Sociology Commons^™

From Service To Purpose: Helping Students See Civic Engagement As A Path Forward, Anna Spethman

Presentations

What’s one experience that shaped your career—but didn’t come from a formal job?

Civic engagement offers students more than an opportunity to serve.  It can build skills, confidence, connections, and pathways to meaningful careers.  Yet students do not always recognize or articulate the value of these experiences. This interactive session explores practical strategies for helping student connect service to career readiness and community impact through intentional reflection, skill identification, and storytelling.  Participants will leave with approaches they can use to help students move from service, to purpose, to pathway.

Becoming Mandan: The Collaborative Life History Of Robert O’Brien, Douglas D. Meigs

Sociology and Anthropology Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

This thesis examines how separation from—and later discovery of—an Indigenous family and culture shapes ethnic identity formation. Grounded in Charles Horton Cooley’s theory of the looking-glass self, it uses collaborative life history methodology to analyze the process of Indigenous identity formation experienced by Robert O’Brien, a Native American orphan who discovered his Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (MHA) heritage as an adult. Drawing on two decades of reflexive research, unstructured interviews, participant observation, and archival documents, the case study shows how O’Brien’s sense of identity developed in response to shifting and often contradictory social mirrors.

Nebraska Insights 2026, Josie Gatti Schafer, Morgan Vogel, Tara Grell, Michael Lee, Mahmuda Akhter Nishu, Meagan E. Paez, Ignacio Ruelas Avila

Publications

Nebraska Insights is a collaboration between the Nebraska Chamber Foundation and the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research. The series provides a curated set of indicators that benchmark Nebraska’s demographics, economy, and quality of life against all U.S. states. Each webinar explores selected indicators from the guide and offers guidance on how Nebraska stakeholders can effectively interpret and apply the data.

Empowerment Or Imprisonment? The Line Between Sex Work And Sex Trafficking: A Comparison Of Law Enforcement And Academic Perspectives, Jocelyn Belcastro

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This research explores the line between consensual sex work and sex trafficking to gain a better understanding of the prevalence and pathways through which sex work may transition into sex trafficking. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with law enforcement professionals that work closely with survivors of sex trafficking to examine the pathways from consent to coercion. An interview with a former sex worker, now college professor, was also conducted to examine the lived experience and academic perspective. Both the law enforcement and academic perspectives were analyzed and compared to one another to form a nuanced understanding of the complex issue of …

College Health Services Should Implement Trauma-Informed Design To Reduce The Negative Health Effects Of Sexual Misconduct, Emilie Whitehouse, Meena Wilwerding, Tara Richards, Lane Kirkland Gillespie

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Sexual misconduct victimization including sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence, and stalking is widespread among U.S. college students. While survivors often experience negative mental health impacts such as depression and anxiety, positive disclosure experiences and supportive services can reduce these effects. One way to help increase service utilization is to use trauma-informed design (TID), which creates supportive physical and emotional environments for survivors and service providers. Here we provide case examples of how TID has been adopted in campus health centers and argue that TID is an underutilized strategy for ensuring that college student survivors are supported rather than revictimized. …

Examining The Perceptions Of Restorative Practices In A Non-Profit Organization: A Comparative Analysis Of Staff And Youth Attitudes, Autumn N. Alicea, Anne Hobbs Dr

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This study examines the attitudes toward restorative justice (RJ) among staff and youth at a non-profit residential organization. Using the Restorative Justice Attitude Scale, data was collected from 14 staff members and 14 youth participants (N=28). Results indicated that staff members reported significantly higher mean scores (M = 84.50, SD = 8.38) on the Total Restorative Justice Attitude Scale than youth participants (M = 67.93, SD = 15.81). ANOVA results revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups on attitudes toward restorative justice, F (1, 26) = 12.007, p = .002. Effect size analysis (η² = .316) indicates that approximately …

Human Trafficking Prevention Methods In Nebraska, Allison E. Munderloh

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Human Trafficking has been a concern in Nebraska for a long period of time, but there is a lack of publicly available information regarding the prevention methods being employed and their effectiveness. This study aimed to identify the human trafficking prevention methods in use in Nebraska and their effectiveness based on the opinions of human trafficking professionals in the state. The human trafficking professionals were interviewed, and the information gathered was organized into seven different themes. The themes that arose from the information gathered included educational efforts, victim intervention and resources, addressing demand, labor trafficking, measuring success, resources and funding, …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Intersection Between Sex Trafficking And Domestic Violence: A Cross-Cultural Study Of The United States And India, Rachel A. Napier

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Domestic violence survivors are affected by long-term trauma from abuse, which can lead to them being more vulnerable and susceptible to sex trafficking tactics. Sex trafficking survivors are also at risk of becoming involved in an abusive relationship because they may have been previously exposed or due to a normalization of abuse. Both domestic violence and sex trafficking are prevalent issues within the world that continue to be ongoing due to their hidden nature. This study highlights the connections between domestic violence and sex trafficking and how each can be portrayed differently based on the environment and cultural norms within …

An Examination Of The Impact Of A Six-Week Summer Enrichment Program On Anxiety Among Underrepresented Health Profession Students, Rolando Martinez-Rico

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Healthcare pipeline programs aim to enhance diversity in the health professions by supporting undergraduate students interested in pursuing a healthcare career, particularly those from underrepresented and historically excluded backgrounds. Despite these initiatives, significant disparities persist in the healthcare workforce, amplified by structural racism and systemic barriers to entry. These challenges contribute to heightened anxiety, which can hinder the success of students pursuing healthcare careers.

The Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) seeks to mitigate these barriers by fostering an inclusive environment where students gain academic skills and mentorship. Among the many challenges underrepresented students face, anxiety is a significant and …

Disposable Humanity, William L. Blizek, Monica Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a review of Disposable Humanity (2025), directed by Cameron S. Mitchell and David T. Mitchell.

Construction Workforce And Business In Nebraska, Josie Gatti Schafer, Tara Grell, Ignacio Ruelas Avila

Publications

A skilled and readily available construction workforce is crucial for Nebraska’s growth and vitality. This workforce not only builds and maintains the infrastructure that supports communities but also creates jobs and addresses essential housing and business needs. This brief provides an overview of Nebraska’s construction workforce, highlighting opportunities and challenges to foster a robust labor force for the construction industry.

Risk-Contamination And Dilution: Advancing The Rnr Model In Prison Settings, Baylee Allen-Flores, Zachary Hamilton, John Ursino, Alex Kigerl

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) model posits separating lower from higher-risk individuals to avoid “risk contamination.” In a prison setting, policies and restrictions lead to mixing different populations within a housing unit. While this may pose a threat, it may allow higher-risk individuals to gradually promote through security levels, reducing risk. We term this “risk dilution.” The current study compares the infraction behavior of individuals that are over-classified (housed higher than their risk) and those under-classified (housed lower than their risk). Using mixed-effect models with a large (N = 52,000) sample of incarcerated men, findings demonstrate support for both contamination and …

Navigating Entry: The Role Of Exposure And Career Fit Negotiation In Women’S Pathways To Policing In The United States, Samantha S. Clinkinbeard, Rachael Rief, Trisha Rhodes, Lexi Goodijohn

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Women’s engagement in policing in the United States and other countries has not reached its potential. We interviewed 47 women in law enforcement to learn about their pathways into policing. Two primary themes emerged: career discovery through exposure and negotiating career fit. Exposure through interactions with role models, hands-on experiences, and media portrayals, provided a peek into policing. The assessment and negotiation of career “fit” in our study was an ongoing, dynamic process. As participants faced questions about their own characteristics, values, and belonging, exposure in the form of role models and experiences helped them navigate career fit concerns. Implications …

Never Going To Let You Down: Preventing Predictive Shrinkage Via The Strong-R Assessment Method, Zachary Hamilton, Alex Kigerl, Baylee Allen-Flores, John Ursino, Amber Krushas

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Risk-needs assessments (RNAs) are an evidence-based practice used by practitioners to assign supervision and programming. While foundational to day-to-day practices, these tools are typically applied ‘off-the shelf,’ and are mistakenly assumed to demonstrate equivalent prediction accuracy regardless of location or population. Although researchers and providers are aware these tools experience performance shrinkage, the issue is commonly ignored. In 2016 the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) collaborated with the developers of the Static Risk Offender Needs Guide – Revised (STRONG-R) to create a staged development of a locally developed risk needs assessment. Using propensity score matching, a proxy sample was used …

Never Going To Let You Down: Preventing Predictive Shrinkage Via The Strong-R Assessment Method, Zachary Hamilton, Alex Kigerl, Andrew Peterson, Grant Duwe, John Ursino

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Widely used sources of crime data, such as the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) and National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), provide invaluable information on patterns in reported crime and justice processing. Yet, due to their measurement of crime at the incident level, these data have not been used to determine an individual’s likelihood of justice system involvement. By contrast, in the correctional field, individuals are used as the unit of analysis and common definitions to establish state-level base rates. Used for decades, base rates provide an estimate of justice system involvement, per individual, for a given jurisdiction’s population.

That Way: An Examination Of Male Relationships In Film During The Hays Code, Jane Knudsen

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The Hays Code (1934-1968) influenced the construct of United States masculinity and the discourse surrounding masculine presentation between the 1920s to the 1960s. The Hays Code and World War II affected the culture surrounding male/male relationships in the United States. Previous research done by David Lugowski (1999) and Jeffrey Suzik (1999) shows that both World Wars led to crises of masculinity in which the hegemonic ideal of masculinity was restructured to establish men as providers and warriors, and Code-era films reflected the discourse. To understand the gender roles in the 20^th century, I analyzed the Hays code, male bonds, …

Sex Matters The Impact Of Skin Tone On Perceived Levels Of Attraction, Callie Vitro, Talisa J. Carter

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Research finds that individuals of dark complexions are more likely to face prejudice or be discriminated against in a variety of contexts. Referred to as colorism, skin-tone-based discrimination has major implications for various life outcomes. Research on social interactions suggests that lighter skin tones are associated with a higher level of physical attractiveness, which is of particular interest for this study. This study uses quantitative survey data collected from undergraduate and graduate students from across the United States to explore the relationship between colorism, gender, and perceived physical attraction via a modified version of Harvey, Tennial, and Bank’s In-Group Colorism …

Advancing Pretrial Assessments: Development Of The Personal Recognizance Interview & Needs Screen (Prins), Zachary Hamilton, John Ursino, Alex Kigerl

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Purpose

Methods

Service Learning To Benefit Graduate Students And Meet Community Needs, Brittany Sullivan, Hannah Canady

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

This poster session will share with faculty members, graduate students, and practicing school psychologists what service learning partnerships are, highlight potential benefits that could come from service learning, and indicate how service learning partnerships can be developed.

When Police Pull Back: Neighborhood-Level Effects Of De-Policing On Violent And Property Crime, A Research Note, Justin Nix, Jessica Huff, Scott E. Wolfe, David C. Pyrooz, Scott M. Mourtgos

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Many U.S. cities witnessed both de-policing and increased crime in 2020, yet whether the former contributed to the latter remains unclear. Indeed, much of what is known about the effects of proactive policing on crime comes from studies that evaluated highly focused interventions atypical of day-to-day policing, used cities as the unit of analysis, or could not rule out endogeneity. This study addresses each of these issues, thereby advancing the evidence base concerning the effects of policing on crime. Leveraging two exogenous shocks presented by the onset of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and social unrest after the murder of …

Recruiting, Retaining, And Advancing Women In Policing: Lessons Learned From The Iawp Gender-Responsive Policing Summit, Jessica Huff, Samantha S. Clinkinbeard, Rachael Rief, Brenna Dunlap, Inès Zamouri, Lexi Goodijohn, Caroline Meenagh, Champ Champenstein, Jane Townsley, Mirko Fernandez, Jessica Swanson

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Despite persistent support for increasing gender diversity in US policing, women remain underrepresented. Yet, barriers to women in policing are not universal. Many police organizations in the USA and internationally have implemented promising gender-responsive approaches. The International and Nebraska Associations of Women Police (IAWP/NAWP) and UN Women convened a Gender-Responsive Policing Summit to share successful efforts to improve recruitment, retention, promotion, and wellness of women in policing. Researchers conducted systematic observations of Summit sessions, paying particular attention to solutions offered to advance gender-responsive policing. This instrumental case study summarizes lessons learned based on multistage inductive coding of Summit observation notes. …

Ask The Women In Blue: Female Officers’ Thoughts On The Recruitment And Retention Of Women In Policing, Rachael Rief, Samantha S. Clinkinbeard, Lexi Goodijohn, Trisha Rhodes

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Women bring many benefits to policing but represent only 14% of sworn police in the United States. Researchers have examined different recruitment strategies, yet few have sought insight from women officers themselves. We explored women officers’ perspectives on recruiting and retaining more women in policing. Using semi-structured interviews, we asked 40 current and retired women officers how police agencies can better target women to increase their representation. Responses were analyzed using open coding techniques. Participants noted difficulty hiring amid a larger police staffing crisis. They also discussed the structure and culture of police work as barriers to the recruitment and …

Union, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Union (2024), directed by Stephen Maing and Brett Story.

Punishment, Rubina Ramji

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Punishment (2024), directed by Øystein Mamen.

Sujo, Christopher R. Deacy

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Sujo (2024), directed by Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez.

Nebraska Department Of Economic Development - 6 Regions One Nebraska - Regional Development Initiative - Northeast Region, Josie Gatti Schafer, Tara Grell, Michael Lee, Ignacio Ruelas Avila

Publications

No abstract provided.

Nebraska Department Of Economic Development - 6 Regions One Nebraska - Regional Development Initiative - Western Region, Josie Gatti Schafer, Tara Grell, Michael Lee, Ignacio Ruelas Avila

Publications

No abstract provided.

Nebraska Department Of Economic Development - 6 Regions One Nebraska - Regional Development Initiative - Metropolitan Region, Josie Gatti Schafer, Tara Grell, Michael Lee, Ignacio Ruelas Avila

Publications

No abstract provided.

Nebraska Department Of Economic Development – 6 Regions One Nebraska - Regional Development Initiative - Mid-Plains Region, Josie Gatti Schafer, Tara Grell, Michael Lee, Ignacio Ruelas Avila

Presentations

No abstract provided.

Nebraska’S Labor Movement Survey, Morgan Vogel

Presentations

No abstract provided.