Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Open Access Articles

Space And Defense Vol. 16 No. 2 Editor's Note, Damon Coletta

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Space And Defense Vol. 16 No. 2 Table Of Contents, Editors Space And Defense

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Space And Defense Vol. 16 No. 2 Front Matter, Editors Space And Defense

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Space & Defense Volume 16 Issue 2 Fall 2025 (Whole Issue), Editors Space And Defense

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Extremely Low-Income Renter Households In The Mountain West, 2023, Anthony Arroyo, Yiselle Olivas Ruiz

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Our presentation, based on research conducted with Brookings Mountain West here at UNLV, will focus on the number of extremely low-income renter households, affordable and available rental homes, and associated cost burdens that renters face in the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. We will present data from our recently-published fact sheet, “Extremely Low-Income Renter Households in the Mountain West, 2023,” which derives data from the 2025 National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) report, “The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Rental Homes.” which reported annual rental housing shortages in the United States. We will …

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The Digital Economy And Equitable Access To Jobs In The Mountain West, 2023, Isabelle Graham

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

This fact sheet presents data from a Brookings Institution report, “The future of the US digital economy depends on equitable access to jobs,” which compares the share of 2023 employment in highly digital jobs among women and minority groups for select U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). This fact sheet reports data for nine Mountain West MSAs: Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV; Albuquerque, NM; Colorado Springs, CO; Denver-Aurora- Lakewood, CO; Tucson, AZ; Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ; Salt Lake City, UT; Provo-Orem, UT; and Ogden- Clearfield, UT.

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Immigrant Population Inthe Mountain West, 2023, Maisoon Faris, Yiselle Olivas Ruiz, Kian Parikh

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Our presentation, based on research conducted with Brookings Mountain West here at UNLV, will focus on the economic and workforce contribution of immigrants and international students. We will present data from our recently published fact sheet, “Immigrant Population in the Mountain West, 2023”, which derives data from the 2025 American Immigration Council (AIC) report “Map the Impact.” Our presentation will include state-level data on immigrant population, labor force participation, and economic contributions as of 2023. We will present three data tables that highlight data on each Mountain West State: Table 1 provides the number of Immigrant Residents, Immigrant Share of …

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Culturally Aware Mindfulness Training For Army Leaders: A Scalable Solution To Strengthen Mental Readiness, Katherine Dutler (Skowronski)

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This doctoral paper examines cost-effective, easily distributed mindfulness practices as a force-multiplier for psychological readiness in the U.S. Army. Daily mindfulness reduces symptom burden, raises distress tolerance, and sharpens performance—all without added equipment, appointments, or cost. However, stigma, long waitlists, and civilian-centric messaging still deter soldiers from adapting mindfulness practices. Rather than replacing clinicians, the program functions as preventive maintenance and a bridge while soldiers await care, thereby easing load on an overtaxed system. By embedding mental fitness alongside physical PT, the Army can advance its mandate to “deploy, fight, and win” with forces that are both mentally and physically …

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Safety, Security, And… Beavers? An Engineer's Low-Tech Climate Strategy, Matt Mullins

University College: Environmental Policy and Management Capstones

Colorado’s headwaters are the source of drinking water to millions and are a key pillar of the state’s tourism industry. Consequently, they are some of the most vulnerable areas to natural disasters including wildfires, droughts and flooding. Climate change will increase the severity and frequency of these natural disasters. This project focuses on some of the most vulnerable areas from an economic and climate change perspective of Colorado’s headwaters including the Big Thompson River, and the Colorado River. These headwaters located in and around Estes Park, Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park are currently severely impaired. Low-tech process-based restoration …

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Enhancing Antitrafficking Initiatives Through An Interagency Collaboration Framework, Robert Louis Baxter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The challenges individual agencies face in addressing the complex issue of human trafficking and how interagency collaboration can strengthen survivor-centered support are largely unknown. Organizations often lack formal alliances that combine expertise and resources to deliver more comprehensive care. The absence of such partnerships represents a missed opportunity to provide the essential services necessary for survivors’ recovery, empowerment, and social reintegration. The purpose of the study was to use interagency collaboration to address the question: How can education, law enforcement, public health, and community-based organizations assess the barriers and benefits of interagency collaboration to create a more seamless support network …

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Student Alienation In Schools Goes Beyond Low Achievement, Sean J. Drake, Jeffrey Guhin

Center for Policy Research

When we think about students struggling in school, we often focus on grades, test scores, and graduation rates. But there's a deeper problem affecting students across all achievement levels: alienation. Students feel disconnected from school not because they're failing, but because they can't see themselves in the narrow story schools tell about success. This brief summarizes findings from a study drawing on over two years of ethnographic fieldwork in two different high schools in Los Angeles, California. The authors identify four types of alienation students experience: feeling like they don't belong, being in schools that can't support their goals, pursuing …

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Public Support For New Agricultural Best Management Practices To Protect Florida Water Quality, Sadie Hundemer, Madison A. Dyment, Matthew Gold

Journal of Extension

Recent research finds that changes to land management practices in geographically vulnerable areas of Florida could substantially reduce groundwater contamination; however, water quality improvement comes with tradeoffs. A change in land use or the adoption of new agricultural best management practices (BMPs) would have economic and cultural implications for farmers, rural communities, taxpayers, and the state as a whole. In two studies, we examined Florida residents’ support for alternative land management policy options, the considerations contributing to their policy preferences, and how preferences and considerations vary across demographic characteristics.

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Perception Map As A Tool For Program Evaluation, Marlene K. Rebori

Journal of Extension

Perception maps can be powerful tools for visually sharing and conveying program information with the general public and decision makers. A perception map is a common visual data tool used in the marketing and economics discipline, but not commonly used in Extension. A framework for developing a perception map and a step-by-step process for setting up evaluation metrics to create a perception map is provided using an example from a community leadership development program.

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Preparing For The Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Economy In The Mountain West, 2025, Kian Parikh, Taylor Volk, Maisoon Faris, Kristian Thymianos, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

This fact sheet presents data from the Brainly report, “Here Are the States Most (and Least) Prepared to Win the AI Race in 2025” for the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah. This fact sheet highlights the national and individual rankings of four key metrics for each Mountain West state: the fixed percentage of businesses using artificial intelligence (AI); the number of AI jobs per 1,000 workers; the number of AI-related degrees per 10,000 people ages 20-24; and federal funding for small business technology innovation per $1 million of gross domestic product (GDP).

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"It's Really The Support System That Makes It" Expanding Infant-Toddler Child Care Options In New York, Voices From The Field, Mark K. Nagasawa

Straus Institute for Thriving Children & Families

This report discusses findings from a small, exploratory study of early childhood educators' experiences working to expand access to high quality child care for infants and toddlers. Because of who participated in the study, it takes a particular focus on the federally-funded Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership program. The study's contribution lies in surfacing fine-grained policy issues that complicate expansion efforts from the perspectives of professionals who live within a fragmented early care and education (ECE) system every day. This "non-system" (1) makes it difficult to provide continuity of care to children and their families; (2) lacks appropriate space(s) to …

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Ngos’ Role In Voluntary Repatriation Of The African Diaspora, Teni-Ola Ogunjobi

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

The African diaspora consists of people who were displaced far from their ancestral homeland because of slavery, colonization, and other forms of direct and structural violence. This paper will discuss the voluntary repatriation of displaced people, specifically Black people living outside of the continent of Africa, who desire to voluntarily repatriate back to their ancestral countries of origin, their ancestral home, and/or some location on continent of people of African descent. This article identifies a viable group within the international law arena to support in addressing the requests for voluntary repatriation of African descendants to their African countries of origin. …

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Ethical Values In Curriculum Implementation: Nigerian Teacher Educators’ Perception, Eke Ogbu Eke, Ariguzo Genevieve Onyekachi, Felicia Chika Dim, Chidingozi Eke, Joy Oruwari

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

This study investigated the perceptions of teacher educators regarding the integration of ethical values into curriculum implementation within teacher education programmes in Nigeria. Through a survey conducted at Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, involving 191 academic staff. Researchers made a perception response questionnaire titled "Integrating Ethical Values into Curriculum Implementation within Teacher Education Programmes in Nigeria Questionnaire (IEVCITEP)". It had a reliability coefficient of 0.84 determined using Cronbach Alpha. The data collected was analyzed using mean and standard deviation in answering research questions while the hypothesis was tested using t-test statistical tools tested at 0.05 level of significance. The …

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The Role Of Design Thinking In Edtech Startups, Toluwani Victor Aliu

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

A move toward user-centered methods to innovation has been garnering attention due to the realization that consumers and users may offer possibilities and expertise. An innovative strategy that infuses creativity with user-centeredness is design thinking. Despite this, design thinking has received little attention in startups, particularly in the EdTech sector. Even while design thinking has become quite popular, there is a need for empirical study on design thinking in startups. This is because the majority of the research has been on large organizations. The paper explicates how design thinking facilitates the implementation of methodologies through iterative development, empathy mapping, and …

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Acknowledgment, Yaljod 5.1, Florian Cyril Mshanga

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Acknowledgment from Florian Cyril Mshanga, Vice President, Governance & Operations, Young African Leaders Forum (YALF)

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Reviving Pan-Africanism For The 21st Century: A Framework For Youth-Led Continental Governance Reform, Ugochukwu Mercy Prince-Ifoh

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

This paper explores the historical trajectory, current stagnation, and potential revival of PanAfricanism with a strong emphasis on youth leadership as the engine of governance reform across the African continent. By tracing the intellectual and political contributions of renowned leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, and Thomas Sankara, the study identifies foundational principles of unity, sovereignty, and collective progress. The paper critically evaluates the Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU), highlighting opportunities and limitations for youth participation. It also conducts a comparative analysis of regional youth governance structures and proposes practical frameworks to institutionalize youth-led reforms. The paper …

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Reimagining Youth Agency In Africa: Programs, Progress, And A Continental Vision (Closing Feature Article), Dennis Munene

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

This edition has curated the ideas, research, and praxis of young intellectuals and practitioners across the continent. As Vice President in charge of Programs and Development (Strategies), I am pleased to provide a retrospective of our continental programs and initiatives and project the path we envision in shaping Africa's future.

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Decoding The Future: African Parliaments, The 4ir, And The Ai Revolution, Bravin Onditi, Immanuel Mwendwa Kiilu

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (41R), propelled by advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), is ushering in a profound transformation across Africa's economies, governance systems, and societies. For African parliaments, there is an incredible challenge on the governance front, but the opportunities are unprecedented. This paper examines the range of biases, data insecurities, and inequalities the democracies of the continent face, while detailing how African legislatures can instate frameworks to govern and design AI function within the democracies of the continent. As seen in the examples of Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria, this paper outlines the disparity between the astounding rates …

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An Investigative Analysis Of How African Youth Can Drive Economic Integration By Taking Up Agriculture As A Means Of Economic Livelihood, Gerald Kihara Muchiri

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

The paper explores how African youth can drive economic integration by using agriculture as an economic means of livelihood. Despite being Africa's most vital asset, African youth remain underrepresented in continental development initiatives and continue to stagnate as they face structural challenges such as perennial unemployment. The recent promulgation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme hold immense promise to improve the lives of millions of African youths if leveraged appropriately. This paper concludes that Africa's youth could be the continent's engine to propel sustainable economic growth if their potential is harnessed appropriately, …

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Front Matter, Yaljod 5.1, Sombo Muzata

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Includes: Editorial Review by Dr. Sombo Muzata, Editor in Chief, Young African Leaders Journal of Development; Foreword by Prof. Plo-Lumumba; Foreword by Prof. Tim Kiruhi; and Preface by Prince C. lfoh, Founder and President, Young African Leaders Forum (YALF).

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Promoting Women’S Land Ownership Rights In Tanzania: The Role Of Wlac As A Legal Empowerment Ngo, Norbeth Sixbert

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Despite Tanzania's progressive legal frameworks that recognize women's rights to own and inherit land, significant gaps remain between policy and practice. This paper explores the role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in promoting women's land ownership rights, using the Women's Legal Aid Centre (WLAC) as a case study. Located in Kinondoni Municipal, Dar es Salaam, WLAC employs a multifaceted approach that empowers women and safeguards their land rights. While WLAC has achieved notable success, challenges exist and are exacerbated by overlapping statutory and customary legal systems that often disadvantage women. WLAC's multilateral engagement has helped to navigate these obstacles, yet structural …

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Mainstreaming Africa’S Third Sector For Africa’S Development, Thoko J. Mthiko

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

After independence, most African governments pursued public sector based economic development strategies based on import substitution which were considered to be key to rapid industrialization and modernization oflow-income countries. This public sector-led economic development however, proved to be unsustainable. There were severe economic crises associated with lack of growth, high inflation, rising internal and foreign debts, crumbling infrastructure and shortage of essential commodities. Protected from competition, the public sector and its enterprises failed to innovate, relied on inappropriate capital-intensive technologies, and became dependent on imported inputs. With this, came the Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP's) where the public sector became the …

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Coup-Proofing As A Tool For Authoritarian Survival In Central Africa: A Comparative Study Of Teodoro Obiang In Equatorial Guinea And Paul Biya In Cameroon, Prince Ifoh

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

For many African leaders, the most serious threat to their rule does not come from elections or public protests but from the people closest to them—the military and ruling elites. This paper examines how Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea and Paul Biya of Cameroon have remained in power for more than four decades by carefully reshaping their security institutions in ways that minimize coup risks. Drawing on established theories of authoritarian survival and a comparative analysis of both regimes, the research shows that they rely on a deliberate set of coup-proofing tactics, including the placement of trusted allies in …

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Zakat For Financing Sustainable Development In Africa: Opportunities And Challenges, Shawgei Salah Ahmed Ismaeil

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

The issue of Zakat and financing of SDGs has become an issue that economic, social and environmental researchers have raised, especially after the recent economic crisis. This is owing to Zakat dependence on the self-effort of societies and communities. Zakat supports the economic, social and environmental structure of societies. Africa, undoubtedly, needs to reduce poverty and hunger without preconditions by donors to change laws and the way of life of Africans. This task can be done through Islamic financing and Zakat. This paper puts this issue at the forefront of events for further study and research to rethink the practical …

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Robotics In Agriculture: Challenges And Opportunities For Net-Zero – A Case For Africa, Oluwafemi Royal Aliu

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Evidence of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are set to reposition the practice and process of agriculture. This study addressed vital issues in agriculture such as the need for a 70% increase in food production by 2050 because of population growth, technology, and other issues sweeping human livelihood, and are challenges of food insecurity which is currently affecting more than 820 million people globally. Emphasis was placed on the potential of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) in curbing agricultural challenges in facts such as climate change, water scarcity, and pest management. The study identifies collaboration between different fields such as …

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Yaljod Full Issue 5.1, Sombo Muzata

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

This issue brings together a compelling collection of scholarly articles that reflect the dynamic intersection of ethics, technology, governance, and social justice in Africa's development discourse. The contributions span diverse sectors including artificial intelligence, education, agriculture, legal empowerment, and economic integration. The articles offer both critical insights and actionable frameworks as Africa continues to implement its African Union Agenda 2063 plan. This work, written by up-and-coming African scholars demonstrates the commitment to scholarship on African issues, focused on Africa by Africans. This has been our goal at the Young African Leaders Journal of Development i.e., to advance scholarship on pertinent …

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Full-Text Articles in Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Space And Defense Vol. 16 No. 2 Editor's Note, Damon Coletta

Space and Defense

Space And Defense Vol. 16 No. 2 Table Of Contents, Editors Space And Defense

Space and Defense

Space And Defense Vol. 16 No. 2 Front Matter, Editors Space And Defense

Space and Defense

Space & Defense Volume 16 Issue 2 Fall 2025 (Whole Issue), Editors Space And Defense

Space and Defense

Extremely Low-Income Renter Households In The Mountain West, 2023, Anthony Arroyo, Yiselle Olivas Ruiz

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

The Digital Economy And Equitable Access To Jobs In The Mountain West, 2023, Isabelle Graham

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Immigrant Population Inthe Mountain West, 2023, Maisoon Faris, Yiselle Olivas Ruiz, Kian Parikh

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Culturally Aware Mindfulness Training For Army Leaders: A Scalable Solution To Strengthen Mental Readiness, Katherine Dutler (Skowronski)

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Safety, Security, And… Beavers? An Engineer's Low-Tech Climate Strategy, Matt Mullins

University College: Environmental Policy and Management Capstones

Enhancing Antitrafficking Initiatives Through An Interagency Collaboration Framework, Robert Louis Baxter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Student Alienation In Schools Goes Beyond Low Achievement, Sean J. Drake, Jeffrey Guhin

Center for Policy Research

Public Support For New Agricultural Best Management Practices To Protect Florida Water Quality, Sadie Hundemer, Madison A. Dyment, Matthew Gold

Journal of Extension

Perception Map As A Tool For Program Evaluation, Marlene K. Rebori

Journal of Extension

Preparing For The Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Economy In The Mountain West, 2025, Kian Parikh, Taylor Volk, Maisoon Faris, Kristian Thymianos, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

"It's Really The Support System That Makes It" Expanding Infant-Toddler Child Care Options In New York, Voices From The Field, Mark K. Nagasawa

Straus Institute for Thriving Children & Families

Ngos’ Role In Voluntary Repatriation Of The African Diaspora, Teni-Ola Ogunjobi

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Ethical Values In Curriculum Implementation: Nigerian Teacher Educators’ Perception, Eke Ogbu Eke, Ariguzo Genevieve Onyekachi, Felicia Chika Dim, Chidingozi Eke, Joy Oruwari

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

The Role Of Design Thinking In Edtech Startups, Toluwani Victor Aliu

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Acknowledgment, Yaljod 5.1, Florian Cyril Mshanga

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Reviving Pan-Africanism For The 21st Century: A Framework For Youth-Led Continental Governance Reform, Ugochukwu Mercy Prince-Ifoh

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Reimagining Youth Agency In Africa: Programs, Progress, And A Continental Vision (Closing Feature Article), Dennis Munene

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Decoding The Future: African Parliaments, The 4ir, And The Ai Revolution, Bravin Onditi, Immanuel Mwendwa Kiilu

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

An Investigative Analysis Of How African Youth Can Drive Economic Integration By Taking Up Agriculture As A Means Of Economic Livelihood, Gerald Kihara Muchiri

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Front Matter, Yaljod 5.1, Sombo Muzata

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Promoting Women’S Land Ownership Rights In Tanzania: The Role Of Wlac As A Legal Empowerment Ngo, Norbeth Sixbert

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Mainstreaming Africa’S Third Sector For Africa’S Development, Thoko J. Mthiko

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Coup-Proofing As A Tool For Authoritarian Survival In Central Africa: A Comparative Study Of Teodoro Obiang In Equatorial Guinea And Paul Biya In Cameroon, Prince Ifoh

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Zakat For Financing Sustainable Development In Africa: Opportunities And Challenges, Shawgei Salah Ahmed Ismaeil

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Robotics In Agriculture: Challenges And Opportunities For Net-Zero – A Case For Africa, Oluwafemi Royal Aliu

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Yaljod Full Issue 5.1, Sombo Muzata

Young African Leaders Journal of Development