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International Engagement Newsletter, August 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of International Engagement.

Office of International Engagement newsletter

Contents:

--- Goodbye August, Hello UNI
--- Fall 2025 International Student Orientation
--- September Activities
--- Additional Opportunities

Teacher Motivation To Implement Evidence-Based Interventions With Fidelity: Development And Testing Of A New Psychometric Instrument, Jaden Miles Nyberg

Dissertations

The purpose of the present research study is to develop and test a novel psychometric instrument designed to measure teacher motivation to implement evidence-based interventions with fidelity, termed the TMI E-BI. The study addresses four research questions. First, does the TMI E-BI have acceptable inter-item consistency and construct validity? Second, with respect to the TMI E-BI, does the best factor model for explaining teachers’ motivation to implement EBIs with fidelity consist of expectancy, task value, cost, and orientation towards fidelity as related but meaningfully distinct constructs? Third, does the TMI E-BI predict teachers’ self-reported treatment fidelity? Lastly, how do teachers’ …

Meaning In Occupational Therapy Practice: A Mixed Methods Study Exploring Perceived Meaning And Burnout In Occupational Therapists, Rebecca Lauren Reinhardt

Dissertations

Decreasing burnout and increasing retention of occupational therapists (OTs) is a pressing issue in the field as attrition rates and intention to leave the profession are on the rise. One of the core tenets of occupational therapy (OT) practice is supporting recipients with engaging in meaningful occupations to promote wellbeing. While burnout in the profession has been more widely researched, very little research has explored how OTs perceive meaning in their own practice. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore the lived experiences of how OTs perceive meaning and meaning gaps in the profession, as well as …

The Effects Of Childhood Trauma And The Ongoing Coronavirus-19 Pandemic On College Student’S Mental Health, School Performance, And Smartphone Usage, Shane Odiorne

Dissertations

Several individuals who attend post-secondary education have experienced at least one instance of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE). Those who experience significant ACEs in their lives are at risk for a number of negative mental health outcomes, such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, or substance abuse problems, among others. Past studies have demonstrated that there is a potential mediating factor that leads to negative mental health stemming from ACEs. One of these mediating factors is psychological wellness, characterized by overall life satisfaction, resiliency, positive relationships, and self-acceptance. During times of uncertainty, the risk for exacerbating problems brought on by past trauma may …

Gender Identity Development In Social Virtual Reality: A Phenomenology, John Michael Sullivan Iii

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the ways in which trans and gender-diverse individuals engage with social virtual reality (VR), what kinds of experiences they have on social VR platforms, and how their experiences translate into gender identity exploration, expression, and development. Inquiry was driven by two primary research questions: (a) What are the experiences of trans and gender diverse individuals in social VR platforms and (b) How do trans and gender diverse individuals use social VR to develop and to express their gender identities? This study utilized a qualitative and phenomenological methodology that was guided by a …

Emerging Adulthood, Identity Conflict, And Self-Compassion’S Impact On Mental Health Interference Of Collegiate Student-Athletes, Courtney Amber Shields

Dissertations

Prior research identified a strong connection between experiences of being a collegiate student-athlete with mental health-related struggles; however, little research has been conducted into how the competing identities of student and athlete within a heavy identity developmental period (emerging adulthood) might be impacting mental-health interference. The purpose of this quantitative study was to understand how emerging adulthood, student identity, athletic identity, and the conflicting role of student-athlete identity had in mental health interference on training, competition, and willingness to see a sports psychologist within collegiate student-athletes as well as how self-compassion moderated these relationships. The following research questions guided this …

Supporting Cultural Capital In Undergraduate Biology: Instructor Roles And Practices, Lydia Nicole Mayo

Dissertations

Undergraduate biology students must navigate complex academic environments that require more than content mastery alone. Increasing evidence shows that students’ attitudes, beliefs, and values—such as motivation, confidence, and a sense of belonging—are critical to student engagement, persistence, and success, especially among first-generation college students and those from historically marginalized backgrounds. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation is to use cultural capital theory to explore how instructor practices in college biology classrooms support these non-content resources, framed as three forms of cultural capital: aspirational, navigational, and emotional capital for college biology.

To investigate this phenomenon, the dissertation integrates three complementary studies. …

A Moderation Analysis Of The Relationships Between Burnout, Internalizing Symptoms, And Self-Care, Alexandra Mccorkle Ryan

Dissertations

Amidst growing awareness of burnout among school psychologists, self-care has been suggested as an essential practice for managing the emotionally and psychologically taxing elements of the job. Indeed, self-care has been included in the American Psychological Association’s list of professional competencies for health service psychologists (HSPs) in training. Mitigating burnout is an important objective, however, the current conceptualization of burnout as a problem that can be managed by an individual alone is inaccurate. Rather, burnout is a product of an occupational system in which job demands outweigh job resources. Furthermore, burnout can exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression. While self-care …

Academic Self-Efficacy In Nurse Anesthesia Residents, Nathan Seth Jones

Dissertations

Academic self-efficacy is a student’s belief in their ability to accomplish educational goals. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of academic self-efficacy in nurse anesthesia residents using the College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (CASES). Three research questions guided the study:

Q1 What is the academic self-efficacy of current nurse anesthesia residents as measured by the College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale?

Q2 What are the factors that predict academic self-efficacy in nurse anesthesia residents?

Q3 What is the appropriate cut-off score on the College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale for identifying residents with low academic self-efficacy?

A total of 233 completed …

Undergraduate Faculty Experiences With Test Remediation, Shauna L. Haynes

Dissertations

Nursing students’ success in didactic courses generally depends on test scores. Students who fail to achieve a designated score might fail the test and/or the course. Test remediation is an intervention that could be implemented in response to a student’s failure. The intent of test remediation is to improve the student’s success on future exams and maximize the likelihood of progression. While remediation for success on the National Council Licensure Examination, standardized exams, and for the achievement of clinical skills were well documented, little research was found on test remediation for individual course exams. The purpose of this study was …

Through Their Eyes: A Photovoice Study Of Mental Health And Well-Being Among Rural-Dwelling Latina Adolescents, Ashley Marie Coburn

Dissertations

Latina adolescents are more prone to depressive symptoms, less likely to receive mental health services, and face higher rates of suicidality compared to their non-White peers. This population becomes more vulnerable to adverse outcomes when their problems are compounded by barriers to mental health care common in rural communities such as limited resources, stigmatization, and systemic inequities related to race/ethnicity, income, and insurance status. Despite Latinx youth representing the fastest growing racial or ethnic group in rural areas across the United States, there is limited research on the distinct factors shaping mental health outcomes for this population. Guided by an …

Integrating Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Into An Undergraduate Sport And Exercise Science Program: A Holistic Case Study Utilizing Social Justice Education, Genevieve R. Altomare

Dissertations

It has been recommended by many scholars to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content into higher education curricula across disciplines; however, several institutions have yet to do so. The ongoing discourse surrounding social justice continues to influence the careers of future professionals, especially in the fields of sport and exercise science. Yet, there remains a limited understanding of the perceptions and experiences of students who have participated in a college course centered on DEI topics. Therefore, the purpose of this holistic case study was to provide an in-depth examination of a newly developed DEI course by exploring the authentic …

Reinforcement Learning And Virtual Human Animation: A Novel Approach To Data-Driven Animation, Portraying Dynamic, Flexible Human-Like Behaviours, Vihanga Gamage

Dissertations

Virtual characters require animation capable of portraying dynamic, context-sensitive human-like behaviours. Several approaches to generating such animation have been developed, but each carries limitations. Motion capture can produce high-fidelity animation but is expensive and ill-suited to systems that must respond in real time. Physics-based reinforcement learning (RL) enables flexible, dynamic behaviour portrayal, yet relies on simulation feedback signals that are unavailable for social gestures. Supervised approaches can learn social behaviours from motion capture data but yield agents with limited flexibility and generalisation.

This thesis presents RLAnimate, a model-based, data-driven RL framework for character animation that enables a single agent to …

Breaking Ranks: Recognizing Hiring Bias Associated With Different Military Branches, La Kesha Redel Leonard

All Dissertations

This study aimed to address the gap in research on hiring biases against military veterans, with a focus on branch-specific discrimination. While prior research has examined general veteran employment challenges, no existing scholarly studies have explored how stereotypes tied to a veteran’s branch of service influence hiring outcomes. Current approaches, such as diversity and inclusion policies and skills translation programs, overlook subtle yet impactful branch-related implicit and explicit biases against candidates from different branches of the U.S military during the hiring process, leaving a critical gap in workforce reintegration strategies. The purpose of this study was aimed to examine how …

Even In Death, Divided By Law: The Permanent Injustice Of Cemetery Segregation In Southern Illinois And The Legacy Of Isaac Burns, Local Civil War Veteran, Taylor Phillips

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

In death, are we truly equal? A Cemetery in Pinckneyville, Illinois, bears silent witness to a relentless history that preserves a racial divide thought to be buried away. Hidden in the segregated section lies Isaac Burns, an African American Civil War veteran, separated from those buried with honor. His grave lies alongside those of other African Americans buried in an area marked not by the unity of service but by the nation's refusal to see them as equals. Burn's grave is a reminder that the legacy of his sacrifice, once given in the name of unity and freedom, is overshadowed …

Diagenesis And Controls On Porosity And Permeability In The Upper San Andres Formation Of West Texas, Jack Butcher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

West Texas reservoirs on the Central Basin Platform (CBP) are dominated by Permian-age carbonate deposits, significantly contributing to petroleum production. The Upper Permian-aged San Andres Formation, composed primarily of dolomite and limestone, is a prolific reservoir. This study assesses diagenetic influences on porosity and permeability within the San Andres Formation along the northern CBP. Two cores from the Monument 4-2 and Peterson 1 wells in West Texas were analyzed using core descriptions, thin section petrography, XRD, XRF, and MICP. Results indicate that dolomitization enhances porosity, with intercrystalline and moldic porosity being dominant, while late-stage cementation and compaction reduce permeability. XRD …

An Evaluation Of Key Components Of Natural Resource Camps, Undergraduate Persistence And Success In Natural Resources, Brandy Bishop

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the key components that connect natural resource camps, undergraduate persistence, and overall success through gainful employment within the natural resource industry. The aim of this study was to assess early interest and attitudes towards natural resource career pathways and how education interventions shape students’ career outcomes thus leading to overall success. A longitudinal mixed method design was used combining Conservation Careers Camp survey data (n = 39) with institutional records for Forestry majors (n =655) in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus. Quantitative data was analyzed through …

Advanced Interactions Of Directed Energy With Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells And Their Photochemical And Photothermal Responses, Jin B. Ha

Theses & Dissertations

Excess optical radiation can injure the retina through either rapid heat deposition (photothermal damage) or cumulative photo‑oxidative stress (photochemical damage), yet current laser‑safety limits treat these mechanisms as independent. To test that assumption, this dissertation integrated systematic wavelength, duration and temperature‑controlled laser exposures with live/dead fluorescence imaging in a melanin‑loaded hTERT‑RPE1 monolayer model. First, concurrent 447 nm (blue) and 2 µm (infra‑red) beams delivered for 200 s demonstrated a strong thermal–photochemical synergy: each beam alone was sub‑threshold (≤25 % lethality) but together produced 100 % RPE death without exceeding 50 °C, proving that modest heating markedly lowers the photon dose …

Novel Sequential Modeling Framework Improves Phytoplankton Biomass Predictions In Response To Multiple Environmental Stressors, Zhuyin Tong, Jiayu Guo, Yikai Liu, Lizhen Lin, Jixin Chen, Xin Liu, Bangqin Huang, Edward A. Laws, Wupeng Xiao

Faculty Publications

Understanding the impacts of multiple environmental stressors on phytoplankton biomass is crucial for predicting marine ecosystem responses under global climate change. This study employed a sequential modeling framework integrating principal component analysis, generalized additive models, and artificial neural networks to improve predictions of phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentrations in the Taiwan Strait. Analyzing a decadal dataset, we found that a 2°C rise in sea surface temperature and a 0.2 pH decline will each lead to an 11.3% reduction in chlorophyll a biomass, whereas nitrogen enrichment is expected to increase it by only 2.8%. The combined effects of these stressors will result …

Cell Death Helps To Stabilize Populations Of Prochlorococcus, P. Wang, E. A. Laws, C. Liang, X. Liu, J. Chen, Y. Zhong, C. Li, B. Huang

Faculty Publications

Prochlorococcus is one of the dominant phytoplankton species in tropical and subtropical pelagic marine ecosystems. To maintain its population equilibrium in oligotrophic waters, the dominant species Prochlorococcus requires high loss rates to offset its high abundance and growth rates. While theoretical frameworks recognize multiple loss processes for Prochlorococcus (viral lysis, environmental stress, programmed cell death), prevailing population studies attribute main mortality to grazing. This oversight stems from in situ data gaps of non-grazing mortality processes. In this study, we firstly formulated simple differential equations that took account of population losses due to both grazing and cell death. We then used …

Detected Abundances Of Nuclei Relative To 26fe For Elements 14si Through 44ru With Calet On The International Space Station, O. Adriani, Y. Akaike, K. Asano, Y. Asaoka, E. Berti, P. Betti, G. Bigongiari, W. R. Binns, M. Bongi, P. Brogi, A. Bruno, N. Cannady, G. Castellini, C. Checchia, M. L. Cherry, G. Collazuol, G. A. De Nolfo, K. Ebisawa, A. W. Ficklin, H. Fuke, S. Gonzi, T. G. Guzik, T. Hams, K. Hibino, M. Ichimura, M. H. Israel, K. Kasahara, J. Kataoka, R. Kataoka, Y. Katayose, C. Kato, N. Kawanaka, Y. Kawakubo

Faculty Publications

The Calorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET), launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015 August and continuously operating since, measures cosmic-ray (CR) electrons, nuclei, and gamma rays. CALET, with its 27 radiation length deep Total Absorption Calorimeter, measures particle energy and allows for the measurement of spectra, secondary to primary ratios of the more abundant CR nuclei through 28Ni, while the main charge detector can measure ultra-heavy CR nuclei through 44Ru. The results for the abundances of elements from Z = 14 to Z = 44 relative to 26Fe over 7.5 yr of observation are presented here and compared to …

Research Nexus : Volume 28 - 2025, Office Of Research And Graduate Studies

Office of Research and Graduate Studies Archives

• Researcher Spotlight
• Research Milestones & News
• Capacity Building Initiatives
• Upcoming Training & Webinars

Do Hospitalized Patients' Quality Of Life Benefit From Alternative Lighting Practices?, Daniel Singer

Nurse Residency

PICOT Question: In hospitalized patients, does exposure to alternative lighting interventions, as opposed to standard lighting practices, improve quality of life and/or recovery outcomes during their hospital stay?

Turning Patients, Saving Skin, Anna Atkins

Nurse Residency

PICOT Question: Do Turn Teams Beat Standard Nursing Care?

Inhibitory Control In Asian Elephants, Gillian Schmitt

Theses and Dissertations

Inhibitory control is defined as the ability to suppress a prepotent motor response in favor of a more efficient or advantageous behavior, and is an important core executive function. Although elephants are known to behave flexibly and display other executive functions, there is currently little information available on if, and to what extent, they display inhibitory control. We tested 16 captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) (N = 8 males, 8 females) ranging in age from 4-years-old to 60-years-old at the National Elephant Institute in Thailand using a classic detour paradigm adapted to be more ecologically salient for them through the …

The Automation Of Aesthetics: Artificial Intelligence And Commercial Artists In North Brooklyn, Devin Sudweeks

Theses and Dissertations

Corporate elites expect generative AI to replace commercial artists but overlook their social and aesthetic expertise. This ethnographic study explores how Brooklyn-based commercial artists narrate their value amid automation, emphasizing embodied presence in cultural scenes, visual language, style, and authenticity, skills not easily mechanized but vital to aesthetic economies.

Learning From Adolescents’ Lived Experience: Recommendations For Suicide Prevention For Youth And Their Caregivers, Genesis Minaya

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored adolescents’ views on which supports are most helpful during suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Interviews revealed six themes: Communication & Disclosure, Empathic Non-Judgmental Support, Consistent Presence, Parent/Family Education, Coping Tools, Hope and Future Orientation. These findings highlight the critical role of family dynamics in adolescent suicide prevention.

In The Name Of The Mother, The Nation, And The Race: White Women, The Jim Crow South, & Moralized White Supremacist Feminism, Shayna M. Lawson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces the concept of moralized white supremacist feminism to examine the central role white women played in constructing, legitimizing, and sustaining racial hierarchies in the Jim Crow South through a network of cultural and political organizing, particularly through the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Women’s Ku Klux Klan. Far from passive observers, white women were strategic agents of segregation, leveraging ideals of purity, motherhood, and moral virtue to enforce anti-Black violence and oppression through educational, civic, legal, and symbolic institutions, as well as extra-legal practices. Drawing from archival materials, oral histories, and critical race theory, this study …

Reverse-Chinoiserie: Qing Imperial Porcelain And The Reappropriation Of European Rococo, Yifan (Mia) Ye

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces “reverse-chinoiserie” to describe the Qing court’s reappropriation of European Rococo aesthetics in imperial porcelain. Through case studies of 18th-century ceramic diplomacy and design, it reveals how cultural imitation was reengineered into visual sovereignty. It examines how China responded to, absorbed, and redirected European fantasies of empire.

Cartography, Botany, And Violence In The Codex Rodriguez-MondragóN, Maria Davison

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how Sandy Rodriguez deploys the visual language of the Florentine Codex and other sixteenth-century Mesoamerican sources to examine the persisting effects of colonialism on people and land in Mexico-U.S. borderlands in Codex Rodriguez-Mondragón (2017-present), her ongoing series of maps, botanical illustrations, and landscape paintings.