Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Recipes For Shared Community: Rhode Island In Action, Jahnele Williams

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This project submission will be a creative retelling of the exhibit mentorship, museum collections, departmental collaborators, and external partners that came together to inspire an exhibit that advances the shared educational goals and historic celebration of RI250. The resulting exhibit was inspired by the RI250 Commission and Rhode Island’s place in America250, the nation's celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026. Sometimes inspiration comes from outside your own institution, and you find a way to insert your own resources into a broader initiative. Being part of something bigger has its …

Feeding Futures: Jwu Vs. Student Food Insecurity, Ava Zajczenko

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

For my project, I am exploring the question: How does Johnson & Wales University combat food insecurity for its students on campus? I will be writing an action-based thesis paper that includes interviews with people on campus, such as dining staff, professors, and chefs. Along with this, I will use research from one of my classes and my experience volunteering with a nonprofit focused on food insecurity. Together, these sections will help me better understand what JWU is currently doing to address food insecurity as a whole, and what more can be done to close the gap on this issue …

Ai Detection In Academic Writing: Evaluating Performance, Ashley Kulp, Ruth Mckinnon, Steve Jacob, Samantha Bruno, Marygrace Kasprzak, Shayanne Silva, Hannah Pereira, Miriam Liz Villa

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

AI-generated text is becoming increasingly common in educational and research settings, leading to a greater reliance on AI detection tools. While prior research has assessed the performance of AI detection tools, few studies have examined their performance at determining humanized and/or hybridized text This study intends to evaluate the accuracy of five publicly accessible AI detectors in distinguishing between human-written, AI-generated, humanized, and hybrid academic text. Discussion sections from 200 Alzheimer's disease research articles were collected. Of these articles, four versions were created: human only, AI only, humanoid, and hybrid (30% rewrite), resulting in 800 total samples. In the primary …

Changes In Gambling Behaviors Among Young Adults, Madalyn Lyons, Shayanne Silva, Jadyn Torres

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Background: Following the repeal of PASPA in 2018, sports betting and mobile gambling have expanded rapidly across the United States. Young adults are particularly vulnerable to gambling-related harms, yet state-level post-legalization surveillance data remain limited.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from the 2022 (n=1,022) and 2024 (n=1,008) Rhode Island Young Adult Surveys were analyzed. Gambling behaviors and problem gambling (Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen) were compared across years. Multivariable logistic and Poisson regression models adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, sexual/gender status, and subjective social status.

Results: Overall gambling participation remained stable (40.6% in 2022 vs. 38.6% in 2024). However, among gamblers (n=803), participation increased …

From Transducer To Force Field: A Validated Simulation-Inference Pipeline For Lipus Mechanobiology, Davis Bone

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Quantifying the mechanical forces that drive cell motility under acoustic stimulation requires linking physically defined pressure fields to measurable cell behavior. We present a computational framework coupling k-Wave acoustic simulation to Underdamped Langevin Inference (ULI) to recover radiation force fields from synthetic cell trajectories. Two geometries – a 12-well plate and a microscope slide – were simulated at 1 MHz using 1, 2, 4, and 8 transducer elements with uniform, Gaussian-apodized, 5°/10°/15° beam-steered, and randomized-amplitude configurations (132 total simulations). For each acoustic field, 48 synthetic cells were propagated via the underdamped Langevin equation for 50 seconds and submitted to ULI …

Hallucinogen Use And Witnessing Community Violence, Euphoria Brown, Alejandra Marin, Brianna Weimert

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Current research shows that those who witness community violence (CV) at a young age have a higher likelihood of developing a substance use disorder (SUD) in their future compared to those who do not witness CV (Basedow et al., 2021). CV can include, but is not limited to, gang violence, terrorist attacks, shootings, robberies, and assaults that happen outside of the home. SUDs consist of a severe dependency on illicit substances, such as hallucinogens, opioids, alcohol, or other drugs. This study’s purpose is to examine the correlation between witnessing CV and use of hallucinogenic drugs and the development of hallucinogen-related …

Association Between Living Situation And Social Support, Paulina Zambrana, Julianna Hoyt

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Previous research has shown that living situation can influence perceived social support across different developmental stages. Social support can be defined as assistance provided by other sources like teachers, counselors, family, etc., to help an individual manage diverse circumstances. Particularly in youth, it has been demonstrated that strong perceived social support can be associated with positive outcomes like strong academic and behavioral functioning; however, unstable living environments can often affect the amount of perceived support and, therefore, generate poorer outcomes in young individuals. The purpose of this study is to analyze the association between living situation and social support among …

Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Taytum Camacho, Denise Meyer, Dylan Roznoy, Marleesa May

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This project examined the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and smartphone addiction among young adults. The objective was to explore whether exposure to early life adversity was related to patterns of problematic smartphone use. Researchers used data from the 2022 Rhode Island Young Adult Survey, a behavioral survey administered to adults aged 18–25 who resided in Rhode Island for at least part of the year. The study focused on identifying potential relationships between reported childhood experiences and current technology use behaviors. We believe that people who have experienced ACE’s before the age of 18 have a higher risk of …

Adverse Childhood And Disability Status, Abigail Vest, Sarah Chery, Mawlne Kyne

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This study focused on adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and disability status of adult individuals. Research shows that ACE has been seen to increase the risks of disabilities later into adulthood (Morgart, 2021), which may include cognitive, physical, and intellectual disabilities. The purpose of this study was to explore the possible association between ACEs and disability status, which could potentially contribute to prevention and intervention strategies. The study included 1,022 participants who were recruited from flyers, social media, and email and participated in a digital quantitative cross-sectional survey, which was conducted in 2022. The survey focused on the experiences of 18- …

Association Between Tbi And Behavioral Addictions, Siera Creekmore, Amanda Adams, Andrea Trejo, Olivia Castagno

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) encompasses a variety of symptoms that impact cognitive functioning and can result in altered consciousness. Previous research (Herrold et al., 2015; Miller et al., 2013; Davies et al., 2023) has identified a correlation between TBI and addiction-related disorders, including alcohol use disorder, as well as the usage of addiction services. Addiction-related disorders can also include behavioral addictions, which include persistent and recurrent problematic behaviors that result in clinically significant impairments or distress (American Psychological Association, 2013), and additional research findings suggest correlations between TBI and behavioral addictions such as pathological gambling (Bhatti et al., 2018; Regard …

The Pseudonumber Phenomenon: An Analysis, Grace Williams

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Studies have shown that people pronounce certain groups of letters the same way, even in situations where they are presented with words that are not real, such as "rop" or "toin." These cases are called "pseudowords." This theory can be also be applied to certain sets of numbers called "pseudonumbers." An experiment was conducted to test one specific type of pseudonumber: telephone numbers. A group of thirty JWU students were separated into a control and treatment group. The control group was given an unbroken string of numbers, while the treatment group was given the same set of numbers hyphenated to …

Chaos Media, Kelly Reid

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Digital media company built on a hybrid model of for profit channels of podcasts, documentaries, and stories that funds a non profit leg around veteran stories.

Winter Term Choir Tour To London And Paris, Bryon Black Ii

Music Faculty publications

This program explores the universal longing for home—a place of belonging, safety and peace. Spanning choral traditions from England, France, Estonia, Mexico, South Africa and the United States, the music reflects how hope, faith and shared humanity shape our understanding of where we belong. Across cultures and centuries, these works reveal music’s power to foster connection and community, even far from familiar ground. We hope this program invites listeners to consider home not only as a physical place, but as a space where we are known, connected and held.

2026 Document For Faculty And Staff Scholarship Spring Soirée, Kara Schleck, Diana Symons

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

No abstract provided.

“Wandering Between Two Worlds”: From One Marshall To Another, Robert Ellison

English Faculty Research

This personal essay chronicles my journey from Marshall, Texas, where I lived for 14 years, to Marshall University, where I have taught for 17 years. I discuss not only the move itself, but a pivot from Victorian studies to Appalachian studies, a change I made so I could focus on the region in which I live. The essay’s central question is mentioned in the title: how long do I have to live here before I can call myself a West Virginian, and before others will regard me that way as well? Is 17 years enough? If not, will I eventually …

Creating And Analyzing Topic Sentences With Chat Gpt, Raymond Rosas

Open Educational Resources

This assignment engages students in creating and analyzing AI-generated topic sentences using ChatGPT. By working with a shared textual dataset—in this case, the Comments & Discussion section of the article “If Hispanics Hate the Term ‘Latinx,’ Why Is It Still Used?”—students practice distilling key ideas into concise, coherent sentences that preview and structure content. In groups, students generate topic sentences with ChatGPT, then evaluate them for keyword inclusion, main topic, emphasis, and omissions. This exercise develops skills in clarity, coherence, stance-taking, and rhetorical analysis, while encouraging critical reflection on how AI summarizes and interprets text. The activity concludes with group …

A Low-Stakes Assignment That Introduces Ai Technology Into The Analysis And Writing Process, Tim Mccormack

Open Educational Resources

In this ENG 225 assignment, students use AI (ChatGPT) to perform tasks related to summarizing, paraphrasing, quoting, and responding to a text, then compare the AI-generated work to their own. Using Blitzer’s article “The Rhetorical Situation”, students create APA citations, summaries, paraphrases, key quotes, and personal responses with AI guidance. The assignment emphasizes critical evaluation by having students analyze the accuracy, effectiveness, and differences between human and AI-generated work. This exercise develops skills in rhetorical analysis, source engagement, and reflective assessment of AI as a tool for writing and research.

Analyzing The Use Of Ai To Transcribe An Interview In Spanish, Rocío Carranza Brito

Open Educational Resources

This assignment explores the differences between oral and written language and the challenges of transcribing speech. Students conduct an interview with a selected person, using ChatGPT to create and refine interview questions. They record the interview and use Otter.ai to generate a literal transcription that captures natural speech features such as repetitions and hesitations. After reviewing and correcting the transcript against the audio, students format it with participants’ initials to focus on content rather than timestamps. A simplified transcription guideline is applied to mark key elements. Finally, students reflect on the transcription process, addressing what was most difficult to represent …

Free Speech On The Web And Its Limits, Moris Stern

Open Educational Resources

This assignment uses ChatGPT as a learning tool to examine the democratic justification and limits of free speech on the web. Students analyze arguments for and against online free expression through Kantian respect for persons and Utilitarian maximization of overall well-being. Using AI-generated historical and controversial cases, students evaluate whether specific instances of free speech are morally justifiable, challenge their own conclusions with AI-constructed counterarguments, and critically assess AI-generated summaries. The assignment emphasizes philosophical reasoning, ethical analysis, and reflective engagement with AI as an academic tool.

We-Making Through Technology: Social Cohesion And Virtual Adaptation In Community Arts Organizations For Artists With Idd During Covid-19 Pandemic, Yumi Shirai, Michelle Boulanger Thompson, Tamara Shetron

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

COVID-19 public health restrictions disrupted in-person arts participation, increasing risks of social isolation and reduced community access. Prior research shows that many people engaged in home-based arts and cultural activities during lockdown, supporting emotional regulation, a sense of belonging, and social connection; however, little is known about how these shifts affected community arts organizations that serve artists with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), a population disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and longstanding inequities. We examined how community-based arts organizations adapted programming for artists with IDD during the COVID-19 pandemic, including barriers and unanticipated outcomes relevant to equitable access and participation …

Spiritual And Religious Lay Community Support For Informal Caregivers Of Adults At The End Of Life: A Literature Review, Rachel Lenko

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

• Informal caregivers of adults at the end of life often experience significant physical, psychological, and economic burden because of their caregiving and bereavement (Schulz et al., 2003; Skantharajah et al., 2022) 
• Prior evidence suggests that spirituality and/or religiosity contribute to positive religious coping and improved adjustment to bereavement (Damianakis et al., 2012; Stelzer et al., 2020) 
• Spiritual and religious communities often provide practical and social, in additional to spiritual/religious, support to their members 
• There is limited evidence describing practical and social support from spiritual/religious lay communities for informal caregivers of patients in the terminal phase of a disease

The Evolution Of The Whittier State School From Reform To Control, Manuella Zammit

Whittier City & College Historical Research

This paper examines the transformation of the Whittier State School from its founding in 1891 as a Quaker inspired reform institution into a punitive juvenile detention facility under the California Youth Authority. Through analysis of primary sources including The Sentinel student newspaper, The Journal of Delinquency, psychological studies, and modern reports, this study traces how the school's philosophy shifted across three distinct eras. The first era (1890s to 1912) emphasized moral rescue through vocational training, academic instruction, and structured communal life rooted in Quaker ideals of rehabilitation over punishment. The second era (1912 to 1927) witnessed the rise of …

Old University Adopts New Name, The Flor-Ala

Documents on Education and Progress of the University

Adoption of University of North Alabama for the college that started out as LaGrange College in 1830.

Open House Celebration, The University Of North Alabama

Documents

Invitation for open house of Flowers Hall Annex, the renovated Collier Library Facility, and the new Computer Center at UNA

Game-Based Learning For Asynchronous Ai Literacy Course: Approach To Improve Students' Cognitive, Behavioural, Affective, And Ethical Learning Of Ai, Jinhee Kim, Guang Yang, Wing Sha Chan, Xi Lin, Yukyeong Song

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Educators in higher education face persistent challenges in scaling AI literacy across disciplines and helping novice learners understand abstract AI concepts. Although research on game-based learning (GBL) reports mixed outcomes, few studies have examined its large-scale use in mandatory, asynchronous AI literacy courses for diverse undergraduate populations. Addressing this gap, this study investigates a scalable GBL-based AI literacy course delivered to 4898 first-year undergraduates across disciplines. Using a mixed-methods design with 311 valid pre- and post-survey responses and 20 interviews, the study evaluates students' cognitive, behavioural, affective, and ethical learning of AI. Quantitative results show significant improvements in overall AI …

Increasing Hpv Vaccination Among Early Adolescents Using A Game-Based Digital Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Angela Chia-Chen Chen, Lihong Ou, Elizabeth Reifsnider, Kimberly Arcoleo, Ashish Amresh, Michael Todd

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage among adolescents remains below public health targets despite strong evidence of vaccine effectiveness in preventing HPV-related cancers. Digital interventions (e.g., serious games) may improve HPV vaccine uptake, but evidence for effects on vaccination behavior remains limited. Methods: This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial evaluated a co-designed, game-based digital intervention to increase HPV vaccine initiation among unvaccinated youth aged 11-14 years and their parents. The sample included 64 parent-adolescent dyads (33 intervention and 31 usual care dyads). The primary outcome was HPV vaccine initiation at 2-month follow-up. Results: A significantly greater proportion of …

Post-Boom(Er) Maximalism In The Americas: Valeria Luiselli's “Lost Children Archive”, Antonio Barrenechea

English & Linguistics Articles

This article poses an alternative non-Anglophone starting point for twenty-first century maximalism through the Latin American Boom and “la novela total” that is its crowning achievement. Among such works are Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) and Carlos Fuentes’s Terra Nostra (1975). The term’s 1960s conception by Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa predates Thomas Pynchon as figurehead for maximalist theorizing within First World academic environments that control the conversation. Furthermore, I examine Mexican author Valeria Luiselli’s Lost Children Archive (2019) as a case of post-Boom(er) maximalism that differs from the big novels of the Latin American luminaries. …

Revisiting The Rural Folk Devil: Rural 'Othering' And The Connections Between Media Stereotypes And Rural Issues, Brooke Baker, Ida L. Oesteraas, Stephen T. Young, Elizabeth Monk-Turner

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The current study is a discourse analysis investigating anti-idyllic cinematic representations, specifically in the horror genre, of rural people, places, and cultures. Findings reveal that anti-idyllic images and discourses are prominent within recently released horror films, which rely heavily on framing rural people as the deviant “other.” Special attention is given to the cultural work of these stereotypical depictions and the associated social harms for rural communities. Specifically, we argue that (1) corporations, particularly film companies, contribute to social harm in rural areas by disseminating negative and anti-idyllic representations; (2) these portrayals have tangible and detrimental effects on both people …

Lgbtq People's Experiences With Crime, Victimization, And The Criminal Legal System, Vanessa R. Panfil

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The ebb and flow of social control efforts aimed at LGBTQ people necessitate a thorough investigation into their experiences. This review of the literature is organized around four key themes that characterize LGBTQ people's experiences with crime, criminalization, victimization, and the criminal legal system—including police, courts, and carceral facilities. LGBTQ people experience excessive rates of arrest and incarceration and have higher rates of victimization, which illustrate disproportionality. Their experiences differ from those of their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts and are conditioned by age, race, class, gender, and sexual orientation, illustrating intersectionality. The two primary, interrelated mechanisms driving LGBTQ criminalization and …

"When I Think Of The Public Library, I Think Of White": Black Families Counter-Narratives Of Library Irrelevance And Community Repair, Amber Matthews

STEMPS Faculty Publications

While public libraries espouse equitable access, few studies examine Black community disengagement. Drawing on Critical Race Theory and the theme "Information in Repair," this paper analyzes semi-structured interviews with seven Black parents of youth aged 13-24 in London, Ontario. Findings reveal that their lack of library engagement stems not from access barriers but from libraries functioning as racialized spaces irrelevant to Black lived experiences in Canada. Where libraries fall short, Black-led organizations perform continuous, invisible reparative labour through culturally responsive programming and trusted information networks. Meaningful repair requires confronting institutional whiteness, redistributing resources to Black-led organizations, and sustaining authentic relationship-building …