Liberal Studies Commons^™

Interdisciplinary Connections Between Science & Theatre, Jessica N. Dotson

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SCIENCE & THEATRE

Jessica Nicole Dotson

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2015.

Major Director: Dr. Noreen C. Barnes, Director of Graduate Studies, Associate Professor of Theatre

In the 1990s, astronomer Peter Usher was searching for new ways to teach his introductory astronomy class at Pennsylvania State University. He began to engage his students by searching for astronomical connections from other disciplines. His focus was turned to the arts, especially the works of William Shakespeare. Usher found, while …

Restore: Bringing Awareness To Food Insecurity And Food Justice At Grand Valley State University, Amanda Anderson, Jenna Hielkema, Skyelar Lenderink, Ryan Marshall

Liberal Studies Undergraduate Research

As food insecurity is becoming a factor among many college students, campus food pantries are opening across the country. ReStore is a food pantry at Grand Valley State University, created in April 2009 to help students who are not able to afford food or are unable to get to the local supermarket. The number of these students is alarming. Statistics show 25 percent of students, at the University of California at San Diego, skip meals due to not having money to buy food. ReStore is an asset to GVSU where it helps reduce food insecurity on campus. Campus food pantries …

Heartside Gleaning Initiative: A Partnership To Increase Community Volunteer Base Through Spectrum Health Of West Michigan, Heather Carpenter, Kelsey Kasbaum, Janelle Navarini

Liberal Studies Undergraduate Research

Heartside Gleaning Initiative (HGI) is a non-profit organization who seeks to empower Heartside, Michigan and surrounding communities to become healthier by increasing their access to healthy foods and nutrition education (Web, HGI Mission and History). HGI combats the effects of food related illness and aims to restore healthy food security into the neighborhood through the collection and distribution of fresh produce to low-income families and individuals. All produce distributed has been donated by various local farmers in the West Michigan area.

Finding a consistent, reliable source of helping hands during the gleaning season is paramount to the success of HGI. …

Improving The Lives Of The Diabetic Community At Grand Valley State University, Stephanie Grieger, Crystal Juarez, Dayle Micale

Liberal Studies Undergraduate Research

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is an organization whose mission is to improve the lives of those affected by diabetes. This is done by funding research, raising awareness in the community, educating the public on the disease, and making resources available to those affected by diabetes. Being students of Grand Valley State University, we had the opportunity to collaborate with the West Michigan ADA to improve the lives of those with diabetes on the GVSU’s Allendale campus. To do this, we created a convenient way for those with diabetes to keep track of their carbohydrate intake by creating a guide …

Access Of West Michigan: Promoting Food Equity Through Storytelling, Kaitlyn Bowman, Matt Corr, Zoe Saye, Rebecca Timmerman, Guy Witham

Liberal Studies Undergraduate Research

Personal accounts addressing real-life experiences are a testament to humanity, and allow future generations to act and improve upon them. Currently, large cities are facing malnutrition and are often labeled “food deserts” (Walker et al., 2012). While restaurants and convenient stores are bountiful in large cities, the variety of food they offer is not. Access of West Michigan is an organization providing workshops, simulations, and programs to educate the general public on the importance of health and nutrition. In the present paper, we address the challenge to further educate and inspire community members to get involved and allow Access to …

Putting An Emphasis On Local And Healthy Living, David Thom, Amber Kingery

Liberal Studies Undergraduate Research

Local First is an organization located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that works to promote a lifestyle built upon local product consumption. Local First works with a wide variety of compa-­‐ nies to achieve this goal and is not limited to one specific area of the market. Four students from Grand Valley State University have teamed up with Local First to address and improve ar-­‐ eas in need of attention. Nutrition, Diversity, and public awareness of Local First are current areas described as needing improvement by both the students and the Local First executive as-­‐ sistant. Students designed, printed, and distributed …

K-5 Elementary Balanced Literacy Reading Program Implementation Evaluation, Suzanne Marie Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students who struggle with reading in their elementary years are likely to make poor academic progress, leave school before graduation, and struggle in the workplace. The district leaders at 24 K-5 elementary schools in a large Midwestern district were interested in a formative reading program evaluation to determine reading program effectiveness. This mixed methods study, approached from a cognitive and social theoretical framework, was a formative evaluation of the Balanced Literacy Reading Program implementation at these elementary schools. The purpose of this study was to capture the K-5 classroom teachers' (n = 113), instructional coaches' (n = 18), and principals' …

Educational Intervention: Effects On Heart Disease Risk Factor Knowledge Among African Americans, Linda M. Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Fatal coronary heart disease among African Americans is associated with a

disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Research has indicated that CVD risk factor knowledge and the prevalence of ideal CVH both persist at suboptimal levels. However, few researchers have investigated the relationship between culturally-tailored community-based heart health sessions, short-term knowledge acquisition of CVD risk factors, and the awareness of the American Heart Association's (AHA's) CVH construct. The purpose of this cross-sectional, secondary analysis study was to examine the interplay between these variables in an urban African American sample. Guided by social cognitive theory, the study analyzed …

The Effect Of Bullying Prevention Programs On The Perceptions Of Bullying Among Female Youth, Karen Tokarick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Bullying has become a widespread social issue. Previous research has focused on both genders and various grade levels; it has shown that programs reduce bullying and improve social climates and attitudes toward academics. The effect of these programs, specifically on female youth, has not been studied. This study addressed the effect of bullying prevention programs on perceptions of bullying among female youth in Grades 5-7 in 2 schools in rural eastern Pennsylvania. One school utilized a prevention program while the other did not. Teachers and administrators were also interviewed to gain insight regarding their perceived effectiveness of the program. The …