Digital Commons Network^™

Reproducing Advantage: Inequality In Ncaa Leadership Programming, Jessica K. Brougham, Elizabeth A. Taylor

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Leadership programming in NCAA Division I athletics is designed to support holistic athlete development, including career readiness, financial literacy, and personal growth. However, participation in selective initiatives like the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is often limited, raising concerns about equality and access. Through the theory of social reproduction, our study examines how these programs reflet and reinforce structural inequalities. Interviews with athletic staff reveal selection procedures (or lack thereof) privilege athletes who already possess social and cultural capital and therefore reproduce existing hierarchies rather than serve as a developmental tool. The findings highlight the importance of transparent selection criteria, intentional …

Ncaa’S Mental Health Best Practices Still Need Coaching: Perceptions Of Division I Student-Athletes On Strategies And Support Offered By Their Universities, Christopher C. Boyer, Jason Bocarro, Corey Johnson, Austin Thompson-Spain, Lulu Black

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The NCAA has recognized the growing mental health crisis among student-athletes over the last decade and responded by publishing best practices, passing related legislation, and conducting surveys with student-athletes and coaches regarding mental health. This qualitative study explored the perceptions and insights of 22 Division I student-athletes on current strategies and resources designed to provide the best mental health support to them, along with what they perceive as the barriers or resource deficiencies related to seeking help. This applied research was done in the context of the best practices outlined in the NCAA’s Interassociation Consensus Document: Mental Health Best Practices, …

Game Without A Voice: College Athletes’ Symbolic Participation In Institutional Decisions, Eric G. Kramer, Karina Jolly, Chris Corr, Sarah Stokowski

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

This study examined decision-making by student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) members within a hegemonic characterization of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Findings revealed that athletes prioritized decisions with tangible, immediate impact – such as mental and physical health and peer support – over broader systemic issues like NCAA legislation. While athletes actively participated in select areas, their perceived influence remained low, particularly within athletic department policy decisions, where findings indicated the greatest gap between participation and desired influence. Such findings reflect a systemic power imbalance that limits athlete agency, reinforced by fears of retribution and structural exclusion from meaningful governance. …

There Is Turbulence In The Vuca World: A Path To Learning From The Micro- Environments Of Decision-Makers And Their Leadership Acumen, Bernard L. Simonin, Paul Lambert

Arab Economic and Business Journal

Decision-makers and researchers continue to ponder on how to cope with today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environments (VUCA). The catch-all expression “it is a VUCA world” has gained popularity while raising some concerns on its applicability. To date, much of the focus has been in association with large-scale events of a negative nature; research has remained mostly conceptual with almost no extensive empirical investigation centered on the fully unpacked VUCA construct. This study examines the interplay between VUCA elements, turbulence, and disruption; it introduces a turbulence diagnostic tool for leadership and explores patterns of variability across types of triggering …

Examining The Influence Of Organisational And Leadership Knowledge On Resilience During Economic Downturns-A Case Study For Sme Success, Dr. Aloma Jayasundera, Dr. Rubhesh Jha

Arab Economic and Business Journal

This study investigates how organisational and leadership knowledge impacts the resilience of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) during economic downturns, focussing on a foreign-owned business processes and Information Consulting (IT) consulting company in Bahrain. This is a mixed-methods approach that integrates qualitative and quantitative data, including thematic analysis and Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). This study shows that an emphasis on external problems caused the company to disregard important internal challenges. The findings highlight the need for better crisis management and digital strategies to strengthen the organisation from within and create a better workplace culture. This study contributes new insights into …

Breaking Barriers: Advancement Toward Practical Nursing Licensure For Certified Medication Assistants In Long-Term Care--A Descriptive Study, Aleshia L. Maxwell

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

The persistent nursing shortage across the United States, particularly in Long-Term Care (LTC) settings, has complicated the healthcare system’s ability to meet the needs of an aging population. While existing research often examines progression from Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Registered Nurse (RN), limited research explores factors influencing progression from entry-level LTC healthcare workers to Practical Nursing (PN) licensure. This quantitative descriptive study examined the barriers and supporting factors influencing advancement toward PN licensure for Medication Assistants-Certified (MA-Cs) in Arkansas LTC facilities. A convenience sample of N=100 participated in the study. Results indicated that financial and structural barriers often …

Utah Women And Skilled Trades, April Townsend, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Currently more than 8 million people in the US work in the construction and skilled trades industries, which have historically been referred to as “blue-collar” jobs.¹ The numbers will likely increase as there is a growing demand for skilled labor across the US because of the retirements of experienced tradespeople and the fact that fewer young people are pursuing these fields. Estimates show that by 2030, more than 40.0% of the current skilled trades and construction workforce will retire, leaving these industries with a critical worker shortage.² Projections suggest that in the US by 2030, the skilled trades …

Servant Leadership & Navigating The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Case Study On Port Tampa Bay, Laura M. Holland, Deirdre Dixon

Servant Leadership: Theory & Practice

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in March 2020, many supply chain companies found themselves facing increased demand, labor shortages, and low capacity. Due to complex relationships in the supply chain industry, it was difficult for ports to manage these challenges and continue to operate efficiently. For ports to successfully navigate these challenges, they needed to implement leadership across all levels. We examined the leadership of Port Tampa Bay to see if Servant Leadership was present. Port Tampa Bay was Florida’s largest port that handled major cargo. Through 2020–2022, the port had not seen any of the congestion …

Alignment Of Servant Leadership Dimensions With Desirable Job Characteristics Drives Team Performance, Noah T. Currie

Servant Leadership: Theory & Practice

Organizations creating cultures of servant leadership continue to experience immense success in the business world and the nonprofit sector despite an ongoing lack of clarity of the concept. The aim of this paper is twofold, first to provide clarity by proposing an improvement to the definition offered by Laub (1999; 2004) and second to provide a conceptual model describing how servant leadership, mediated by intrinsic motivation as described by the Job Characteristics Model (Hackman & Oldham, 1980) and perceived organizational support, is positively related to team performance. Relating servant leadership to motivation, perceived organizational support and team performance provides leadership …

Bridging Economic Growth And Literacy: Mediation–Moderation Pathways Linking Agriculture, Environment, And Poverty Reduction Across Asian Economies, Muhammad Abubakar, Wasim Abbas Shaheen, Umair Umer

Business Review

In the framework of reducing poverty, this study explores the numerous connections between economic, environmental, and agricultural aspects, paying particular attention to the moderating role of literacy. The Study aims to assess how agricultural employment, arable land, forest area, fertilizer usage, and ecological resources shape poverty outcomes in Asia. Utilizing panel data from 46 nations between 2000 to 2023, sourced from the World Development Indicators, the analysis applies advanced econometrics such as FMOLS and DOLS, alongside a panel co-integration framework validated through panel unit root and cointegration tests. Results indicate that agricultural employment significantly reduces poverty, arable land has mixed …

Mitigating Renewal Risk In Banks: An Analysis Of Ai Adoption, Customer Loyalty And Macroeconomic Conditions, Mackenzie M. Cauthorn

ASPIRE 2026

Renewal risk, the uncertainty surrounding whether customers will continue existing financial relationships such as loans, deposits, credit lines, or insurance products, poses a growing challenge for modern banks because customer retention is critical for revenue stability, cross-selling opportunities, and long-term profitability. This study examines how the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in banking interacts with macroeconomic conditions to influence renewal risk and customer attrition. Specifically, the research addresses three primary questions: (1) whether macroeconomic conditions, such as perceived economic health, inflation concerns, unemployment expectations, and personal financial confidence, affect the likelihood and timing of banking product renewal; (2) how AI …

Beyond The Badge: How Internal Culture Contradicts External Service In Urban Police Departments, Rowan Bari Eiselman

Educational Studies Student Papers and Posters

This ethnographic study examines how gendered workplace culture and mental health culture shape officer retention in two urban police departments: the Orange Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department's 77th District. Through ride-alongs, observations, and informal interviews with nine current and retired officers (four female, five male) across various ranks conducted between March and April 2026, this research reveals a troubling contradiction: departments tasked with serving diverse communities struggle to support diversity within their own ranks. Female officers navigate professional isolation, prolonged competence-proving expectations, and implicit career-versus-motherhood choices, with experiences varying significantly between the more supportive Orange PD and …

Struggling In A Man’S World: Moderated And Mediation Model For Women To Stay In The Logistics Industry, Abdul Hafaz Ngah, Nurul Izni Kamalrulzaman, Samar Rahi, Nurul Haqimin Salleh, Jagan Jeevan, Aamir Rashid

Publications and Research

Technological advancements have transformed the nature of work, attracting more women to challenging industries such as the logistics industry. Despite this technological advancement and progress in promoting gender equality, achieving gender parity in this industry remains stagnant. Using the extended self-determination theory, this study explores new mediating and moderating variables to identify factors influencing female employee retention in the logistics industry in Malaysia. Based on a quantitative approach and purposive sampling, 278 responses were collected from women in the logistics industry through online surveys. Most direct hypotheses were supported, and significant mediation and moderation effects were found. In addition to …

Relationship Between Change In Unrealized Gains Or Losses Of Afs Securities And Credit Spreads Of U.S. Life Insurance Companies, Kwang Liang Yeo

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This study evaluates the transmission of unrealized fair value accounting losses to credit default risk within the United States life insurance sector during a period of unprecedented monetary tightening. Integrating a pre-specified confirmatory econometric framework with a text-based exploratory analysis of regulatory filings, we examine how changes in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) and benchmark interest rate dynamics shape market perceptions of insurer default probability. Our findings reveal that credit default swap markets do not price OCI variations contemporaneously; instead, they reflect a structural one-quarter pricing lag that aligns with the regulatory timeline of financial disclosures. Furthermore, the relationship between interest …

The Impact Of Private Label Product Choice On Consumers' Hedonic Consumption Behavior, Xiaosong Wang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The competitive landscape of the current retail market is changing rapidly, and private label products, as a unique product force, are playing a role in the fierce market competition. While extensive research has been conducted on why consumers purchase private label products, the behavioral outcomes of consumers’ private label choices have not been fully explored. Based on the business reality of private brand retailing in China, this study constructs a research model concerning the impact of private brand product choice on hedonic consumption behavior. Grounded in self-awareness theory, the paper proposes four scientific research hypotheses. Through seven empirical studies, it …

Strategic Economic Evaluation Of Microsoft's Post-Acquisition Gaming Portfolio, Brett Hancock, Daniela Orta Castaneda, Travis Stevens, M. Affan Badar

Symposium Projects

Microsoft Gaming is a gaming and entertainment division of Microsoft. In 2023 Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard, another industry leader. Rapidly changing industry and increased operation costs have created challenges. Sound financial analysis required to maintain company profitability and health. The purpose of this study is to analyze the economic data to recommend potential areas of investment and consolidation.

Buckeye Property Consulting, Stephen Manning

Distinguished Student Scholarship Collection

This business plan outlines the creation and strategic development of Buckeye Property Consulting, a startup firm specializing in compliance consulting for affordable housing property management companies. The plan addresses the growing demand for expert support in navigating complex regulatory requirements associated with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Low‑Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs. Through industry and market analysis, the document identifies a service gap faced by small to mid‑sized property management firms that lack sufficient in‑house compliance resources but cannot afford large national consulting firms. The plan details the company’s mission, value proposition, service offerings, competitive …

Empowering Early Childhood Leaders: A Strength-Based And Ecological Approach To Leadership Development, Dora Sanders

PhD in Education

Professional development models for early childhood (EC) leaders are often generic and deficit-focused, overlooking their diverse strengths, contexts, and experiences. This study addressed that gap by exploring how EC leaders identify and leverage their strengths to enhance leadership effectiveness and how professional development can be differentiated to meet their unique needs. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, eight EC leaders representing varied educational backgrounds and community contexts were engaged. Semi-structured interviews captured their lived experiences, which were analyzed thematically through the lens of the strengths-ecological leadership framework designed by the researcher that integrated individualized professional development, strengths-based leadership, and ecological systems. …

How Leaders And Followers Make Meaning: Perceptions Of Spiritual Leadership And Organizational Culture, Joshua J. Yancey

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This dissertation was grounded in the premise that spiritual leadership behaviors significantly influence organizational culture within faith-based nonprofit organizations yet remain insufficiently understood as lived experiences across organizational levels. While prior scholarship has established theoretical links between spirituality, leadership, and organizational outcomes, fewer studies have examined how such leadership is perceived by both leaders and followers within real organizational contexts. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how spiritual leadership behaviors were experienced and interpreted in relation to organizational culture, mission alignment, morale, and work meaning within a faith-based nonprofit setting. Data were collected from fifteen participants …

Sol Fridge Kenya (Turkana County), Ava Valdez, Dhuha Almutairi, Go Ogawa, Jeremy Boze

Business Core Student Work

Sol Fridge is a solar-powered refrigeration solution designed to improve food security and nutrition for low-income communities in Kenya. The project responds to the challenges of food spoilage, limited refrigeration, and poor access to affordable nutritious food, especially in rural and arid regions where electricity is unreliable or unavailable. By providing portable, affordable, and durable cold storage for families and small vendors, Sol Fridge helps preserve fresh food, reduce waste, and support healthier daily meals. The project also promotes sustainability through solar energy, recycled materials, and community-based distribution, creating social, environmental, and economic benefits for the communities it serves.

Phresh, Diego Gomez, Thomas “Kane” Perry, Lela Schuler, Olivia Cox, Sofia Rueda

Business Core Student Work

pHresh is a sustainable food safety solution created to help low-income communities in New Delhi, India detect spoiled food before it reaches consumers. The project responds to the serious risk of foodborne illness in informal markets, where limited refrigeration, high temperatures, and inconsistent inspection make contamination more likely. pHresh offers affordable, biodegradable pH testing strips that provide fast and easy-to-read results for vendors, households, and market inspectors. Through local production, accessible distribution, and eco-friendly materials, the project aims to improve public health, support small vendors, and build safer food systems.

Cleantide, Ryan Agozo, Valeria Jimenez, Danny Blanchard, Adam Sandoval, Daylin Diaz, Hernan Garcia

Business Core Student Work

CLEANTIDE is a water sanitation and filtration initiative created to improve access to clean water in remote island communities across the Polynesian region. The project responds to challenges such as contaminated water sources, waterborne disease, and the lack of reliable infrastructure in underserved coastal and rural areas. By providing affordable, durable, and environmentally friendly filtration systems, CLEANTIDE helps households and communities gain consistent access to safe water for drinking and daily use. The project also emphasizes local training, trust-building, and sustainable implementation to support long-term impact.

Nutri Boost — A Nutritional Powder For Children In Bihar, India, Dimas Sandoval, Sofia De Anda, Everett Macdonell, Mikaella Faye Acob, Maria Fernanda, Haris Khan

Business Core Student Work

This presentation outlines Nutri‑Boost, a fortified, locally sourced nutrition powder designed to reduce childhood malnutrition in Bihar, India. The project responds to widespread poverty, limited healthcare access, and inadequate dietary diversity by offering an affordable, shelf‑stable product for primary schools and low‑income families. Nutri‑Boost strengthens local agriculture, uses environmentally sustainable packaging, and operates through a community‑based value chain involving farmers, NGOs, and government partners. Financial projections demonstrate a scalable nonprofit model with strong social, economic, and environmental impact.

Toward A Neuroleadership Framework, Bryan G. Wood

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Neuroleadership is an emerging field that seeks to connect neural mechanisms, psychological processes, and leadership behaviors within organizational contexts. Despite continued scholarly interest, the literature remains conceptually fragmented and lacks a coherent framework for organizing its recurring themes and constructs. The purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual framework for neuroleadership through a quantitative analysis of records retrieved from the PsycINFO database and interpreted through qualitative synthesis. The findings revealed recurring themes related to core leadership processes, applied contexts, and associated outcomes while also indicating thematic convergence without full conceptual integration across the field. These patterns were organized …

Military Recruiting Crisis: A Qualitative Study On The Motivation Of Generation Z, Ruth D. Kane

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This qualitative study investigates the declining motivation of Generation Z to join the U.S. military, using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a framework. Despite significant investments in recruitment, enlistment rates continue to decline, revealing a gap between military structures and the psychological needs of potential recruits. SDT provides a useful perspective by emphasizing the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in motivating and promoting well-being. Through in-depth interviews with eight Gen Z individuals eligible for service, this study explores how social, cultural, and institutional factors influence perceptions of military service and career decisions. Results indicate that motivation to enlist increases when …

As I Remember Your Tears: A Biblically Grounded, Integrated Ecosystemic Model For Mentoring Ministers In Distress, John R. Dingle

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This study addressed a gap in the literature concerning how mentoring supports ministers who are experiencing distress and turnover intention. The purpose of this dissertation was to develop a biblically grounded model for mentoring ministers in distress. This qualitative study employed a two-phase design consisting of a sociorhetorical analysis of 2 Timothy and a phenomenological study of four Assemblies of God ministers who experienced turnover intention but remained in ministry because of a mentor’s intervention. The biblical text was analyzed using the sociorhetorical textures of inner texture, intertexture, and sacred texture. The phenomenological data were analyzed using open, values, and …

The Age Of Hr Delivering Stakeholder Value Through Strategic Organizational Capability: Talent, Leadership, And Culture, Anthony Nyberg, Rebecca R. Kehoe, Dave Ulrich, Patrick M. Wright

Research Briefs

A landmark collection of 62 chapters from the world’s foremost thinkers in HR strategy, talent management, and organizational leadership—written at the inflection point where AI, geopolitical uncertainty, and evolving stakeholder expectations are reshaping the future of work and the humans at its center.

Corporate Fiduciary Duties And The Climate And Biodiversity Crisis, Eric W. Orts, Sandra G. Schafhäutle

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

This Article argues that addressing one of the most urgent environmental challenges facing humanity today—the global climate and biodiversity crisis—calls for a transformation at the heart of corporate law: its fiduciary duties. After demonstrating how current corporate fiduciary duties are implicated in this crisis, we argue for reform of fiduciary duties operating at two levels: those governing directors and officers of business corporations, and those governing institutional investors and asset managers. We then distinguish between two general kinds of corporate fiduciary duties: permissive and mandatory. We contend that corporate law should accommodate a more expansive understanding of fiduciary duties by …

The Role Of Leadership Style In Team And Individual Performance In Collegiate Athletics, Luke Mulkey

Posters - 2026

• Measuring the effectiveness of leadership is important because strong leaders can bring significant contributions to both organizations and individuals

• Previous studies have said that intrinsic motivation of the individual plays a larger role than the leadership style of a coach

• Studies also show that leadership style has an influence on team success and cohesion

• This study aimed to determine the extent to which transformational leadership played a role in team success, measured in win percentage

• This study went further into the individual perception of their coach’s impact on the athlete’s performance compared to the extent …

Collaborative Ministry Leadership: A Mixed-Methods Study Into The Application Of Collaborative Leadership In United Pentecostal Churches In The Southeastern United States., Omar A. Williams

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

This dissertation examines how collaborative leadership, grounded in theological and practical applications, impacts ministry effectiveness in United Pentecostal Churches (UPCI) in the Southeastern United States. It employed a mixed-methods design, with in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with twelve senior UPCI pastors, and quantitative surveys administered to 63 members of their core leadership teams. Although collaborative leadership is a widely held ideal in ministry, a gap often exists between its theory and its practical implementation. The findings reveal a significant convergence in the relational, visionary, and developmental dimensions of collaboration. The pastors are theologically committed to rejecting autocratic models. They are perceived …