MFA, Kent State University, 2025, College of the Arts / School of Art

My thesis explores the lasting psychological impact of growing up under a controlling and abusive parental figure. Using layered transparent glass, painted surfaces, and sculptural forms, I reinterpret personal memories and generational trauma through distortion, magnification, and metaphor. The resulting body of work serves as both a confrontation of the past and a reclamation of agency through material storytelling.

MFA, Kent State University, 2025, College of Communication and Information / School of Visual Communication Design

In recent years, design and creative practices have been increasingly shaped by digital mediums. This thesis investigates the enduring value of tactility and materiality within a design education context. The COVID-19 pandemic notably diminished opportunities for students to engage in tactile experiences, limiting the hands-on experimentation crucial for deepening their understanding of design structures and enhancing their conceptual abilities. The reduction or elimination of such experiences often shifts students' focus toward the final product, rather than fostering an appreciation for the iterative design process. This research centers on the development of a physical artifact aimed at introducing young designers to a range of physical and digital design trajectories. By encouraging engagement with the material aspects of creation, and embracing the imperfections inherent in physical making, students can cultivate more inventive approaches and develop stronger, more creative design solutions.

MFA, Kent State University, 2025, College of Communication and Information / School of Visual Communication Design

Architectural visualization has traditionally prioritized photorealism, often overlooking the experiential and narrative qualities that define human interaction with space. This thesis proposes a humanistic framework for architecture visualization that integrates storytelling techniques to enhance spatial communication. By prioritizing atmosphere over photorealism, using character-driven perspectives, and tailoring visualization methods to specific audiences, this research reinterprets architectural representation as an immersive and empathetic experience. The study examines alternative visualization methods through a series of conceptual prototypes and develops a framework that could be applied to actual design projects. This framework was tested by reimagining two interior design projects humanistically and sending them to a group of diverse stakeholders who may be involved in an architectural project. The findings emphasize the importance of storytelling in bridging the gap between designers and non-expert audiences, reinforcing visualization as not just a tool for representation but as a medium for emotional and conceptual engagement. This research contributes to the discourse on post-digital visualization and human-centered design, advocating for a more inclusive and meaningful approach to visually communicating architecture. It benefits spatial designers by allowing them to communicate with their audience better, while also benefiting graphic or visual designers who may be working in an architecture firm or immersive space.

Master of Computing and Information Systems, Youngstown State University, 2025, Department of Computer Science and Information Systems

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in User Experience (UX) design has opened new avenues for efficiency, automation, and data-driven decision-making. AI tools assist designers by automating repetitive tasks, analyzing user behavior, and offering real-time insights. However, despite its transformative potential, the adoption of AI in UX design remains uneven. Designers often face challenges in understanding AI's role, balancing automation with creativity, and addressing ethical concerns such as data privacy and algorithmic bias. This thesis explores AI's impact on UX design by identifying its key capabilities and limitations. Through an extensive literature review, the research highlights how AI enhances design processes while also revealing areas where human intuition and creativity remain essential. A structured framework is proposed to guide UX designers in integrating AI effectively, ensuring that they harness its strengths while mitigating its challenges. The findings of this research contribute to the growing discourse on AI in design by providing actionable recommendations tailored to UX professionals. By clarifying when and how AI should be used, this study empowers designers to make informed decisions that enhance user experience without compromising ethical integrity or creative freedom. The framework developed in this thesis aims to bridge the gap between AI's computational power and the human-centered approach that defines UX design, ultimately leading to more intuitive, engaging, and responsible digital experiences.

Master of City and Regional Planning, The Ohio State University, 2025, City and Regional Planning

Queer communities have long negotiated the delicate balance between visibility and survival in urban landscapes, crafting innovative forms of placemaking that challenge the boundaries of conventional planning and design. This thesis investigates Chicago's notable queer neighborhoods - “gayborhoods” with a particular focus on Boystown and Andersonville. The effort through this theoretical research is to expose how LGBTQ+ populations transform city spaces through acts of creativity, resilience, and activism. Drawing on multidisciplinary insights from queer theory, urban ecology, and a designer's perspective, the research illustrates how marginalized sexualities and genders thread together covert strategies of survival, for instance - clandestine cruising grounds, with overt tactics of representation - rainbow pylons to forge vibrant, if often contested, enclaves. In traditional urban planning discourse, we often overlook these vital spheres of queer social life, as heteronormative policies and moral zoning practices persistently marginalize or erase experiences that fail to align with “acceptable” visions of family and domesticity (Doan, 2015; Johnson, 2004). Examining the historical exclusion of LGBTQ+ communities in public parks, prime example - the Olmsted's Central Park and modern ecological interventions such as the urban revitalization of defunct railway corridors such as the High Line. The study underscores how such efforts can inadvertently disrupt queer sociability. Meanwhile, Chicago's Boystown exemplifies a formal recognition of queer identity. Its commercial ascendance and touristic branding have made it a tangible landmark of LGBTQ+ presence, yet also raise questions about commodification, gentrification, and the dilution of subversive cultural practices (Miller & Bitterman, 2021; Stewart-Winter, 2015). In contrast, Andersonville's feminist bookstores and lesbian bars, including legacy establishments like Women & Children First and Star Gaze, highli (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 2025, EMC - Mechanical Engineering

This interdisciplinary research presents the design and development of a biologically inspired rat robot. The robot is scaled up 2.5 times the size of a female Sprague-Dawley rat. The hindlimbs are each equipped with 4 motors to control the hip, knee, and ankle rotation in the sagittal plane, and internal/external hip rotation. The forelimbs are equipped with fve motors to control the scapula, shoulder, elbow, and wrist rotation in the sagittal plane, as well as abduction/adduction of the scapula. Additionally, the hands and feet of the robot are comprised of two sections, connected with a pin and torsional springs. This allows the feet to have passive compliance and better conform to the ground while walking. The leg segments are based on a scanned rat bones model with shapes modifed for ease of assembly and 3D printing. Parts are printed using PLA with internal supports for structural reinforcement. The scapula, shoulder, and hip joints are directly driven by motors, while the lower joints are driven by motors using a pulley-belt transmission system. This allows the motors to be mounted higher up on the leg, reducing the legs inertia. This robot serves as a physical platform to test and make predictions about the control system and how the animal may interact with the environment in a more realistic way than in simulations alone.

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2025, Leadership and Change

As healthcare costs are skyrocketing, of the 6,093 hospitals in America, 53% will lose money in the current year (Coleman-Lochner, 2022). Design health innovation centers (DHICs) are formed in Europe and the United States to create efficiencies in healthcare related to budget challenges. DHICs exist in unique contexts both in America and Europe that are not yet well understood. These efforts are difficult to lead due to the lack of understanding of their worth and how their process is valuable to healthcare settings (Bhattacharyya et al., 2022). The specific problem examined here is that little is known about how DHIC leaders and teams create and sustain these centers, including how design and health team leaders work together and what resources encourage the success of DHICs (Romm & Vink, 2019). The purpose of this qualitative case study is to examine how ambidextrous leadership and growth play out in team and leader behaviors and experiences at one DHIC in Europe. The goal of this work is to contribute to an improved understanding for DHIC creation in the United States health system. Of particular interest to this study are leader behaviors that seem to directly link to areas in DHICs of innovation. These behaviors may be the key to understanding how leaders are innovating and staying successful across multiple silos and communities. While traditional metrics of success often focus on implementation, research into DHICs should examine the interrelationship between the creative and the practical, including how leaders create the right environments for teams to form and operate toward successful metrics and social impact (Dyrda, 2018; Hostetter et al., 2015). This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Master of Fine Arts, The Ohio State University, 2025, Design

Material selection is essential in transitioning to renewable resource-based materials within product development, and the roles of designers and engineers are critical in this process. The emergence of bio-based materials underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between designers and engineers to achieve sustainability goals related to material transition. While engineers focus on technical properties like cost, tensile strength, and melting points, designers emphasize experiential qualities such as sensorial appreciation, meanings, and material identity in material selection. Existing research has explored these technical and intangible perspectives separately, resulting in a disconnect in understanding the full potential of material applications in products. This thesis bridges this gap by introducing a novel material profile tool that integrates technical properties and experiential qualities. Through material explorations and workshops with design and engineering practitioners, the study identifies shared and divergent approaches to material selection. Findings reveal factors influencing the adoption of bio-based materials during early production stages and propose strategies to characterize materials holistically. This research aims to advance the adoption of bio-based materials, fostering a more sustainable design and production paradigm by uniting technical and experiential perspectives within material selection contexts for designers and engineers.

Doctor of Organization Development & Change (D.O.D.C.), Bowling Green State University, 2025, Organization Development

This study investigates the mechanisms that shape interprofessional team learning in complex healthcare environments. Qualitative analysis revealed five key mechanisms central to the team learning process: communication, interactions, decision-making, leadership, and coaching. These themes build upon foundational constructs from the literature, including systems thinking, growth mindset, situated learning, sensemaking, diversity, and power dynamics. Findings from this research informed the development of the DYNAMIC Teaming model, a cohesive framework for understanding how interprofessional teams learn, adapt, and perform. This model highlights how dialogue and decision-making foster shared understanding, which yields growth and networked knowledge. These networks, grounded in accountability and supported by modeling coaching skillsets, create a foundation for impactful inclusive participation and collaborative interprofessional team learning. By integrating theoretical constructs with grounded insights, this study offers practical implications for advancing interprofessional education and improving team effectiveness in complex healthcare settings (Barr et al., 2008).

Master of Sciences (Engineering), Case Western Reserve University, 2024, EECS - System and Control Engineering

Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) has emerged as a promising technology for producing metal parts, offering reduced lead times and costs compared to traditional methods. However, achieving optimal process parameters in WAAM and accurately predicting bead height remain challenging due to complex interactions between input variables and output characteristics. This thesis addresses the challenge of developing a machine learning regression model to predict the average bead height of single deposited beads, crucial for building simple and complex shapes in WAAM. The research investigates the relationship between four critical input parameters - Voltage, Wire Feed Speed (WFS), Travel Speed, Contact Tip to Work Distance (CTWD) - and their influence on bead dimensions in WAAM. A comprehensive experimental setup is employed, utilizing a custom-built WAAM 3D metal printer equipped with a gantry system and controlled by a Duet 3 controller. Steel wire ER70s-6 with a diameter of 0.9mm is used for printing, producing single beads with heights ranging from 2.5mm to 3.55mm. A total of 248 experiments are performed using the Arc-One Machine at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) for the model training, which are then analyzed. A machine learning regression model is built using this dataset, with four inputs (Voltage, Travel Speed, Wire Feed Speed, Contact Tip to Work Distance) and two corresponding outputs (average bead height and variance of bead heights). Various analytical techniques were explored to predict the average bead height and its variance, leading to the adoption of the Gradient 18 Boosting regression model as the most effective approach. Two models, a forward model and an inverse model, were developed to predict WAAM parameters and outputs. The forward model predicts the average bead height and variance based on the input parameters (Voltage, Wire Feed Speed, Travel Speed, and Contact Tip to Work Distance), providing insights into how th (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Fine Arts, Miami University, 2024, Art

Collegiate student-athletes can often be unprepared for a career after graduation. Some of the challenges lie in not knowing what careers are available to them, having no career-focused degree, or lack of time to look for a career because they are competing. This thesis will examine the challenges associated with collegiate student-athletes as they transition out of sport-to-career. This will be accomplished through a personal narrative, self-analysis, and a systematic literature review. This research aims to identify the challenges and develop career-readiness tools and resources to support collegiate student-athletes in their transition. This research will, thus, ensure that future student-athletes encounter fewer obstacles during this critical stage of their lives. The study offers actionable insights for universities to better support athletes' career development by contributing to both design education and higher education career services.

MFA, Kent State University, 2024, College of Communication and Information / School of Visual Communication Design

This thesis investigates the ways in which drawing can be used to improve memory. Human memory can often be unreliable. Because of this, memory refresher systems called mnemonics are frequently used in written and visual learning systems to aid in the recall of important information. Among the many forms of visual mnemonics, drawing has proven to be a successful aid. Previous research into the topic has shown drawing to be highly effective in elevating recall. Unfortunately, drawing mnemonics are not widely utilized. Additionally, there has been limited academic discussion or research from the perspective of artists or designers. There has yet to be any form of research into how skills developed as an illustrator can improve the success of drawing-based mnemonics. The improvement of perception has been shown to improve the memory of professionals when working in their fields. Additionally, improving in drawing has been shown to improve an individual's perception and mental visualization. This research aims to isolate the elements of drawing education that can be learned to improve one's perceptual skills and the mnemonic quality of drawing. The tests conducted throughout this research also utilize AI image generation to test and strengthen mental imaging and perceptual abilities. Findings from the thesis demonstrate the beneficial uses of drawing and artificial intelligence to improve mental processing in artists and non-artists.

Master of Fine Arts, The Ohio State University, 2024, Design

This project explores integrating emerging technology into sprint training by conceptualizing and designing a mobile application prototype called SprintSense. Inspired by my experience as a collegiate sprinter and my interest in collaborating with fellow sprinters, this research explores how augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance training for track sprinters. This project utilized Research through Design (RtD) and co-design as primary design research approaches to highlight participant input and design adaptability. In track and field sprinting, wearables and sensors can track metrics like heart rate, speed, stride length, ground contact time, and power (1080Motion, 2024). This kind of data is invaluable to athletes and coaches. With access to tailored feedback, athletes can avoid self-assessment or generic online advice, which can limit their ability to refine techniques or create customized training plans. Technology has become essential in enhancing athletic performance, primarily through its application during training. While much of the focus has been on wearable devices and data-driven analysis, there remains an opportunity to better integrate technology with the physical environments where athletes train and compete. This intersection between emerging technologies and training environments can improve an athlete's performance. This project aims to unite experts of the lived experience—sprinters—to envision and create innovative solutions through co-design activities. It explores the integration of emerging technologies into sprint training by designing a mobile application prototype, SprintSense. Key findings from the co-design workshops reveal that expert feedback via AI coaching and AR personalized race planning, delivered in a way accessible to sprinters of varying levels of experience, meets the sprinters' unmet needs and bridges the gap between traditional training and emerging technology. The research project hi (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science (M.S.), University of Dayton, 2024, Mechanical Engineering

This thesis presents a method for estimating the weight of a novel concept aircraft designed with a bio-inspired rotating empennage (BIRE). The selected platform for the BIRE concept is a single-engine, supersonic, tactical aircraft similar to the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The agile, tailless aircraft is able to tilt its horizontal stabilizers to provide yaw stability. To provide the unusual motion, unique mechanisms and structures are required. Sizing models of the mechanical system for the BIRE were generated using first-order principles and component vendor information. The weight estimator uses aerodynamic and inertial loads and physics-based component reliability constraints. An optimization was implemented to select component alternatives and dimensions that minimize the weight. A MATLAB script was written as part of this research to efficiently perform the optimization. Traditional weight estimation methods use empirical estimates that are not accurate when applied to novel concepts. Numerical methods, such as finite element analysis, are too complex to include in trade studies. This mid-fidelity weight estimation has been developed specifically for the BIRE platform but consists of sub-models that can be applied to other mechanical components such as shafts, bearings, gears, and actuators.

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch New England: Environmental Studies

Aging populations—particularly in areas prone to extreme heat—are facing unique residential challenges. In the past 10 years, extreme heat has killed more people in the United States (U.S.) than all other weather hazards combined, and it is expected to get hotter, with extreme heat events predicted to happen more often in the future. People over the age of 65 are disproportionately represented as the majority of heat victims, and are likely to perish in their own homes during these events. Every day, 10,000 people turn age 65 in the U.S. and many are choosing to age and retire in places of scientific climate concern such as Arizona. This study reveals that age-adaptive and climate-adaptive housing designs contribute to our quality of life as we age in a warming climate. To better understand potential connections between the homes where we live and survivability as we age with extreme heat, the present research was designed and analyzed utilizing a new conceptual framework of my own making titled PLACE: Preparing Living spaces for Aging with Climate Extremes. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this dissertation was accomplished in three parts. First, an archival review of Medical Examiner reports from the hottest 3 days of 2022 in Maricopa County, Arizona, showed evidence of connections between the built environment and an older person's death in their home, which demonstrates these reports to be a useful inclusion when understanding conditions leading to death. Second, a digital survey of people ages 65 and older currently living in Arizona highlighted real-world adaptations that were successful in mitigating the deadly impacts of high heat, and thus support aging in place. Lastly, semi-structured interviews with professionals and older Arizonians provided insights into successful ways to enhance age-friendly and heat-adaptive housing. In addition to advancing our understanding of aging in places with extreme heat, this dissertation offers two pieces of applied mat (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science in Engineering, Youngstown State University, 2024, Rayen School of Engineering

As part of this project, a complex terahertz (THz) antenna was fabricated using two-photon polymerization (2PP), a highly precise additive manufacturing method. The design and rigorous simulation testing were conducted using Ansys HFSS, with a focus on achieving minimal losses. Special emphasis was placed on impedance matching, confirmed by the S11 parameter showing minimal power reflection over a large part of the THz band. The antenna was fabricated using OrmoComp, a hybrid polymer. A significant portion of the thesis is dedicated to fine-tuning the intricate fabrication steps necessary for producing complex designs, demonstrating the capability to also fabricate simpler structures. The most significant outcomes of this work on the highly directional THz antenna are the optimized process parameters such as slicing direction, way of printing, power and speed settings of laser for 2PP and finally development time of post processing, which enabled the production of the complex structure. The fidelity of the final fabricated design was verified using electron and light microscopy.

MFIS, Kent State University, 2024, College of the Arts / School of Fashion

STREET, LAUREN. M.F.I.S., July, 2024 Fashion EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BEST PRACTICES IN INTERCULTURAL COLLABORATIVE DESIGN WITH FIRST NATIONS DESIGNERS FOR DIGITAL KNITWEAR THROUGH PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH (212 pp.) Co-Advisors of Thesis: J.R. Campbell Linda Ohrn-McDaniel The purpose of this study is to understand the factors that support translation of First Nations culturally specific iconography into digital knitwear fashion products in collaboration with a non-First Nations designer. The research was structured by a participatory action research framework to address how power structures, autonomy and self determination must be carefully navigated when working in a sensitive collaborative environment. Furthermore, how the collaboration can introduce new opportunities to First Nations designers looking to further their creative pursuits into new technologies and production methods. The research outcomes derived through thematic analysis promote staying true to artistic guidelines, creating unique inventory products with value, generating visibility through fashion and story as well as creating safe spaces for collaborators. The research suggests maintaining an active dialogue throughout the collaboration and identifying ideal communication platforms at the outset. Finally key findings suggest the significance of developing an understanding in knitwear on behalf of First Nations designers, exposure as a source of autonomy and the importance of ongoing relationships. This research strives to promote allyship and ethical collaboration in the use of new technologies within partnerships between First Nations designers and non-Indigenous collaborators.

Master of Sciences (Engineering), Case Western Reserve University, 2024, EMC - Mechanical Engineering

In the interest of studying how jump performance of miniature robots can be improved by changing the initial posture, a 188g grasshopper-inspired jumping robot is built. A cam-driven angle adjustment mechanism allows the robot to jump up to 14% further than without initial posture control. Further testing of alternative robot configurations also found the distance can improve up to 47% when energy loss due to ground impact is mitigated. Using both theoretical trajectories and experimental results, this work demonstrates that angle adjustment can positively affect performance of jumping robots. The design concepts and mechanism discussed in this work may also serve as a reference to future integration of other robots to provide jumping as an additional locomotion method in order to clear obstacles and difficult terrain more efficiently.

MDES, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Design

Traditional forms of work have been greatly affected by the disruption of COVID-19. A large number of jobs have shifted to exploring the possibility of online work in a short time, which makes virtual meetings play an unprecedented key role in communication. However, we found that most of the existing virtual meetings can only fulfill the role of information transmission in large meetings, and lack support for the participation and expression of meeting participants other than the host. Therefore, this thesis proposes a design to improve the experience of small meetings with high demand for participation and expression by improving the interactive interface, focusing on improving the four aspects of expression, connection, interaction, and efficiency. The design was verified and improved through methods of focus group and prototype testing.

MDES, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Design

ABSTRACT With the advent of smart mirrors in fashion retail stores, in line with the digitalization of shopping journeys, customer experiences have developed. This research investigates how the Context Congruency in Smart Mirrors affects customer Decision-Making and Satisfaction with Virtual Try-Ons in stores. This study shows that interactive features like customization content in smart mirrors could enhance customer shopping experiences. The objective of this thesis is to evaluate the effect of context feature utilization in smart mirrors within clothes shopping environments while customers virtually try-on, on their ease of decision-making and improving satisfaction. Using mixed method, the Study utilized designed experiment for control and test groups to examine this research statement and gathering qualitative and quantitative comprehensive data. The findings of the methodology phase show that utilizing context in smart mirrors enhances customer satisfaction and decision-making in fashion stores. The test group that was exposed to virtual try-on by using context customization has the feedback of a high level of engagement and confidence in their selection rather than the control group that had only the regular smart mirror experience. The thesis demonstrates the positive effect of contextual customization implementation in smart mirrors. Recommended ideas for utilizing of the context feature to the smart mirrors, some design research was carried out. To identify the interactive mirror features associated to the adding context feature, benchmarking was conducted with the research topic-related participants. Then, new feature ideas were defined, and by aggregating those, card sorting was concluded. Lastly, by analyzing collected features and defining design opportunities, final interaction scenario ideas are provided. The research shows the importance of integrating contextual interactive features in digital experiences. Applyin (open full item for complete abstract)