High School Career And Technical Education (Cte) Programming And Post-Secondary Career Pathways: A Correlational Study, Richard P. Jorgenson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative correlational research project was to examine the association between the 6 CTE components (i.e., curriculum, work-based learning, mentorship/industry connections, student organizations/competitions, non-degree credentials, and experiential learning) and a students’ choice of a career pathway. The current literature stated the benefits of CTE but left a void as to which CTE component had the most impact on a student’s choice of a career pathway. With a theoretical framework based on the Career Self-Management Model, the author analyzed data from a sample consisting of current high school students, former high school students, and current CTE teachers to …

Bridging Research And Practice: A Mixed Methods Study Of Principals' Use Of Implementation Driver Strategies To Support The Adoption Of Evidence-Based Literacy Practices In Minnesota K-12 Public Schools, Jamie L. Nord

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Despite a substantial research base identifying effective reading instruction, some schools continue to struggle to translate evidence-based literacy practices into consistent classroom use. This explanatory sequential mixed methods study examined the relationship between Minnesota K–12 public school principals’ self-reported use of implementation driver strategies and their self-reported adoption of evidence-based literacy practices, while also exploring how principals perceived implementation within their school contexts. Guided by the Implementation Drivers framework, the study included a statewide survey of 138 principals using the researcher-developed Leadership for Literacy Implementation Scale, followed by two focus groups with 10 participants. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive, …

Exploring The Relationships Between Emotional Intelligence, Perceived Organizational Support, Job Satisfaction, And Intent To Stay Among Minnesota School Nurses, Kristin K. Coudron

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

School nurses face escalating job demands driven by increasing student health complexity, chronic condition management, and expanding public health responsibilities. Often serving as the sole healthcare professional within a school or district, they work in settings characterized by high autonomy, variable organizational support, and growing concerns about job satisfaction and retention. Limited empirical research has examined how personal and organizational resources jointly relate to school nurses’ intent to remain in practice. Guided by the Job Demands–Resources (JD–R) theory and the National Association of School Nurses School Nursing Practice Framework, this quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional study explored relationships among emotional intelligence, …

Improvements Upon Reprocessing Of Orthopedic Single-Use Instruments, Alyssa P. Nguyen

Master's Projects and Capstones

Internal Medline data for Hospital A, a level I academic trauma center, identified a quality gap due to improper segregation and underutilization of orthopedic single-use device reprocessing bins. The baseline reprocessing rate of 4% for orthopedic products results in missed sustainability opportunities, financial strain, and increased regulated waste. A proposed quality improvement intervention implemented updated communication strategies, visual management tools, and education modules to reinforce current reprocessing workflows and close knowledge gaps. Outcome measures include the percentage of SUDs collected for reprocessing, survey results on reprocessing awareness, and potential financial savings in Appendix I. Early data showed a 10% year-to-year …

Navigating Urgency And Innovation: How Pandemic-Era Leadership Frames The Evolving Role Of Ai In Educational Leadership, Patricia Virella, Alexandra J. Lamb

Department of Educational Leadership Scholarship and Creative Works

Purpose: This paper examines how pandemic-era leadership lessons inform the current implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, focusing on adaptive strategies, distributed leadership, and equity-focused decision-making among US school principals during crisis-driven technological change.

Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative approach was employed, drawing on semi-structured interviews with fifty public school principals conducted between 2020 and 2022. Data were coded and analyzed iteratively using distributed leadership theory to identify key themes related to technology integration, professional development and leadership practices in rapidly changing environments.

Findings: Adaptive, distributed leadership and proactive planning for digital equity were vital for effective crisis response and technology …

Intersectional Realities And Adaptive Leadership: A Phenomenological Study Of Black Women Administrators In Higher Education, Jocelyn Vernet

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Existing literature consistently documents the acute underrepresentation of Black women in administrative leadership. Furthermore, Black women administrators that are represented and visible in higher education often oversee programs and task forces that heighten their experiences to high-risk situations. Emerging narratives suggest Black women employ effective coping strategies and embrace opportunities to strengthen and cultivate support networks while in their leadership roles. However, there is a significant lack in understanding how these strategies are structured and sustained to overcome the underrepresentation of Black women administrators in higher education. Additionally, basing their experiences solely through a survival lens limits a deeper understanding …

Allied Health Professionals: Experiences Making The Transition From Clinical Practice To Academia, Vanessa Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The transition from clinical practice to academia presents challenges for allied health professionals who transition to higher education faculty roles. Although clinicians bring valuable professional knowledge and practical experience to the classroom and clinical settings, they may have limited preparation for curriculum development, teaching, student assessment and evaluation, institutional responsibilities, and accreditation requirements.

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore how allied health faculty perceive their transition from the clinic to a faculty role. The central research question asked: How do allied health faculty perceive their transition from the clinic to a faculty role?

Participants included 21 …

Perceptions Of College Readiness Among African American High School Students In Urban Areas Of Montgomery County In Ohio, Montay Murray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological study was to explore how African American high school seniors from urban public schools in Montgomery County, Ohio, perceived their college readiness and how advanced coursework, academic counseling, school leaders and school culture, and their own academic achievement shaped their preparation for college.

The objective was to help African American students from urban high schools view their experiences and college preparation and inform educational leaders about specific areas for improvement. Twelve African American seniors (six female, six male) from two urban public high schools in Dayton and Trotwood, Ohio, who had applied to …

Instructional Coaching And Teacher Self-Efficacy, Ryan E. Rarick

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Instructional coaching is one way schools help teachers grow in their practice, but it is not always clear how frequently coaching should occur. This study looked at whether teachers’ confidence was related to the support they received from instructional coaches and how often that support occurred. 

The study included 252 teachers in the Early Years Enhancement (EYE) program, including first-, second-, and third-year teachers, as well as experienced teachers who were new to their district. Overall, teachers who reported stronger coaching support also tended to report higher confidence in their teaching. This connection was strongest for first-year and third-year teachers, …

A Quantitative Causal-Comparative Study Of Classroom Management And Classroom Behavioral Climates In Christian Private Schools, Caleb J. Donaldson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental causal-comparative study was to determine whether classroom behavioral climate differed among Christian private school K–12 teachers based on Behavior Management classification, school employment setting, and the interaction between these variables. The study addressed a gap in quantitative research on classroom management and classroom behavioral climate across elementary, middle, and high school settings in Christian private education. A convenience sample of 132 teachers from Christian private schools in metropolitan Atlanta completed a Qualtrics survey containing the Behavior and Instructional Management Scale (BIMS) and the Classroom Environment Scale (CES) Form R. A two-way analysis of variance …

Understanding Burnout And Well-Being Among Early-Career Community College Faculty: A Qualitative Study, Christopher Rennick Morris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study will be to understand the lived experiences of burnout and well-being for early-career, full-time community college faculty in relation to unit-level leadership practices at selected community colleges in the United States. The research follows the job demands–resources (JD–R) theory, which explains how specific aspects of work contribute to burnout and engagement. The combination of work demands, including heavy workload and time constraints, and emotional work requirements, leads to employee exhaustion when organizations fail to provide sufficient support. Job resources, which include autonomy, constructive feedback, collegial support, and organizational justice, create conditions that boost …

The Influence Of Arts-Based Volunteer Programs On Leadership Development In Adult Mentors Of Suburban Youth, Jindallrae Choi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the leadership development experiences of adult mentors participating in arts-based volunteer programs serving suburban youth in community settings. The theory guiding this study provided a framework for examining how experiential arts-based volunteerism facilitated leadership development through reflective practice and relational engagement. The central research question guiding this study was: How do adult mentors experience leadership development through participation in arts-based volunteer programs serving suburban youth? This qualitative study employed a transcendental phenomenological design to explore the lived experiences of 10 adult mentors engaged in arts-based volunteer programs within suburban communities. …

The Effects Of Entrepreneurial Education Frameworks On Students' Perceived Feasibility And Perceived Desirability On Intentions To Start A New Venture: A Casual-Comparative Approach, Donald W. Waldenmayer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This purpose of this quantitative casual comparative study was to determine if there is a difference between perceived feasibility, perceived desirability, and intentions to create a new business among university students experiencing different entrepreneurship education frameworks: about. for, and through. This is important because of the rapid growth of entrepreneurship education, and the current understanding of what and how to teach entrepreneurship remains a research domain that requires coherence in instructional approaches, content, and accurate reporting of student outcomes. This study responds to the calls for research that clarify how these different frameworks influence student outcomes. Data was collected using …

Cultivating Leadership In Christian Educational Organizations Through A Three-Module Mentoring Framework: A Dissertation-In-Praxis Study, Richard Eric Hardin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Dissertation-in-Praxis project examined a brief, biblically grounded leadership-development framework at Woodland Christian School (WCS). The project addressed the lack of a consistent process for developing current and emerging leaders within a Christian educational organization. Although the original strategic plan proposed mentor–mentee relationships, the implemented intervention consisted of three electronic leadership-development modules focused on leadership identity and mission alignment, communication and decision-making, and leadership growth, reflection, and mentoring. Quantitative evidence consisted of an anonymous 15-item pre-project survey completed by eight respondents and a post-project survey completed by seven respondents. Qualitative evidence consisted of participant reflections submitted through the three modules. …

A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of Protestant Pastors’ Perceived Church Ministry Impact On Combat Veterans In West Michigan, Matthew C. Pifer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to assess, through the perspectives of Protestant pastors, the impact of both pastoral and congregational ministry on combat veterans in Kent County, Michigan. In examining previous studies, it has been found that spirituality and religion can often have a positive impact on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and moral injuries (MI) among veterans. Therefore, the theory guiding this study in this research is that spirituality can positively affect veterans with PTSD, and Christian congregations, as led by their pastors, can have a positive influence in the lives of combat veterans as they …

The Congruence And Incongruence Between Biblical Principles And Sociological Precepts As Perceived By University Instructors, Marc Mason

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The issue of biblical content and principles is paramount when addressing sociology and social construct. “The term sociology literally means the science of society; for the term itself in its direct sense denotes that” (Doda, 2005, p. 1). The central question for this research is how teachers understand the similarities/non-similarities of biblical principles and sociological precepts. While it is not customary in secular higher education institutes to address spiritual content or biblical principles, to fully appreciate and comprehend the anatomy and study of sociology, one should incorporate biblical matters. “The Bible originated in oriental society and has become the sacred …

A Micro-Practice Discipleship Pathway For Welding Students At The Kentucky Welding Institute, Robert C. Pease

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Dissertation-in-Praxis addressed the difficulty of sustaining consistent spiritual formation among welding students at the Kentucky Welding Institute (KWI), where long shop hours, physical fatigue, and variable schedules limited participation in traditional discipleship models. The purpose was to design, implement, and evaluate a brief, choice-driven, mentor-supported pathway intended to increase engagement with core spiritual practices and strengthen integrity on the job. Grounded in biblical principles of obedience and vocation and informed by Self-Determination Theory, the four-week intervention combined brief digital instruction, in-person reinforcement, James 1:22 micro-practices, and relational support. Twenty KWI students participated. Data were collected through surveys, weekly check-ins, …

Sustaining A School-Based Concussion Management Program Using An Implementation Science Framework, Melissa Mccart, Deanne Unruh, Patricia K. Reyna, Jody Slocumb, Doug Gomez, Ann E. Glang

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Each year, 1.1–1.9 million children and adolescents in the United States experience a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), and many return to school (RTS) with symptoms disrupting learning and well-being. Although effective RTS care requires coordinated support, implementation remains inconsistent across the United States. This study explored how one RTS program, the Central Oregon TBI (COR-TBI) model, was established and sustained over time. Using a deductive qualitative design guided by the National Implementation Research Network framework, we interviewed nine key organizers and coded data using leadership, competency, and organization drivers. Five themes emerged: (a) leadership-driven awareness and communication; …

2026-11-05 Revision To Pac-1 - Third Reading, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

The third reading of the revisions to PAc-1 submitted to the the Faculty Senate on November 5, 2026.

2026-11-05 Resolution To Desolve The Student Affairs Committee, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

A resolution to remove and dissolve the Student Affairs Committee submitted to the Faculty Senate on November 5, 2026.