Perspectives On Civil And Social Peace In Palestine: Internal Factors And Forces That Obstruct Palestinian Civil Peace, Osama Tawfeeq Jarrar Dr., Prof. Ayman Talal Yousef Professor

Peace and Conflict Studies

The process of building “civil peace” is a dynamic process that aims at creating appropriate conditions of peace when conflicting forces, groups, and polices diverge. This concept is relative because it contains components that balance the internal and external environment, where peace-building is not undertaken in a historical or cultural vacuum, but rather works to develop comprehensive civic and national values: “The movement from the present toward the desired future is not a straight line, but rather a set of dynamic initiatives” (Lederach, 10). Civil peace entails social life as distinct from internal conflicts and tensions. Attaining civil peace thus …

Peace And Reconciliation In Mozambique: The Influence Of Economic Support On The Reintegration Of Ex-Combatants In Murrupula District, Isac José Alberto

Peace and Conflict Studies

This article analyses the impact of economic support on the reintegration of ex-combatants in Murrupula District, Mozambique, under the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programme. Based on a qualitative methodology and a case study, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and direct observation were conducted. The results reveal structural limitations, such as weak coordination between implementers and beneficiaries, scarcity of funding, and the disconnect between intervention strategies and local realities. These weaknesses have compromised the economic inclusion of ex-combatants and accentuated tensions with the receiving communities, aggravated by a context of widespread poverty. The study also highlights the importance of informal networks …

Social Innovation In The Peacebuilding Sector, Michelle Helman, Phd, Katherine Ronderos, Mariafernanda Burgos-Ariza

Peace and Conflict Studies

Social innovation is an expanding practice in the peacebuilding sector. In this article, three peace scholar-practitioners reflect on our experiences as peacebuilders and consider the utility, tensions, and possibilities for peace and social innovation in theory and in practice. We draw insights gleaned through a focus group workshop with peacebuilding colleagues and highlight three case study examples from Colombia, the Philippines, and Kenya, each demonstrating the challenges and opportunities of social innovation in the peace sector. In doing so, we offer a reimagining of- and recommended action steps to engage innovation through a collaborative, feminist design approach. This article contributes …

Teaching Peace Where Borders Divide: Interdisciplinary Praxis In A Criminal Justice Program, Lucas Espinoza

Peace and Conflict Studies

This article describes a criminal justice senior-level undergraduate course, CRIJ 4350: Peace, Nonviolence, & Justice, at a Hispanic-serving institution known as the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. The course centers five key frameworks: critical pedagogy, intersectionality, decolonial theory, restorative and transformative justice, and trauma-informed care, as this course departs from carceral models of justice education. Grounded in theory, literature, and research from criminal justice, criminology, peace and conflict studies, sociology, political science, ethics/philosophy, social justice, human rights, and critical pedagogy, the course centers student reflection from course evaluations, relationships, and experiences of a faculty member. …

Black Men, Aces, And Family Support: Pathways To College Persistence And Graduation, Tessa J. Davis

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

The problem is that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect the coping skills of college students, resulting in challenges in graduating from higher education institutions. The goal of the study was to analyze how temporality, sociality, and spatiality intersect to influence these individuals’ journeys to graduation. The research addressed the critical issue of how ACEs influence academic persistence and success among this demographic, who are disproportionately affected by challenges due to childhood adversities. Using a qualitative narrative inquiry design, the study delved into the lived experiences of 10 Black males aged 24–65 from the Southeastern United States who graduated from higher …

Recruitment And Retention In Action: A Reflection On The Teacher Ambassador Program, Samantha L. Strachan, Nathan Blom, Kelli Bain

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

As teacher preparation programs across the United States grapple with declining enrollments, institutions such as Alabama A&M University are exploring unique approaches to improving university students’ interests in the teaching profession. One such approach is the Teacher Ambassador Program (T.A.P.), a student-led initiative that empowers current teacher candidates to serve as leaders in the recruitment and support of others who are currently pursuing teaching degrees or who are interested in entering the teaching pathway. This piece provides an overview of the Teacher Ambassador Program (T.A.P.) and reflects on how the program can benefit both students and institutions.  

Leadership Disruption, Change Management, And Organizational Resilience In U.S. Higher Education, Moses Masibo Dr., Ashley Rose Charwood Dr.

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

Until recently, higher education in the United States was widely perceived as a primary pathway to social mobility and economic advancement. However, contemporary institutions now face sustained disruption driven by demographic shifts, affordability concerns, political pressures, leadership turnover, and rapid technological change. In this reflection paper, we examine how leadership disruption has become both a symptom and a catalyst of broader systemic challenges in U.S. higher education. Drawing on current scholarship, we argue that disruption, when accompanied by human-centered change management and intentional approaches to organizational resilience, can foster institutional clarity, adaptability, and renewal. Specifically, we explore the dynamics of …

[2026 Winner] Seed Sovereignty Through The Lens Of Decolonization, Lily A. Marx

Ethnic Studies Research Paper Award

This paper explores the movement of seed sovereignty, a contemporary movement stemming from the history of theft, appropriation, and forced assimilation endured by indigenous peoples. This movement recognizes that consumers alone cannot mend the damage being done to our food systems, but instead encourages communities to take political action by saving seeds and rebuilding connections with the land.

Reality Check: Examining Perceived Stress In Student Pharmacists Using Virtual Reality, Kimberly B. Garza, Channing R. Ford, Kristen L. Helms

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

The impact of stress on learning is complex and multifaceted, and there is a balance between stress that promotes learning and that which inhibits it. This study presents a qualitative analysis of students’ responses to a questionnaire about their experience using virtual reality (VR) in a perspective-taking task to promote empathy for patients with physical limitations due to arthritis of the hands. Including data collected from a first-year course in 2023, 2024, and 2025, 214 students ranked their stress while experiencing the task, and those who ranked stress as anything other than “no stress” were asked to elaborate on the …

Her Fire This Time: Black Women Faculty And The Liberatory Pedagogy That Can't Wait, R. Danielle Scott, Andi Toliver-Smith, Nailah Smith

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

The purpose of this paper is to document the experiences of Black women faculty sustaining culturally responsive, justice-oriented, liberatory pedagogy in the current sociopolitical climate of higher education. In the context of coordinated attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion infrastructure, the erasure of culturally responsive accreditation standards in Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences (SLHS), and the unwritten expectation that Black women faculty absorb the weight of equity work that institutions have abandoned, this paper examines the sustaining forces that keep liberatory teaching aflame. Drawing on critical autoethnography and reflective practice, three Black women, two faculty members and one doctoral student …

Learning From Planet Krypton - Building Faculty Efficacy To Remove Barriers To Neurodiverse Student Success, Anna Weisling, Nina F. Weisling

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

There are an increasing number of students with Autism, ADHD, and other neurodiversities attending institutions of higher education. Unfortunately, most higher education faculty do not receive formal training or support around the skills, knowledge, and pedagogy needed to effectively design and implement instruction that removes barriers to accessing the post-secondary curriculum. This was the case for the first author, a content expert with a Ph.D. in Digital Media. She engaged author two, who holds a Ph.D. in Special Education, to discuss ways to more effectively support her neurodiverse college students. What emerged was a duoethnographic research study, followed by thematic …

An Exploration Of The Intersection Of Artificial Intelligence And Speech-Language Pathology -- Potential Impacts, Manish K. Rami

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This paper explores the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the profession of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP). AI is widely recognized as a transformative force, presenting opportunities across both service delivery and professional practice in SLP. Method: The analysis employs the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's  Scope of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology as an organizing framework to systematically evaluate AI applications across professional and service delivery domains. Within each domain, the study identifies emerging use cases, evaluates the capacity for AI technologies to automate or augment clinical processes, and examines broader implications for the profession, with particular attention to anticipated changes …

An Analysis Of Dei Preparation In Health Science Programs For Future Healthcare Providers, Michael Holik, Scott Heinerichs

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Research has indicated patients have better outcomes when their healthcare providers are comprehensively trained in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related areas during their academic preparation. By understanding students’ perceptions of the DEI education, they receive and knowing how that training may impact future patient interactions, educators can allow educational programs to prepare health science students better. This study aimed to garner and examine the perceptions health science students have on the DEI education they receive as undergraduate and/or graduate students in a regional public comprehensive university. Methods: Upon approval of research from the Institutional Review Board, 2,700 health …

Understanding Interprofessional Collaborative Practice: A Firm Foundation For Allied Health Student Education, Isabel A. Paton, Narelle T. Patton, Anne Croker

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Accompanying the contemporary need for a collaborative practice ready health workforce is a focus on health student preparation for interprofessional collaborative practice. This research explored allied health pre-registration student preparation for interprofessional collaborative practice. Further, this examination illuminated new understandings of interprofessional collaborative practice itself. Methods: Informed by philosophical hermeneutics, this research involved two studies. One study was drawn from interpretation of the literature. The other study drew from 24 academic and student participants’ experiences from five allied health professions, accessed through semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Thematic interpretation was used to highlight key themes and topics. Results: This …

Student Perceptions Of Clinical Educator Competence Across Healthcare Professions, Samar Long, Sarah Varekojis, Tonya Apke, Erika Kemp

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Educational units that house a variety of healthcare programs require unique skills and knowledge development and vastly different professional responsibilities. The training for students is similar in that they use clinical educators to provide practical educational experiences. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore healthcare students' perceptions of their clinical educators' skills across six domains related to clinical education for six health professions. Methods: The data collection process involved a survey of students who have completed clinical rotations with at least two different clinical educators. Results: Seventy-four responses were included in data analysis. Students have positive perceptions …

Radiographic Assessment Of Morphometric Knee Angles In Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study, Sandhya Nagolu, Lavanya Prathap, Subhadra Devi Velichety, Jeyakumar S, K.Venkata Naga Prahalada

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common causes of anterior knee pain, but its radiographic diagnostic indicators are still not clearly defined. This study aimed to evaluate key radiographic morphometric parameters, including Q angle, sulcus angle, patellar tilt angle, and Insall–Salvati ratio in individuals with PFPS compared with healthy controls and to determine their association with anthropometric variables. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out involving 110 individuals diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) and 110 age- and sex-matched asymptomatic controls. Standardised digital radiographs were analysed using INSTARISPACS software to obtain morphometric measurements. Statistical analyses …

Postural Rehabilitation In The Management Of Chronic Neck Pain: A Comprehensive Literature Review, Yashfa Arman

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This systematic review synthesizes current evidence on the efficacy of major postural rehabilitation techniques for chronic neck pain. Method: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and PEDro databases up to May 2024. Randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews investigating posture-focused interventions for adults with non-specific chronic neck pain were included. Results: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that all techniques are effective, but each excels in distinct domains. Neck-specific exercises provided the most significant reduction in pain intensity (up to 58%) and functional disability. Global Postural Re-education (GPR) demonstrated superiority in improving objective measures …

Physicians’ Perceptions Of Factors Influencing Pediatric Athletic Healthcare Of Low Socioeconomic Status Patients, Mayrena I. Hernandez, Emily C. Srygler, Stephanie N. Adler, Thomas J. Swain, Marian E. Abowd, Kirsten M. Schneider, Jonathan A. Santana, Neeraj M. Patel, Justin S. Disanti, David Bell

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: A patient’s social determinants of health (SDOH) and socioeconomic status (SES) play an important role in the quality of healthcare they receive. Patients of low SES tend to face greater obstacles in receiving healthcare and experience greater health disparities. Understanding how physicians provide care for pediatric student athletes of low SES is critical in ensuring they can receive appropriate care. Methods: Thirteen physicians shared experiences they have in providing care to patients of low SES, including challenges they have encountered and what strategies, if any, in overcoming those challenges in providing equitable care. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews. …

Physical Therapists' Perspectives Of Implicit Racial And Ethnic Biases And The Influence On Physical Therapy Practice, Michael Blizniak, Mary Shotwell, Cheryl Kerfeld, Shanda Gore

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Problem: Physical therapy (PT) outcome disparities exist among racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States. Implicit racial and ethnic biases (IREBs) may contribute to these inequities. Understanding IREBs within PT practice is crucial for addressing disparities and helping physical therapists comply with the American Physical Therapy Association Code of Ethics Principles. Purpose: This study examines the role of IREBs in PT by exploring physical therapists' awareness of them and their potential influence on PT practice. Methods: A virtual explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed, integrating quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. Fifty-one United States physical therapists participated in the …

Perceptions Of Shared Decision-Making And Interprofessional Education At National Collegiate Athletic Association Institutions, Shelene Thomas, Rebecca Downey, Kaylyn Mcanally Star, Erin Choice, Anthony P. Breitbach

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: When a shared decision-making design is employed in the return to sport (RTS) Continuum, the athletes’ outcome improves. Yet, many professional programs (i.e., athletic training and medicine) integrate interprofessional education into curricula differently or not at all. Therefore, there may be a mismatch between theory, curricula, and practice implementation. This discrepancy could impact care team operations and RTS outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess perceptions of shared decision-making practices, communication strategies, and perceived barriers among interprofessional RTS care team members in NCAA intercollegiate athletics.

Methods: A mixed-methods, cross-sectional study including anonymous, web-based survey responses from 253 …

Operational And Implementation Evaluation Of A Short-Term Medical Service Program In Rural Guatemala, Mitchell M. Michalak, Shamecka Douglas, Oscar Gonzalez, Giovanna Sanguinetti, Ashley Sweat

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Fall Risk And Lower Extremity Strength In Diabetic And Non-Diabetic Older Adults: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study, Maimoona Shahid, Yasha Sajjad, Shumail Fatima, Ayesha Tuba, Wajida Perveen, Asim Raza

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Many studies have been conducted on falls in individuals older than 60 years of age with diabetes, so the current study focused on comparing and contrasting the fall risk and lower extremity strength in diabetic and non-diabetic people of 50 years of age and above and early identification of fall risk. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study recruited 210 older adults 50 years of age and older from community dwelling areas. Thirty-one (31) participants were healthy and free of diabetes, while 179 of the same age range were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The study was conducted over a period of …

Effect Of Exercise On Modifying Progression Of Physical Symptoms In Parkinson’S Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Ruiping Xia, Mitchell Stanford, Robert S. Phillips

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Emerging evidence suggests a promising treatment of combining exercise with medication. This systematic review with meta-analysis examined effect of exercise on modifying PD progression of physical symptoms. Methods: E-databases were searched to date. Randomized trials were included if they compared effect of exercise with no exercise/other exercise, and measured motor function for >=12 months. Results: Ten trials were included with eight eligible for meta-analyses. The pooled effect of exercise on UPDRS-III was a standard mean difference of 0.327 (95% CI: -0.052 to 0.707; p < 0.091). Mean difference in off-medication exceeded minimal clinically important difference. The pooled effects were 0.927 (95% CI: 0.015 to 1.839, p = 0.046) for Timed Up-and-Go, and 0.338 (95% CI: 0.022 to 0.654, p < 0.036) for PD Questionnaire-39. All findings were in favor of exercise intervention to improve patients’ motor severity and function/participation for at least 12 months. Conclusions: This study suggests that physical therapy …

Defining Success Differently: The Clear Model For Allied Health Admissions, Ladarius Woods

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

This opinion paper argues that threshold-based lottery admissions offer a strategically necessary response to equity challenges, enrollment pressures, and evolving definitions of merit in allied health education. Current admissions models, whether traditional or holistic, often reflect underlying tensions between academic metrics and institutional missions and may unintentionally privilege certain applicant groups. As demographic shifts and the looming enrollment cliff intensify these pressures, allied health programs must reconsider how they define and identify admissions excellence. Drawing on examples from other sectors and recent literature, this opinion piece argues that a threshold-based lottery system, applied to applicants who meet baseline academic criteria, …

Can We Bridge The Divide Between Community And Metropolitan University Stakeholders In The Development Of Longitudinal Allied Health Placements In Rural Australia?, Debra M. Jones, Anne Hill, Giti Haddadan, Lindy Mcallister

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Rural communities experience allied health workforce shortages that detrimentally impact health care access and outcomes. Allied health student exposure to rural practice is a key strategy to influence rural practice uptake in Australia. Yet, these placements can be short in duration and undertaken across multiple speciality areas contributing to fragmented learning, challenges in translating theory to practice in rural contexts, and host site fatigue. We aimed to review placement standards and key rural and metropolitan university stakeholder perspectives of placements to inform the co-design of a rural longitudinal placement to address the challenges described. Method: This qualitative study was …

Ai And Repertory Grid In Architectural Studios For Crafting A Brand Design, Ala' Faleh Ahmed Albdour

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Architectural education is currently at a crossroads. On one hand, technological innovation, particularly in the realm of design tools, is advancing at a pace that few curricula can match. On the other, public expectations of architecture are shifting, with communities seeking designs that better reflect their identity and lived experience. Yet, in many universities, the traditional studio model still dominates, relying on instructor-led critique sessions that, while valuable, can sometimes narrow student independence and overlook community priorities. This dissertation takes up that challenge by exploring an unusual pairing: generative AI text-to-image platforms, such as MidJourney, with the Repertory Grid Technique …

Burnout And Professional Fulfillment Among Academic Faculty In U.S. Graduate Physical Therapy Programs: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Joshua Cleland, Paul Mintken, Megan Donaldson

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Burnout among academic faculty is a growing concern, particularly within health professions education. This study examines the prevalence of burnout, associated risk factors, and protective factors, including professional fulfillment, among faculty and leadership in U.S. graduate physical therapy (PT) programs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to program leaders in graduate PT programs for distribution. The survey included validated metrics from the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index along with custom items assessing workload, institutional culture, mentorship, and wellness factors. Comparative analyses were conducted between individuals who reported burnout and those who did not. Results: A total of 152 responses were …

An Academic–Community Partnership: A Faculty-Student Collaborative Occupational Therapy Clinic For Health Equity And Experiential Learning, Jennifer Martin, Nancy Saucedo, Jazmine Jacobo, Monica Gendy, David John, Yolanda Escalante

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This descriptive report outlines the development and operation of a faculty–student collaborative occupational therapy (OT) clinic embedded in a community-based primary care setting serving uninsured individuals. The clinic’s dual mission is (1) to reduce disparities in access to OT services and (2) to serve as an educational model for developing student competence, cultural humility, and advocacy skills. Description: Established in 2019 and relaunched in 2023, the clinic operates one day per week, providing consultative OT services primarily for musculoskeletal conditions, with additional referrals for neurological and systemic issues. Over two academic years, the clinic delivered 229 service hours across …

Agreement Among Experienced Physical Therapist Clinicians In Naming Nystagmus: A Mixed-Methods Study Design, Lori Ann Leineke, Alessandra N. Garcia, Bridget Eubanks

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Labeling nystagmus requires clinicians to consider multiple aspects of its presentation. The extent to which physical therapists (PTs) use consistent terminology for describing nystagmus is unknown. Recommendations for proper terminology exist, but adherence during clinical assessment has not been determined. This study investigated whether PTs with advanced vestibular rehabilitation skills and training consistently use standardized vocabulary to describe nystagmus patterns. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional, mixed-methods study utilized an online survey methodology, which included eight free-response questions. Participants viewed videos of nystagmus through Infrared or Frenzel goggles and documented their observations. A codebook of responses was created for each question, …

A Study Of Cognitive And Visual Responses During Online Product Purchase​, Menekse Adar

UTC Spring Research and Arts Conference

This study investigates how people make multi-stage purchasing decisions and whether these decisions can be predicted by ML models. Twenty-five participants interacted with a web interface presenting products framed with different marketing strategies, including discount, urgency, scarcity, and social proof. For each product, participants reported purchase intention, confidence, and decision time, and then made a final choice after viewing all options together. To better understand this process, the study combines behavioral responses with eye-tracking and EEG data.​