Digital Commons Network^™

Strengthening Teacher Development Through School-University Partnerships: A Document Analysis Informed By Improvement Science, Holly Ripley

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher shortages have become a persistent challenge across the United States, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Although alternative certification pathways have helped fill vacancies, many have also resulted in underprepared teachers entering the profession. This Dissertation in Practice addresses the need for sustainable solutions that strengthen teacher preparation while supporting school districts facing workforce shortages. Guided by improvement science and the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle, this study investigates school-university partnerships as a strategy for addressing both teacher shortages and teacher preparedness. A qualitative document analysis was conducted to examine funded school-university partnerships and state policies that support their implementation. The study explored …

A Mixed Methods Study: Exploring The Concept Of Rematriation Through The Work Of Indigenous Doulas In New Mexico, Michelle Gutiérrez

Theses and Dissertations

Both the United States and New Mexico are facing a maternal health crisis. Despite significant resources and medical advances, Indigenous mothers continue to be impacted by health disparities. This research study explored the concept of Rematriation, most simply defined, as a return to a traditional and spiritual way of life with respect to Mother Earth or the Land, through the work of certified Indigenous birth doulas in New Mexico. Using a mixed methods approach that integrated a survey, body mapping, and interviews with 10 self-identified Indigenous doulas, this research sought insights and knowledge on their experiences and practices in birthwork, …

Gender Perceptions Of Occupational Therapy Students And The Impact On Academic Experience, John Brian Leclerc

Theses and Dissertations

Since its inception in 1917, the field of occupational therapy has maintained a pronounced gender imbalance, with females comprising the vast majority of practitioners despite major historical shifts in healthcare delivery. This dissertation examines how occupational therapist (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students perceive gender and how these perceptions influence their academic experiences and future professional roles.

Using a multi-study design, this dissertation integrates qualitative and quantitative approaches across three articles. In article 1, focus groups were employed with doctoral OT students (N=30) and revealed five central themes: the value of gender diversity for learning, a nurturing and supportive …

Pezuta: Ceremony Assisted Treatment To Promote Recovery Among American Indians, Diana Blossom Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to understand and describe the role of traditional ceremonies and its impact on American Indian adults’ ongoing sobriety and recovery from substance misuse. The research focuses on the perspective of those American Indian adults seeking services from a partnering Tribal-serving organization in South Dakota. A qualitative study design was applied through semi-structured focus groups to better understand relatives’ experiences of participation in ceremony and how it contributed to their recovery. Findings indicate that ceremony fostered healing and strengthened cultural resilience. This lead to recovery-oriented changes that work across cultural, relational, and individual dimensions to support recovery. Furthermore, …

Hidden In Plain Sight: A Single-Case Study Analysis Of An Established Employee Well-Being Department In Higher Education, Andria Spaeth

Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the perceptions and experiences of student-facing staff within the Divisionof Student Affairs at the University of North Dakota to understand how they currently have their holistic well-being needs met through the Work Well department and the support they receive from the senior administration. A detailed review of the relevant literature is included. A qualitative single-case study research methodology is used alongside the Social Cognitive Theory framework to examine the current perceived support student-facing staff have.

The case study follows a bounded system approach with the Work Well department serving as the site selection as the worksite wellness …

Improving Health Literacy In Diagnostic Imaging For Indigenous Populations: Evaluating Practices, Integrating Policy, And Bridging Gaps, Kimberly Harn

Theses and Dissertations

Indigenous populations in the United States and internationally experience persistent disparities in healthcare access, patient communication, and health outcomes, including disproportionate cancer mortality rates and inequitable engagement with diagnostic imaging services. Communication barriers, limited health literacy, historical trauma, cultural incongruence, and structural inequities reduce meaningful participation in imaging-related care and contribute to delayed diagnosis and poorer outcomes. Despite the critical role of diagnostic imaging in disease detection and clinical management, the intersection of Indigenous health, health literacy, patient communication, and cultural safety within diagnostic imaging contexts remains substantially understudied.

This applied dissertation addresses that gap through three integrated scholarly products …

Emotional And Physical Neglect As Predictors Of Mcmi-Iv Personality Scales, Jenna Wolff

Theses and Dissertations

Theodore Millon (2011) proposed that specific developmental experiences and childhood adversities contribute to personality pathology, although these hypotheses have received limited empirical investigation. Participants (N = 490) completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-IV (MCMI-IV) and self-report measures of childhood adversity. Hierarchical ordinal regression analyses examined whether childhood adversities predicted elevations across MCMI-IV personality scales after controlling for age, gender, and co-occurring abuse. Although neglect was the primary focus of the study, childhood physical and emotional abuse emerged as the most consistent predictors across models. Both forms of abuse significantly predicted elevated masochistic, borderline, and schizotypal personality scores. Emotional abuse uniquely …

A Framework For Integrating Virtual Reality Into The Curriculum Of Leadership In Physical Education And Sport Program At North Dakota State University, Justin T. Pieterick

Theses and Dissertations

There has been an increase across professional fields in the use of virtual reality (VR), a computer-generated immersive environment that allows users to interact with 3D simulations (Lowood, 2026), to increase the amount of authentic, practice-based experiential learning opportunities. In physical education and sport leadership preparation, VR offers a way to help students move beyond learning about leadership in theory and more toward practicing leadership in realistic, immersive situations. This study grew from the researcher’s professional experiences as a coach and Activities Director, where he learned that many important leadership lessons came through professional experiences involving decision-making, stakeholder relationships, conflict …

He AliʻI Ka ʻĀina; He Kauwā Ke Kanaka (The Land Is Chief; Man Is Its Servant): A Qualitative Study Investigating The Importance Of Sacred Spaces And Native Land In The Health Of Native Hawaiians, Natalie Lai Jun Liz Makalapuaikekehau Lau

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This qualitative study aimed to understand Native Hawaiian perceptions on the relationship between land, sacred spaces, and overall health. The research sought to understand how impacts, changes, land access, desecration, and land loss impacts the health of Native Hawaiians across multiple areas. Background: Native Hawaiians have a deep connection with their land as they believe it to be a relative and an ancestor. Native Hawaiians experience several different health disparities, and these disparities could be caused by several different factors including but not limited to loss of land, sacred spaces, historical trauma, racism, and environmental injustices. Method: Three virtual …

The Effect Of Acculturation On Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Satisfaction With Indigenous Populations, Reagan Joseph Alsbaugh

Theses and Dissertations

Past research has suggested that equine-assisted psychotherapy may be an effective, culturally relevant treatment modality for Indigenous individuals with substance-use disorders. The literature also suggests that mental health outcomes may be mediated by an Indigenous individual’s level of acculturation. It was hypothesized that individuals who were traditional or bicultural would report higher levels of satisfaction with their experiences in equine therapy than those who are assimilated or marginal. There were 17 Native American participants who had completed at least 4 weeks of an equine-assisted therapy program who participated in the study. Of the participants, 8 were traditional and 9 were …

Investing In Tomorrow's Citizens: Exploring Generation Alpha Middle School Students' Perspectives On Civics And Education, Talia Luccia Vazquez

Theses and Dissertations

Democracy requires maintenance from an active, informed citizenry, yet civic literacy in the United States has been rapidly declining while its democratic structures face systematic subversion. To reverse this, educational researchers have recommended increasing time for K–12 civics education. While devoting more time to middle school civics education could help rebuild a civically literate citizenry, public middle schools face the unique challenge of teaching a student population that is experiencing rapid physical and psychological development, alongside a well-documented dip in academic motivation and engagement. Tailoring civics education to be academically motivating to the current student demographic—Generation Alpha—requires an understanding of …

Impact Of Active Learning On Student Performance In An Introductory Atmospheric Science Laboratory Course, Kassidy Danae Kjos

Theses and Dissertations

Little investigation into pedagogy in atmospheric sciences has been conducted. While numerous studies across STEM disciplines have examined and demonstrate active learning (AL) is beneficial to student performance, fewer than fifty explored atmospheric sciences specifically. This study expands upon these few existing studies by evaluating a diverse set of AL strategies implemented into introductory meteorology laboratories. Five AL techniques (Think-Pair-Share, Game-Based, Role-Playing, Diagramming, and Gallery Walks) were implemented between two semesters across multiple laboratory sections. Student performance is analyzed using the laboratory and its accompanying lecture curriculum assessments, as well as through pre- and post-tests. Results indicate students exposed to …

Understanding The Mmiw/Mmip Crisis: Jurisdictional Gaps, Institutional Failure, And Public Perception, Taylor Julia Pesch

Theses and Dissertations

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Crisis/Missing and MurderedIndigenous People (MMIP) crisis calls attention to the ongoing issues with underreporting and violence against Indigenous people. As years have gone by, the rates of violence and disappearances have increased. The Women’s Wilderness webpage reports that in 2016, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) recorded around 5,712 cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and children; however, the database in the U.S. Department of Justice has only recorded 116 cases, highlighting a significant issue in MMIW reporting (Native Women’s Wilderness, n.d.). This study explores how jurisdictional barriers and reporting gaps can …

Bridging Relational And Institutional Accountability: A Mixed Methods Study Of Implementing Sámi Ethical Research Guidelines In Finland’S Public Health Sector, Anna Charlotta Kihlstrom

Theses and Dissertations

The Ethical Guidelines for Research Involving Sámi People in Finland represent a critical step toward ethical Indigenous research; however, a gap remains between these principles and their implementation. This study responds to a research priority identified by the Sámi Social Affairs and Health Committee and examines how ethical research guidelines can be operationalized in the collaboration between the Sámi Parliament and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

An exploratory sequential mixed methods design was employed, grounded in an Indigenous research paradigm and relational accountability. Extensive community engagement was carried out as a foundational part of the research methodology. …

Broadening The View Of Medical Education To Better Serve Indigenous Populations, Mangan Golden

Theses and Dissertations

This portfolio dissertation presents three independent deliverables: a grant application, a manuscript, and an Indigenous Health Curriculum Readiness Assessment Tool (IHCRAT). While all three products may stand alone, Indigenous health curriculum is the thread that connects them. The research grant application requests financial support for a translational mixed method convergent design study. The research aims to identify the capacity and barriers of clinic staff when placing students in rotations within the Indian Health Service/Tribal Clinic/Urban Clinic system of the Bemidji region in Minnesota. The second product, a manuscript, is an adapted community engagement assessment tool that was employed to assess …

Improving Juror Comprehension: The Impact Of Simplified Instructions And Defendant Conduct Severity On Damage Awards, Alivia Mae Adams

Theses and Dissertations

Jurors in civil trials make judgments regarding liability and damages, often relying on jury instructions that are legally challenging to understand. Prior research indicates jurors frequently misunderstand standard instructions, which can contribute to legally inappropriate decisions influenced by factors such as the reprehensibility of the defendant’s conduct. The present study examined whether simplifying jury instructions would improve mock jurors’ comprehension and reduce the influence of defendant conduct on damage award decisions. Using a 2 × 2 between-subjects experimental design, participants received either standard or simplified jury instructions within the context of a mock civil negligence case involving either lower or …

A Data-Driven Framework For Uav Trajectory Prediction And Abnormal Motion Detection Using Remote Id Telemetry, Rania Amin

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems are increasingly being adopted across commercial, industrial, and autonomous applications, creating a growing demand for intelligent monitoring techniques that improve operational safety, situational awareness, and airspace management. Among recent research directions in UAV systems, trajectory analysis and behavior monitoring have become essential for supporting reliable and scalable UAV operations. This thesis investigates two complementary challenges in UAV monitoring: trajectory prediction and abnormal motion-deviation detection.The first part of this thesis focuses on UAV trajectory prediction under incomplete observation conditions. A deep learning framework was developed to estimate future UAV positions using historical flight information and maintain …

Intragroup Marginalization, Multiracial Identity Development, And Subjective Well-Being: A Qualitative Analysis, Anna Kim Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations

To date, there is little research on the relationship between multiracial identity, marginalization, and well-being, particularly research investigating whether identity can have a positive impact on well-being. The current study used live, semi-structured interviews and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to aggregate the narratives of nine multiracial participants to explore their lived experiences of intragroup marginalization, multiracial identity development and integration, and well-being. Within the frames of the Intersectional Model of Multiracial Identity and Social Identity Model, five superordinate themes emerged across participants: (1) early racial meaning-making and internalized tension; (2) developing and negotiating a multiracial identity; (3) seeking and constructing …

Robotic Arm-Assisted Structured-Light 3d Reconstruction For Large-Area Surface Modeling, Ahmed Elfarran

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation develops and evaluates a robotic arm-assisted structured-light 3D reconstruction framework for improving reconstruction accuracy and surface coverage under practical experimental conditions. The system integrates camera-projector calibration, Gray-code projection, X/Y decoding, triangulation, MATLAB-based geometric correction, robotic multi-view acquisition, point-cloud alignment, and stitching. First, a tilted-projector structured-light setup was tested with the projector positioned approximately 20 degrees relative to the object plane. This non-ideal configuration introduced global tilt and geometric distortion in the raw point cloud. After correction, the RMSE decreased from 2.8 mm to 0.9 mm, the tilt error decreased from 4.5 degrees to 0.8 degrees, and the dimensional …

Consent Teachings In Sex Education: A Qualitative Study, Andrea Rose Doyon

Theses and Dissertations

The current study sought to qualitatively explore sex educator's beliefs about sexual consent and how it is included in their sex education curricula. Additionally, how sex educators perceived their sexual education curricula and, more specifically how their students responded to information regarding sexual consent, were explored. Overall, the goal of the current study was to better understand the experiences and attitudes held by sex educators in Upper Midwestern schools regarding sexual consent information in their sex education courses, and their perceptions of what role community attitudes have on the teaching of sexual consent. This study utilized a grounded theory methodology …

Uncertainty And Sensitivity Analysis Of Lithium-Ion Battery Performance With Recycled Materials: A Physics-Based Computational Framework Approach, Abdurahman Ajumobi

Theses and Dissertations

The global transition to a net-zero energy economy is increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and positioning battery recycling as an essential component of future supply chains. However, recycled battery materials exhibit variability due to mixed feedstocks, heterogeneous black-mass compositions, degradation histories, and recycling processes. The resulting uncertainty in material properties can affect battery performance, yet physics-based methods for quantifying these effects remain limited.This dissertation presents a novel computational framework for uncertainty quantification (UQ) and global sensitivity analysis (GSA) of lithium-ion battery performance using recycled cathode materials. The framework combines the Doyle-Fuller-Newman (DFN) electrochemical model, implemented in PyBaMM, with a …

Testing The Efficacy Of A Non-Invasive, Epidermal, Marker-Based Method For Conducting X-Ray Reconstruction Of Moving Morphology (Xromm) On A Cadaver Chicken, Brian Skillman

Theses and Dissertations

X-Ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology (XROMM) is widely used to understand the kinematics of living organisms. The first of two standard methods for utlizing XROMM is to surgically implant X-ray dense markers within the bones of interest and euthanize the subject at the conclusion of testing, referred altogether as marker-based. The other standard, known Scientific Rotoscoping, or markerless, involves using thorough videography of the subject and manual bone orientation within the data collection program. These standards both pose unique issues, such as post-surgery complications for marker-based and time constraints for markerless. We investigate an intermediate method for utilizing XROMM involving …

A Descriptive Mixed Methods Case Study: A Culturally Responsive Approach To Contact Tracing By The White Mountain Apache Tribe, Kamellia Kellywood

Theses and Dissertations

American Indian and Alaska Native communities experienced disproportionate impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need to better understand effective public health response strategies in tribal settings. The purpose of this convergent mixed methods case study was to examine the White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT), COVID-19 response by exploring the perceived strengths and limitations of the WMAT contact tracing program and describing temporal patterns of COVID-19 transmission in relation to tribal mitigation mandates. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 11 key informants involved in contact tracing and COVID-19 response efforts. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Quantitative …

A Global Climatology Of Tropical Cyclone Integrated Kinetic Energy Utilizing Best Track And Synthetic Aperture Radar Data, Sydney Walters-Vangorden

Theses and Dissertations

Tropical cyclone (TC) intensity has traditionally been quantified based on the maximum sustained wind speed, a single-point metric that does not capture the full destructive potential of the TC. To account for the strength, size, and spatial distribution of the wind field, integrated kinetic energy (IKE) has recently been proposed. IKE is traditionally calculated as the total kinetic energy of the TC’s wind field inside its radius of tropical storm-force winds. This work presents the first global climatology of IKE using best track observations from 2004-2024 of 34-, 50-, and 64-kt wind radii from the National Hurricane Center and Joint …

Funding Traditional Best Practices: Exploring The Impacts Of Multidimensional Funding Through The Centers Of Disease Control And Prevention's (Cdc) Healthy Tribes Project, Hannah Lorraine Youngdeer

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the experiences of Health Tribes recipients managing or participatingin more than one funding opportunity provided through the CDC Healthy Tribes program; offering an opportunity to share successes and challenges in multidimensional funding management, program implementation, and impacts, as well as recommendations for funders and other American Indian and Alaska Native communities. This qualitative study used document analysis and a focus group, with data analyzed using deductive thematic analysis to identify patterns and develop themes.

The findings highlight methods of funding management and factors, such as organizational structures, that drive the organization of funding management. The findings also …

Generative Ai As A Pedagogical Partner For Postsecondary Cte Instructors, Audrey Dieken

Theses and Dissertations

Postsecondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructors bring valuable industry experience to the classroom. However, they often lack formal pedagogical training which can create challenges in curriculum and instructional design. New instructors often struggle in their first few years, and this frustration may lead them to burnout and possibly attrition. This dissertation in practice explored whether a professional development on Generative AI (GenAI), specifically MagicSchool.ai, can bridge this pedagogical gap. The goal was to equip postsecondary CTE instructors with timesaving, on-demand curriculum development support through an online, asynchronous professional development (PD). The PD addressed how GenAI has the ability to …

A Qualitative Case Study: Nurse Educators’ Perceptions And Experiences Exploring A Bichronous Educational Model With 360-Degree Video Digital Technology In Support Of Medical And Science-Focused Curricula For Online Translation For The University Of North Dakota College Of Nursing, Teresa Stilley

Theses and Dissertations

Nurse education curricula at the University of North Dakota (UND) College of Nursing include select medical and science-focused courses currently scheduled on campus employing traditional face-to-face teaching methods and have the potential for online translation, but contain segments that are difficult to translate in an online educational environment without additional technology. This qualitative, single-case study introduced and explored with UND nurse educator participants an educational model that maximized the attributes of asynchronous on-demand learning and synchronous live learning (bichronous learning) paired with an affordable 360-degree video digital technology camera. Two main research questions examined the 1) types of on-campus classes …

Dual Credit In North Dakota: High School Administrators’ Perceptions And Experiences, Kayla Marie O'Toole

Theses and Dissertations

Dual credit opportunities continue to expand across North Dakota, providing high school students with opportunities to earn college credit while completing high school coursework. Despite this growth, participation in dual credit varies among high schools across the state. The purpose of this study was to examine high school administrators’ perceptions and experiences regarding dual credit programming in North Dakota. The study was guided by the following research question: What perceptions about dual credit exist among high school administrators, and what are their experiences?This study used a survey-based research approach to collect data from high school administrators throughout North Dakota. It …

Clingen Variant Curation Interface Workshops: Training Variant Scientists On An International Platform, Deborah I Ritter, Mark Mandell, Christine Preston, Marina Distefano, Sahia M Bryant, Nadia Carstens, Rolanda S Julius, Aimé Lumaka, Madhuri Hegde, Joanne Ngeow, Joannella Morales, Matt W Wright, Heidi L Rehm, Sharon E Plon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: The Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen) is creating a central resource of clinically relevant genetic knowledge to improve genomic medicine. Dissemination and use of the ClinGen Resource is essential to ensure broad community uptake. We report on experiences and sustained use of ClinGen tools through engaging international genetics groups based in India, Africa, and Singapore in variant classification training workshops using the ClinGen Variant Curation Interface (VCI).

Methods: We developed pre- and postworkshop questionnaires and analyzed ClinGen tool use following the workshops. We evaluated organizational aspects and costs of creating a dedicated ClinGen VCI instance for each workshop.

Results: The …

The Crisis Of Adolescent Firearm Reinjury: A 14-Year Retrospective Cohort Analysis, Kristen L Mueller, Daphne Lew, Nicholas Szoko, Zoe M Miller, Taylor Kaser, Benjamin P Cooper, Christopher Behr, Lindsay Clukies, Joseph Finney, Marguerite W Spruce, Lindsay M Kranker, Michael A Mancini, Melissa Kroll, Erin G Dawson, Matt Vogel, Rachel M Ancona, Vicki Moran, Melik Coffey, Kateri-Chapman Kramer, Doug J E Schuerer, Elvin Geng, Megan L Ranney, Randi E Foraker

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Firearm injuries are the leading cause of death among US adolescents. Adolescents are among the highest risk, and those with nonfatal injuries experience high rates of reinjury. Identifying factors that predict firearm reinjury among adolescents may support tailored prevention strategies. This study sought to identify factors associated with firearm reinjury among adolescents who presented with acute nonfatal firearm injury in the St. Louis, Missouri region.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter observational cohort study of youth aged 15 to 17 years presenting to 2 adult and 2 pediatric trauma centers from 2010 through 2023. We collected data on firearm-injured patient …