Digital Commons Network^™

Trauma-Informed Care: Msw Students’ Perceptions Of Readiness And Factors Influencing Readiness, Naomi M. Jackson, Brittany Samperio, Kayla Broughton

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Although social workers frequently engage with individuals and families who have experienced complex trauma, limited research has examined whether Master of Social Work (MSW) students feel prepared to apply trauma-informed principles in professional settings. Objective: This study examined MSW students perceived readiness to implement trauma-informed care (TIC) and identified factors that may influence their preparedness. Methods: This study used an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. In Phase I, MSW students enrolled at CSUSB were invited to complete an anonymous online survey consisting of demographic questions, the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) scale, and the Readiness to …

Examining The Influence Of Race, Gender Identity, And Sexual Orientation On Homelessness Among Lgbtq+ Youth, Francisco J. Trujillo Jr., Lauren E. Flynn

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this proposed study is to examine how race, gender identity, and sexual orientation influence the experiences of homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 18 and 24. Existing research shows that LGBTQ+ youth experience disproportionately high rates of homelessness compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, with even greater disparities among youth of color. While previous studies have identified increased risks related to discrimination, family rejection, and mental health challenges, there is a need to further examine how intersecting identity factors relate to housing instability outcomes.

This proposed study would use a quantitative research design and …

Exploring Mental Health Service Disparities Among First-Generation Latino College Students, Diane Zepeda-Rodriguez, Samantha Ramirez, Desiree Robledo, Merina Leo-Urroz

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

First-generation Latino college students experience barriers to mental health in the form of cultural stigmas and systemic disadvantages, which prevent them from obtaining support and cause disparities within mental health services within their community. Existing research addresses how cultural factors, such as religion, gender roles, and stigma, play a part in their willingness to obtain services. However, despite the limited literature found regarding research addressing barriers to Latinos receiving mental health support, little to no research addresses the specific population of first-generation Latino college students. This study will aim to explore how systemic barriers and cultural stigmas impact help-seeking behaviors …

The Effects Of Administration Policies On Patient Care Quality And Healthcare Service Costs, Rajveer Kaur

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examines how administrative policies in U.S. healthcare systems affect patient care quality and service costs. It addresses a gap by analyzing the combined effects of policy, leadership, and technology on both clinical outcomes and financial performance. Using a qualitative descriptive approach guided by the PRISMA protocol, the study systematically identified and analyzed eighteen peer-reviewed articles. The findings show that value-based purchasing policies relate to improved patient safety indicators. Standardized clinical protocols and workforce competency initiatives strengthen care consistency and reduce hospital readmissions. The use of digital health technologies, such as telehealth and predictive analytics, helps optimize resources and …

Deferred Dreams: Mental Health Challenges And Access To Services Among Daca Recipients, Jamie G. Ruiz, Marlene Ortiz, Denisse Salvatierra

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is an administrative program that protects young immigrants from deportation while granting them access to education and employment. DACA recipients face challenges in accessing resources due to their temporary status and the unpredictability of immigration laws, leading to mental health risks from stigma, anxiety, and fear of deportation. However, little research has examined how DACA's instability and immigration politics affect psychological well-being and access to services over time. This study examines how restrictive immigration policies affect DACA and undocumented people's mental health and access to culturally responsive, trauma-informed mental health and social services. This …

Beyond The Dice Roll: Investigating Character Creation In A Pokemon-Inspired D&D Game, Alberto S. Rendon

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

For this study of Pokémon Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) I study gameplay as a way to capture how players use character creation and performance in role-playing games as a form of social identity expression. I provide a rich description of how players construct a game persona and relate it to their social identity.By engaging in an ethnographic study wherein I analyze the players’ game character, their style of play, the decisions they make during the game, and the small group dynamic that emerges as a result, I want to show how mixing these two fandoms can promote ways for players …

Associations Between Water Intake, Dietary Quality, And Beverage Consumption Among University Students, Mohammad A. Qazi

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Title: Associations Between Water Intake, Dietary Quality, and Beverage Consumption Among University Students

Background and Aims: Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) and ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption significantly contribute to chronic disease risk and is often more common in underserved and racially/ethnically diverse communities. Drinking water is a low-cost, calorie-free behavior that may support healthier beverage and dietary patterns. Previous studies show that increased daily water consumption positively correlates with better diet quality and is inversely correlated with SSB and UPF consumption. This study aims to examine whether (1) increased daily water intake is associated with self-reported diet quality and (2) self-reported hydration …

Teaching Through A Cultural Lens: A Practitioner’S Self-Study On Fostering Science Engagement Among Latina/O And African American Middle School Students, Michelle R. Estrada-Quezada

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Latina/os and African American students are underrepresented in STEM fields and STEM majors. Participation in STEM related activities and course work dwindles over the course of K-16 schooling, a phenomenon known as the leaky pipeline. Culturally relevant teaching is one practice that has been found to increase engagement and academic success among underrepresented student populations. This research project aims to study the impact of culturally relevant science teaching on the teacher and the students through a semester-long self- study in an eighth-grade middle school classroom. Data sources included daily reflection journals, critical friend debrief sessions with an advisor, student pre- …

Examining The Relationship Between Executive Functions And Resilience, Joseph W. Toland

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The direct and indirect associations of executive functions (EF) and resilience hint towards a strong association between these variables, however there are still gaps in the literature. The current study aims to explore the relationship between EF's (inhibition, shifting, and updating) and resilience. We hypothesize that EF's scores will generally correlate with resilience. Specifically, we hypothesize that inhibition scores will positively correlate to resilience scores. That shifting scores will positively correlate to resilience scores. That updating scores will correlate positively with resilience scores. Finally, the strength of the association between EF's and resilience will change depending on which EF's is …

The Link Between Incarceration And Education Level: Exploring The Correlation, Robert M. Sandoval

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Mass incarceration is on the rise, with education level being a strong predisposition indicator. A quantitative approach and survey method will be used to understand the correlations between the two social challenges. This research proposal is expected to reveal how education level significantly determines the probability of a person becoming incarcerated in California. A significant gap exists in understanding the intersectionality between education and mass incarceration. Intersectionality is a theory proposed by Kimberlie Crenshaw that discusses how people’s identities do not only stack on top, but also intersect to cause unique barriers. For example, Black women’s experiences with employment due …

Public Assistance And Its Effectiveness Of Mitigating Poverty In Families With Children, Angelica Archibald

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Poverty is detrimental to young children and causes significant challenges in many areas such as education, health care, food accessibility, employment outcomes and more. This paper explores effectiveness through a systematic literature review that examines poverty mitigation strategies employed by the United States government as benefit assistance for families with children and raises awareness of the different types of assistance programs available. Findings for this study are expected to inform social workers of the public assistance programs that help with the mitigation of poverty and its effectiveness of mitigating the poverty levels for families with children in the US. Additionally, …

Substance Use Rates In Youth In America Based On Adverse Childhood Experiences, Ashley R. Garguilo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study will be a systematic literature review that seeks to find similarities, differences, trends, and limitations in previous literature on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and substance use in youth aged 12 to 17. The significance for this research is high as drug overdoses in youth continue to increase. The study design will be a descriptive qualitative study. The implications that these findings will have for the social work practice include increasing awareness and understanding of the commonality of ACEs and the risk they put youth at in terms of negative outcomes such as substance use. Moreover, it will create …

Arrest Rates And Police Presence In East Bay Area Counties Of Northern California, Christiana M. Tyler

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In this research study, we discuss the social phenomenon of mass incarceration in the United States. Previous research has evidenced clear racial disparities within this social issue, but has yet to make a connection between high incarceration rates and the sheer volume of police officers in many communities. This descriptive study sets out to discover whether there is a difference in incarceration rates based on the level of police presence in select counties in Northern California. The study will measure police presence by the number of police officers, using secondary data from U.S. government and nonprofit agencies. The researcher hypothesizes …

Barriers To Healthcare In Lgbtq+ Baby Boomers, Kellie Jones, Alexandra Lomeli, Bryant Vargas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

LGBTQ+ Baby Boomers have experienced decades of discrimination, societal suppression, and exclusion from equitable healthcare. Despite advancement in recent years, healthcare disparities persist, and past experiences of discrimination may contribute to present-day barriers in accessing quality care. Existing research often neglects the intersectionality of aging, sexual orientation, and identity, leaving a gap in understanding the long-term effects of historical trauma on healthcare access for this population.

This quantitative study seeks to answer the question: How does the historical trauma experienced by the LGBTQ+ Baby Boomer population impact the healthcare barriers they face? This study proposes to examine the relationship of …

The Different Effects Of Housing First Policies On Homeless Men And Women With Substance Use Issues, John Carlin, Simon Ogom, Kimberly Quiles, Juan Zamudio

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Substance use is a prevalent issue in the homeless population, and in recent years, the homeless population has continued to grow. HF is a model where a homeless person is placed in housing with no preconditions. This model has been shown to be an effective tool in solving homelessness while also mitigating the rate of substance use in this population. However, there is no clear data on whether women benefit at the same rate as men in HF, and the majority of current studies are male-focused. Women often face unique issues like higher levels of assault while homeless, and it …

Mental Health Stigma And Barriers Among The Latino Community, Noemi Toraya

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Being faced with a lack of awareness of mental health in the Latino community has brought much attention to the reasons why Latinos lack treatment or choose not to get treated. In Latino culture, mental health is a construct of society, a label applied to justify not being able to function, work, or be present. For many Latinos who experience mental health problems, getting treatment is critical. However, there are several obstacles to overcome, one of which is the stigma associated with mental health and how it is viewed in the Latino community. In Latino communities, stigma sometimes involves associating …

A Qualitative Study Of Maternal Morbidity And Mortality In The United States, Stacy D. Harris

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Maternal morbidity and mortality (MMM) in America are largely preventable. The aim is to analyze disparities found in women of color regarding MMM in America and evaluate: How does adequate maternal health care affect the morbidity and mortality disparities found in communities of disadvantaged mothers? This research will employ a qualitative analysis of mothers, a more specified age group, and region (West Coast) of the United States. Previous work neglected to obtain in-depth, first-hand interviews with mothers residing regionally in the United States from a specified age group. An interview guide will be used to conduct comprehensive interviews virtually. Expert …

What Is Transitional Care And Its Role In Reducing Readmissions, Decia Rodriguez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Thirty-day readmissions to hospitals creates significant clinical and financial burdens in healthcare systems and worsens patient outcomes. This project reviews transitional care programs as strategic interventions to minimize preventable readmission with a specific focus on pharmacist-led medication reconciliation. Due to the extensive literature review, this work proves that structured transitional care is effective in closing the gaps between acute hospital care and home-based recovery because it coordinates medication management, patient education, and follow-up care. As it has been shown, pharmacists are in a central position to minimize medication errors and enhance compliance, especially in chronic patients such as those with …

Promoting Influenza Vaccination Among College Students, Wajeeha Khan Valley

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Influenza remains a significant public health concern on college campuses, where high population density, shared living environments, and frequent social interaction increase the risk of viral transmission. Despite the availability of safe and effective influenza vaccines, vaccination rates among college-aged students remain consistently low. Many students underestimate their personal risk for influenza and hold persistent misconceptions regarding vaccine safety, effectiveness, and side effects. The widespread use of social media further influences these attitudes, as misinformation can rapidly spread while credible health messaging often struggles to gain visibility. It is important to eliminate vaccine hesitancy among college students through innovative, behavior-focused …

Anti- Intellectualism, Authenticity, And Intellectual Authority In Short-Form Digital Discourse, Mariaisabel Sandoval

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This thesis examines how anti-intellectualism, authenticity, and credibility intersect in digital discourse. In contemporary online environments, expertise is increasingly treated with suspicion, while relatability, emotional immediacy, and personal conviction often function as alternative markers of trustworthiness. Under these conditions, intellectual expression may become socially risky, particularly in spaces where speakers must appear authentic without seeming overly serious, pretentious, or out of touch. This study asks how credibility and authority are performed, negotiated, and contested in short-form digital discourse, and how sincerity is reshaped when authenticity itself becomes a rhetorical performance.

This project is grounded in scholarship on anti-intellectualism, platform culture, …

Can Carpobrotus Edulis Cause Significant Changes To The Soil Microbiome?, Samantha J. Cowan

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Invasive species cause significant damage to ecosystem biodiversity and can cost billions of dollars to restore native species (Van der Wal et al, 2008; Diagne et al., 2021).  In certain instances, even if the invasive species are removed, they can leave legacy effects on the environment that make restoration more challenging (Conser and Connor, 2008; Elgersma et al., 2011). Carpobrotus edulis is an invasive species of plant that is known to cause changes to its environment such as affecting the soil nitrogen cycle and the pH, potentially leading to persistent changes in the soil microbiome and causing native species to …

Table Of Contents: Symposium 2026

University of Richmond Law Review

No abstract provided.

Methods Of Execution Through An Admistrative-Law Lens, Eric Berger

University of Richmond Law Review

Different lenses focus on distinct aspects of the same legal problem. Take the death penalty or, more specifically, methods of execution. Through a doctrinal lens, one might ask whether a particular method of execution creates a risk of excruciating pain incompatible with the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of “cruel and unusual” punishments. Through an originalist lens, we consider the original meaning of the words “cruel” and “unusual.” Through a proceduralist lens, a key question is when a trial court may issue a stay of execution to permit closer judicial examination of an execution procedure (or some other alleged legal deficiency). And …

Capital Punishment, Crimmigration, And The Necropolitical Agenda Against Noncitizens, Erin R. Collins

University of Richmond Law Review

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14164, Restoring the Death Penalty and Protecting Public Safety. This Order, one of twenty-six signed on Inauguration Day, directs the Attorney General to seek the death penalty for any “capital crime committed by an alien illegally present in this country,” and specifies the mandate applies “regardless of other factors.” In other words, the Order requires federal prosecutors to set aside their duty to determine what punishment comports with justice in an individual case, and instead seek the authority to kill anyone who is within the country without lawful status upon commission …

Anti-Death Penalty Advocacy In A Time Of Resurgence, Carol S. Steiker, Jordan M. Steiker

University of Richmond Law Review

After a staggering two-decade decline dating back to the turn of the millennium, the American death penalty is experiencing a notable resurgence. Executions in 2025 climbed to their highest mark in over a decade (forty-seven nationwide), more than 150% of any year since 2015 (twenty-eight nationwide) and the highest total since 2009. These executions span eleven states, the largest number of states conducting executions in a single year since 2000. Relatedly, the Supreme Court of the United States seems less inclined to rein in capital practices. The Court has exhibited increased hostility toward end-stage litigation, illustrated most prominently in its …

Table Of Contents: Online Edition 2025-2026

University of Richmond Law Review

No abstract provided.

Preface, Grace Condello

University of Richmond Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Freedman's Savings Bank And Financial Literacy Education, Alexis A. Balance

University of Richmond Law Review

In the United States, white, non-Hispanic individuals possess approximately seven times the wealth of Black individuals. One recent study found that for every 100 dollars in wealth held by a white household, a Black household holds about fifteen dollars. This disparity in wealth accumulation is referred to as the wealth gap, and it has historically stratified along racial lines. Although income inequality contributes to this disparity, the racial wealth gap is much more pronounced and continues to grow. …

A Terrorist In Death Only: How The Death Penalty Fills The Gap In Federal Terrorism Law, Caroline A. Mcbride

University of Richmond Law Review

In the absence of a federal statute criminalizing domestic terrorism, the United States turned to an unlikely proxy: the death penalty. This Comment argues that capital punishment is used to define domestic terrorism, particularly when statutory tools cannot capture white supremacist attacks. Although former President Biden commuted most federal death sentences to life imprisonment without parole, three individuals whose attacks met the legal definition of domestic terrorism were excluded from clemency. Examining several cases from Timothy McVeigh to Luigi Mangione reveals a trend of defendants whose crimes meet the legal definition of domestic terrorism receiving the death penalty, even when …

Raising The Bar: Virginia Constitutional Interpretation Post-Vlaming, The Honorable Lisa M. Lorish, Alec Block, Amy Vanderveer

University of Richmond Law Review

Across the United States, dozens of state supreme courts choose to interpret their state constitutions as co-extensive, or in “lockstep” with analogous provisions of the Constitution of the United States. Yet since the Supreme Court overruled or changed its interpretation in a number of rights-based cases, state constitutions are receiving new attention. In Virginia, several years before Dobbs sparked this new focus, the Supreme Court of Virginia departed from the Supreme Court of the United States’ interpretation of its Free Exercise Clause analogue and adopted a new standard providing increased protection. In doing so, the Court signaled its willingness to …