Works in this series are the final written component of a masters or doctoral degree program at Grand Valley State University. Culminating Experience Projects demonstrate a student's competence in their discipline while producing original research, investigating a scholarly topic, or producing a creative work.
For GVSU Students- To submit your Culminating Experience Project, follow the Submit Research link in the sidebar.
- For details about the process, visit the Submission Guidelines page.
- If you have questions about ScholarWorks@GVSU, contact the University Libraries' Scholarly Communications team.
Note: in some graduate programs, students may instead create a Thesis or Dissertation. These can found as separate series in the Graduate Research and Creative Practice collection.
Doctoral Projects from 2021
Utilizing Educational Materials to Change Vaccine Compliance in Children Under 24 Months of Age, Kelsey M. Arnold
Program Evaluation of Parent Engagement Activities in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Cheryl A. Bos
Fostering a Sense of Belonging in Students who are At-Risk for Suspension or Expulsion: A Small-Group Intervention for Middle School Students, Shayna M. Brooks
Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Community-Based Palliative Care, Mary D. Chenge
Building Community for Black Women Student Affairs Graduate Students by Creating a Mentor Sister Circle Program, Taijah Monay Claybrook
Utilization of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring in Adult Patients with Hypertension, Justin R. Crow
Do I Belong? Underrepresented Students Sense of Belonging, Delaney Deisig
Fostering Preschool Emergent Literacy Development Through Parent Involvement in the Preschool Classroom, Jamie S. DeVries
Evidence-based Recommendations for Assistive Technologies for Safety in Dementia Care, Lee A. Diener
Improving Adolescent Risk Assessment and Provider Follow-Up in Primary Care, Darby R. Disselkoen
Improving Orientation for Transfer Students at GVSU, Jamie Dorman
Second Language Learning in Elementary Years: Cognitive and Social-Emotional Benefits, Brooke Elenbaas
Evaluating Alumni Perceptions of Reciprocity with Their Alma Mater, Courtney Geurink
Writing as a Vessel for Thinking: Incorporating Self-Regulation, Metacognition, and Formative Assessment in the Middle School ELA Classroom, Alyssha Ginzel
A Dosimetric Comparison Using Physical and Biological Objectives on Targets and Organs at Risk, Whitnee Hallford
Improving the Screening and Care of Hospitalized Adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Through Standardized Workflow Processes, Elizabeth Henschel
Creating equal opportunities through developmental screening at a rural health clinic, Allison Honderd
Addressing Student Discipline Discrepancies Through Restorative Justice and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, Josh Jackson
Spirituality in Secular Schools: A Grounded School Counseling Intervention, Alexis P. Joseph
Literacy Achievement Gap of Elementary English Learners, Bethany Kamps
Intervention Strategies for Guiding Intercollegiate Student Athletes to a Greater Sense of Career Maturity, Laura Kastler
Increasing Parental Engagement in Social-Emotional Learning at Home through Incentive Based Program: A Guideline for Implementation, Shawn P. Kiley
A Look into Transition Programs for First Year Students with Disabilities in Higher Education: How to Create a Transition Program to Support Student Success, Gillian R. Lazzarini
The Importance of Data-Informed Decision-Making When Analyzing and Selecting Resources for Social-Emotional Learning: A Process for Resource Review and Selection, Taylor S. Lindman
Reading Enjoyment and Motivation in Grades 3-5: Encouraging an Increase in Reading for Pleasure, Gayle Lotterman
Cultivating Resilience in LGBTQ+ College Students Through Mindfulness-Based Practices, Luke A. Madden
Trauma-Informed Care and Student Outcomes: A K-12 Perspective, BrookeAnn Maroney
One Size Does Not Fit All: Addressing Adolescents’ Needs for Historically and Culturally Responsive English Language Arts Curriculum, Angela McKellar
A Budget Impact Analysis of a Tobacco Control Program in a Community Mental Health Clinic, Thuy-Nhi Nguyen
Improving Care Coordination for The Homeless Population Using Systematic Quality Improvement, Rutendo Nyasvisvo
Engaging Elementary Students of Color in Culturally Relevant Teaching, Hilary S. O'Neill
Enhancing Medication Adherence Behaviors Among Ambulatory Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Patients: A Quality Improvement Project, Desiree Palmer
Sickle Cell Disease: Development of an Acute Pain Management Program in a Hematology/Oncology Practice, Elizabeth Pohl
Play-Based Learning Beyond Preschool: Implementing Guided-Play into a First Grade Classroom, Jennifer Powers
Evaluating the Impact of Nurse Server Standardization on Patient Safety, Megan L. Priebe
Rising Student Burnout: A Distributive Leadership Approach to Creating Student Well-Being, Taylor J. Ross
A Program Evaluation to Assess Readiness for the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Patient Centered Medical Home Model Application, Alida M. Semrinec
Developing an Online Orientation Program for Adult Learners at Grand Valley State University, Justin Thomas Sims
Building Resilience for Parents and Children Through Community Early Childhood Playgroups, Amanda Stevenson
Enteral Nutrition Protocol for Pediatric Burn Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Margaret Tepe
A Trauma-Informed, Resilience-Based, Collaborative Community Approach for the Adverse Childhood Experience Student, Jessica L. Tiefenbach
Evaluation of a Chewing Gum Protocol for Postoperative Spinal Patients, Lauren E. Vachon
Improving Reading Comprehension in Arabic English Language Learners, Amanda Watson
“Warm Handoff” to Increase Enrollment in a Maternal Infant Health Program, Samantha Worthem
Theses/Dissertations from 2020
Using multi-tiered systems of support to improve student outcomes, Kevin Daniel Annis
Improving Blood Pressure Control Among Patients Diagnosed with Hypertension in a Primary Care Setting, Eriko Apriliando
Analysis of PTV Margins for VMAT Treatment of Rectal Cancers Utilizing Prone Bellyboard Device., Ben Armbuster
Dosimetric Effect When Treating Multiple Lesion SRS Using VMAT With and Without Jaw Tracking, Mindy Bui
Developing a Sustainable Group Tobacco Control Program in a Community Mental Health Clinic, Jennifer Burns
The Air Gap Effect Between a Bolus and the Skin Surface for Chest Wall Irradiation, Marisa Clark
Creating a Quality Improvement Toolkit to Identify & Address Gaps in the Care of Older Adults with Hip Fracture, Amanda J. Covell
Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment: A Project Evaluation, Ann L. Cudney
Elementary College and Career Readiness Curriculum: A School Counselor Intervention, Alexandra Evans
A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Financial Sustainability of Home-Based Palliative Care Program, Andrea L. Giffel
Trauma-Informed Schools: A Strategy for Problem Behaviors in the Classroom, Timothy Hall
A Policy Analysis of Adult Lead Exposure Screening in Michigan, Omoyemi A. Idowu
Using Space OAR to Spare Multiple At-Risk Organs in Prostate RT, Caroline Kendra
Honoring Patient Do Not Resuscitate Wishes and Reducing Harm During Transitions of Care: A Quality Improvement Project, Emily L. Kraus
Implementation Strategies to Reduce Hospital Readmission Rates in Adults with Sepsis: A Quality Improvement Project, Erin Kucharek
Self-Monitoring of Blood Pressure in Community – Dwelling Senior Adults, Laura N. Love
Implementation of Early Mobility in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Kelly Lubbers
Benefits of Inclusion: Supports and Strategies for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, Molly M. McCain
Video Education for Improved Education of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis Patients, Theresa McCrumb
Developing Lactation Support in a Primary Care Pediatric Office, Charlotte Minnema
Increasing Annual Retinal Exams among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes, Afokoghene H. Odhu
An Examination of Distance Learning and the Achievement Gap, Stephanie Owens
Differentiating Literacy Instruction Through Guided Reading, Emily Clare Ringquist
The Impact of a Pediatric Nurse Residency Program on Newly Licensed Registered Nurses at Six Months, Amy Rohn
Dosimetric Comparison of Hypofractionated Prostate Radiation with Simultaneous Integrated Boost and Conventional Fractionation with Sequential Boost, Kristina Sammon
Process Improvement to Reduce Route of Medication Administration Errors in Patients with Enteral Feeding Tubes, Elizabeth Scott
Evidence-Based Policy and Procedure Review System, Meredith A. Stokes
The Effect of the Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Model on Adult Depression in an Outpatient Setting, Genevieve E. Sweeney
A Collaborative Approach to Incentivizing Healthy Food Choices among Uncontrolled Diabetic Patients at a Local Federally Qualified Health Center to Improve Health Outcomes, Briauna J. Taylor
An Evaluation of IMRT for External Beam Partial Beast Irradiation Utilizing Robust Optimization, Gregory Thomas
Evaluation of the Integration of Behavioral Health Services into Primary Care, David B. Vander Ark
Process Improvement to Improve Quality Measures in a Rural Primary Care Clinic, Lucille Yurko VanderWoude
Doctoral Projects from 2019
Evidence-based Toolkit for Reduction of Overdose Risk in Primary Care Patients on Opioid Therapy, Katelin A. Aris
An Evaluation of a Nerve Block Protocol in Patients with Hip Fractures, Jenna Buchman
Using the Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Preventive Services (RAAPS) to Screen for Risk Taking Behaviors of 13 to 18 Year-Olds in a Regional Family Practice Office, Megan E. Carpenter
Screening for Social Determinants of Health in Diabetic Patients Served in Primary Healthcare Centers, Hewan K. Chekol
Identifying Gaps in Care in the Geriatric Trauma Patient with Rib Fractures, Kathy A. Crystal
Final Defense: Sepsis Screening Tool Assessment at a Freestanding Children’s Hospital in the Midwest, Cassandra Cummings
Improving Patient Handover from the Pediatric Emergency Department to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Kathryn DeVinney
Implementation of an Evidenced-Based Intervention for Pain Management in Lumbar Spine Surgery, Mary R. Draper
Pathways to a Sustainable Community Health Worker Program in a Rural Native American Community, Hannah R. Duby
Evidence-Based Toolkit to Evaluate Telemedicine Delivery of Palliative Care, Aubrey E. Dwyer
Developing an Evidence-Based Supportive Services Program for Cancer Survivors in a Private Oncology Practice, Joseph Ellul
Improving Depression Screening and Follow-up in Primary Care through Implementation of an Evidence-Based Protocol, Cheryl Fowler
Increasing Prevention and Recognition of Delirium in a Non-ICU Acute Care Population, Anne Gembrowski
Improving Communication of Asthma Related Care Between Pediatric Primary Care Providers and Schools, Jessica N. Heichel
Development of a Process for Adoption and Attainment of PCMH Recognition Requirements for an Urban Primary Care Clinic, Jamie L. Hendricks
Prior Authorizations and Continued Treatment in Addiction Medicine, Wendy Hunting
Management of Distress in Adult Oncology Patients, Lauren Jongsma
Nurse Care Manager Impact on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at a Rural Primary Care Practice, Patrick Joswick
Optimizing Clinical Processes Using the Electronic Health Record to Improve Patient Outcomes in Primary Care, Alex Jubril
