Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Fleeing Towards Healing: How Cam Can Heal Refugee Communities, Sarah B. Shaalan

Master's Theses

Alternative methods of healing can be found across the globe and are used by all kinds of people including refugees. This thesis will explore the potential benefits of Complementary and Alternative Medicine otherwise known as “CAM” as a supplementary strategy for helping refugees to deal with stress, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other harmful effects sustained on their journey and lives as displaced peoples. I will do so by first situating my project in the literature on Eurocentrism in healing practices and the emergence of CAM as an alternative. Then, using extensive primary and secondary sources, supplemented by an …

Impacting Queer Trans-Migrations In Mexico: A Case Study Of Civil Society Organization Casa Frida Refugio Lgbt+, Leticia Morales

Master's Theses

Mexico has historically been known as an emigration or transit country. In this context, civil society organizations have played pivotal roles in addressing the voids in support for migrants. Among these organizations, Casa Frida Refugio LGBT stands out as a significant service provider, specifically for LGBT+ migrants. This study engages in a qualitative case study analysis of the organization Casa Frida, drawing from interviews conducted with nine LGBTQ+ migrants and refugees, personal observations, and Casa Frida’s website and social media accounts. The research seeks to answer two central questions: Firstly, what role does an LGBT+ specific service provider like Casa …

Vrouwenwerk | Beyondtheglassceiling: Educate, Empower, Reimagine, Malou Lena Julia Desplenter

Master's Theses

In contemporary society, social media platforms have emerged as powerful tools for advocacy and activism. This thesis explores the potential of Instagram in raising awareness and fostering dialogue around workplace equity for women in Belgium. Inspired by influential women's advocacy accounts, I embarked on a journey to fill a noticeable gap in the digital landscape – the absence of Belgian-centric content addressing workplace empowerment for women. Grounded in the unique intersections of Belgian national policies, European Union directives, and global socio-economic dynamics, this capstone delves into the multifaceted challenges faced by Belgian women in the workplace.

Through critical historical analysis …

Lgbtqia+ Immigrant Healing: Ulysses Syndrome & Community-Based Organizing, Tay Villaseñor-Ingersoll

Master's Theses

The aim of this study is to validate that LGBTQIA+ migrants experience the Ulysses Syndrome, also referred to as the Immigrant Syndrome of Chronic and Multiple Stress, which was developed in 2002 by Psychiatrist and Professor of the University of Barcelona, Dr. Joseba Achotegui. This is an impermanent and complex grieving process which exposes one to symptoms such as depression, anxiety and dissociative somatic symptoms which result from extreme levels of stress from the processes of modern migration. This syndrome manifests as a natural reaction to intense migratory pressures for those who are otherwise healthy.

Furthermore, this project highlights how …

Leveling Up Financial Literacy: Evidence From Game-Based Intervention With Aspiration Treatment Amongst Rural Women In India, Akash Shaji

Master's Theses

In India, rural women exhibit notably low financial literacy levels, necessitating effective and scalable educational interventions. Our randomized controlled trial evaluated a novel approach, combining game-based financial literacy education with a video documentary-based aspirations intervention, targeting women in self-help groups in Karnataka. The study included 348 participants and employed an ANCOVA model adjusted for clustering to analyze the effects. The results demonstrate significant improvements in financial literacy and aspirations, particularly when interventions are combined. The game-based intervention alone significantly enhanced digital literacy, financial confidence, and behavioral indices such as agency, pathways, and aspirations. The aspirations intervention also independently affected financial …

The Diorama Of Coexistence Hypnagogia: The Liminal Space Between Dream And Reality, Yunseok Song

Master's Theses

The “Diorama of Coexistence” explores the imagined spaces where humans and animals share the same environments, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. This year-long photographic project is inspired by my Christian faith and the Genesis creation narrative, where the world was originally harmonious and unspoiled. Through my work, I aim to reimagine the natural world, not as it is, but as it could be a place where animals and humans coexist peacefully.

In researching human development and its impact on nature, I found that animals are often confined to spaces like zoo, far from their natural habitats. This led …

Taking The Bang Out Of The Gang: The Impact Of Catholic Schools On Gang Homicides In El Salvador, Ann Jillian Villanueva Adona

Master's Theses

This study explores the impact of Catholic presence on homicide rates in El Salvador, specifically focusing on the role of Catholic schools in reducing violence in gang-afflicted municipalities. Analyzing municipality-level data from various years, I used Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Instrumental Variable (IV) regressions to study the association between school enrollment and homicide rates. Results show that higher enrollment in Catholic schools is linked to a reduction in homicide rates in gang-affected areas, contrasting with an increase in homicides for non-religious schools. This research sheds light on the importance of investing in Catholic education as a strategy for violence …

Sport As A Means Of Emancipation: A Global Feminist Perspective, Exploring The Case Study Of Sahrawi Athlete Inma Zanoguera, Olivia Alexandre

Master's Theses

This thesis explores how sport can serve as an effective means of emancipation against intersecting forms of oppression, framed in the colonial context of Western Sahara. Through the case study of Sahrawi athlete and activist Inma Zanoguera, this research examines the emancipatory potential of athletics at the intersection of feminism, decolonization and the pursuit of self-determination.

Chronicling the multidimensional journey of Inma Zanoguera, her narrative becomes the vehicle of a bigger message : How athletic pursuits provide a platform for subverting entrenched systems of patriarchal, racial and political oppression. As Zanoguera states, "I believe in the power of sports to …

Supporting South Korea’S Aging Population: How Ai And Iot Acceptance Connects The Young And Old, Bobby Im

Master's Projects and Capstones

In 2024, South Korea surpassed every other nation by becoming the country with the lowest fertility rate (below 0.7%). Population decline will hinder future ability to care for their aging population and although the government and private corporations are investing millions of dollars on developing Artificial Intelligence-Internet of Things (AI-IoT) devices to support the aging, the acceptance levels and the amount of family support required is undervalued. By examining AI-IoT’s current use and role in South Korea’s public health system this paper shows how intergenerational support helps optimize existing procedures and equipment, increases the level of acceptance and use, and …

From Creamy Crack To Locs: The Oppression And Liberation Of Black Women Educators Through Black Hair Identity, Eghosa Obaizamomwan-Hamilton

Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigated the experiences of seven Black women educators by exploring how they navigate the complex intersections of Black hair identity and the institution of education through collective healing circles. It aims to add dimension to the conversations around intersectionality by including hair and education as they are both vital to the way Black women’s worlds are animated. By foregrounding hair as a pivotal component of Black women’s intersectional identities, I aim to uncover how it impacts both pedagogy and praxis. Rooted in critical race theory, Black feminist thought, BlackCrit, and critical pedagogy, this work challenges conventional research paradigms …

The Cypher: “We've Been Inside These Systems”, Andrew Carter, Eghosa Obaizamomwan-Hamilton, Simple Ant, Stacey C. Ault

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

In this track, Black Educology Mixtape Producers Ant, Dre, and Eghosa sit around a virtual roundtable to discuss what has brought us to create a second volume of BE. Our conversation moves and meanders as we refrain and chorus each other's thoughts and experiences. We talk about systems. A lot. The systems of thought, systems of oppression, the systems of education that have led us to seek others to join in an ongoing and creative discussion that centerers Black experiences in formal and informal educational settings. In editing our cypher, we have done our best to preserve our spoken language …

Making Us Matter Workbook: Combating Anti-Blackness And White Supremacy: And Other Conversations About Racism In Schools, Eghosa Obaizamomwan-Hamilton

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

The Making Us Matter Workbook was designed to inspire communities to initiate and organize a small Clapback Collective that is well-informed and has developed a collective strategy to deal with racism and anti-Blackness in the culture and curriculum of their educational institutions. The author aims to help students and educators develop understanding, utilize tools, and employ strategies needed to effectively combat anti-blackness and racial injustice in their schools. This multi-media resource serves as both syllabus and workbook by providing structure, source material, exercises, discussion questions, and vocabulary needed to turn this knowledge into a comprehensive and collective plan toward educational …

Quiet Quitting Or Just Tired As Hell?: Embracing The Challenging Reality Of Work-Life Balance As A Black Woman In Academia, Wyletta Gamble-Lomax

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

Quiet quitting is a phenomenon that has swept the globe as result of burnout and apathy in the work environment. The result of deeper issues causes some employees to disengage in the professional environment. After reflection, there was a personal realization that quiet quitting was not my issue, but instead I was tired of the juggling act required for maintaining a healthy work-life balance in academia. Three practical approaches to implement when explicitly and intentionally dealing with the challenge of work-life balance in academia, particularly as a Black woman are (1) learning to say no, (2) establishing healthy boundaries, and …

Blackcrit Mothering, Kassie Michelle Phillips

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

The author of the track, Dr.Kassie Alexander, moves to create a theorization called BlackCrit Mothering(BCM) as a theoretical framework. This track brings light to new terminology through the scope of Safety and violence, trauma, and Black Women’s health to frame how the lived experiences of Mothering While Black continue to unfold in various political climates. She explains that to understand the intersection of Mothering and being Black, we must take a deep look at Black Mothers in their various systems that continuously put race and gender at the forefront of how Black Mothers are treated. It is significant to pay …

Erasure And Resistance: Dyeing For Black And Brown Lives, Mary Rambaran-Olm

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

As a scholar of pre-Conquest England, I was faced with the challenge of being both invisible and hyper-visible. The mental and physical toll this takes on racialized scholars in predominantly white fields is immense, which leads to many of us leaving. This track explores my departure from academia, how Black people in history and in academia are often erased and how fiber arts is utilized as a form of resistance. Resistance of hegemony and white supremacy can come in ways we least expect. Accordingly, this track examines how fiber arts has served as a form of liberation and helped me …

Dream Out Loud, Gerald Griffin

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

This opinion piece explores priorities and perspectives to help institutions facilitate the actualization of dreams and goals of a diverse faculty body. Moreover, the author relates personal stories and experiences to help transition institutions from surveilling faculty (looking for deficits) to watching faculty with a lens of enhancing professional growth. In all, this piece shares the hope that shifting paradigms at the institutional level will help increase the multitudes of subjects and approaches in the realm of recognized scholarship.

Black Teacher, Black Mommy: Co-Conspirators For Equity In American Public Schools, Shartriya Collier

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

This narrative piece is a reflection of one Black mother’s experience with navigating the public education system in a large city in the United States. The author explores the humbling and often powerless moments she feels as an educator with over 21 years of experience, yet also as a first-time mother of a Black girl. She discusses the impactful Black teachers and other co-conspirators who helped to advocate for her and her daughter, Aya, during their schooling journey thus far. She concludes by referring back to her own father’s text, which outlines a framework for transformational education for Black children …

The Inequity Of Education, Kaylee J. Hernandez

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

The Educational institution in the United States has become a contentious issue inprevious and ongoing elections, with terms ranging from CRT to the “Don’t Say Gay” movement brought up more frequently, social issues have become more prevalent in discussions correlating with how we educate our future generations. However, despite all the discussion, we fail to recognize the core issue of all these ongoing conversations: discrimination. This track addresses the inherent biases within the current educational system impacting the learning experiences of marginalized people, as well as how this affects their lives. This track focuses on a widely known issue: the …

Show Up And Show Out, Young Homie: Performative Assimilation For Black Boys In The Face Of Anti-Blackness In Informal Stem Environments, Kareem Edouard, Taquan S. Stewart

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

The main objective of this track was to investigate the complex identity negotiations that Black boys face in informal STEM learning environments. This track is dedicated to offering concrete solutions and insights, illustrating how the confluence of diverse identities impacts and molds the experiences of Black boys as they journey through these educational landscapes. Through this exploration, the track intends to illuminate the distinct challenges and prospects Black boys face in engaging in informal STEM environments.

The 10th Amendment: The Preclusion Of An Equal Education, Jamez E. Dudley

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

“The 10th Amendment: The Preclusion of an Equal Education,” scrutinizes how the Tenth Amendment impacts the U.S. public education system. The study argues that the decentralized nature of education policy inadvertently perpetuates educational disparities, despite historical milestones like Brown v. Board of Education. The study actively explores systemic challenges, including uneven resource allocation, disciplinary practices, and culturally insensitive staffing. It contends that the Tenth Amendment's delegation of educational governance necessitates a fundamental constitutional shift to rectify these issues. Advocating for collective action, the study actively proposes a comprehensive reimagining of public education, emphasizing equity, representation, and resource allocation. The abstract …

African Diaspora Literacy - The Mixtape: Learning Through And From The African Diaspora, Jarvais J. Jackson

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

This paper reveals the lasting significance of music in Black folx experiences, highlighting its various roles from communication to healing. It introduces African diaspora literacy as a solution to distorted Black histories in classrooms, promoting understanding and unity with a pro-Black stance. The study is centered on Black Joy and uses a mixtape format to navigate six key historical periods that promote pioneerism, resilience, and innovation. This engaging exploration of African diaspora literacy provides an active framework for educators and individuals to celebrate the wealth of Black culture.

Truth Be Told: Utilizing Music To (Re)Define The Narrative Of Black Women Educators’ Lived Experiences, Christina Fields, Gloria Howell, Shetina Jones

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

The experiences of Black women in the academy are unique and extremely nuanced. In this track, we utilize Black feminist thought (BFT) to explore how music can be used to [re]define Black women educators’ lived experiences. We meaningfully and symbolically explore song lyrics from notable Black women artists to uncover how racism, sexism, and other interlocking systems of oppression and privilege manifest in and create barriers for Black women to thrive and sustain in educational environments. By utilizing pop cultural analysis methodologies, we engage in storytelling as cultural productions, to not only highlight authentic counternarratives but also challenge dominant narratives …

Let Us Celebrate: Negotiating Black Joy In Academic (Un)Conference Spaces, Nathaniel D. Stewart, J.B. Mayo Jr.

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

This co-authored piece shares a story about how two Black conference-goers negotiated joy in an (un)conference space. In turn, finding celebration within sometimes volatile, traditional academic conferences. Black Educology scholarship would benefit from more specific investigations into how Black conference-goers celebrate each other across their dynamic identities. We inquire about how a conference session co-facilitator (Nate) and an audience member (JB) negotiated, experienced, and built relationships across their positionalities and roles in the (un)conference space. We interpreted themes from our dialogue, post-session conversations, converged lived experiences, intercollegiate exchanges, symposium planning agendas, and written notes. The three themes, Convergent Social Localities, …

Cultivating An Environment Of Black J.O.Y. In Educational Settings, Kamshia Childs

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

Jubilantly creating

Opportunities and possibilities to be

You…authentically and unapologetically.

This track focuses on creating and facilitating an environment of Black Joy within educational environments—particularly those environments that have not always been welcoming, affirming, or equitable. The track will first seek to explore current research and literature about Black Joy in schools, and then share strategies and curriculum ideas that promote authentic experiences with learning inside and outside of the classroom. The track closes with 29 tips that promote the uplifting and amplification of Black voices and the Black experience within education.

The Miseducation Of Black Youth: Black Youth Spittin’ Lyrical Lessons Of Black Joy, Laughter, And Affirmation In The Rural South, Julia A. Lynch, Beth Gafford, Jarvais J. Jackson

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

This counter-storytelling performance highlights the educational experiences of Black youth living in the Rural Black South. In the shadows of critical race theory and critical teaching pedagogy, the researchers draw from BlackMothering scholarship as a theoretical framework to illuminate insights into how Black faculty create critical pedagogy to help make students more critical consumers of their educational experiences and provide them with skills to produce counternarratives. The researchers created a critical teaching project that allowed Black youth participants space to critically reflect, interrogate, and dialogue about their educational experiences and in doing so the youth created verses to song telling …

The Esoteric Relationship Among Black Teachers: A Collaborative Autoethnography Exploring How Schools Work As A Disservice To Black Teachers, Virginia Redwine Johnson, Aminah Crawford, Salandra Grice, Quinita Ogletree

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

In an effort to shed light on the experiences of Black girls in an after-school program, this study captures how their peer and teacher relationships were impacted by in-school suspension(s). Over the course of eight weeks, an ethnographic case study was conducted with two kindergarten Black girls who attended a predominately white after-school program. Using critical race theory and critical race feminism, this study adds to existing literature that reveals the harmful nature of in-school disciplinary practices on Black and Brown students in general, and Black girls in particular. The results of this study reveal how in-school punishment spills over …

Exploring Liberatory Practices Of Dreamkeepers, Yaribel Mercedes, Ashira Mothersil, Bettina L. Love

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

In this paper, we interviewed four extremely accomplished Black educators who represent a range of disciplines, ages, and levels of education. We relied on referrals from peers in the field, then determined whether those individuals were exemplary Black educators using the extraordinary historian, psychologist, and teacher Dr. Asa Hillard’s definition of a master teacher. The four educators we ultimately selected met those criteria. Our lengthy conversations with each educator explored their drive, inspiration, joy, and practices in the journey toward becoming and being a Black liberatory educator.

“They’Re Always Actin Up”: Exploring The Impacts Of In-School Disciplinary Policies In Out-Of-School Spaces., Nakisha Whittington

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

In an effort to shed light on the experiences of Black girls in an after-school program, this study captures how their peer and teacher relationships were impacted by in-school suspension(s). Over the course of eight weeks, an ethnographic case study was conducted with two kindergarten Black girls who attended a predominately white after-school program. Using critical race theory and critical race feminism, this study adds to existing literature that reveals the harmful nature of in-school disciplinary practices on Black and Brown students in general, and Black girls in particular. The results of this study reveal how in-school punishment spills over …

“Am I No Longer Gifted?”: Imagining A More Capacious World For Black Girls In Alternative Education, Taryrn T.C. Brown, Brittany N. Anderson, Kiarra Wigfall

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

Advancing the discourse on the experiences of historically marginalized students in alternative learning settings, this track delves into the intricate terrain through which Black girls in alternative education navigate their high-ability and gifted educational journeys within these distinctive learning environments. In this sphere, we advance the evolution of innovative theoretical and pedagogical paradigms in alternative education, transcending conventional boundaries and drawing from the diverse lived experiences of Black girls. In this regard, the conceptualization of the Black Girl Educology (BGE) framework embodies this ethos, fostering an environment conducive to inquiry and exploration of essential variables in alternative education. Our BGE …

Insisting On Success As Resistance: Building An Ecosystem Of Black Joy, Laughter And Affirmation, Whitney Hanley, Breanya Hogue

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

School climate is a complex system involving norms, goals, values, relationships, practices and organizational structures. It includes the composition of the school and school practices. School composition encompasses the social and economic characteristics of a school, whereas school practice includes administrative leadership and the utilization of resources (Anyon et al., 2016; Opdenakker & Van Damme, 2006; Rumberger & Palardy, 2005; Thapa et al., 2013). If students do not feel their needs are being met by their school environment their emotional, psychological and academic needs are at risk (Cohen et al., 2009; Connell & Welborn, 1991; Libbey, 2004). Black students in …