In this heuristic investigation of a phenomenological study of Moustakas’s (1990) Creative Synthesis. the research question was, “What is my experience of painting?” Maintaining a steady practice in my art studio for two years as an MFA student, I kept observation notes on my process. Journals were coded for themes, and I summarized findings. Themes included sustained engagement for the expansion of awareness beyond thresholds of familiar experiencing, increased ability to dwell in disequilibrium and resist premature closure, and the experience of a shift in awareness at which point an observing-self witnessed my actions as I painted. My painting process was found to be a practice of tolerating ambiguity for altered awareness to create paintings, not from a premediated concept, but from attunement to intuition.

This study explored interdisciplinary team members’ perspectives on the impact of music therapy in adult palliative care within a hospital setting. The purpose of the study was to examine how their perspectives on the impact of music therapy on patients and caregivers, and how that impact their own clinical practice and well-being. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. An inductive thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the data collected from the participants, including a nurse practitioner, a physician, social worker, and a chaplain. Four key themes emerged: (A) music therapy enhances patient and family care in palliative care, (B) music therapy strengthens interdisciplinary team members’ practice in palliative care, (C) music therapy as a transformative space in the hospital environment, and (D) conditions that shape the impact of music therapy. Each theme is further divided into subthemes that illustrate the multidimensional impact of music therapy in palliative care. These results underscore the importance of including music therapists as part of the interdisciplinary team to advance holistic and sustainable palliative care. Further research is required to deepen the understanding of the implications of music therapy within interdisciplinary teams. Keywords: Music therapy, palliative care, interdisciplinary team, interdisciplinary collaboration, integrative medicine, hospital

This thesis explores the phenomena of solitude and self-reflection, particularly focusing on women. Through ceramic sculptures, I capture the essence of quiet, introspective moments, where the figures exist free from the constraints of objectification and external gaze. These sculptures embody a sense of weightlessness, suspended in time, plucked from intimate moments of reflection and thought. The figures are presented as though floating between reality and dream, with a surface that evokes a sense of ambiguity—a dreamlike quality—achieved through the use of milk paint and translucent skin tones that blur the boundary between the tangible and the imagined daydream world.

Through these diverse objects and artworks, the body of work displayed in my thesis not only highlights the rich tapestry of queer culture but also invites viewers to reflect deeply on their own experiences and perceptions. By intertwining historical relevance, considered printmaking techniques, and creative craftsmanship, my work champions the resilience and creativity inherent in queer communities. The thoughtful presentation of each piece fosters a dialogue that transcends mere visual appreciation, encouraging introspection and a greater understanding of the complex, yet beautiful, journey of queer identity. This exhibition ultimately serves as a celebration of the spirit and tenacity of LGBTQ+ individuals, marking their indelible and inextricable impact on art, history, and society.

This capstone aims to explore how teachers can create a warm and welcoming environment that encourages parental engagement. Research shows that parental involvement is a key aspect to student success. Parents of ELLs often face many challenges such as language barriers, lack of communication, and an overall lack of resources. Educators can provide the assistance needed to ensure parents feel welcomed, and supported in ways that cultivate collaboration. Teachers can shift their mindset by including parents into the classroom to join in on student learning. Teachers can also aid in providing the resources parents may need to become actively engaged. This capstone contains a professional development (PD) which informs educators and parents of the importance of student engagement and provides strategies for both parties for fostering meaningful communication and support. Furthermore, the PD features resources that parents can utilize to aid in any barriers that have that would prevent them from engagement. The end result of the PD is to encourage educators and parents to work together to support student learning. The search in this capstone shows that ELLs make great strides in learning when teachers and parents are teammates not opponents. This capstone also discusses the positive effects on parent-teacher relationships when communication is a two way road. Additionally, more research is needed on how parental engagement effects ELLs emotionally and socially.

Throughout my MFA at SUNY New Paltz, each project reflects my growing understanding of community, nature, collaboration, and craftsmanship. Deeply rooted in personal experiences, these projects explore ecological consciousness, cultural identity, and collective labor. This thesis discusses the origin and development of my projects—Water Talks, Picking Up Sticks, 6×6 Garden, Woodworking, and Hay Paper—highlighting the role of community and materials in my artistic practice.

Honey is a photographic exploration of the intertwinings of multifaceted relationships through community, acts of care, and unrequited love. This project is about the craving within those relationships and the resentment that can lie underneath; it’s about the push and pull of yearning for place. Honey is a nonlinear narrative that is driven by emotion.

Microplastics are of increasing concern in our natural environment, with plastic production increasing at an annual rate of 8.4% (1950-2015). Once plastic is discarded, it fragments and travels via pathways as particulate macro and microplastic (<5mm). Pre-production pellets are a type of microplastic used in mass-production that are transported via roadways, railways, manufacturing outflows, and sewers, risking pollution within waterways and along shoreline beaches. The focus of my research is to investigate the potential pollution pathways and the spatio-temporal distribution of pre-production pellets in Lake Champlain. Beginning in summer 2024, we commenced wrack line surveys along six New York beaches, including Point Au Roche State Park, Plattsburgh City Beach, Ausable Point, Port Douglas, Port Kent, and the Boquet. Additionally, we sampled five local tributaries including the Little Chazy, Great Chazy, Saranac, Ausable, and Boquet using neuston net tows, followed by sample wet peroxide oxidation. Finally, we continue to explore historical whole lake samples, collected for the Long-term Monitoring Program (LTM), archived at the Lake Champlain Research Institute (1992-2024). Preliminary findings show few pre-production microplastics on the wrack line of these beaches. Some evidence of pre-production pellet accumulation was observed at Plattsburgh City Beach and Ausable Point, with higher abundances closer to dunes. Early tributary sampling shows minimal evidence of them being a major pathway of industrial pellet pollution in Lake Champlain. Preliminary data from Lake Champlain samples suggests that pre-production plastics are found throughout the lake system. Our study will focus on identifying the timing and distribution of these plastics in the Lake Champlain Basin and their possible sources. By identifying potential microplastic pathways and distribution throughout the lake, we can better inform manufacturers and future infrastructure projects to reduce the threat of pre-production plastic in Lake Champlain.

There is an abundance of research on animal behaviors when faced with human activity: reports on urban coyotes, beaver-induced flooding, and more. However, this research is only available to people who seek out scientific articles to read, and thus the information remains undistributed to the wider population. This project is designed to bridge that gap, by taking such reports and transforming them into short stories– creative writing from the animal’s perspective, following them and their thoughts as they face the challenges presented by humans every day. A raccoon interrupts a marsh restoration project by eating ribbed mussels that are valuable to the revitalization of the wetland, a beaver rebuilds its dam time and time again despite sabotage by indignant humans, and a coyote family fends off deadly threats to their pups when fear of the small predators envelops a nearby town. An emotional, deep story will invoke a more passionate response than unfeeling, complicated reports, and can reach a much wider audience. In many cultures, telling stories has always been the way to pass knowledge from one generation to the next, so we are continuing that trajectory, in the hopes of spreading knowledge and understanding to those long deprived of it.

Pre-production rubber pellets, a form of primary microplastics used in manufacturing, were first detected in Lake Champlain in 2012. These uniform 1 mm pellets pose ecological concerns due to their persistence and potential impacts on freshwater ecosystems. This study investigates the spatial and vertical distribution of these pellets using long-term data (1992–present) from the Lake Champlain Research Institute at SUNY Plattsburgh, collected from 15 lake stations. Pellets were quantified from samples retrieved via net tows from lake bottoms and vertical sampling at 5-meter intervals. In 2012, pellets were found ubiquitously across all stations, with Station 33 reporting the highest count (213). Vertical distribution analysis showed pellet presence at all depths. A Chi-Square test of independence revealed no statistically significant relationship between storm events and vertical pellet distribution. These findings suggest a widespread and persistent presence of pre-production microplastics in Lake Champlain, independent of storm disturbances, and no significant distribution pattern. Ongoing statistical analyses aim to refine our understanding of microplastic transport and inform policy on plastic pellet management and mitigation strategies in the future.