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M.S. Applied Data Science - Capstone Chronicles 2025
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The Mixed Blessing/Curse of the \u3ci\u3eMeyer-Pierce\u3c/i\u3e Legacy
Full text linkThe Supreme Court decisions in Meyer v. Nebraska and Pierce v. Society of Sisters left us a mixed legacy, one part blessing and one part curse. Many would agree on this but differ on which part is blessing and which part curse.
In my view the blessing is the doctrine of substantive due process protecting personal liberty. The Court did not use this language in these cases, but it did rule that the states’ attempts to interfere with parent rights in those cases violated the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and the Court made it clear that in future cases the state would bear a heavy burden to justify any such attempts. In later cases, the Court looked back to Meyer and Pierce as the foundational law when it created important reproductive freedom and relationship rights—the right to contraception and abortion, the rights to sex and marriage for same-sex couples.
In my view the curse is the doctrine of parent rights, given the Court’s failure to create any comparable rights for children. More on this later, but first a word on legacy
The Conservative Response to Transformative Disruption: Voice or Exit 100 Years after \u3ci\u3eMeyer\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3ePierce\u3c/i\u3e?
Full text linkIn 1923 and 1925, respectively, the U.S. Supreme Court rulings in Meyer v. Nebraska and Pierce v. Society of Sisters established limits on the ability of government to constrain what children’s education contains and where it occurs. The Court recognized the “right” of parents to exercise basic control over those things. One hundred years later, we are seeing a renewed emphasis on “parental rights,” both with booming growth of “school choice” programs that allow government-connected funding to follow children to educational options their parents select and efforts to constrain what public schools do. The position of conservatives on such parental rights appears to have reversed between 1924 and 2024: against them then, for them today. This paper examines the similarities in the historical moments of the 1920s and 2020s, most notably the effects of society-jarring shocks—the First World War and the COVID-19 pandemic—that shook faith in major institutions but might have also opened the floodgates for social changes that were already approaching. It then discusses how and why conservative responses changed from efforts to exert control, leading to the Meyer and Pierce decisions, to support for programs enabling private education choice. Using Albert O. Hirschman’s framework, it looks at why the conservative response appears to have moved from voice to exit, and using contemporary evidence speculates whether that would continue were conservatives empowered to control public education
Restricted Access: Structural Gatekeeping and the Black Student Experience in Accounting Education
Full text linkThis study explores the experiences of Black accountants as they reflect on their memories of the pipeline to their profession and the affective dimensions of their educational experiences as accounting majors in college. Grounding into Unapologetic Black Inquiry (UBI), a framework rooted in critical race theory, this investigation integrates narrative inquiry as a tool to capture rich descriptions from participant interviews and written reflections. Furthermore, this descriptive qualitative study explores how the structures and values of accounting education are rooted in a form of professionalism that prioritizes technical proficiencies over cultural knowledge, thus ignoring community forms of assets related to Black student experiences. The investigation found that Black accountants who participated in the study associate the notion of professionalism in accounting education spaces as a mechanism for reinforcing white norms, values, and ways of understanding. These findings reaffirm other analyses in education scholarship that suggest diversifying professions requires investigating how professional standards, practices, and pipelines reflect the views of dominant cultural groups. Among the implications of these findings is the need to redefine professionalism to include greater historical and community understandings of the political, cultural, and economic dimensions of Black life in the United States. To improve diversity in the accounting field likely requires pedagogical approaches that build from these dimensions of diverse students\u27 experiences
Strategic Policy Development to Reduce Same-Day Cancellations: A Nurse-Led Preoperative Approach
Full text linkBackground: Same-day surgical cancellations are a persistent and costly issue within outpatient surgery centers, accounting for approximately 5% of elective cases. These disruptions result in inefficient utilization of operating room (OR) time, increased staffing burdens, lost reimbursement, and diminished patient satisfaction. Unanticipated cancellations undermine scheduling reliability and workflow efficiency, contributing to care fragmentation and increased financial strain on health systems. A growing body of evidence suggests that nurse-led, structured preoperative screening has the potential to mitigate these challenges by identifying risk factors in advance and facilitating timely interventions. Nurses\u27 clinical acumen and communication expertise uniquely position them to lead such efforts.
Purpose: This policy-focused initiative aimed to evaluate the projected impact of implementing a nurse-driven, standardized preoperative screening 72 hours prior to scheduled elective procedures at an academic outpatient surgical center. The primary objectives were to reduce same-day cancellations, enhance surgical block utilization, improve patient readiness, and advance the quality and consistency of preoperative workflows. Leveraging the Epic electronic health record (EHR) platform, the policy integrates clinical documentation with standardized assessment criteria to support early identification of logistical, medical, or educational barriers that may delay or disrupt surgery.
Methods: The project was guided by the Iowa Model for Evidence-Based Practice, emphasizing problem identification, critical appraisal of evidence, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable implementation. A structured preoperative telephone screening protocol was developed for use by registered nurses and integrated into Epic as a standardized documentation template. Retrospective and prospective Epic data were analyzed to compare same-day cancellation rates over two six-month periods—before and after the intervention. In addition to outcome analysis, a cost-benefit evaluation was conducted to assess financial feasibility and return on investment (ROI).
Evaluation of Outcomes/Results: Preliminary findings demonstrated significant clinical and economic value of the nurse-driven screening process. The projected annual cost of implementation, including nurse training and administrative support, was estimated at 57,752, resulting in a cost-benefit ratio of $1.61 per dollar invested and an ROI of 61%. Operational benefits included improved OR efficiency, decreased staffing inefficiencies, and increased patient throughput. Qualitative feedback from staff highlighted the value of early patient engagement and structured documentation in reducing last-minute disruptions.
Conclusion: The implementation of a nurse-led, standardized preoperative screening policy represents a pragmatic, evidence-based solution to a well-documented operational problem. By aligning nursing leadership with institutional quality goals, this initiative strengthens perioperative processes, enhances patient outcomes, and demonstrates measurable financial return. The standardized Epic template enhances documentation consistency, interprofessional communication, and facilitates real-time risk mitigation. As a scalable and sustainable model, this policy has strong potential for broader adoption across outpatient surgical services seeking to improve efficiency, safety, and patient-centered care
Ethical Sourcing in Patagonia’s Supply Chain
No full textHow has Patagonia’s commitment to ethical sourcing shaped its brand reputation, consumer trust, and the broader fashion industry
Sustainability Challenges in the Semiconductor Industry Due to Geopolitical Tension
Full text linkThis work examines how the valuable and sensitive semiconductor industry demonstrates the intersectionality of geopolitics, economic strategy, and environmental sustainability. It traces historical developments in semiconductor supply chains, highlights the global impact of U.S.-China tensions, and explores how sustainability goals are being reshaped by regional security policies. Using frameworks like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), the Triple Bottom Line, and Impact Assessment, the chapter assesses the industry’s water and energy demands, carbon emissions, and trade disruptions. The analysis culminates in a discussion of policy recommendations aimed at balancing national security with sustainable innovation. Readers are encouraged to consider the broader consequences of fragmented manufacturing ecosystems and the challenges of maintaining cooperation in a divided global landscape. In addition, we hope to inspire readers to hypothesize about the future of semiconductors’ role in society and how we as humans will conduct ourselves when the future arrives
Playing with Fire: California Homeowners Risk High Insurance Costs or Losing Homes to Climate Change Disasters
Full text linkCalifornia should continue to further the policy of protecting generational homeowners’ right to their property. To do this, insurance rates should be set in a way that avoids unfair premium increases that violate Proposition 103 and unfairly burden consumers. Utilizing CAT models will increase the cost of home insurance premiums due to overestimations of risk, enable bias on the part of insurance companies, and promote a lack of public scrutiny for insurance rates. This creates a confiscatory rate, which violates Proposition 103 and the California Constitution.
Generational homeowners should not be forced to adopt the FAIR plan just to maintain ownership of their homes. California should create a state-funded fire insurance plan, or the FAIR plan should receive funding from state emergency funding instead of private insurers.
California should uphold its commitment to promoting homeownership in the state and supporting generational homeowners by maintaining regulations that ensure the accessibility and attainability of homeownership
Climate Influence on Both Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Rocky Intertidal Community Structure in San Diego, California
Full text linkThe rocky intertidal ecosystem, the coastal area between high and low tides, serves as a critical buffer between land and sea. This ecosystem supports a diverse array of species and provides rich opportunities for exploration and education. With the influence of climate change, this ecosystem faces significant shifts in species distribution, resilience and recovery from environmental disturbances, as well as habitat loss (Jackson & McIlvenny 2011; Jueterbock et al. 2013; Menge & Gravem 2022; Rilov et al. 2021; Sagarin & Barry 1999). Between 2014-2016, climate anomalies El Niño (ENSO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) combined to create a period of extreme ocean warming, called the Pacific Marine Heatwave or “The Blob” (Gentemann et al. 2017). The Pacific Marine Heatwave has been documented to have impacted marine ecosystems through mass mortality events, changes in community structure, and poleward expansion of species (Piatt et al. 2020). As sea surface temperature (SST) increases, shifts in species distribution result in ecological “winners” and “losers” based on thermal tolerances and competitive dynamics. This study reveals periods of increased ocean warming influenced by the Pacific Marine Heatwave may have resulted in both “winners” and “losers” in rocky intertidal community structure along the San Diego, California coastline. Understanding how rocky intertidal community structure transformed under the pressures of the Pacific Marine Heatwave may help to predict how increasing SST will continue to impact rocky intertidal ecosystems. Specifically, this study examines 1) spatial and temporal patterns within rocky intertidal community structure in relation to SST change, and 2) the ecological implications of these patterns. Data collected by the Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network (MARINe) revealed site-specific community responses to increasing SST. Rocky intertidal “losers” were Silvetia compressa, red algae, Mytilus, and Pollicipes polymerus, as their species abundance 11 decreased with increasing SST. In contrast, the “winners” in this study were brown algae, green algae, and Tetraclita rubescens. Declines in abundance, potentially triggered by warming waters, may facilitate community change, where decreases in certain species leaves behind bare substrate, allowing space for opportunistic species to colonize. These findings highlight not only current changes in intertidal community structure in response to changes in SST as a result of the Pacific Marine Heatwave, but also provide insights into potential future shifts as ocean waters continue to warm. Understanding these changes is crucial for guiding conservation efforts in San Diego’s rocky intertidal ecosystems. Further research is needed to disentangle the interplay between climate change and local environmental factors
Empowering Student Leaders: A Collaborative Approach to Professional Development in Higher Education
Full text linkThe purpose of my research was to explore how integrating students as partners in professional development enhances student leader training. The study addressed gaps in student participation in training session planning, guided by two research questions: How can integrating students as partners in student leader professional development initiatives contribute to training success? And, what insights can be gained from including undergraduate student leaders in curriculum development for professional training? Research cycles included a survey, workshops, and reflective journaling. Themes that emerged were the importance of staff–student collaboration, student empowerment as co-creators, and the value of diverse perspectives. Findings showed that student involvement increased engagement, creativity, and relevance in training sessions. Recommendations include cross-role collaboration, incorporating student driven activities, and post training reflections to further enhance engagement. By fostering intentional collaboration, training programs can better support student leaders’ growth and impact, ensuring their holistic development and meaningful contributions to University of San Diego and beyond