Educational Administration and Supervision Commons^™

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence In Education To Drive Cross-Sector Innovation, Brent Terwilliger, John Faraca

Publications

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes educational practices, particularly in technical fields such as uncrewed systems, robotics, and aviation/ aerospace, its integration raises promise and complexity. This exploratory study features an investigation of the impact AI tools adoption has on instruction, curriculum support, and workforce preparation, with a focus on online learning environments. Drawing from pilot survey data across aviation and aerospace education stakeholders and hands-on evaluation of AI video production platforms, findings reveal diverse applications, perceived benefits, and critical concerns, including ethical, pedagogical, and institutional challenges. Additionally, the analysis explored how AI-enabled education intersects with broader industry and government innovation …

A Seat At The Schoolhouse Table: Reimagining Education Through Afrofuturist And Womanist Theory, Natasha M. Capers

Student Theses

“A Seat at the Schoolhouse Table: Reimagining Education Through Afrofuturist and Womanist Theory” critically examines how curriculum, even when well-intentioned, can perpetuate harm by excluding the lived experiences of marginalized communities—especially Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ students. Using a real middle school immigration assignment given to the author's son as a case study, this capstone deconstructs the structural biases embedded in curriculum design and proposes a radical reimagining through the liberatory lenses of Afrofuturism and Womanism. Blending scholarly inquiry, personal narrative, and community-based interviews, this project offers a restructured assignment that centers joy, identity, and speculative storytelling as tools for educational …

Understanding And Engaging In Equity Work: A Phenomenological Action Research Study Of Community College Esol Instructors, Emily E. Packer

Dissertations

Community colleges (CCs) are regarded as accessible and affordable pathways to higher education and financial mobility, offering significant potential to promote educational equity (Fink et al., 2023). These institutions enroll the largest number of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students in adult education; however, CC ESOL students face lower rates of degree completion and transfer compared to their non-ESOL peers (David & Kanno, 2021; Fink et al., 2023; Raufman et al., 2019). While research has examined factors contributing to low CC ESOL student persistence and interventions to improve overall CC student outcomes, research on specific efforts to support …

Latinas In Higher Education: Paving & Weaving Wholeheartedly, Ariela M. Canizal

Dissertations

The deficit model in research has often framed Latinas in higher education through a lens of barriers and challenges, reinforcing stereotypes that depict them as unlikely to succeed in academic spaces. However, Latinas are actively resisting these narratives, weaving their resilience into their stories as they navigate the complexities of higher education, culture, and identity. This study examines how Latina students incorporate cultural background, familial support, and personal agency to thrive academically while challenging systemic obstacles and societal expectations. The research question that guided this study is: In what ways do undergraduate Latina students navigate identity as they experience leadership …

Becoming A Beloved Community: A Restorative Reckoning For A Radical Conversion To Transform Discourse In Higher Education, Latasha Tomay Varlack-Butler

Dissertations

This dissertation critically examines the misappropriation of Restorative Justice Discourse (RJD) within three predominantly white institutions (PWIs), analyzing 59 institutional documents through Critical Discourse Analysis, Relational Critical Discourse Analysis, and Rhetorical Criticism (Fairclough, 1995; Vaandering, 2021; van Dijk, 2008). Tribal Colleges and Universities and South African institutions have emerged as exemplars of authentic RJD, countering co-optation within PWIs. The findings demonstrate that RJD as applied in PWIs is framed in ways that attenuate its transformative potential, perpetuating color-evasiveness (Bonilla-Silva, 2017) and obscuring the intersectional experiences of Black, Indigenous, and disabled communities (Crenshaw, 1991; Million, 2009).

Grounded in decolonial praxis (Smith, …

Quest For Purpose In Education: An Autoethnographic Study Of A Chinese Student’S Cross- Cultural Journey Through Logotherapy And Culturally Relevant Leadership, Bingsheng Chen

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This autoethnography examines a Chinese student's search for meaning while transitioning between Chinese and U.S. academic systems, shaped by the interplay of cultural values, societal pressures, and personal agency. Guided by Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy and Culturally Relevant Leadership (CRL), the study uses reflexive narrative analysis to explore how this personal quest for purpose intersected with institutional structures and cultural contexts (e.g., St. John's College, University of New Mexico). Illuminating profound challenges—including cultural shock, systemic inequities, and the emotional toll of adaptation—the research reveals a transformative journey of navigating dissonance, reframing adversity, embracing a dual cultural identity, and ultimately finding meaning …

Beyond The Exam Score: An Examination Of The Kenyan Education System, Its Reforms, Inefficiencies, And Impact On Individuals And Society At Large, Olivia M. Pederson

Honors Projects

In Kenya, secondary education plays a decisive role in shaping students’ university and career opportunities as well as their social mobility. The national exam, Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), acts as a key gateway to higher education and employment. The quality and accessibility of education for Kenyan youth, however, has been impacted by systemic inefficiencies ranging from underfunding and disparities in resource allocation to an exam-centric curriculum. This study takes a qualitative approach, using both purposive and convenience sampling to gather data through a questionnaire sent to university students and adults that have graduated from a Kenyan secondary school. …

Bhuga Education: Toward A Financially Sustainable Model Of Catholic-Sponsored Secondary Education For The Poor In Nigeria, Christian Uchechukwu Ekesiobi

Master's Projects and Capstones

This field project aimed to create a Catholic-sponsored, financially sustainable secondary school model to serve the educational needs of the poor in Nigeria. Grounded in the tripartite framework of the Catholic principle of the Preferential Option for the Poor, Dewey’s experience-based learning theory, and the Resource Generation Model, the project sought to address the prevalent problem of inaccessibility to quality education due to financial constraints. Employing a qualitative research approach anchored in document and comparative case analysis of the Cristo Rey and Fe y Alegria educational models, as well as Nigeria’s education landscape, the project created the BHUGA Education model. …

Parental Experience In 4-H And Its Effect On Youth Reenrollment, Jolynn Miller, Kendra Lewis, Jeannette Rea Keywood, Tim Ewers, Kali Trzesniewski, Sarah Hensley

Journal of Extension

Youth experience many benefits from participating in the 4-H program. It is unclear, however, what role parents play in their child’s reenrollment in the program. This study uses data from a multi-year multi-state study of youth retention in 4-H to examine the effects of parental expectations and experience on their intent to reenroll their child after their first year in 4-H. Results show a relationship between parental expectations and experiences on continued involvement. This study can be used to help 4-H programs recruit and retain more youth, as well as by other Extension programs to understand retention issues.

The Role Of School Leadership In Promoting And Supporting Cultural Diversity And Inclusion In The Classroom: A Grounded Theory Approach, Matuor Dot Alier

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study addresses the pressing issue of how school leadership influences the promotion and support of cultural diversity and inclusion within classrooms. Despite growing demographic diversity in educational settings, many schools fail to adequately prioritize cultural inclusion, leading to inequities in educational opportunities, social isolation, and discrimination for students from diverse backgrounds. School leaders are uniquely positioned to create inclusive environments, yet there remains limited research on how they implement and sustain effective diversity practices. This qualitative study explores the experiences and strategies of school leaders who have successfully fostered inclusive educational environments. Grounded in a constructivist paradigm and employing …

How Do Tuition Benefits Affect University Staff Retention, Social Connection, And Institutional Commitment?, Lian A. Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Employee retention is costly for many companies, including colleges and universities. Tuition benefits have been shown to be helpful in recruitment and retention. This study looked at how tuition benefits used by university staff members affected turnover intentions, workplace belonging and institutional commitment. Benefits eligible university staff members, who were in primarily non-teaching roles at one rural, four-years land grant university were asked to complete an electronic survey, and 250 responses were collected. To measure the variables of interest the survey combined scale items representing each of the dependent variables; turnover intention (Bothma & Roodt, 2013), workplace belonging (Jena & …

Administrators’ And Teachers’ Perceived Importance Of The Holistic Framework For Professional Development Elements: Survey Research, Adrianna Cate

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study researched the six elements of the Holistic Framework for Professional Development (HFPD) to understand administrators’ and teachers’ perceived importance and how demographic variables impacted those perceptions. This was done to contribute to the current gap in the literature regarding how to design and carry out effective professional development. The quantitative survey research utilized exponential, non-discriminative snowball sampling to recruit participants. Fifteen administrators, 64 teachers, and six participants working in ‘other’ roles in their school participated. These participants were citizens of fifteen different countries and worked across eleven countries worldwide. Even given this diverse sample, the results of this …

Soybean Oil-Derived Acrylate/Methacrylate Ether For High Resolution Additive Manufacturing (3d Printing) Technology, Tanuj Patel

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Additive Manufacturing is one of the rapidly developing techniques, as industries continue to explore new ways to create prototypes and end-use parts, one of the significant challenges that remains is the reliance on petroleum-based plastics for 3D printing, especially in the production of photocurable resins. that may be used to prototype complex structures and sophisticated geometries that are typically challenging to produce with conventional methods. Thus, replacing petroleum-based plastics with renewable resources is increasingly important for additive manufacturing (3D printing) of photocurable resins. The use of bio-based renewable resources in AM is a feasible alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. Henceforth, …

Partnering For Youth Empowerment: Establishing Boys And Girls Clubs In Tribal Communities, Johnny Abeyta Jr.

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This study examined why Boys and Girls Clubs are not available in every tribal community and explored how culturally grounded youth programs support leadership, identity, and sovereignty. Using Tribal Critical Race Theory, Narrative Inquiry, and Indigenous Research Methods, the study centered the voices of Pueblo leaders, educators, policymakers, and alumni. Interviews identified barriers related to funding, transportation, facilities, and policy alignment. Participants described culture, mentorship, and safe spaces as essential for youth belonging and empowerment. The study introduced the Relational Sovereignty Model, which explains how cultural teachings, shared learning, resilience, and community care work together to support Indigenous youth. The …

The Minutes Of The Marshall University Staff Council Meeting, May 2025, Marshall University Staff Council

Staff Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Where To Deposit Your Master’S Thesis Or Doctoral Dissertation In The Unl Digital Commons, Sue Ann Gardner, Paul Royster

Thesis and Dissertation Deposit Information Resources

A list of degree-granting programs with links to the proper series for thesis and dissertation deposit in the UNL Digital Commons.

UNL = University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Updated May 2025.

Find your degree-granting program in the list, then click on the link to go to the proper series to deposit your thesis, dissertation, or other student work.

If you have questions about the process or problems finding the correct series or uploading your work, contact Sue Gardner.

Implementation Of Standardized Mobilization Assessment Tools To Promote Patient Ambulation At Medical Surgical Units, Yunxuan Su

Master's Projects and Capstones

The objective is the cardiac medical surgical unit in a hospital in San Francisco not meeting the ambulation goal. This study aims to provide a context for enhancing patients' ambulation levels by using standardized assessment tools Prior Level of Functional (PLOF) and Current Level of Functional (CLOF) in daily practice, thereby strengthening care plans and shortening hospital stay. The methods are microsystem evaluation, SWOT analysis, causal analysis, cost-benefit analysis, Gantt chart, pre & post survey, and flyer education for staff to guide the project implementation. The results are that after the intervention, the compliance of PLOF and CLOF documentation and …

Voices Of Leadership: The Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of Principals Amid The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jeri Johnson

Graduate Theses & Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic created a crisis in schools. The purpose of this research is to explore the phenomenon and lived experiences of principals as they led their schools during COVID-19. This qualitative research will explore how principals navigated the complexity of leadership to sustain academic achievement. Principals will share how the three levels of crisis, danger and opportunity created a pathway for principal actions of effectiveness. Additionally, this research explored how principals made sense of the crisis to promote community, collaboration and compassion. Principals were asked to describe their perceptions of leadership and to share their lived experiences from March …

Empowering Nurses, Enhancing Mobility: A Qi Initiative Using Plof And Clof To Promote Patient Ambulation, Kaela Nguyen

Master's Projects and Capstones

The quality improvement project involves the intervention of implemented mobility educational flyers about the mobility tools, Clinician Reported Level of Function (CLOF) and Patient Reported Level of Function (PLOF) and aims to increase patient mobility post surgery. The quality improvement project was conducted in two medical surgical units in a San Francisco hospital. To address unmet mobility goals, during change of shift, in-services on the educational flyers about the mobility tools (CLOF and PLOF), were utilized to provide education about the importance of mobility, how to utilize the mobility tools, and correctly document ambulation. More than twenty flyers were posted …

The Impact Of Inclusive Leadership And Restorative Justice Practices On The Organizational Commitment Of Student Conduct Professionals, Cover Heishman

Dissertations, 2020-current

Within higher education, divisions of student affairs have struggled for years to retain employees, address burnout and stress, and find solutions to keep employees satisfied (e.g., Tull, 2006; Renn & Hodges, 2007; Marshall et al., 2016; Brown, 2022; Whitford, 2022; Bichsel et al., 2023). Central to campus safety are student conduct professionals, who work to provide education, restoration, and crisis support for students and their communities. Recent research (e.g., Davidson, 2009; Selznick & Heishman, 2023) has indicated increasing levels of stress and burnout in these professionals, and with a concern for attrition and job satisfaction that could negatively impact the …