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The Career Choices We Make: Balancing Ambition, Personal Fulfillment, and Life as an Academic Librarian
Full text linkThis chapter is for those among us who reach the midpoint of our careers and contemplate taking a higher-level position or doing the opposite and moving to positions that involve less leadership responsibility. We suspect that the ideas we express will apply to many in the profession. However, we acknowledge that gender, race, and identity play a strong role in career paths and opportunities. Yet, who among us has not felt that we could make significant improvements, if only we were in charge? And who among those who are in charge has not once yearned for a release from feeling responsible for the performance of others? Our advice will not apply to everyone; however, we feel that our combined experience is likely to ensure that it is relevant to the majority of professionals in librarianship. We begin by describing our career paths, both of which are quite nonlinear. Our exposition includes reflection on our motivations for the twists and turns we have navigated. We then describe the nature of the work as well as the ways this work has impacted us in the many positions we have had, which collectively span the gamut from library liaison to unit head to department head to dean. Given our diverse experience, we expect that these narratives will resonate with many of you and thereby serve to provide insights relevant to your own situation. Additionally, the contrasting approaches we offer may create opportunities for those who are undecided. After sharing our experiences in academic libraries, we provide practical advice based on the lessons we have learned from our journeys and conversations with many colleagues. Here we present guidance for deciding whether to pursue a position with more or less leadership responsibility. This takes the form of actionable strategies and motivational mindsets. We end with tips for successfully transitioning into a new position and taking full advantage of the opportunities it can provide for growth and fulfillment. Through our explorations and conversations, we conclude that career trajectories depend on highly personal and situational factors for everyone
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Influences on School Competency in Elementary-Aged Children
No full textKirmser Undergraduate Research Award - Group category, honorable mentionJung Sim JuneThe purpose of this proposal is to study the complex associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and academic competency in elementary-aged students. Our study proposes in the presence of ACEs, a disruption in a child’s normal behavioral processing occurs. This disruption then correlates with lower academic performance and behavior. Our research uses a five-year, longitudinal, cohort study. The Pediatric ACEs and Related Life Events Screener will be used to measure different levels of ACEs. Additionally, we integrate educator evaluations of academic progress by using summative and formative grade assessments to measure the level of school competency. The results of our study show the impairing nature of ACEs during early childhood, and the necessity of studying and treating ACEs at the pediatric level
Declining Population Trends of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken in the Southern Great Plains
No full textKirmser Undergraduate Research Award - Group category, grand prizeLaura MoleyAs a result of habitat loss and inbreeding, lesser prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) have faced severe population decline. This species, once widespread throughout the Southern Great Plains, is now fragmented and rare. As part of a project for the class Biogeography (GEOG 445), our group sought to further investigate the causes of lesser prairie-chicken decline and the conservation programs that are in place to protect them. After utilizing a variety of library research tools, we discovered that prairie-chickens are declining from habitat loss due to agriculture, oil production, windfarms, and fire suppression. We also found that these birds are experiencing a loss of genetic variability due to their fragmented populations. Few conservation efforts are currently in place, though restoring the prairie to its natural state through the use of prescribed burns and native grazing holds some promise. However, 95% of current prairie-chicken populations live on privately owned land, which makes private landowners essential to the protection of this vulnerable species
Effects of multiple herbivore guilds on population dynamics are subadditive in a model forb species
Full text linkWe have a good understanding of how individual herbivore guilds affect herbaceous communities. Invertebrate herbivores reduce grassland biomass and change species composition dramatically. Bison reduce grass biomass and increase forb cover. Small mammals have weak effects. Few studies quantify how multiple co-occurring herbivore guilds jointly impact populations and communities. Potential for super- or subadditive effects. Many ecosystems house multiple herbivores. Critical to predicting impacts of herbivore declines, extirpations, or reintroductions. Here, we use Kuhnia eupatorioides at Konza LTER to ask whether effects of herbivores tend to be additive, super-, or subadditive. We measure individual vital rates (survival, growth, recruitment) to dissect mechanisms driving sub- or super-additivit
To Power, a Dictator: An Evaluation of Midwestern Religious and Secular News About Early Nazi Germany
Full text linkNews media has the unique ability to shape the perceptions of a mass audience. Writing or relaying messages directly influences the collective consciousness of the audience by painting a portrait of events. The pre-war coverage of Nazi Germany is no exception to this rule. This paper aims to evaluate the coverage of midwestern newspapers and the perceptions that their respective audience would have had of Nazi Germany. This includes two religious newspapers, The Jewish Press of Nebraska and the Catholic Advance of Kansas, and two secular newspapers, The Lincoln Journal-Star of Nebraska and The Kansas City Star of Missouri. In reading these papers, one finds that they each present very different interpretations and perceptions of what exactly the Nazi state was. The Kansas City Star saw Germany as an unstable nation whose leader was scarcely competent but who eventually evolved into a tyrannical and iron-fisted dictator. Lincoln Journal Star was concerned with the concept of reasonability that caused it to question any and all actions taken. The religious papers both concerned themselves with their faiths within Germany, with The Catholic Advance focusing on persecution of Catholics and the thoughts of the Vatican and The Jewish Press opting to focus on Nazi aggression against Jews as well as protests and events within the United States hoping to raise awareness of Nazi atrocities
The Influence of CAT and Self-Disclosure on the Classroom
Full text linkEpping-Fuentes, DarrenClassroom relational dynamics influence the ability to teach and learn effectively, making positive, meaningful relationships in the classroom crucial. Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) explores how communicative adjustments, or accommodations, “reflect and affect personal and social relationships” (Soliz et al., 2021, p. 130). Thus, implementing CAT in the classroom could result in greater effectiveness of teaching and learning. Because CAT is used tomanage identity and relationships, it is also important to understand the results of communicating identity in the classroom. Communicating identity by self-disclosing can foster a connected classroom dynamic (Johnson & LaBelle, 2015), resulting in greater satisfaction with and appreciation of classroom relationships (Hosek, 2015). Because CAT, specifically accommodation behaviors and self-disclosure, influences academic performance and relational satisfaction, their usage in classrooms would bolster instructional communication. To understand the influence of CAT and self-disclosure on the classroom, a thorough literature review examining research on CAT’s classroom influence will be conducted first.Then, the implementation of self-disclosure in the classroom will be analyzed. Together, these two parts will explain the importance of CAT and self-disclosure’s usage in classrooms to increase instructional effectiveness and build positive relationships
Impact of Rye Cover Crop on Pigweed Seed Viability
Full text linkPalmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) and waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) are the two pigweed species most prevalent in Kansas. They are difficult to manage because they are resistant to herbicide applications. Cereal rye (Secale cereale) is a grass notable for its ability to hold soil in place against erosion. This study was conducted to test a cereal rye cover crop’s ability to deplete the presence of Palmer amaranth and waterhemp in the seedbank when buried compared to those with no cover crops present. Fifty seeds in wire mesh packets were buried in soybean fields at seven different sites in the states of Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Packets were removed at three intervals and seed viability was determined by cleaning the wire mesh packets with a water and bleach solution followed by germination in petri dishes. If samples showed zero germination for three days, seeds were then squished and observed under a microscope. This determined whether seeds were dormant or nonviable. Seed viability data will be discussed and results will provide insight into whether cereal rye cover crop may have an impact on depletion of pigweed seeds in the north central region of the United States.
Bloom Nutrition Influencer Marketing Analysis
Full text linkThis project is a marketing analysis of Bloom Nutrition's use of influencers to sell products to Gen Z consumers interested in wellness. Bloom’s marketing team works with a diverse group of influencers to reach potential customers. Upon initial review, each influencer seems to have a vastly different approach to creating content and engaging audiences around Bloom products. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify which influencers and their associated strategies work best for this brand and within the industry. Within this study I will analyze Bloom’s influencer marketing strategy through a content analysis on TikTok that includes identifying influencer tactics of four key influencers that the brand has used. Information gathered about these influencers will be their audience, follower counts, credibility, and the type of content that they share. I will also look at the consumer responses to influencer content to identify the interaction and engagement that each post received and how well the content performed through sentiment analysis. At the conclusion of this study, I will ultimately produce an ideal influencer profile for the fitness/wellness industry and for the brand Bloom
Sparse Group Variable Selection for Gene-Environment Interactions in the Longitudinal Stud
Full text linkRecently, regularized variable selection has emerged as a powerful tool to iden- tify and dissect gene-environment interactions. Nevertheless, in longitudinal studies with high di- mensional genetic factors, regularization methods for G×E interactions have not been systemati- cally developed. In this package, we provide the implementation of sparse group variable selec- tion, based on both the quadratic inference function (QIF) and generalized estimating equa- tion (GEE), to accommodate the bi-level selection for longitudinal G×E studies with high dimen- sional genomic features. Alternative methods conducting only the group or individual level se- lection have also been included. The core modules of the package have been developed in C++
Taking action in the first five years to increase career equality: the impact of professional relationships on young women’s advancement
Full text linkPurpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how young women understand and make meaning of their status as early-career women (ECW) in the creative communication industry, which is typically dominated by male leadership. It explores how professional relationships influence their transition into full-time employment and influences their career trajectories.
Design/methodology/approach
Interviews with 31 women in the first five years of their communication careers provided insights into how they experience professional relationships in the workplace in relation to leadership advancement. Inductive coding, a feminist organizational communication lens and literature on mentorship and role modeling was used to explore the standpoint of these young women.
Findings
Young women understand that professional relationships are necessary for acclimation and professional development. Our analysis revealed an intersection of three distinct ways these relationships help young women cultivate a strong career foundation, positioning themselves for leadership opportunities.
Practical implications
This study provides insight into the experiences of ECW, a group significantly overlooked by industry and research as a way to increase career equity. Findings from this study guide programmatic and socialization practices to help young women overcome barriers.
Originality/value
Developing a deeper understanding of women worker’s realities, this research encourages industries to regard the entire career path, emphasizing the importance of beginning socialization experiences in the workplace. It offers actionable managerial practices, and it drives a new scholarly focus on a demographic critical to closing the leadership gender gap