The Husson University Repository
The Husson University Repository is an institutional resource managed by the W. Tom and Bonnie Sawyer Library and is made possible, in part, by the John M. Webber Husson University Library Endowment Fund. Our mission is to provide a central repository to collect, organize, archive, disseminate, and showcase the scholarly, creative, and institutional works of Husson University.
Content is organized into high level communities by College and School, and then into collections based on Student or Faculty/Staff work.
To have your work included in the repository:- Students: Please work through your course instructor.
- Faculty & Staff: Please contact the Sawyer Library.
See this guide for more information about using and submitting to the repository.
Communities in DSpace
Select a community to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
Comments from the Distinguished Faculty Research Award Recipient
(2026-04-16) Camire, Michael
DOCUMENTING SALT MARSH BIODIVERSITY, INCLUDING LOW MARSH DIE-OFF, IN COBSCOOK BAY, MAINE: IMPLICATIONS FOR MAINE’S BLUE CARBON STRATEGY
(2026-04-16) Menzmer, Austin; Seeley, Robin Hadlock
The health of Cobscook Bay salt marshes, particularly low marshes, in Washington County, Maine, has declined over the past decade (R. H. Seeley, pers. observation and Seeley and McCullough, unpublished data). Maine’s blue carbon strategy counts on healthy coastal salt marshes to sequester carbon, but there is no published work yet on these marshes in decline. We propose a first-year pilot study to document salt marsh vegetation from the forest edge to the low marsh intertidal zone in two Cobscook Bay marshes, and thereby set the stage for a long-term study describing, quantifying, and analyzing the causes of low marsh die-off. We will establish four vertical transects at each of two marshes: one in Dennysville and one in Edmunds. Along each transect, each month of the year, we will photo-document (and later analyze in the lab) plant species in 0.5 m2 quadrats, spaced regularly along each vertical transect. Plant species samples will be collected and retained as voucher specimens at the University of Maine Herbarium. In addition, we will collect water temperature and salinity data at each marsh through monitoring units fixed in the marsh. Documenting the patterns of microgeographic and seasonal variation in salt marsh vegetation will establish a baseline for testing hypotheses after 2026 about the mechanisms that underlie those patterns.
INNOVATION
(2026-04-16) Walton, Brien
Innovation is the disciplined and intentional process of transforming ideas into practical, scalable solutions that create sustained value for individuals, organizations, and communities. Although innovation is frequently associated with technological advancement or disruptive change, it more accurately represents a strategic capability rooted in problem identification, creative recombination of resources, and effective execution. True innovation extends beyond novelty; it requires alignment with mission, responsiveness to stakeholder needs, and the capacity to deliver measurable outcomes. As such, innovation is not an isolated event but a repeatable process supported by leadership, culture, and institutional learning systems.
In contemporary economic, educational, and organizational environments, innovation has become essential to resilience and long-term competitiveness. Rapid technological change, shifting workforce demographics, regulatory uncertainty, and increasing demands for accountability have elevated innovation from a discretionary activity to a core strategic function. Organizations that cultivate innovative capacity are better positioned to adapt to disruption, improve operational performance, and identify new opportunities for growth. This capacity is strengthened through structured experimentation, data-informed decision-making, and cross-sector collaboration that bridges academic, public, and private domains.
Equally important, effective innovation must be human-centered and ethically grounded. Sustainable innovation prioritizes inclusivity, accessibility, and social impact, ensuring that new solutions address real-world needs rather than reinforcing existing inequities. When innovation is guided by clear values and integrated into governance and evaluation frameworks, it becomes a powerful mechanism for translating vision into action. In this way, innovation functions not merely as a source of competitive advantage, but as a catalyst for institutional relevance, economic vitality, and social progress.
SUPPORTING REFLEXTIVITY IN HUMAN-ANIMAL STUDIES CURRICULA
(2026-04-16) Butler, Corey; Rezvani, Taylor
Over the last four decades, the field of Human Animal Studies (HAS) has consistently grown with substantial increases in course offerings, minors, majors, and research. Relevant to many lines of inquiry, HAS offers meaningful opportunities for exploration that furthers student growth across fields such as veterinary science, animal science, wildlife management, and zoology. Student reflection has been integrated into HAS curricula, revealing student navigation of challenges to perspectives and a broadening of awareness. Reflexivity is a practice of situating oneself within research and recognizing the role of subjective perspectives. The application of reflexive practices has been supported across a variety of disciplines. The purpose of this study is to assess whether pairing objective review with subjective reflection can effectively support student reflexivity in a graduate-level human-animal studies course. Following an explanatory mixed-methods framework, the study consists of a thematic analysis of student coursework that informs an online questionnaire for deeper analysis of student perspectives. Results from the coursework review will highlight themes in students' reflections and indicate shifts in perspective over the seven weeks of the course. Findings from the questionnaire will illustrate trends in students' perspectives on their shifts in related understanding and views, as well as how they experienced the course. Participants include students who have completed the Anthrozoology: Animals, People, and Society (AB 610) graduate course at Husson University (N=64), which includes five cohorts across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 academic years. Findings from the study can inform the design of future curricula on the topic that foster student reflexivity, support student growth, and deepen understanding of the content.
2026 U.S. ECONOMIC FORECAST AND ANALYSIS
(2026-04-16) Cunningham, Steven R.
I analyze the current state of the U.S. economy and provide a forecast for the remainder of 2026 and early 2027. The analysis must be based on the current political and economic environment, but the discussion is purely economic.