Influence of a summer bridge program on African American students at East Tennessee State University

The purpose of this research was to investigate if there was a significant difference of academic success between African American participants and non-participants of the B.U.C.S. Academy program, a summer bridge program, at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). Although African American students’ enrollment has increased for several years, this population remains underrepresented in comparison to majority groups regarding retention, grade point average, and attainment of bachelor’s degrees (East Tennessee State University, 2021). For the purpose of this study, academic success was defined as key metrics of fall-to-fall retention rate, grade point average, and four and six-year graduation rate. Through further evaluate the academic success of African American students at ETSU, four research questions were used for the study to analyze any significant difference between overall satisfaction and academic success for African American students who are/were enrolled in the B.U.C.S. Academy Program and African American non-participants at ETSU, any significant difference for African American students between the overall grade point average, any significant difference between the fall-to-fall retention rates, and any significant difference between the graduation rates at both the 4-year and 6-year levels. For this study, the researcher used a non-experimental, comparative quantitative approach. In the study, the researcher gathered two data sets of quantitative data and survey responses. The researcher aimed to offer a more comprehensive awareness of the African American student experience by analyzing both students’ perceived satisfaction and academic achievements (Bowen et al., 2017). The researcher compared two groups, African American students at ETSU who participated in the B.U.C.S. Academy program and African American students who were non-participants within the program from 2018 to 2023. The researcher employed two statistical tests, the t-test and Chi-square test, to determine if the means of African American participants and non-participants were compatible. Both the t-test and Chi-square were run in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and revealed to the researcher if there was statistically significant difference between the means of both sample populations (Field, 2013)

Extended program notes on works by Bach, Beethoven, Dett, and Liszt

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Honors Thesis consists of a sixty minute piano recital of advanced repertoire from the Baroque period through the 20th century, prepared over the course of the senior year. The Senior Piano Recital is a culmination of a course of study demonstrating an advanced level of musical proficiency. The thesis also contains extended program notes of the senior recital that occurred on April 3, 2025. The purpose of program notes is to engage the audience’s understanding and listening experience of the pieces to be performed and their composers. A recording of the recital will be submitted along with the Thesis. Chosen works were composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, and Nathaniel Dett. The overarching research question was, “did writing extended program notes build my performance connection?” By writing a biography, analysis and performance suggestions from pieces such as J.S. Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in F Minor, Well Tempered Clavier Book II, BWV 881, Franz Liszt’s Sonnetto 47 del Petrarch, Nathaniel Dett’s Magnolia Suite, and lastly Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in A-flat Major, Op.110, I hoped to bring a conversational approach to the recital. Sonnetto 47 del Petrarch was chosen to represent the romantic period and demonstrate virtuosic repertoire as it connects to other pieces within a recital program. A Bach prelude and fugue was chosen to deepen my understanding of Bach’s use of polyphony in fugal textures. Magnolia Suite was chosen to firstly perform music by an underrepresented composer, and secondly to build a connection to a character piece through his thematic portrayals of poetry. Lastly, Piano Sonata in A-flat Major, Op.110 stands out amongst other pieces of its time due to its unconventional structure and expressive markings. Overall, every piece selected was selected with the intention that I would have a deeper appreciation for all these composers and their music. Visit this link for a full recording of the recital: https://youtu.be/VIyKl_YuN5k?si=xAd8qZa8TVc7Uv0

Quantum Mechanical Insights into Heterogeneous Surface Reactions in Chemical Vapor Infiltration

This study investigates the decomposition mechanism of Methyl trichlorosilane during Silicon Carbide (SiC) deposition during Chemical Vapor Infiltration (CVI). High-performance applications require SiC-based ceramic matrix composites (CMCs); however, producing them presents difficulties due to limited deposition rates, high energy consumption, and uneven coatings. To overcome these challenges, the mechanism of SiC formation must be understood completely. Modeling surface reactions of MTS decomposition on the SiC substrate using density functional theory (DFT) calculations with the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP) is the key point of current research. By focusing on the adsorption, reaction, and desorption mechanisms that control SiC development, our method incorporates quantum mechanical models such as Kohn-Sham equations, the Many-Body System, Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation, and Generalized-Gradient Approximation (GGA). Using Transition State Theory (TST) and Potential Energy Surface (PES) mapping, the study investigates reaction routes and discovers important intermediates, such as methyl (CH₃) and other hydrocarbon species. We also emphasize the function of hydrogen in surface stabilization. The findings expand our knowledge of the rate-limiting steps in MTS breakdown and offer guidance for refining CVI/CVD procedures, which could increase material quality and deposition efficiency for cutting-edge engineering applications

Integrated sustainability: unlocking environmental potential in electric vehicles and solar panels

This thesis investigates the environmental, economic, and individual level factors influencing consumer adoption of electric vehicles and solar panels. Through a comprehensive scoping review and case-based analysis, it identifies key incentives and barriers related to purchase intentions for each alternative energy technology. Central factors influencing adoption include cost-related concerns, individual purchasing power, demographic effects, and policy impact. These findings suggest that targeted interventions – specifically those used to amplify incentives and mitigate barriers – can positively impact individual consumer purchase intention, including through bundling options. Highlighting the importance of integrated sustainability, this study explored how electric vehicles and solar panels can function in tandem to maximize both individual and collective environmental and economic benefits in the short- and long-term. It concludes with a conceptual framework for understanding the interrelationship of these technologies while providing actionable insights for policy makers, industry stakeholders, and individual consumers alike

The impact of stereotype threat and grit on the experience of imposter syndrome

In-Progress Research Imposter syndrome (IP) is a psychological phenomenon in which one has an internal experience of intellectual phoniness. This phenomenon is particularly seen within workplaces. Past researchers have found that females tend to report higher levels of IP, with Stereotype Threat (ST) being a cited explanation. A common denominator in much of the literature is how a lack of Belongingness can activate Stereotype Threat in females, especially in male-dominated workplaces. It has been found that individuals high in IP, especially females, tend to experience poor mental health outcomes. Past research has also established a link between IP and Conscientiousness in females, a personality trait related to the facet of Grit. The current study is examining the relationships between IP, Belongingness, Psychological Distress, and Grit. Hypotheses include several predictions between the variables of IP, Belongingness, Psychological Distress, Grit, and ST. Participants (N = 150) are being recruited from Psychology and STEM-related courses (all levels) at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. The experiment is utilizing a 3x2 mixed repeated measures design. The measures being utilized in this study include the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), the Domain Identification Measure (DIM), the General Belongingness Scale (GBS), the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), and the Duckworth 12-Item Grit Scale. The data will be analyzed by using Repeated Measures Analyses of Variance (ANOVAs) and Pearson’s Correlations. Expected results include females reporting IP at higher rates than males, individuals high in IP reporting low levels of Belongingness, high levels of Psychological Distress, and low levels of Grit, and ST having an impact on reported rates of IP, Belongingness, Psychological Distress, and Grit. The implications of my research allow us to look at how IP may be impacting individuals in the workplace, as this is where this phenomenon is most observed. Specifically, we can determine if an organizational culture of openness and belonging can positively impact someone experiencing IP. If IP is impacting the mental health of employees, then research needs to be conducted to determine how severe this phenomenon is. Furthermore, there may be a mediating relationship between the personality facet of Grit and whether someone is likely to report experiencing IP. If this is the case, personal development workshops could possibly be created to help employees foster their Grit and in turn, help with their experience of IP

The Pulse of Progress: A Review on Wearable Technology in Healthcare

In recent years the literature that has examined wearable technology has grown exponentially. Healthcare is a field in which numerous studies involving wearable technologies and occupational health have been conducted due to its critical and demanding nature. Wearable devices provide many advantages for research, including offering objective physiological data that can support efforts to better understand and improve the well-being of healthcare professionals. Our research team conducted a literature review of 20 peer-reviewed articles related to wearable technology in healthcare. Online databases (e.g., PsycInfo, Google Scholar) were utilized to collect studies that examined a variety of devices and measures such as heart rate variability, sleep, and stress. Data extracted from the articles included participant demographics, type of wearable device, and occupational health outcomes studied. This information was synthesized to evaluate the current state of research and identify areas for future development. The goal is to provide researchers and practitioners with practical and effective ways to incorporate wearables into future research. Common themes that arose, and will be discussed more thoroughly in the poster, include the prevalence of heart rate variability and sleep quality/duration as physiological measures most commonly collected. These measures were frequently linked to stress and burnout, demonstrating the potential of wearables to connect physiological functioning with psychological well-being. At the same time, several limitations emerged. Studies highlighted the inaccuracy of wearable data in capturing mental health states and noted compliance challenges as healthcare workers often found it difficult to wear devices consistently throughout their workday. Based on our findings, we suggest that future research should focus on improving the integration of wearable data with validated self-report measures. This would allow researchers to better capture complex variables such as stress, burnout, and cognitive performance. Additionally, enhancing device usability and minimizing participant burden are essential to improving data quality and reducing attrition. Further work is also needed to address issues related to algorithm validation, transparency, and cost to ensure that wearable technologies are both reliable and accessible. Wearable technology offers promising opportunities to advance occupational health research in healthcare. By addressing current limitations and refining how data are collected and integrated, future studies can position wearables as powerful tools to support the well-being of healthcare professionals. This project is partially supported by the Clemson University Creative Inquiry program

The True Danger of Colors: Injury Probability during Turnaround Phases in a Refinery

Introduction Safety incidents during turnaround phases represent 50% of overall incidents occurring at a refinery. This study aims to understand the different phases, the incident occurrence during such phases, and determine where to have more observations happen during such phases (Ludwig & Laske, 2022). Methods Our team took data from the turnaround phases of an oil refinery in between the years of 2022 to 2023. This involved taking data from the plant and each individual subdivision and pulling only the ones that went through a turnaround phase in the timeframe provided. Out of the fifty-four departments that we gathered information on, there were only five that were in an active turnaround. We had to manually parse the data out per turnaround phase in each department and then process it. A logistic regression was then used to pull results and make conclusions based on what we knew before and what we got from the data. Results The analysis from the two-year sample (2022-2023) resulted in a 9.38% incident probability occurring over any seven-day span across the five departments. One additional observation per shift over a 3-day period was shown to reduce incident probability by 1.21%. This was predicted to lower the number of incidents from 25 to 23 per year, resulting in two fewer incidents annually for the five departments studied. When extrapolated to the entire facility, with over 50 departments, one additional observation per shift could prevent at least 20 incidents annually. Discussion With how many incidents occur during turnarounds, we hope that our findings of adding another observation per shift can mean less overall incidents throughout the turnarounds (Granowsky, 2023). We hope this research can inform further studies because we know that we can go deeper into the research on how to reduce incident probability during these phases, and consider increased safety intervention during the turnaround periods (Ludwig, Leslie, 2023). One limitation that I can see is that we did our analysis on a manufacturing plant during a specific period of time, so it may not transfer that well into other environments that may not have a strict cleaning schedule

The Influence of Media Exposure on Perceptions of Police

The current literature suggests that People of Color (POC) often hold more negative perceptions of law enforcement compared to White individuals. These perceptions are influenced by various factors, including environment, exposure to media depictions of police brutality, and personal experiences. Since flawed portrayals of police procedures in television programs have been found to erode public trust in police legitimacy, the study analyzes how perceptions change through media portrayals of law enforcement interactions. We investigate how the media influences perceptions of law enforcement by presenting participants (n = 245) with mock news articles depicting various law enforcement interactions. Additionally, we consider the impact of past encounters and perceptions of law enforcement, race and ethnicity, and experiences as a victim of crime. Although the mock news articles successfully influenced participant ratings of the portrayed officer and victim, the mock news articles did not significantly influence participant ratings for any measure of police perceptions. The results of the present study revealed that being victimized, consuming crime television, and being a POC were associated with significantly less favorable perceptions of police. The results suggest a need to promote interventions aimed at fostering better police and community relations, alongside recognizing the potential influence of media portrayals of law enforcement, which may serve as a barrier to positive relations

The Silent Strain: Workplace Hazing as a Hidden Organizational Stressor.

Between 25% and 75% of working Americans report experiencing hazing at some point in their careers (Thomas et al., 2021). This wide range is partly due to underreporting, often driven by fears of retaliation, termination, or stalled career progression (Thomas et al., 2021; Tolfer et al., 2016). Despite its frequency, research has historically focused on non-workplace contexts, leaving a critical gap in understanding its organizational impact.Although definitions of hazing vary across disciplines, four consistent characteristics emerge: it is temporary, unidirectional, coercive, and coalitional (Thomas et al., 2021). These elements form the conceptual foundation for this study. In this study hazing is defined as the short term socialization process in which new employees within an organization are faced with high induction costs that are unrelated to their new roles and act as a barrier to their recognition as a legitimate organizational member (Mawritz et al, 2020; Cimino et al., 2019; and Cimino, 2011) To address this gap, this study investigates workplace hazing through the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, positioning hazing as a unique organizational stressor. We hypothesize that hazing exposure will significantly predict psychological strain. Additionally, we hypothesize that employee personal resources and individual characteristics will moderate this relationship, weakening the link between hazing and strain. A cross-sectional survey design will be used to examine this relationship. Participants will be recruited via Prolific, with inclusion criteria requiring individuals to be over 18 and employed full-time. The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model (Demerouti et al., 2001) will guide the theoretical framework, and the Workplace Hazing Scale (WHS) (Mawritz et al., 2020) will be used to measure hazing experiences. Understanding workplace hazing is a critical step toward identifying its harmful effects on employees, informing organizational strategies to reduce its occurrence, and exploring its long-term implications for both individuals and institutions. These findings will contribute to the research by clarifying how personal resources buffer the stressor-strain relationship of hazing and employee psychological well being. These findings will allow for future research that investigates organizational interventions and the effectiveness in mitigating potential negative effects of hazing

Ethical Practices of AI in Performance Management & Employee Development

As artificial intelligence reshapes the landscape of workplace systems, industrial-organizational (I/O) professionals face a pivotal challenge: integrating AI into performance management and employee development without compromising the human values that foster trust, growth, and psychological safety. This session offers a strategic and ethical roadmap for navigating that challenge, emphasizing the irreplaceable role of human judgment, empathy, and dialogue in coaching and leadership. Participants will explore a modular framework for ethical AI use, designed to clarify where automation can enhance decision-making and where human expertise must remain central. Through real-world scenarios, interactive exercises, and cross-disciplinary dialogue, the session equips I/O professionals to lead AI adoption with clarity and courage assuring that technology serves as a compass, not a coach. Key themes include the risks of outsourcing leadership to algorithms, the boundaries of automation in developmental conversations, and the stewardship mandate of I/O professionals to safeguard ethical, human-centered strategy. By bridging research and practice, this session empowers attendees to shape AI-integrated workplaces that honor both innovation and integrity