Northeastern Illinois University
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Librito de Cuentos
No full textMy work explores my journey to rediscover my Michoacano indigenous roots, gothic narratives, folktales, and legends. When I create a composition, I draw inspiration from tales passed down within my family as well as dark imagery I find throughout my research. The occult and horror genre has always been an interest of mine, especially the feeling of the unknown and macabre. My goal is to create a portal for the viewer to experience narratives at their highest point in the tale. These painted narratives are not only about a creature but also their environment. My goal is to give the viewer an uncomfortable dreadful feeling to invoke a sense of fear. The intent is to further share these stories passed down, sometimes forgotten due to time. When creating a piece of artwork, I start with inspiration in the media such as pictures or family stories. I primarily work with oil on canvas favoring a rich and dark palette. The lighting also plays a role in this exhibition, as it helps the viewer feel fully immersed into these worlds. I accompany my paintings with a small passage about the folk tales being depicted. I wish to share these tales with as many viewers so that others may continue to carry on traditional storytelling
Turtles Back
No full textThrough the visual representation of a Mayan myth about the turtle\u27s back, I explore environmental issues and the importance of sea animals in a global sense. My work represents the importance that sea animals exist and will continue to be an integral part of the world. The central piece is the turtle with an image of the earth on its back, which is about the belief that the Earth was formed on the back of the shell. The meaning of the turtle\u27s back is to remember the significance of the natural world around us and the way it interconnects all things that are part of keeping us alive. All endangered sea animals found in the waters of Mexico connect to my own cultural background. This work has a Kemp\u27s Ridley sea turtle that is part of the endangered list of turtles and is the most highly endangered. Surrounding the turtles includes a variety of corals and sea animals that can be found in the waters of Mexico and these showcase the beauty of the biodiversity found in Mexico; they have a huge impact in the world as a whole. This piece is made entirely of paper collage that creates a sense of relief. It is an art installation full of vibrant colors and is supposed to evoke the beauty and appreciation of animals that live in the waters of Mexico. I worked entirely in acrylic paint, found materials, colored pencils, and cardboard. Almost all materials are found to help promote the issue at hand and all pieces will be taped up entirely on colored paper. The texture on certain corals is created by sponges and a variety of techniques to enhance the feeling of water. Layers of paper help create a sense of depth and space and creates an immersive piece that pulls the audience in to take in the vast expansive place that is the ocean
Breaking the Frame: Emotions Beyond Gender in Sport
No full textMy work explores the emotional depth of adolescence, a time when feelings are often dismissed or simplified by adult perspectives. Young adulthood is a period of heightened experiences, where triumphs and setbacks are intensely felt. Yet, emotions in teenagers are frequently shaped by rigid gender norms. Boys are discouraged from expressing any form of emotions, while girls are often labeled as overly emotional. Through my photography, I aim to disrupt these stereotypes by capturing the full spectrum of emotions in both teenage boys and girls. Sports provide a powerful lens through which to observe unguarded moments such as exhilaration, disappointment, resilience, and transformation. I have been especially inspired by watching my niece and nephew navigate their teenage years through soccer, witnessing firsthand how emotions unfold differently yet profoundly in both genders. The juxtaposition of boys allowing themselves to feel vulnerability whether in the sting of a loss or the quiet introspection after a mistake. Alongside girls experiencing a sense of power, strength, and command over their own abilities challenges traditional narratives of emotion in sports. These moments of raw honesty and intensity highlight the fluidity of emotion, proving that strength and vulnerability are not bound by gender. In this collection, I focus closely on my subjects’ faces, presented in 30x40 inch images. This large format not only emphasizes facial expressions and body language but also enhances the emotional impact of each image, drawing the viewer into an intimate connection with the subject. The scale amplifies every detail: the furrow of a brow, the tension in a jaw, the flicker of emotion in the eyes ensuring that these raw, unfiltered moments resonate deeply. My work validates these fleeting yet defining moments. I hope to create images that validate the depth of teenage emotions, challenge preconceived notions, and remind us of the power and complexity of youth
Fostering STEM Identity and STEM Efficacy Through Engagement in Community Service
No full textStudents pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degrees drop out at a higher rate compared to students in other fields. The number of students who drop out of STEM degrees and transfer to other fields is even higher. Studies show that STEM identity (the ability to see oneself as a STEM professional) can significantly impact individual success in academic and career goals. Limited studies address the impact of STEM volunteering on STEM identity and STEM efficacy (the belief in one’s ability to succeed in the field). Service through volunteering has shown potential to promote an individual’s growth and belonging to STEM professions. We hypothesize that students who engage in STEM-related service activities (SRSAs) increase their STEM identity and STEM efficacy and that the impact is proportional to the length of the service provided. To test our hypothesis, we designed short-term (an hour to a day), medium-term (up to 2 weeks), and long-term (2 weeks to months) SRSAs. We used a Likert scale pre- and post-surveys to assess the impact of SRSAs. Results show a significant increase in both STEM identity (4.36 to 4.55) and STEM efficacy (4.29 to 4.54) (p ≤ 0.05) for medium-term SRSAs and a significant increase (4.08 to 4.58, p ≤ 0.05) in STEM efficacy for long-term. Short-term SRSAs show no impact on STEM efficacy and STEM identity. Our current findings can be enhanced by conducting additional experiments. A longitudinal study to delineate the relationship between STEM volunteering and STEM persistence is crucial
Reverse Transfer
No full textAcross the U.S., 1.9 million students dropped out of college, and 250,000 reverse transferred over a span of two years. In Illinois, the dropout rate among students who reverse transfer (those who first attended 4-year institutions, and before obtaining a degree transferred to community college) is greater than in any other state. According to the most recent Illinois Education Research Council report, among a total of 8,000 reverse transfer students, only 24% transferred back to a four-year and attained a bachelor’s degree. The causes of reverse transfer are not well-defined in the literature. However, they are often personal and unrelated to academics. We hypothesize that reverse transfer students who participate in a structured and programmatic learning environment will report higher rates of social integration, resulting in greater academic self-efficacy. To test this hypothesis, we conducted case study interviews of students in the Engineering Pathways Program (programmatic approach) at Wright College using the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) method. The AI method frames questions in a positive way to highlight strengths and inspire meaningful ideas for improvement, rather than focusing on the negative aspects alone. Using this approach, our preliminary findings from six reverse transfer students highlight the importance of having a sense of belonging in the college environment. In all six interviews, participants highlighted the contrast in environment between community college and their former institutions. Despite facing challenges, they expressed satisfaction with the benefits offered by two-year institutions. These benefits include lower tuition, smaller, more supportive communities, and specific guided pathways. Thus far, our data demonstrates that sense of belonging, and academic support are crucial for students’ success. Our case studies identify factors that could support students aiming to attain a bachelor’s degree. In our future work, we will implement a mixed methods approach. This will include the addition of a survey, and case studies from students outside of the engineering pathways program (non-programmatic approach). This will allow us to combine quantitative and qualitative data to make more generalizable findings
Training healthcare workers how to identify and treat intimate partner violence
No full textBackground According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime. IPV has been found to have negative impacts on both mental and physical health which can include anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic heart conditions, gastrointestinal issues, recurrent sexually transmissible diseases, and reproductive issues. Despite symptoms of adverse mental or physical health, it may not always be clear that an individual is experiencing IPV. Additionally, healthcare providers often lack the knowledge and resources necessary to assist survivors. It is important to offer appropriate training to improve survivor outcomes and better prepare healthcare workers to address IPV. The purpose of this evaluation is to assess whether a training module for healthcare workers on treating and identifying IPV is effective in increasing knowledge and perceived skills to address disclosure. A newly developed module will be delivered to healthcare workers with pre and post test surveys to measure perceptions of previous knowledge compared to knowledge gained. Methods The research team will conduct a training for healthcare workers on IPV. Key topics include how IPV may present in the healthcare setting, understanding implicit bias, cultural and linguistic considerations, existing models to treat IPV, and available resources. Key learning objectives are defining IPV, identifying signs and symptoms of IPV, practicing critical self-reflection to avoid bias, defining cultural humility, and learning to respond to disclosure. Acquisition of learning objectives will be assessed by a pre-test and post-test survey created by the research team. Results Development of the training is ongoing and will be piloted in April 2025. Preliminary results will be presented at the conference. Conclusions/Implications The training is intended to increase cultural humility and competence in addressing IPV in the healthcare setting. Findings from this evaluation will support improved training modules to better prepare healthcare workers to address IPV disclosure
Episode 2: Monster Hunter
No full textPhilosophy major Marcial Cruz and Senior Library Specialist Jonathan Gronli talk about Monster Hunter some focus toward the franchise\u27s history. Focus is largely on Monster Hunter Wilds
Health of the Chicago River: Investigating Two Decades of Eutrophic Trends
No full textAn oxygen deficiency is lethal to nearly all life forms, including humans, wildlife, and aquatic ecosystems. Eutrophication is a process that occurs when a body of water becomes oversaturated with nutrients, resulting in harmful algal blooms and cyanobacterial growth. Increased eutrophication causes subsurface hypoxia, which is detrimental to aquatic life. Primary factors affecting eutrophication include nitrate and phosphate levels, industrial and human waste, and urban agriculture. Our study focused on the Chicago River, which is affected by high population density, further exacerbating these factors. We hypothesize that an increase in nutrient concentration, such as nitrates and phosphates, paired with higher temperatures and lower precipitation, leads to higher levels of Chicago River eutrophication. Using data mining techniques, we compiled twenty-one years (2002-2023) of rainfall, temperature, nitrates, phosphates, and chlorophyll-a data from MyNASA, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This data was collected from six sampling sites—Site 112, Site 36, Site 100, Site 75, Site 41, and Site 43— along the North and South branches of the Chicago River, both downstream and upstream of MWRD’s reclamation plants. The amount of eutrophication is indicated through chlorophyll-a and correlated with nutrients from the same geographical location using Excel. Our results show that increased eutrophication directly correlates to elevated nitrates, phosphates, and water temperature, and is inversely correlated with precipitation in the Chicago River. In future studies, we plan to investigate additional factors affecting the health of the Chicago River, including phenols, cyanides, and pharmaceuticals, to design interventions that could potentially restore a healthy water ecosystem through molecular dynamics
The Making of a Social Media Influencer: an Exploratory Study
No full textSocial media influencers (SMIs) have become pivotal in shaping consumer behavior and bridging the gap between brands and audiences in the modern digital world. This thesis investigates the traits that distinguish successful SMIs, emphasizing their audience engagement techniques, authenticity, and self-presentation strategies. It explores how SMIs with at least 100,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram develop a strong presence on social media with a devoted following. By integrating quantitative data collection and analysis—specifically follower counts and engagement metrics— with qualitative content analysis of SMI characteristics, this study investigates the key strategies and traits that contribute to their success in building loyal audiences, fostering engagement, and driving impactful marketing outcomes. There is an emphasis on the relevance of authenticity, social proof, and audience connection in the transition from traditional advertising to influencer-driven marketing. The results are intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of what defines a SMI in today’s digital age, shining light on the key attributes and strategies that contribute to their influence, engagement, and success in the evolving world of social media
Hatungimana, Marceline
No full textWhen Marcelin Hatungimana was 8 years old, she received news that the militia had killed her two older brothers. As she struggled to process the death of her siblings, she then found out that teachers were being taken out of schools and slaughtered. As the violence grew, Hatungimana’s liberties dwindled. Her mother, father, and brothers were all killed during the 1972 Genocide of Burundi. She had no choice but to leave school and focus on surviving. She would go for long walks to identify plants she could pick and sell to support herself. Hatungimana physically survived the 1972 Genocide of Burundi, but she never returned to pursuing her education.https://neiudc.neiu.edu/burundi-oral-histories/1053/thumbnail.jp