Digital Commons Network^™

Daniel E. Walters, Daniel E. Walters

Faculty CVs

No abstract provided.

Horizontal Collaboration Practices And Operational Performance Of Smallholder Farmer Groups In Horticultural Supply Chain, Herieth J. Rogath, Juma James Masele, Gerald Magova

Business Management Review

Collaboration has increasingly been recognized as a strategic approach for enhancing performance. However, limited attention has been given to the relationship between horizontal collaboration practices and the operational performance of horticultural smallholder farmer groups in downstream supply chains. This study examined this relationship through the lens of Social Exchange Theory. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires from 195 smallholder horticultural farmer groups across the southern highlands of Tanzania, including Mbeya, Iringa, Njombe, and Songwe regions. Analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4.0. The findings reveal that all collaboration practices improve operational performance; resource …

Empowering Mental Healthcare Providers Through A Breathing Exercises Educational Program To Enhance Stress Management And Resilience At An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Ophelia Osinachi Matthews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project involved enhancing stress management and resilience among mental healthcare providers by introducing diaphragmatic and box breathing techniques. The practice problem was the high prevalence of occupational stress and burnout among outpatient mental health providers, which has been linked with decreased job satisfaction, reduced patient care quality, and increased staff turnover. The purpose of this doctoral project was to design, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based educational program that was aimed at empowering providers with simple, accessible, and effective stress-reduction strategies. The guiding practice-focused question involved determining the impact and increases in knowledge regarding a breathing exercises educational …

Role Of Dynamic Capabilities In Firms' Competitiveness And Performance In The Telecommunication Sector In The United States, John L. Kahi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Telecommunications firm leaders often struggle to integrate dynamic capabilities into their core business processes, thereby reducing competitiveness. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore how dynamic capabilities influence competitiveness and performance in U.S. telecommunications firms. Grounded in the dynamic capabilities view (DCV), the study addressed the overarching research question of how dynamic capabilities influence competitiveness and performance in telecommunications firms in the United States. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with six telecom and technology-sector leaders and analyzed using iterative coding and thematic analysis software. Four themes emerged: (a) continuous environment interpretation, (b) disciplined strategic commitment, (c) …

Perceptions Of Instructional Accommodations Among Nursing Students With Information Processing Disorder, Imaobong Aliyu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Instructional accommodations in nursing education often emphasize testing adjustments, while classroom-based instructional support for students with information processing challenges remains underexamined. This descriptive qualitative study explored pre-licensure nursing students’ perceptions of instructional accommodations for students with information processing disorders in Southern California. Guided by humanistic learning theory, the study addressed the research question: What are the perceptions of instructional accommodations in the classroom setting among pre-licensure nursing students with information processing disorders? Seven pre-licensure nursing students participated in semistructured Zoom interviews. Data were analyzed using an inductive process consistent with Saldaña’s analytic approach. Analysis revealed one overarching theme- Instructional accommodations …

Optimizing The Charge Nurse Role To Improve Workflow And Communication In A Community Living Center, Ndidi Kalu Ibe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project evaluated the impact of optimizing the charge nurse role on workflow efficiency and communication within a Community Living Center. Identified practice gaps included role ambiguity, inconsistent delegation, and communication breakdowns, which contributed to delays in care and decreased staff satisfaction. An evidence-based approach was used to standardize charge nurse responsibilities, strengthen leadership practices, and introduce structured communication processes. The project demonstrated that improving role clarity and leadership consistency supports more effective delegation, enhances team communication, and improves care coordination. Outcome included increased staff engagement, improved workflow efficiency, and enhanced patient safety. This initiative …

Narratives From Law Enforcement Officers Who Leave Policing, Hector Rene Matascastillo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Beginning in May 2020, a national exodus of law enforcement officers (LEOs) from the profession occurred. There has been speculation about the causes, including social unrest and trauma, while some claim that there has always been this level of attrition. The purpose of this study was to capture the narratives of LEOs regarding what motivated them to leave the profession after May 2020 and before achieving their retirement goals. The theoretical lens of general strain theory guided this study, as it posits that people under great strain resort to options that they would not usually consider, such as leaving the …

The Correlation Of Beer, Wine, And Liquor Excise Tax With Alcohol-Impaired Traffic-Related Deaths In All 50 U.S. States, Paul R. Amigh Ii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alcohol-impaired driving remains a persistent public health and safety problem in the United States, resulting in thousands of preventable deaths each year and substantial societal costs. Policymakers frequently rely on alcohol excise taxes as a deterrence strategy; however, evidence regarding the effectiveness of taxation alone in reducing alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities remains mixed. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study, grounded in economic deterrence theory, was to assess relationships between state-level beer, wine, and liquor excise tax rates and alcohol-impaired traffic fatality rates per 100,000 population in 2019. A cross-sectional design used secondary data from all 50 U.S. states and the …

Staff Education On Structured Phq-9 Administration To Enhance Depression Screening In Outpatient Mental Health Care, Zekarias F. Abessa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In outpatient mental health settings, inconsistent use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) due to gaps in knowledge and lack of standardized training can lead to missed opportunities for early identification of depression and delayed treatment. Mental health nurses play a key role in screening and early intervention, underscoring the criticality of this role in practice. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project explored whether a structured PHQ-9 staff education program could improve staff knowledge compared to baseline practice. The project involved using an intervention-based quality improvement design to enhance staff knowledge of administering and interpreting the PHQ-9 screening tool. …

Dresser, Rocio, San Jose State University

Emeritus and Retired Faculty Biographies

University of San Francisco, International and Multicultural Education, Ed.D. 2000

San Jose State University, Elementary Education (Bilingual Education Emphasis), M.A. 1996

San Jose State University, BCLAD (Bilingual, Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development Credential, 1992

San Jose State University, Creative Arts, B.A. 1990

A Forgotten Tool? Intellectual Property Rights And The Competitive Potential Of Micro, Small, And Medium-Sized Enterprises In Tanzania, Saudin J. Mwakaje

Business Management Review

This article offers a hybrid assessment of law and its impact on business by examining how intellectual property rights (IPR) promote business competitiveness by granting enterprises exclusive statutory rights over their innovations and creative ideas. The article situates the discussion in the Tanzanian context and focuses on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs). Using a qualitative approach, the discourse examines ongoing national and continental reforms and the evolving business and market environment that are driving MSMEs to adopt innovation to achieve market control and sustainability. Recent continental and regional regulatory developments, including the adoption of the Agreement on African Continental …

530 Manhattan Ave. Hous. Dev. Fund Corp. V Situ

All Decisions

In this appeal from a coop holdover, the Appellate Term affirms dismissal. The proprietary lease required service of a 30-day notice of default followed by a 5-day notice of termination before the conditional limitation could be invoked. Because the landlord served only a notice of termination without first serving the required notice of default, the conditional limitation was not properly invoked and the proceeding is dismissed.

From Awareness To Action: Exploring The Behavioral Gap In Green Computing Among Surveyed University Students In Tanzania, Victor G. Wilson

Business Management Review

As digital technologies become increasingly embedded in higher education, promoting environmentally responsible computing practices has become an important sustainability and management concern. This study applies the Norm Activation Model (NAM) to examine green computing behavior among university students in Tanzania. Drawing on responses from 868 students across science, education, and business programs, the study investigates how Awareness of Consequences, Ascription of Responsibility, and Personal Norms influence green computing behaviors. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to assess both the explanatory power of the NAM variables and the selective moderating roles of gender and academic program. Findings reveal that both awareness and …

The Role Of Board Effectiveness In Shaping The Influence Of Esg Disclosures On Financial Performance: The Case Of Tanzanian Listed Companies, Emmanuel Christopher

Business Management Review

This study examines the moderating role of board effectiveness in the relationship between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures and the financial performance of firms listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) in Tanzania. Drawing on stakeholder and agency theory perspectives, the study posits that ESG disclosures create value for stakeholders while effective boards enhance oversight and ensure that sustainability initiatives translate into firm performance. Using secondary data from firms’ annual reports for 2016–2024 (198 firm–year observations), the study applies random effects panel regression guided by the Hausman test. Robustness checks were performed using an alternative financial performance …

Re: Comment Letter For The Draft Final Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Bres No. 30 – Atlantic 1 Remedial Action Work Plan (Rawp) (Dated March 24, 2026), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

The Dialectics Of Preservation And Renewal In Traditional Dance: Bedhaya Saptongkara As A Development Of The Bedhaya Genre, Syahrial Syahrial, S. Sriyadi, Angga Febri Wibowo

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Bedhaya is a traditional Javanese court dance that embodies ethical, aesthetic, and sacred values. Following Indonesia’s independence, restrictions on its performance gradually eased, allowing the dance to be presented beyond the court and fostering its development within arts education. This shift generated a dialectic between cultural preservation and creative innovation, exemplified by Bedhaya Saptongkara, which integrates Balinese dance elements into the Javanese framework to produce an innovative form. Using a choreological approach and comparative method, this study reveals that although Bedhaya Saptongkara retains core principles of bedhaya, it does not fully adhere to the classical structure. Instead, it …

Féminicide: Institutional Silence On The Screams Of Murdered Women In France, M. Afif Alfadin Syarif, Airin Miranda

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Rising awareness of women's homicide in France has challenged the government to provide an adequate legal response, as feminist groups began advocating and expressing the discourse on women's homicide since 2014 through the term féminicide. The nature of this crime remains contentious in legal discourse, particularly given the significant rise in féminicide cases in 2019. This study, therefore, aims to examine the phenomenon of féminicide in France, exploring both the discourse surrounding it and the legal responses from the government. Drawing on 46 cases recorded in 2023 by the feminist collective #NousToutes, and with particular attention to relevant legal …

Kevin Davis V. John Wetzel

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Geospatial Assessment Of Agrivoltaic Opportunities And Land Use Requirements In Nigeria, Ifeoluwa Ezekiel Babarinde, Bashir Salisu, Jude A. Benavides, Engil Pereira, Steven M. Grodsky, Rafael M. Almeida

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Agrivoltaics, the co-location of agriculture and solar photovoltaic (PV) infrastructure, can deliver co-benefits like reduced plant drought stress and improved yields of shade-tolerant crops, particularly in water-scarce regions. Despite growing global interest, the technical potential and opportunities for agrivoltaics remain poorly understood in many regions facing both food and energy insecurity, such as sub-Saharan Africa. Here we provide a spatial assessment of agrivoltaic opportunities in Nigeria by integrating cropland distribution, solar resources, and water stress. We find that northern states—where cropland is abundant and water-stressed, solar irradiance is high, and electricity access remains low—offer the greatest potential for agrivoltaic systems …

Mechanistic Insights Into Enterolactone-Mediated Glut4-Dependent Glucose Uptake, Merritt Smith

Senior Honors Theses

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with approximately 25% of healthcare expenditures directed toward its management and associated metabolic complications. In response to the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies, recent research has focused on bioactive compounds derived from dietary sources. In light of that, we identified the plant lignan matairesinol (MA) and its gut-derived metabolite, enterolactone (ENL), as agents capable of enhancing glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes. These results suggest that enterolactone may represent a promising dietary supplement for improving glycemic control in patients with …

Monthly Cohort Meetings As A Pathway To Career-Related Success And Readiness, Jenna Heath, Isabella Shenouda

College of Liberal Arts Faculty Research

The UNLV Engelstad Scholars Program utilizes a monthly cohort-based meeting structure to foster professional and personal development among its approximately 100 scholars. Led by Graduate Mentors, these sessions provide a consistent, structured space for community building, networking, and critical reflection. By incorporating diverse, curated programming (ranging from professional development and guest speakers to stress-management workshops and peer-led activities), the practice cultivates essential competencies. These include emotional intelligence, accountability, and interpersonal communication, ultimately enhancing scholars' holistic career readiness and well-being.

The Collaborative Capstone Model As A Showcase Of Holistic Career Growth, Jenna Heath, Isabella Shenouda

College of Liberal Arts Faculty Research

The UNLV Engelstad Scholars Program capstone project requires graduating students to present their cumulative experience at the "End of Semester Celebration". Intended to build communication skills, emotional intelligence, and professional competencies, the assignment helps scholars reflect on their nonprofit sector learning and share their personal experiences with diverse audiences. This poster proposes shifting the capstone from an individual, three-minute presentation to a six-to-eight-minute collaborative group project focused on the program's core pillars: scholarship, leadership, and service. This transition aims to foster UNLV Career Competencies such as interpersonal communication, accountability, and flexibility by requiring students to navigate group dynamics and integrate …

Making Learning Engaging With Formative Assessment, Michelle A. Arroyo

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Benefits of formative assessment: increases student engagement, provides immediate feedback for teachers and students, helps differentiate instruction, encourages self-reflection and self-regulated learning, and improves overall student achievement.

Prototyping For Game Design With Unlv Libraries, Silvey Benson, Amber Sewell

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Involving students in a hands-on creative way to implement ideation, design, and prototyping skills gives students the opportunity to apply the theory of iterative design. Students analyze and reverse engineer current game designs prior to beginning their own innovations. They are then encouraged to apply innovation and creativity to their own game designs, test the games’ effectiveness through having others play their game and provide feedback, and fail safely in a controlled environment. Students will ideally increase their tolerance for failure through the implementation of the iterative design process while gaining a variety of skills that will serve them outside …

The Benefits Of Micro Mentorship In Supporting Student Learning And Growth, Laura A. Book

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

An overview of how pairing students with industry mentors can benefit their growth post graduation.

From Pages To Practice: Course Design For Integrative And Connected Learning, Prutha Deshpande

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The poster provides resources for the design of courses to incorporate considerable reading, paired with purposeful activities and reflection questions that deepen understanding of key points of learning, support knowledge transfer, and encourage dialogue and connection.

Learning With Ai: A Structured Approach To Student-Ai Collaboration, April Ursula Fox

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The rapid integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education has created an urgent need for instructional models that move beyond tool use toward intentional, pedagogically grounded practice. This study presents a structured assignment design that positions AI as a scaffolded collaborator within undergraduate educational psychology courses. Across a multi-part, semester-long sequence, students engage in concept explanation, self-directed inquiry, AI-supported knowledge construction, and reflective documentation of their learning process. Findings from recurring student artifacts indicate progressive gains in conceptual understanding, integration of research sources, and transfer of knowledge to personally meaningful contexts. Students demonstrate increased capacity for self-regulated learning …

Getting Students To Stop Having Ai Do Their Homeworkfor Them, Todd Jones

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

There are three simple rules, that, if followed, should cut down on the amount that students use AI to do their homework for them.

“Finding From The Field”—An Approach To Encourageexperiential And Epistemological Reflection, Julian Kilker

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The “Findings from the Field” teaching practice asks students to document and analyze experiences, locations, or artifacts encountered outside the classroom. While traditional field trips emphasize experiential learning by, ideally, linking course concepts to real-world experiences, this “Findings from the Field” approach extends this model through epistemological reflection guided by annotating observations. Students are prompted to consider not only what they observe, but how they know what they know, encouraging metacognition about observation, experience, and empirical research.

From Generation To Judgment: A Structured Approach To Teaching Responsible Ai Use, Necole Leland, Lisa Nicholas, Jennifer Vanderlaan

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

A structured approach to teaching responsible use of generative AI in nursing education is critical. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into professional practice, students must move beyond simple AI content generation to critically evaluate and refining AI outputs. Using the RISEN prompting framework to guide learners in designing effective prompts while also emphasizing analysis of accuracy, relevance, bias, and ethical considerations in the output. Through classroom modeling and applied activities, students engage actively with AI as a tool for inquiry rather than passive consumption. This approach offers a practical and adaptable model for integrating ethical and effective AI use across …