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Setting the scene: Young Tunisian Women, Hip-Hop Liberation Theologies, and the Issue of Identities
No full textThis paper explores how hip hop culture functions as a liberating theological and political force for young Tunisian women navigating questions of identity, faith, and belonging. Situated at the intersection of post-revolutionary Tunisia, gender politics, and global hip hop culture, this study argues that hip hop offers a critical space where young women resist traditional religious structures and patriarchal norms while forging new modes of spiritual and political expression. Drawing on original interviews, survey data, and theological frameworks such as liberation theology, Marxist critique, and process thought, the paper presents hip hop as both an aesthetic and ethical practice that allows for the reinterpretation of doctrine and the reclamation of selfhood.
The analysis begins by tracing hip hop’s global trajectory from its origins in the Bronx to its localization in Tunisia, highlighting its consistent function as a tool of rebellion and community-building. It then develops a theological reading of hip hop, framing it as a grassroots form of liberation theology that contests doctrinal authority while offering alternative forms of spiritual authorship. Attention is given to how gender mediates these dynamics: female youth face a unique hermeneutical injustice, constrained by the gendered application of religion, economic precarity, and cultural invisibility.
This paper seeks to understand Tunisia’s religious and linguistic landscape shaped by its moderate Islamic tradition, colonial past, and multilingual reality, all of which add further complexity. The paper evaluates the symbolic weight of Arabic, French, English, and Tunsi in hip hop expression, showing how language becomes both a site of resistance and a battleground for identity construction. Ultimately, the paper argues that hip hop enables young Tunisian women to deconstruct inherited doctrines and participate in a living, dynamic theology that speaks from their social margins but aspires toward broader justice and inclusion
FROM HOPE TO FRUSTRATION: THE IMPACTS OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF USAID ON EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN MOROCCO
No full textFollowing a series of executive orders administered by the Trump administration in January 2025, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID abruptly withdrew from Morocco, leaving an impact on education and development. Using qualitative methods, including six semi-structured interviews with USAID personnel, partners, and local NGOs, the study captures the personal, financial, and operational effects of this sudden cessation. The paper highlights how USAID\u27s localized, inclusive approach had catalyzed significant educational initiatives and collaborative development models, many of which were disrupted or completely dismantled. Key findings reveal that the termination of USAID activities not only jeopardized active programming—such as the Bridge to Middle School project—but also led to widespread job loss, institutional uncertainty, and damage to the U.S.\u27s image abroad. This study offers an early, human-centered reflection on the consequences of foreign aid withdrawal and argues for sustained, ethical, and locally grounded development efforts moving forward
Rooted in Resilience: Exploring Indigenous Economic Models and Sustainability on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation.
No full textThis study examines how traditional practices and cultural values of the Chippewa Cree shape the economic identity and sustainability of the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation. Using a mixed-methods approach that combined demographic surveys with culturally grounded interviews, the research reveals that economic development in the community is inseparable from traditional knowledge systems, collective well-being, and ecological stewardship. Rather than centering on financial accumulations, wealth is defined by family, community, and cultural continuity, placing traditional knowledge on par with land and monetary resources.
Three central themes emerged from the data: (1) the enduring role of traditional values and cultural knowledge in guiding economic aspirations; (2) generational divides in knowledge transmission and perceptions of development; and (3) the evolving role of gender in shaping community participation. Importantly, participants did not view the traditional values as barriers to development, but as essential assets that should inform economic strategy. Yet, a gap remains in articulating how cultural assets such as traditional knowledge, art, and ceremony can be integrated into sustainable economic models without reducing them to commodified goods.
These findings highlight a pressing need for further research into the limitations and ethical implications of cultural commodification, and how Indigenous communities can design economic systems that preserve cultural integrity while engaging broader markets. The study offers a model for how Indigenous economic systems rooted in rational and ecological values provide critical insights into sustainable and equitable development in a post-colonial world.
Keywords: Indigenous economics, Chippewa Cree, cultural sustainability, traditional knowledge, economic development, decolonial theory, cultural commodification, Rocky Boy Reservation, intergenerational knowledge, relational wealt
Seoul’s Soul: A Study of Drag Culture’s Influence on Queer Young Adult’s Education in South Korea
Full text linkDrag performance has long been considered a site of artistic expression, political resistance, and community-building within LGBTQ+ spaces. This capstone research project explores the educational impact of drag culture in Seoul, South Korea, with a particular focus on how drag performances serve as a pedagogical and educational tool that challenges gender norms, fosters queer community, and provides a platform for political discourse. Through qualitative analysis of participant observation, bilingual Korean and English survey responses, and in-depth English interviews with drag performers, performance organizers, and audience members, this research highlights the ways in which drag can function as a site of both explicit and implicit learning. The findings reveal that drag performances in Seoul contribute to cultural education, personal identity exploration, and social activism despite ongoing divisions within the LGBTQ+ community and external socio-political challenges. By situating the experiences of Seoul’s drag performers within broader conversations about queer pedagogy and performance, this research defends the potential of drag to disrupt traditional educational structures and create inclusive, transformative learning environments.
Keywords: LGBTQ+, drag, queer pedagogy, informal education, gender identity, and social norm
Indigenizing Aquaculture: In Pursuit of an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture System for Enhanced Self-Sufficiency in Akaroa Harbour, Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textThis study assessed the feasibility of integrating two pre-existing aquaculture activities in Akaroa Harbour, Aotearoa New Zealand into an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system. The cultivation of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) presents an opportunity to improve the sustainability of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) farming by introducing alternative food sources for salmon, which can be used to produce fish feed locally, enhancing the self-sufficiency of the community and boosting the holistic efficiency of the system. Macroinvertebrates residing in giant kelp wrack were collected, identified, and quantified to determine if any of the Macrocystis-associated specimens could serve as an appropriate replacement for fish meal content in salmon feed, and at what scale salmon production could be supported by this alternative feed. The suggested invertebrate for fish meal is the Talitrid amphipod, which feeds on kelp wrack in the supralittoral zone of the coasts of Aotearoa. At an ideal kelp density of 2,500 plants per hectare over the 130 hectares planned for Macrocystis cultivation in the Harbour, 0.29 tonnes of Talitrids could be produced, enough to feed 1.12 tonnes of Chinook salmon at a feed composition of 15% amphipod meal. While this would only be sufficient for 0.001% of Akaroa King Salmon’s annual fish production, it represents the opportunity for a pilot project to determine if Talitrids are a sufficient fish meal replacement to enable local production of fish feed and reduce the level of overseas outsourcing needed for Ōnuku, the hapū of Akaroa. Interviews revealed that IMTA methodologies are aligned with community aspirations and Māori worldviews, with positive implications for potential implementation. Given the capacity to trial Talitrid aquaculture feed at a small-scale within the existing system, this study shows promise for future research and avenues for alternative and sustainable aquaculture systems in Aotearoa
Global Pathways: Suwon, South Korea
No full textThis capstone proposes the Global Pathways: Suwon program, a semester-long study abroad initiative developed in partnership between Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and Kyonggi University (KGU) in Suwon, South Korea. The program responds to current limitations in study abroad, particularly the prevalence of short-term tourism-oriented experiences and curricula that prioritizes Western perspectives. A needs assessment consisting of student interviews, surveys, and professional consultation demonstrated strong interest in programs that combine language learning, cultural immersion, and career development. Findings also highlighted the importance of financial accessibility, reciprocal host partnerships, and ongoing advising support. Drawing on Freire’s critical pedagogy and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, the program emphasizes dialogue, reflection, language acquisition, and community engagement as core components of global learning. The curriculum integrates intensive Korean language study, elective coursework in history and communication grounded in Korean scholarship, and local internships supported by structured reflective practices. The Global Pathways: Suwon program advances a model of international education that is academically rigorous, ethically grounded, and mutually beneficial. It aims to expand intercultural competence, professional readiness, and global awareness while strengthening institutional collaboration and supporting community partners in a meaningful way.
Keywords: international, education, intercultural learning, decolonization, collaboration, reciprocity, South Kore
A Global Journey Inward: Contemplative Education Abroad on a Short-Term Program in Finland
Full text linkThis study investigated the transformative potential of integrating subjective and intersubjective contemplative practices within a short-term, faculty-led education abroad program in Finland. Focused on addressing tensions arising from neoliberal and objective approaches to conventional Western higher education, the research explored how critical contemplative education abroad fostered deeper connections with Self, Others, and Place among students. Data collection involved analyzing course documents, facilitating two focus groups, conducting participant observations, and documenting researcher reflections. Employing the heuristic approach within a qualitative and spiritual research paradigm, the study identified three main findings: Experience of Place, Experiential Coherence, and Individual Perspectives within a Collective Experience. The Experience of Place appeared enriched by subjective contemplative practices, facilitating students’ ability to be present and engaged. Contemplative practices in a novel environment facilitated experiential coherence, enabling students to establish a shared resonance beyond the Self to encompass Others and Place in harmony. Individual perspectives within the collective experience highlighted how the students uniquely interpreted their experiences while aligning with the collective one. The findings underscored the transformative potential of integrating contemplative practices into education abroad programs. By intertwining contemplative practices with lived experiences, the research indicated that students forged a profound relationship between the external world and their inner thoughts, senses, and emotions. These insights nurtured students’ awareness, understanding, and compassion, encouraging the incorporation of contemplative practices in education abroad programs to help heal the separation and Othering among individuals, societies, and the natural world
INTENSIVE ENGLISH PROGRAM DESIGN FOR MINNESOTA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Full text linkThe recent rise in undocumented immigrants in Minnesota has brought to light significant demographic shifts within the state. Many individuals in this population have limited or no proficiency in English, which highlights the challenges immigrant communities face in adapting to their new linguistic surroundings. As a result, educators have been presented with the challenge of serving a growing number of immigrant children in their schools. To tackle this issue, an intensive English program was developed for a suburban public school district in Minnesota to offer a more targeted approach to improving English proficiency among students before beginning courses required for graduation. An exploratory qualitative design assessed the need for an intensive English program utilizing in-depth interviews or surveys to gain insight into participants’ perspectives and experiences with intensive English programs. The findings from data collection indicate that an intensive English program is essential due to the increasing number, demographic shifts, and intensified challenges of recently arrived English learners. By participating in the program, students will improve their English proficiency in academic content areas and progress into emerging adulthood as they learn to thrive in a new culture and educational system
What soil is worth: A cost-benefit framework analysis of syntropic farming
Full text linkSyntropic farming, a type of regenerative agriculture, models its farming system after a forest. This type of farming prioritizes soil health while also providing a varied yield of crops. Because it is a fairly new system globally, little research has been done on the economic impacts of syntropic farming, and therefore the feasibility of scaling up regenerative systems like this. This study aims to analyze the economic feasibility of this system through a literature review and a cost-benefit analysis framework. The results highlight the applicability, environmental advantage and economic feasibility of the system. Based on the presented framework, the short term costs are likely to be outweighed by the long term benefits. A widespread implementation of this system like this could revolutionize modern agriculture, providing varied crops while also repairing harms done to soils by anthropogenic activities
Unveiling Colonial Legacies: Women’s Marginalization through the Lens of Coffee Cultivation in Northern Angola
Full text linkThis study investigates the historical dynamics of gender and labor by investigating the colonial production coffee production in northern Angola, the history examined spanning from the pre- colonial era of the Kongo and Ndongo kingdoms to the colonial period in the Uíge, Zaire, Bengo, and Cuanza Norte provinces. It aims to shed light on the marginalization of women within both colonial and post-independence contexts. Utilizing the Harvard analytical framework as a guide, this research explores the enduring effects of Portuguese colonialism on women\u27s agency and economic participation. Through an examination of primarily scholarly works, this study reveals how Portuguese colonial policies favored male control over land and resources, exacerbated the productive burden on women, facilitated land expropriation and coercive labor practice, thereby reinforcing women\u27s subordinate position. Post-independence Angola exemplifies the lasting legacy of these policies, as women continue to grapple with marginalization and economic disparity stemming from colonial legacies