape individual countries and the contemporary world, and their impact on the international system and the practice of international relations. It focuses on the salient issues that have taken center stage after the end of the Cold War, and deals with issues related to the rise of politicized ethnicity and other cultural cleavages around the world. The course includes examination of the possible factors that contributed to the rise of ethnic, religious, linguistic and other parochial attachments, and …

Dipl 2101 Aa Ethnopolitical Landscapes, Assefaw Bariagaber Phd

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course surveys the politics of cultural and ethnic/national pluralism, understood mainly in terms of the cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity that shape individual countries and the contemporary world, and their impact on the international system and the practice of international relations. It focuses on the salient issues that have taken center stage after the end of the Cold War, and deals with issues related to the rise of politicized ethnicity and other cultural cleavages around the world. The course includes examination of the possible factors that contributed to the rise of ethnic, religious, linguistic and other parochial attachments, and …

Dipl 1711 Ab Introduction To International Relations, Brendan J. Balestrieri Ph.D.

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course aims to familiarize students with the foundational literature and theoretical frameworks that underpin the field of International Relations. We will integrate these elements by examining contemporary issues and significant historical events through the perspective of IR theory. The course starts with a basic historical review of International Relations study, progressing to the practical use of these theories to understand and interpret major occurrences in global politics.

By the end of this course, you will have:

- Obtained a working knowledge of the “big three” theoretical approaches to international relations and their constituent theories as well as the ability …

Wooster Magazine: Annual Report Edition 2024-25, Caitlin Paynich Stanowick

Wooster Magazine: 2021-2030

The fall Annual Report Edition 2024-25 of Wooster magazine highlights a year of meaningful progress and shared achievement across campus. The annual financial review reports on the College’s operating revenues and expenses and showcases the ways donors contributed to the ongoing success of Wooster and its students in the past year. New endowments honoring beloved professors Ralph Bangham of biology and Nancy Ditmer of music are highlighted. Members of the Class of 2025 share their new paths in graduate study, research, and fulfilling careers. Wooster’s new minors in climate studies and humanities, arts and creative computing broaden curricular opportunities, providing …

Our Town Upland Campaign, Claire Yew

Public Relations Student Projects

This promotional campaign, developed by Taylor University’s 2025 PR Cases & Campaigns class in partnership with Our Town Upland, aims to enhance the visibility and vitality of Upland, Indiana. Grounded in research on the town’s history, demographics, and community culture, the campaign identifies key opportunities to strengthen local partnerships, increase visitor engagement, and deepen connections between Taylor University students and the broader community. The plan outlines strategic initiatives, including community events, business collaborations, internship programs, and targeted marketing efforts intended to attract visitors, increase event participation and elevate Upland’s profile. Through a combination of print and social media, and experiential …

Aligning Climate-Energy Policies With Citizen Beliefs, Scientific Findings, Health And Economic Benefits, And Geopolitical Stability, A. R. Mcconnell, Tyler P. Jacobs

Psychology Faculty Works

Recent and abrupt deviations in U.S. climate and energy policies are shifting the United States away from a more sustainable future toward greater fossil-fuel use that will accelerate global warming. These new priorities go against the wishes of the American people as measured by many nationally representative surveys, and they ignore the scientific consensus regarding climate change and its deleterious consequences. This new agenda will harm the physical and mental health of Americans, imperil the U.S. economy, weaken American leadership in science, and increase geopolitical instability. Despite the frightening nature of these unprecedented departures from past climate-energy policies, successfully combating …

Introduction To Critical Conversation In Canadian Public Law, Joshua Sealy-Harrington, Karen Drake, Kyle Kirkup, Anne Levesque, Jena Mcgill

Articles & Book Chapters

The introductory chapter to Critical Conversations in Canadian Public Law situates the book "in the midst of some of the most significant social, economic, and political struggles of the past decade", from the COVID-19 pandemic to the Gaza genocide. The introduction describes how the book "seeks to reflect and ignite critical conversations about the centrality of public law and its institutions, broadly defined and deeply contested, to the (re)production of current inequities." It outlines two ways in which the collection is "critical": first, the critical legal methods employed by the contributors (e.g., acknowledging law's political operation, understanding law's relationship with …

Using Constructivist Grounded Theory Study To Understand The Retention Rate Of The School Of Automotive, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois, Lana Rizzo

Ed.D. Capstone Reports

This study explored students’ reasons for returning and continuing their education in the School of Automotive. Therefore, this study developed an understanding of the higher-than-average retention rate for the School of Automotive at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois. This study used a constructivist grounded theory approach, and the data came from semi-structured interviews. As this is a constructivist grounded theory study, the students and I co-created the theory behind this phenomenon.

Loma Linda Nurse - Vol. 34, Loma Linda University School Of Nursing

Loma Linda Nurse

FEATURES

4 | Jordan Robison Profile

6 | LLUSN Mission Service— A Living Legacy

10 | Steps to a New School

12 | Entry Level Master’s at Murietta

LLUSN HIGHLIGHTS

14-21 | ALUMNI NEWS

22-27 | ACADEMICS

28-33 | HOMECOMING

34-37 | FACULTY UPDATES

Foundations In Bilingual Education, Eln123, Fall 2025: Syllabus, Bede Mccormack

Open Educational Resources

Foundations of Bilingual Education (ELN123) is a writing intensive course that requires students to be engaged in several high and low stakes writing activities throughout the semester. This requirement will be fulfilled through several informal written assignments and a formal written assignment. Course topics include cultural, psychological, socioeconomic, linguistic, cognitive and curricular factors that affect the academic achievement of emergent bilingual students. It introduces the philosophical, legal, and sociological aspects of bilingual education, and prepares reflective educators through the use of a teacher education ePortfolio. It also satisfies the Urban Studies requirement at LaGuardia. This course is equivalent to a …

Strategic Branding: The Critical Role Of Brand Strategy For Successful Branding Initiatives, Sara Virginia Abell

Senior Honors Theses

In the increasingly saturated world of branding, the ability to rise above the noise and establish meaningful connections with an audience is essential. This thesis explores the relationship between brand strategy development and successful branding outcomes. An initial review of relevant literature is conducted, focusing on the importance and creation of strategy. Further consideration is given to the unique challenges associated with rebranding efforts. The practical impact of brand and rebrand strategies is underscored through case studies across varying contexts. Following this, the implementation of strategy is discussed, with an emphasis on the role of design elements and principles in …

Small And Ugly Oer: Simple Strategies To Ease Faculty Into Open Education, Nancy A. Henke

About OER

Open education advocates know the benefits of OER, but faculty newcomers may feel that adopting OER requires a complete overhaul of a course or that materials must be professionally designed to be effective. Inspired by James M. Lang’s Small Teaching, the concept of Small OER reframes OER adoption as a series of small, intentional steps—such as replacing a single textbook chapter or reading with an open alternative—rather than an all-or-nothing shift. Pairing this with the concept of ugly OER—simple, effective, and easily created resources like Google Docs or instructor-made PDFs—reduces barriers and helps faculty understand that OER don’t need to …

(Si15-107) Mathematical Modeling Of Cancer Dynamics Stability Analysis Of Post Therapy Protection, Rajendran Swetha, Tharmalingam Gunasekar, Kamalendra Kumar, Krishnasamy Sakthivel

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

The study of PSITPS mathematical model is developed to analyze cancer dynamics, focusing on post-therapy protection. The model’s solution is rigorously examined for boundedness and positivity of solutions. Equilibrium points are identified, and numerical methods are employed to study stability. Simulations using accurate cancer data demonstrate the effectiveness of post-treatment protection in controlling cancer spread and minimizing recurrence. Stability analysis confirms the model’s predictive capability, offering valuable insights into long-term patient outcomes. The results highlight the importance of continuous post-treatment care in improving survival rates and reducing disease prevalence. This study provides a framework for optimizing cancer treatment strategies by …

Noise Law, Joshua Ulan Galperin

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

The rumble of traffic, the drone of air conditioners, the blast of construction equipment. These are the mundane sources of noise pollution that we all experience but rarely think about. Or, if we do think about noise pollution, we don't think of it as a central piece of federal environmental law. This Article, however, demonstrates that noise law is, or was, central to American environmental law, and it offers insights into how environmental protection and administrative governance work today.

In the 1970s, during the height of environmental activism and policymaking, lawmakers recognized noise as a serious pollutant alongside issues we …

Program For Teachers To Address The Needs Of Students With Adhd, Ashton R. Wagner, Wendy Tremaine, Dr. Mary Jan Greer, Phd, Otr

Fall 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

The capstone project focused on supporting teacher participants from Eden Gardens Fundamental Magnet Elementary by providing practical strategies to address students who struggle with attention, regulation, and daily classroom routines. After completing a needs assessment, it was clear that many teachers faced similar challenges, including difficulty with transitions, staying on task, and responding when students became overwhelmed. To address this, created an OT-led teacher-training program that uses the PEOP model and focuses on simple, practical strategies teachers can implement right away. This included visual cues, sensory and movement supports, and minor changes to the classroom setup. As teachers began using …