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The Impact of Psychosocial Factors on Occupational Therapy Doctoral Students’ Communication with Fieldwork Educators: A Retrospective Analysis
No full textThis capstone project investigates the impact of adverse psychosocial factors, such as depression, anxiety, and stress, on effective communication of occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) students with their fieldwork educators (FWEds) during level II fieldwork experiences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Using a convergent parallel mixed methods design and retrospective analysis, the study integrates quantitative data from the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and qualitative data from the Fieldwork Experience Assessment Tool (FEAT) to explore how these factors affect communication and the management of the adverse psychosocial factors OTD students experience. This study involved 36 OTD students enrolled in the UNLV OTD program who completed the DASS-21 and FEAT assignments during their level II fieldwork experience. There were three collection points during their 12-week fieldwork experience: week one, midterm (week six), and final week (week 12). The findings of this study demonstrated that students with higher levels of symptom severity on the DASS-21 tended to report greater difficulty with communication with their FWEds; however, not all students with adverse psychosocial factors reported communication difficulties. Insights from this research aim to inform curriculum adjustments that address communication barriers, equipping students with the skills and support to navigate adverse psychosocial factors, improve communication, and optimize their fieldwork experiences. This project highlights the importance of addressing mental health and fostering communication to strengthen professional competence and adherence to occupational therapy (OT) standards
Individual Differences Matter: Examining the Relationship Between Transfer Students’ Identity and Social Presence in Online Learning
No full textThis study investigates the relationship between transfer students’ perceptions of identity and their social presence within online learning environments, addressing a gap in research on this underexplored population. Drawing on Erikson\u27s (1968) psychosocial development theory and Marcia\u27s (1966) identity status model, the study explores how identity formation influences both the perception and manifestation of social presence in the online learning environment. A sequential explanatory design (Creswell & Poth, 2025) was employed, combining quantitative data from a web-based survey on identity status and social presence perceptions, followed by content analysis of students\u27 discussion posts to examine social presence indicators. The findings emphasize the critical role of recognizing transfer students\u27 identity status in the design of online learning environments. By incorporating social presence, educators can foster greater engagement and support academic success for a uniquely diverse student population
In Their Voices: An Exploration of the Experiences of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander Students in Special Education
No full textNative Hawaiians and Pacific Islander (NHPI) groups remain the most underrepresented children in special education, jeopardizing their access to essential academic support. NHPI groups are among the fastest-growing populations in the United States, and these increasing numbers will impact schools and special education specifically. However, there is minimal data on NHPI children in special education. This is problematic, as special educators are responsible for providing appropriate, accessible, and equitable educational opportunities to support their academic journey and to ensure NHPIs’ contributions to the economic growth of the U.S. To better understand the nuances of NHPI cultures, this qualitative exploratory multiple case study examined the schooling experiences of NHPI children in special education. The study included three male secondary students identified with a specific learning disability enrolled in an urban school district. The participants shared their experiences in the resource classroom setting and offered educators advice on teaching and learning with them. The findings indicate that the cultures among Pacific Islanders are unique and diverse and should be interpreted as such. Further research is recommended to identify more NHPI cultures to inform schools and educate policymakers on their varied educational needs
Surviving Graduate School: A Three-Paper Exploration of Latinx Graduate Students’ Basic Needs
No full textAs the college student population is becoming more ethnically and racially diverse, the faculty population is not increasing at the same rate. Graduate education is critical in supporting the faculty pathway and is an understudied area in higher education literature. Graduate education is slowly becoming more diverse; however, Latinx students remain underrepresented (U.S. Department of Education, 2019). The existing literature on Latinx graduate students focuses on the academic experience, such as socialization (Amlink & Edwards, 2020; Ramirez, 2017), student experiences (Gildersleeve et al., 2011; Phelps-Ward, 2022; Ramirez, 2017), and social support (Bañuelos & Flores, 2021; Santa-Ramirez, 2022). There is minimal research on nonacademic factors that shape the graduate student experience. Prior research has highlighted the importance of meeting one’s basic needs (i.e., food, housing, and safety) for academic success (A. Martinez et al., 2018; Silva et al., 2017). We know little about how Latinx or graduate students experience basic needs. Given the importance of meeting one’s basic needs, this phenomenon is an important area of research.This three-paper dissertation broadly explored how Latinx graduate students experience basic needs. In the first paper, I conducted an integrative literature review on Latinx graduate student success from 2004 to 2024. I explored how research has studied Latinx graduate student success by examining the environmental barriers, the role of social support, psychological experiences, and tensions in the socialization process. Second, through written and oral testimonios with 16 Latinx doctoral students, I sought to understand how Latinx graduate students experience basic needs using Latinx Critical Race Theory. Findings suggest that Latinx graduate students experienced basic needs insecurity, which was exacerbated by institutional policies, practice, and the larger sociopolitical contexts. The third paper employed Community Cultural Wealth (Yosso, 2005) to understand how Latinx graduate students accessed resources to meet their basic needs. The findings from testimonios illuminated how Latinx graduate students employed survival strategies when their graduate assistantship stipends fell short, relying on government resources, institutional resources, and a strong community of peers to meet their needs. They also turned to Women of Color faculty, who used their social capital to connect students to additional resources and provided holistic support. Together, these separate and interrelated studies highlight the insufficient financial support from institutions that made it difficult for students to meet their nutritional needs, afford a safe place to live, and forced students into unsafe situations. I offer implications for research and practice and include tangible ways institutions can better support Latinx graduate students. With the collaborators, we illuminate the oppressive structures and put forth a call to action to make graduate education more equitable
Mimbres Social Organization at The Micro-Scale: Households at The ELK Ridge Site, Southwestern New Mexico
No full textAs a component of the ongoing work with the Elk Ridge research project, this thesis utilizes data acquired from previous excavations of the Elk Ridge site and from previous research in the Mimbres Mogollon region to examine how vernacular architecture reflects social organization at the scale of the household. Following Wilk and Rathje (1982) this approach views the household as a fundamental social and economic unit of past societies. Household is defined here as a group occupying a bounded residential space sharing in domestic activities and decision-making responsibilities (Roth 2012:137, Kramer 1982:637, Blanton 1994:5). Previous works within the Mimbres Mogollon region suggests interconnected rooms, those with doorways between them, and the spatial organization of rooms evidence that households were organized into kin based residential units (Shafer 1982). Household units are defined through patterns observed in the use of spatially bounded architecture of the site and household activities are reconstructed through an examination of interior features and artifact assemblages. Rooms are viewed as walled activity areas which both physically control access and metaphorically reinforce social relationships of individuals interacting with them (Rapoport 1969). The identification of certain modes of activity at the organizational level of the household produces a model starting from the smallest activity group and working outward allowing for investigation of variability between identified household units. This thesis attempts to identify households, explore their development over time and examine variability between them
Forecasting Hotel Demand Using Stacked Generalization
No full textDemand forecasting is one of the most critical functions of hotel revenue management. It serves as the bedrock for strategic and operational decision-making across all facets of a hospitality organization, including pricing, inventory management, staffing, risk management, and purchasing. In fact, the success of a hotel is largely predicated on its ability to accurately and consistently predict and adapt to future trends. Now, with the proliferation of artificial intelligence and advances in information technology, demand forecasting in hotels stands to benefit significantly. Yet, the literature has only recently started to explore these solutions. Accordingly, there is a lack of research that rigorously develops and applies cutting-edge machine learning methodologies. In this dissertation, I fill this gap by rigorously validating and evaluating the accuracy and interpretability of machine learning models as well as introducing the concept of meta-learning in the field hotel revenue management using hotel occupancy data from a large casino hotel. The models were evaluated over various forecasting horizons and accuracy metrics, resulting in a series of experiments that showed that model performance varied across forecasting horizon and between model types. In doing so, I found that the suggested meta-model had the highest performance for further-out time horizons, but that the traditional models yielded better performances at the shorter time horizons. These results suggest that forecasting is not a one-size-fits-all exercise, but rather a search for the best forecasting method for the particular market, forecasting horizon, or dataset. This phenomenon is particularly important for both academics and practitioners, as it implies that models must be built with methodological rigor and contextual awareness in order to achieve the most accurate results
Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Councils: A Mixed-Methods Study
No full textHospital Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) are a key strategy in advancing patient-centeredness, heralded by the Institute of Medicine as a goal to improve healthcare quality. Although PFACs have been around since the early 1980s, they exist in only 54% of U.S. hospitals. This three-article mixed-methods dissertation reveals new empirical and primary research about PFAC characteristics, answering the question of what factors contribute to an effective PFAC. The three articles cover (1) a literature review of 143 articles about hospital PFACs around the world, which has been published by the Journal of Patient Experience, (2) a qualitative study of 20 interviews with U.S. hospitals about their PFAC qualities and practices, which has been conditionally accepted by the Journal of Patient Experience pending revisions, and (3) a quantitative, validated survey of 60 questions with 203 respondents working in U.S. hospitals. The scoping review highlighted a dearth of evidence proving the value of PFACs, with scant data on project metrics and outcomes, despite endorsements from major institutions. The exploratory qualitative study, grounded in partnership theory, uncovered the need for broad organizational commitment, systematic evaluation to ensure sustainability, and the need for training employees who work with PFACs. Building on the literature and the qualitative studies, the quantitative research aimed to identify the key predictors of PFAC effectiveness in a 60-question survey answered by 203 people who worked in U.S. hospitals. The results revealed that leadership support was significantly associated with increased meeting content, stronger measurement practices, and more frequent decision making and involvement with policies and procedures. PFACs, focused on conditions or patient types rather than general PFACs, scored higher on multiple factors, including meeting content, measurement practices, level of engagement, and coaching and training members. This groundbreaking study provides evidence-based research to guide hospital leaders in launching a PFAC or strengthening an existing on
Functional Biopolymers Applied to Sustainable Technologies in the Environment and Healthcare
No full textBiodegradable polymeric materials (biopolymers) are naturally derived materials known for their excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, sustainability, and versatile chemical functionality. They have attracted increasing attention in various applications as alternative to synthetic materials ranging from food packaging to tissue engineering. Meanwhile, with intrinsic advantages, biopolymers have also emerged as promising materials in addressing contemporary challenges in both biomedical and environmental fields. Motivated by the significant potential of biopolymers and the growing need for sustainable materials, my research focuses on the design and engineering of biodegradable polymers with novel modification methods and application directions. In this work, two representative biopolymers are selected: silk fibroin, a natural biodegradable protein, and polydopamine (PDA), a synthetic bioinspired polymer, to explore their unique properties and expand their functional application. Especially, this work applies them to addressing critical challenges in sustainable water remediation and wearable bioelectronics, respectively.The first project investigates silk fibroin as a sustainable bioadsorbent for wastewater treatment. Regarding silk fibroin with abundant functional groups, mechanical stability, and biodegradability, it has become an excellent candidate for pollutant removal in natural water resources. To meet the requirements of practical applications, silk fibroin has been integrated into an Automated Drone-Delivery Solar-Driven Water Monitoring and Treatment System (WMTS). This system combines silk bioadsorbents with wireless IoT sensors, cloud-based machine learning, satellite mapping, and autonomous drone deployment to collect and analyze real-time water quality data, then provide optimized and efficient onsite treatment, especially in difficult-to-access locations. This integrated platform offers a closed-loop, energy-efficient, and sustainable solution for managing natural water contamination. The second project focused on polydopamine (PDA), a bioinspired polymer that mimics the strong adhesive properties of mussels. In this part, we develop a self-adhesive, stretchable, and conductive PDA–polyacrylamide (PDA–PAM) hydrogel-based electrode for continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring. Traditional gel-based silver/silver chloride electrodes often suffer from motion artifacts, signal loss, and skin irritation due to limited adhesion and stretchability. In contrast, the proposed PDA–PAM hydrogel-based electrode offers strong tissue adhesion, excellent flexibility, and intrinsic conductivity, making it an ideal candidate for skin conformal bioelectronic interfaces. Human subject testing demonstrated stable, high-quality ECG signal acquisition with up to 59% improvement in signal-to-noise ratio during intense physical activities, with no skin irritation after prolonged wear. This material shows great promise as a hypoallergenic and durable alternative for next-generation wearable health monitoring devices. In summary, these two projects the versatility and transformative potential of sustainable biopolymers in solving high-impact problems in environmental and health monitoring fields. By utilizing the unique properties of silk fibroin and PDA, this work contributes to the advancement of eco-friendly, human-compatible technologies for both sustainable water remediation and personal health monitoring, reinforcing the role of biopolymers as next-generation materials for a more sustainable future. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I also worked on another two side projects focused on disposable face masks. To reduce the risk of fomite-based viral transmission in clinical settings, a superhydrophobic coating of fluorinated graphene (FG) was applied to N95 masks. This simple one-step spray coating dramatically increased water and mucus repellency, improved contact and roll-off angles, and demonstrated strong resistance to SARS-CoV-2-laden body fluid droplets. In another complementary project, I addressed the environmental burden of discarded face masks by repurposing their hydrophobic and superoleophilic properties for oil-water separation. Recycled non-woven masks exhibited high separation efficiency (up to 98.97%) and robustness under harsh conditions, including strong acids, bases, and salty environments. This work offers a practical pathway to mitigate microplastic pollution by turning PPE waste into functional environmental remediation tools
Gamifying Generative AI to Facilitate Students’ Development of GenAI Fluency
No full textGenAI obliges educators to rethink assignments and activities. Gamification provides educators with ways to increase student engagement, supplying instructors with tools to facilitate students’ journey toward GenAI fluency. This interactive workshop explores ways to leverage the power of GenAI to engage learners in a fun and familiar way. Experience firsthand a taste of the critical thinking and problem-solving skills advanced in a GenAI role-playing game. Sample GenAI fluency in the safe learning environment that students need. Attendees will play an abridged version of The Case of the Inept AI Detective. GenAI plays a character in this game rather than it being used to develop or code the game. Through the gameplay and post-game debriefing, attendees will discover an innovative way to create games that support students’ ethical and responsible use of GenAI and promote GenAI fluency, while showcasing students’ authentic learning. Along the way participants will gain a deeper insight into GenAI literacy and how and why fluency is a step beyond literacy. Participants will discover how students’ self-reflections, coupled with applying knowledge, can lead to becoming the better strategic planners and open-minded decision-makers necessary as we move forward in a GenAI-human integrated world. Additionally, gamifying GenAI promotes 21st century skills by challenging students to think outside the GenAI box and develop ethical and equitable solutions during gameplay.
Takeaways:
Gaining a greater understanding of GenAI’s benefits and limitation
Recognizing ways to leverage the power of GenAI effectively
Tips for teaching GenAI ethics
How gamification promote GenAI literacy and authentic learnin
Prompting Creativity: Using Generative AI in the Humanities Classroom
No full textIn this session, we share a collaborative instructional project that empowered students in an Honors world literature course to use generative AI for creative scriptwriting. Students selected historical literary figures and, using prompt engineering techniques, crafted dialogues between either an author they read over the semester or a character from readings like Gregor Samsa in Kafka’s Metamorphosis, and a contemporary individual—exploring timeless themes through a modern lens.
We will demonstrate how we introduced prompt writing as a skill, provided students with guiding templates, and facilitated their engagement with ethical AI use and critical thinking. Participants will view sample student-generated content and explore how generative tools like ChatGPT can be thoughtfully integrated into humanities curriculum without diminishing scholarly rigor.
This session blends practical guidance with reflective discussion. Attendees will leave with example prompts, classroom integration strategies, and ideas for assessment. We aim to inspire educators to adopt generative AI not as a novelty, but as a tool intentionally used for deepening engagement, fostering creativity, and reimagining how students interact with texts