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“LA QUE SUFRE, LUCHA; Y LA QUE LUCHA, ¡VENCE!” A TRANSCENDENTAL PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF MEXICAN AMERICAN WOMEN PURSUING A DOCTORATE IN TEXAS
Get PDFThis transcendental phenomenological study will explore the lived experiences of Southern Texas Mexican American/Chicana women pursuing a doctorate. The Chicana’s experience achieving a doctorate has been overlooked by the literature, with much of the research on Mexican American women being outdated or focusing on completing high school or getting a bachelor’s degree. In Texas, literature has found that Mexican American women receive slightly more doctoral-level education than males. Although in Texas, they may excel a tad more than males, many Chicanas do not reach their full potential. Mexican American women continue to be underrepresented and the least
educated in the United States. Often Mexican American women find it difficult to reconcile the discrepancy between the culture, familial expectations and roles, and their ambitions. As a result, this research explores Mexican American females’ lived experiences pursuing a doctorate to discover motivators and challenges in their academic journeys. Additionally, this study will provide a more in-depth understanding of their educational experience. A Chicana feminist and symbolic interactionism theoretical framework will guide this research
Stress in Law Enforcement Firearms Training
Get PDFLaw enforcement officers are bound by a code of ethics which dictates, they serve and protect individuals and the communities in which they reside. Often, police officers are asked to protect the innocent, or those that cannot defend themselves, and
this results in the use of deadly force. It is certainly no secret that in the past decade there have been many instances of officers using this highest level of force on civilians, often to public outcry. This has had a ripple effect in law enforcement with many budget cuts, as well as retention or recruitment problems, which create staffing issues. These issues, coupled with the fact that human beings do not perform well under stressful conditions, create scenarios wherein police officers are missing their intended targets seven out of 10 times in these deadly force encounters. Agency administrators should be concerned with the inherent liability issues raised by these seven missing rounds as well as concerns for their officers to be effective in their duty to serve and protect. If that were not incentive enough, there is the recent trend wherein police officers are being ambushed at alarming rates, so much so, that Police Tribune (2021) noted that in 2021 ambush styled attacks on police officers were up 91%. Simply stated, law enforcement officers are facing ever-increasing stressful firearms encounters with little training to promote successful outcomes. It is incumbent for police administrators to not only provide firearms training but more importantly, quality firearms training. This burden will lie with the individual administrator as the state of Texas does not mandate ongoing firearms training, much less training that is relevant or realistic. For all the aforementioned reasons, law enforcement agencies should implement stress in firearms training.LEMI
DEVELOPING METHODS FOR INVESTIGATING DIMETHYL TRISULFIDE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
Get PDFDimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) is currently being investigated as an antidotal candidate for cyanide poisoning. DMTS is lost from aqueous solution more rapidly than would be expected given that its boiling point exceeds that of water. Prior investigations have shown that the preferential loss of DMTS from aqueous solutions is reproducible but have not yet provided a scientific explanation for the loss. To lay a foundation for addressing this question, an accelerated evaporation apparatus was assembled that allowed sampling at regular time intervals from an evaporation flask and an attached cold trap. The decrease of DMTS concentrations in these samples was then followed by NMR and HPLC characterization, taking into consideration the susceptibility of DMTS to photolysis and thermolysis induced disproportionation. The rate of DMTS loss in this accelerated evaporation model system greatly exceeds natural rates of disproportionation, strongly suggesting that, under the conditions of accelerated evaporation, the preferential losses of DMTS are due primarily to direct preferential evaporation of DMTS, and with only very small contributions from the evaporation of disproportionation products. Under slower rates of evaporation, the indirect loss of DMTS via disproportionation pathways is expected to be more significant
Convergence of Mission and Moment: Imagining the Emerging Technology Analyst
Get PDFThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was built to prevent terror attacks in the homeland and its culture and structure reflect its birth in 2002. Unlike the world changing event that created DHS, the gradual fading of the terror threat has left it misaligned to respond to new nation-state sponsored threats. The homeland security mission is at a true inflection point as it looks for new ways to use its capabilities and authorities while the central force driving global competition is being established. Just as the field of cyber was being established in the late 1990s and early 2000s in response to new threats, so too must the field of emerging technology be developed today. Examining the realities of the world today, we see the need for professionals who specialize in how emerging technologies create risks and opportunities in a way that is distinct from how cyber professionals do the same for the cyber domain. This work examines the geopolitical reality and how it reflects on the homeland. It goes a step further by conducting a comparative analysis between current cyber analyst requirements and skills and what would be required for an equivalent emerging technology analyst. This analysis informs governments, academia, and industry by creating a baseline from which emerging technology professionals can be created and evaluated with direct application on practitioners in critical infrastructure
A Crowded Sky: New Threats and Opportunities for Homeland Security in the Cislunar Economy
Get PDFHomeland security has not traditionally been thought of as a mission area supporting space
activities. Homeland security organizations, however, have been long time consumers of space
data and services. Today, the space domain has opened for commercial activity and geopolitical
competition alike. The security of the homeland is closely tied to the security of the space domain
across multiple risk factors. The homeland security field faces an opportunity to pivot to be more
involved in government and commercial space activities by bringing its unique capabilities and
authorities to bear against challenges that did not exist a decade ago. This paper will study the
evolution of the space economy and the role it now plays in the security of the homeland
USGC Active Learning Activities
Get PDFUSGC Active Learning Activities
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Athens, Georgia, for the USG (University System of Georgia) Teaching and Learning Conference. Most attendees were from different colleges and universities in Georgia, but they were thrilled that I had traveled from Texas to visit their conference. I chose this conference because of the wonderful sessions they offered for active learning and I was not disappointed. Though I regularly employ active learning techniques and strategies in my courses, learning about new activities I can bring to my students to empower them, encourage active learning, and give them new tools to take to their future classrooms is always fun.
Dr. Mary Huffman from Georgian Southwestern State University presented one of the most enjoyable sessions - Hip Professors Integrate HIP Activities: Engage and Innovate Education. Since you all were not lucky enough to attend this fantastic conference and her fabulous session, I will share a few strategies and activities with you here.
Wikki Stix
Wikki Stix is a set of crazy little colored sticks or waxed yarn, to be more precise. They can be easily cut, molded, shaped, and bent. They don’t melt, dry, or harden. Wikki Stix can be manipulated in any form or fashion, but you can’t put them back together if you cut them. The great thing about Wikki Stix is that it can be used for a number of activities.
Example activity
Step 1: Each student gets a Ziploc bag of Wikki Stix.
Step 2: Set the timer and challenge students to create symbols using the Wikki Stix to show
what they know about their previous lesson
Step 3: Discuss student symbols and the “why” behind them
Artifacts and costumes
Artifacts and costumes can be used to enhance instruction and encourage participation. They “hook” students into investigation and inferencing, incorporating the artifacts in the process. Costumes can be used in much the same way – for inferencing, to “hook” the students, etc.
Example activity
Split students into small groups of three or four. Gather a collection of artifacts and cases –
artifacts and costumes in the case should match the case in geographic location and time
period. Each artifact should lend itself to the “story.” Include objects and images. You could also
include a Ziploc baggie with a “smelling” item. Add five or six items to each case. Have students
makes inferences about the time period and the wearer of the clothing items and artifacts. Have
students complete the USG presentation Graphic organizer to analyze historical traveling trunk documents, then hold a discussion as a whole group about each case or have students create a video or short response writing describing the “character” and time period/event from the case.
For more ideas and activities from the conference, feel free to reach out to me. [email protected]
Law Enforcement Fitness Standards and The Hiring Process
Get PDFThere is a nationwide struggle for law enforcement to find quality applicants. While there are a variety of reasons why people are not applying, this discussion is directed toward those who do. The testing process may vary from department to department, but the majority require a minimum physical fitness standard. Officer fitness is a must; however, officer applicants should not be subject to a fitness standard during the hiring process. There are several police departments that have no hiring standard for physical fitness that produce a quality officer. In addition, there is no national standard for fitness in law enforcement. Some departments have adopted the Cooper standard, some have adopted a rowing standard, and others have adopted an obstacle course. Each of these has its flaws, which could eliminate a quality applicant. Physical fitness is an essential part of law enforcement. As with other aspects of law enforcement, physical fitness can be taught, encouraged, and supported to develop an individual. By investing in the physical fitness of our people after they are hired, we can eliminate preemployment physical fitness standards and increase the applicant pool.LEMI
DECREASING BIAS BY CHANGING PERCEPTIONS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ADDRESSING PRECONCEPTIONS AMONG SCHOOL COUNSELORS
Get PDFThe Office for Civil Rights has well documented the presence of disparities among Black students in schools as compared to other ethnic/racial groups of students. Although policies have been mandated and implemented in efforts to close gaps between Black students and other ethnic/racial groups of students, disparities continue to exist. As vital members of the leadership team, school counselors need to design and to deliver a Texas comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program model with the intent of improving student successful outcomes. To date, however, limited data exist regarding effective interventions that can be used to teach school counselors the skills necessary to affect the systematic changes needed in schools. To address this concern, a quasi-experimental study was completed with 39 participants to explore the use of a school counselor multicultural awareness intervention to increase the school counselor’s multicultural self-efficacy and decease the school counselor’s colorblind racial attitude. A within-between groups ANOVA revealed statistically significant interactions for time with the School Counselor Self Efficacy Scale (SCMES) Using Data and Understanding Systematic change, Multicultural Counseling Awareness, and Application of Racial and Cultural Knowledge to Practice subscales. Results, discussion, and future recommendations are included in the study
Drones and Port Security at the Port of Brownsville
Get PDFThis technical paper recounts a geospatial drone security assessment for the Port of Brownsville, Texas (Brownsville Navigation District). The Port of Brownsville is a major intermodal transportation center and is expanding into a major venue for industrial development. The Port of Brownsville is the only deep-water port directly on the US-Mexico Border. The drone assessment will evaluate the threats posed by aerial drones/unmanned or un-crewed aerial systems (UAS) to the port; assess the potential effects of drones on port operations and port security; suggest potential counter measures (counter-UAS); provide an introduction to emerging drone threats, including unmanned/un-crewed vessels and ground vehicles; and drone swarms (or swarming attacks). The impact of various drone threats with port operations is discussed. Mechanisms for enhancing indications and warning, detection, and response to drone threats on the Port of Brownsville, and potential vehicles for sharing these threat data with other ports, port security personnel, law enforcement, and emergency responders will be discussed
Building a Digital Ecosystem of Excellence
No full textThe Division of Digital Learning (DDL) at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is dedicated to building a robust digital learning ecosystem of excellence for the higher education community in Texas. This strategic approach for digital transformation is driven by research of the current digital learning landscape, partnerships with innovative leaders, and research-based design of professional development opportunities and the development of enhanced digital content. In order to build a Talent Strong Texas, the DDL is currently engaged in several initiatives including Course Sharing, Digital Design for Student Success (D2S2), Open Educational Resources Nursing Essentials (O.N.E.) and Micro-credentials. A key focus of the DDL is the development of Open Educational Resources (OER), which help to reduce costs to students and provides support for institutions. These initiatives along with OER capacity building grants are supporting the growth of the OERTX repository. This session will cover strategies for digital engagement and success, creating partnerships, and developing communities of practice