Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Stitches Of Faith: Women’S Education And Religion In 18th And 19th Century Needlework Pieces, Haley Strempel

2026 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents & Media

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, one of a girl’s biggest achievements was considered to be knotting the final thread on the back of her sampler piece. When the sampler was complete, her parents would hang the piece in the house for visitors to see, in the hopes that the sampler would signify her status, wealth, education, and skills as a future homemaker. Girls worked tirelessly to create neatly adorned decorative pieces that would make their families proud. In the end, when a sampler was finished, girls were left with a finished product that reflected their lives, education, and values.

English Diphthongs For English Learners: The Same, But Different, Kristin Lems

Faculty Publications

In any language, diphthongs need to be reckoned with, but teaching diphthongs to learners of English as a new language requires greater insight and special skills. In this column, we take a look at English diphthongs, why they matter, and how they might be best handled when teaching English language learners.

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 40. A Comprehensive Bibliography Of Books And Booklets About Alfred Russel Wallace, George Beccaloni, Jasper H. Pol, Charles H. Smith Editor

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

This bibliography presents the most comprehensive listing to date of books and booklets on Alfred Russel Wallace’s life and work, in all languages and editions, while excluding AI-generated works and most print-on-demand titles. It is based on a list compiled in 2023, which was expanded through searches of online catalogues and other resources. Analysis of the 160 works reveals a marked increase in publications since the late twentieth century, substantial linguistic diversity, and the growing use of manuscript sources in scholarly studies, particularly following the online availability of Wallace’s correspondence via EPSILON.

Cedarstone Arts Foundation Marketing And Media, Emmy-Kate Arnett, Amelia Bailly, Charlie Condra, Lorelai Lysaght

SPARK Symposium Presentations

For our project, we collaborated with Cedarstone Arts Foundation, a non-profit centered on providing free music education and instruments to childhood cancer patients. Our goal was to create social media platforms for the foundation and develop a key marketing strategy via said platforms, with the desired outcome of increased exposure and donations. To achieve our goal, we researched the most relevant media outlets for advertising. We helped create high-quality content that would raise awareness for their cause. We developed a general template for posting so that the foundation could confidently continue this strategy for the foreseeable future. We consulted with …

Sapientia Ex Machina: Engaging Ai As A Meaning-Making Tool For Philosophical Practice, Austin M. Pritchett

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This paper sets out to examine whether a Large Language Model can serve as a genuine interlocutor in philosophical inquiry. With a grounding in the phenomenology of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and in conversation with other works in philosophy on AI, language, and the mind, the author determines the extent to which an AI's contributions to conversation can be said to participate in understanding and meaning-making rather than merely simulate it, thereby making evident the extent to which it is useful in philosophical practice.

The Missing Memory In Ai Agent Networks A Network Analysis Of Moltbook, Muhammad Ibraheem Nadeem

IPHS 484: Senior Seminar

Large language models have transformed AI from a passive tool into a social actor. Humans form measurable interpersonal closeness with LLMs in one-on-one settings [4], and generative agents placed in shared environments autonomously form relationships and coordinate collective behavior [2]. Moltbook, launched on January 28, 2026 by AI entrepreneur Matt Schlicht, is the first large scale social network designed to be populated exclusively by AI agents, with human users restricted to observation only. The platform mimics Reddit, organizing activity around topic-specific communities called submolts. Within these spaces, heterogeneous agents — running on different LLMs, configured by different human owners, and …

Readder: An Evidence-Based Rsvp Speed Reader For Students With Adhd And Convergence Insufficiency, Adrian Mangine

IPHS 484: Senior Seminar

readder is a web-based Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) application designed to improve reading speeds and accessibility for students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and convergence insufficiency (CI). ADHD affects approximately 9% of school-age children, and CI affects 5–15%, with recent evidence suggesting a 73% comorbidity rate between the two conditions (Moussaoui et al., 2025). Traditional reading demands coordinated saccadic eye movements that are disrupted by both ADHD and CI, leading to fatigue, reduced comprehension, and reading avoidance. RSVP eliminates saccadic demands by presenting words sequentially at a single fixation point and has been shown to improve reading comprehension in adults …

From “I” To “We”: A Computational Analysis Of Gen Z, Collective Identity, And Generational Discourse On Reddit, Andre Mccloud

IPHS 484: Senior Seminar

Throughout time, generational differences have been studied primarily through surveys and self-report measures. These methods capture what we think but tell us little about how generations communicate and express themselves. I conduct a different method of analysis in this study. Instead of asking generations what they think, I analyze how they naturally communicate. This is done by analyzing 4,972 Reddit posts across generation-specific subreddits: r/Over60 (Boomer), r/GenX, r/Millennials, and r/GenZ. No keywords are used in the collection, allowing for natural collection of topics occurring in the subreddits. The data is analyzed using five approaches: LDA topic modeling, VADER sentiment analysis, …

Classical Music Isn’T Dead: Audience Development And Marketing Strategies For The Mid-Sized American Orchestra, Rachel Ferrara

IPHS 484: Senior Seminar

The American symphony orchestra is widely perceived to be a dying institution. This research investigates that perception and finds that it is largely unsupported. Sector revenue is growing, new households are entering concert halls, and younger audiences are engaging with orchestral music at higher rates than previous generations. However, Americans rate symphonies the least welcoming of any cultural institution, and strategies widely adopted to address declining attendance have been shown to be ineffective as conversion tools. The problem lies in marketing and communication. This project synthesizes sector-wide research and case studies to identify which audience development strategies are supported by …

What Nlp Tells Us About The Future Of Viral Journalism: A Case Study On Buzzfeed’S Strategic Pivot (2016–2025), Gwen Eisenbeis

IPHS 484: Senior Seminar

This project examines the evolution of digital journalism through a longitudinal NLP analysis of BuzzFeed headlines from 2012 to 2025. Using an NLP pipeline, the study applied cosine similarity, sentiment analysis, frequency modeling, and topic modeling to measure changes in language and focus over time. The findings reveal a decline in the listicle-heavy style that defined BuzzFeed’s early success and a rise in shopping and affiliate-driven headlines built around consumer recommendations and curated internet reactions. In 2016, positive language and numbered list formats (“17,” “19,” “best”) dominated engagement, while in 2025, terms such as “products” became the most prominent. Topic …

Hacking Human Attention: Ai Influencers Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis And Behavioral Analytics, Ayesha Aslam

IPHS 484: Senior Seminar

AI influencers are hyper-realistic computer-generated models designed to look and behave like real social media influencers. This study uses Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis (ABSA), qualitative content labeling, and quantitative regression modeling to analyze how AI influencers on Instagram generate audience engagement. User comments were classified into key aspects including Human Projection, AI Awareness, Controversy, Parasocial Attachment, and Exploitation/Spam, with each associated with positive, negative, or neutral sentiment. Post content types and caption strategies were structured into analyzable features, while engagement metrics including likes, comments, and engagement rate were examined across these categories. A linear regression model was used to estimate the …

Closing The Loop In Sustainable Fashion: Recycling Textile Waste And Its Environmental, Social, And Consumer Impacts, Anthony Amotoe-Bondzie

Collected Student Papers

Fast fashion has intensified textile waste, emissions, and social inequities across global supply chains. This study examines sustainable fashion frameworks and the role of textile recycling in advancing circularity. It employes a qualitative integrative literature review synthesizing interdisciplinary research on waste streams, recycling technologies, policy instruments, and consumer behavior. However, advanced recycling technologies offer environmental benefits but remain limited in scale. Nonetheless, rising consumption offsets efficiency gains, while economic and behavioral barriers hinder systemic change. Technological innovation alone is insufficient; circular design, regulatory enforcement, and reduced overproduction are essential for sustainable transformation.

2026-04-01 Caudill Connection, Morehead State University. Caudill College Of Arts, Humanities And Social Sciences.

Caudill Connection

Caudill Connection newsletter for April of 2026.

Antimony: The Macabre And The Punctilious: A Selection Of Prints From Special Collections, Luke Meagher, Carmen Bunch

Library Exhibits

No abstract provided.

Catholic Studies 2026 Newsletter, Sacred Heart University

Catholic Studies Newsletter

Highlights: The Lilly Network 2025 National Conference -- Bergoglio Lecture -- Center for Catholic Studies Lecture Series -- Warsaw Conference on Social Justice --SYNODAL Conversations in the Diocese -- ESTEEM Program at the Center for Catholic Studies

You Into Bad Girls?, Mara A. Swanson

LMU Theatre Arts Annual New Works Festival

A short play about a confident sister pretends to be her shy sister at a bar, but her attempt to impress the bartender her sister likes backfires when she leans too far into a fake “bad girl” persona.

Latasha, I Love You, Kumari Ananda Devidasi Billings

LMU Theatre Arts Annual New Works Festival

Latasha and Shawn revisit their romantic, tumultuous past, engaging in tense discussions about the value of sex work, the exploitation and brutalization of black and brown sex workers, misogynoir, and the lack of accountability -- socially, politically, and criminally -- given to perpetrators who have been socialized to believe they have a right to unleash rage on women in sex work due to the hypocritical minimal value society places on the existence of women in the oldest form of professional service work.

A Dupe Death, Bradley M. Ash

LMU Theatre Arts Annual New Works Festival

'A Dupe Death' is a 10-minute play written by Bradley Ash for LMU's 2026 New Works Festival. The comedy follows a young man who lies to his boss about his mom's death--he is then forced to keep his secret from the two after his boss arrives unannounced to express his heartbreak. The play is inspired by many classic sitcoms, as well as lots of modern Gen-Z-like humor; sorry in advance.

Pouring Grease Down The Sink, Mateo Tomas Hercules Gonzalez

LMU Theatre Arts Annual New Works Festival

Meet two half-siblings named Scab and Trash! One is the embodiment of pain and stress, and the other is the embodiment of disorder and loneliness! Follow them as they come to terms with how they feel about being half-siblings while a certain vistor is present! Fun for the whole family...!

This Play Is About Bugs, Zachary Scrima

LMU Theatre Arts Annual New Works Festival

A dung beetle attempts to talk a mosquito out of entering a human home. A ten-minute play that reimagines the ancient fable 'The Ant and the Grasshopper' in a contemporary context, exploring the nature of lateral violence within a marginalized community.

Egg Tarts For Evie, Hannah Ko

LMU Theatre Arts Annual New Works Festival

A mother and daughter struggle to connect, facing barriers such as differences in language, culture and personality, ultimately proving that love is a compromise.

Should Tomorrow Mark The Start Of Forever?, Rodrigo Zoratto Assis

LMU Theatre Arts Annual New Works Festival

Should Tomorrow Mark the Start of Forever? is a play about family, memory, love, and the strange performance of becoming yourself. The work follows characters who are trying to tell the truth, even when truth becomes painful, theatrical, funny, or impossible. At its center, the show explores how children inherit stories from their parents, and how those stories shape faith, identity, desire, and belonging. The piece moves between humor and emotional intensity, using performance itself as a way to reveal what people cannot say directly. Brazilian culture, love, spirituality, and the fear of disappointing the people we love all live …

Use Your Voice, St. Mary's University Theatre Department

Theatre

Use Your Voice is a play devised by Dr. Grace Edgar and her students in the Theatre for Change & Social Justice course at St. Mary's University during the Spring 2026 semester. Acts: Lower the Ceiling; Did You Love Him?; Dad, Let Me in; Cartel Assassination; Two Towns; Paperball of the Past; Whale Noise; The Alysa Liu Moment; Since I Was Little; Lake House; The Dow Right Now; Cobbler

Ai Literacy Framework, Beronica Avila, R. Jordan Crouser, Katherine Elkins, Lisa Morrison, Jenna E. Nolt

Instructions, Forms, and Toolkits

No abstract provided.

Ai Tool Assessment Framework, Beronica Avila, R. Jordan Crouser, Katherine Elkins, Lisa Morrison, Jenna E. Nolt

Instructions, Forms, and Toolkits

A resource to assist with making decisions about purchasing AI tools

Remain: An Exhibit By L. Renee Downtown Library, L. Renée

Artist Residency Exhibit

This PDF includes a portion of 2026 WVU Art in the Library and West Virginia and Regional History Center Mountain Artist in Residence, L. Renée's resulting works.

Remain is an interdisciplinary poetry project by L. Renee, the West Virginia University Libraries' 2.02.6 Mountain Artist in Resident. Developed in collaboration with the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC), this exhibit serves as a poetic activation of archival records concerning mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia. Through the residency, L. Renee accessed the environmental, geological, and community archives. In her work, she examines the endurance of both human and non-human life following …

Ein Überblick Über Den Schwäbischen Dialekt In Bayern, Gabriel Sullivan

KU Inspires! Undergraduate Research Day

No abstract provided.

Made In Ireland: A Postcolonial Analysis Of Irish Cultural Revival And Its Impact On Ireland’S International Relations, Emma Boyd

Political Science Student Papers and Posters

This thesis examines the impact of how British colonial rule led to the decline of Irish cultural components, such as Gaelic (Gaeilge), and how postcolonial revival efforts have shaped Ireland’s modern identity and its use of soft power in international relations. Drawing on mobilization and postcolonial theories, this paper defines key concepts, mobilization, remobilization, and postcolonial identity, to provide an analytical foundation. The analysis explores how colonial policies eroded Irish culture and language, intensified by the Great Famine, and how the Irish Diaspora serves as a global network for remobilizing Irish identity abroad. The ongoing conflicts in Northern Ireland will …

Challenging Patriarchy: Female Agency Through Religious Roles In Ancient Babylonian Societies, Emily Wilson

2026 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents & Media

In ancient Babylonian societies, gender roles were shaped by patriarchal structures that prioritized male authority in just about every sector. However, women created spaces for themselves that gave them influence and autonomy, particularly through religious institutions. Temple complexes like the Shamash temple in Sippar and the Esagil temple in Babylon were not only centers of worship but also powerful economic and administrative hubs, and women who served them occupied positions of privilege. The nadītu of Sippar, for example, lived in separate quarters where they were not only expected to remain celibate but were also allowed to own property, lend money, …

Calculated Self-Presentation: Japan At Twentieth Century American World’S Fairs, Mary Rose Comerford

History & Classics Undergraduate Theses

World’s fairs are places of innovation, culture, and technology. They are places where visitors go to be wowed by the innovations of other countries, but do they have a deeper meaning? In this thesis I will argue that world’s fairs serve a purpose beyond the sharing of culture and innovation. They allow national commissions to control the narrative of their country through a careful curation of displays that meet the objectives of their government. Countries’ objectives at world’s fairs change all the time, depending on their position in the world and what serves their best interest. The fairs themselves each …