Digital Commons Network^™

Addressing Psychosocial Barriers To Participation In People Experiencing Homelessness: An Occupational Therapy Workshop, Preston Bender, Steven M. Gerardi, Lacey Spark

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Despite the occupational therapy (OT) profession's emphasis on holistic, person-centered care, many OT practitioners and students report feeling a lack of self-efficacy and preparedness to navigate the complex psychological, social, and systemic barriers that hinder occupational participation in people experiencing homelessness (PEH). This capstone project aimed to address the perceived unpreparedness among clinicians through the creation of an 8-hour interactive educational workshop aligned with Experiential Learning Theory. The content is grounded in the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and informed by the Bridging the Transition from Homelessness: A Social Justice Framework (BTTF), trauma-informed care (TIC), harm reduction, and diversity, equity, …

Caught In The Crossfire: Navigating Institutional Neutrality Amidst Campus Controversy & Competing Demands, Jamie Herman, Sally Moore

Prindle Faculty and Staff Publications

When controversies arise, colleges and universities often find themselves in the crossfire of heated debates over institutional neutrality. Some institutions claim neutrality to distance themselves from controversy and defuse tensions surrounding sensitive issues. However, when institutions choose not to engage—whether through nonresponse or by stating they will make no response—they may inadvertently suggest that their current position is neutral, a premise many dispute (A. Ford, 2024). How should higher education institutions (HEIs) navigate the various demands they face to either act or maintain neutrality? Moreover, once institutional leaders understand these competing pressures, how should they respond? This paper has two …

Caregiver Training Program For Optimal Recovery Of Neuro Accidents: An Occupational Therapy Approach, Bennie L. Huitt Jr., Jennifer Featheringham, Cassandra Nelson

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Caregivers of individuals recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or experiencing onset of dementia often are provided limited education and support after discharge, negatively impacting confidence and recovery outcomes. The Caremaster program was designed to bridge the educational gap between occupational therapists in the clinical setting and caregivers in the home settings through accessible online modules, support groups, and in-person demonstrations. Module topics included understanding neuro accidents and role of the caregiver, returning home (transition and adaptation), ADLs and Mobility, returning to roles, and social reintegration. This program aims to guide future development of scalable, community-based caregiver education that …

Paradoxical Forms Of Scientific Heroism When Responsibly Conducting Research, Theresa A. Thorkildsen

Heroism Science

The Stanford Prison Experiment is widely known for offering insight into the responsible conduct of research as well as how prisoners and prison guards fall easily into potentially harmful roles. As the principal investigator of the study, Philip Zimbardo became a polarizing figure in the social sciences -- both celebrated as a pioneering hero and criticized for ethical shortcomings -- while consistently engaging with his critics throughout his career (Zimbardo, n.d.). Highlighting Zimbardo’s influence on the protection of human research participants, this article uses details from Zimbardo’s self-reflections and insights on the paradoxes of heroism to convey how research personalities …

Helping Bipoc, Women, And First-Generation Students Maximize The Value Of Unpaid Internships, Ted Thornhill, Nicole Torres, Christina Van Wingerden

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Internships and practicums are a required component of nearly all degree programs in human services and its subfields—and most are unpaid. These unpaid positions often have a disproportionate impact for BIPOC and first-generation students, especially women—many of whom are economically disadvantaged and must work to support themselves and sometimes their families. Increased student activism, non-profit campaigns, and journalistic accounts show student frustration over their unpaid labor. Despite the righteousness of these students’ cause, the reality is that the implementation of an equitable, robust, and sustainable nationwide system of paid internships, in the near-term, is politically impracticable. Given that most human …

Enhancing Client Intake Efficiency In The Removal Defense Program: A Nursing-Led Quality Improvement Initiative, Johnny Linares, Julia Tran Ngo, Daniel Orea, Atheana Yadira Lopez

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project focuses on optimizing the intake process for the Removal Defense Program at a nonprofit immigration legal office serving asylum-seeking clients. The existing intake relied on unstructured, phone-call-based intake interviews that gathered incomplete information, leading to inconsistent documentation, reduced efficiency, and significant client processing delays. A structured, multilingual, and multiplatform new-client admission protocol coupled with the implementation of a client-facing resource guide for waitlist clients were co-developed and implemented using the Lippitt Change Theory framework. Utilizing a mixed methods approach, the study involved staff interviews and observational assessments with staff members from the program. Baseline intake process …

Under What Conditions? A University Pathway Program Evaluation, Michael Burke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As U.S. universities face a declining domestic applicant pool, commonly referred to as the “enrollment cliff,” international student recruitment provides a practical strategy for offsetting domestic enrollment shortfalls. One such strategy for increasing international student enrollment is through the establishment of university pathway programs that grant conditional admission to international applicants who fail to meet English language proficiency requirements but are otherwise academically admissible. As a baseline program evaluation, this study utilized a quantitative methods approach employing logistical regression analysis to determine if incoming standardized English language proficiency test scores, English as a Second Language (ESL) course GPA, and student …

Transactional And Autocratic Leadership In Practice: The Case Of Trump’S Attempt To Redefine Birthright Citizenship, Ruolan Huang, Liwei Fang, Jingzhe Zhang, Anna Zaldivar

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This case study investigates how President Donald Trump's autocratic and transactional leadership style influenced the conception, implementation, and social impact of the 2025 executive order seeking to revoke birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. This study employs the case study approach and applies thematic analysis of public documents, legal texts, and media reports. The study identifies five major themes, including autocratic leadership and executive overreach, racialized policy implementation, media manipulation, legal resistance, and a broader crisis of democratic legitimacy. The findings suggest that while the executive order aims at framing a legal structure, it disproportionately affects marginalized immigrant communities, …

Black Americans’ Strategic Disengagement In Digital Protest: A Thematic Analysis Of Youtube Responses To Latino Deportation Appeals (2025), Professor Meya E. Hargett

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This qualitative study, grounded in digital discourse theory, investigates Black Americans’ responses to the Latino community’s calls for protest support against federal deportation policies under the current U.S. administration. Twelve publicly available YouTube videos from Spring 2025 were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to identify key patterns in Black discourse, including themes of strategic withdrawal, political disillusionment, solidarity fatigue, and historical tension.

This study defines 'stand down' as a deliberate, non-antagonistic decision to refrain from participating in another group’s protest movement. Findings indicate that disengagement is not rooted in apathy but is shaped by long-standing racialized experiences, ideological misalignment, and …

How Cultural Intelligence Shapes Communication And Decision-Making In Multicultural Teams, Jonathan Freking

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This study explores how cultural intelligence influences patterns of communication and decision-making in multicultural teams, with particular attention to behaviors such as turn-taking, conflict resolution, and feedback. Drawing on a thematic analysis of 45 peer-reviewed articles spanning foundational theories, empirical studies, and methodological approaches, this paper identifies six key themes: the evolution of the CQ construct; CQ as an adaptive communication mechanism; its role in conflict resolution; its influence on collaborative decision-making; the emergence of collective cultural intelligence; and methodological approaches for understanding CQ in context. Findings suggest that high-CQ individuals and teams demonstrate more equitable voice distribution, engage in …

Investigating Burnout Among Higher Education Students In Kenya: Factorial Structure, Validity, And Reliability Of The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey, Kennedy Wasonga Awuonda, Kwanghee Jung, Jaehoon Lee, Woonyoung Song, Sharon Atieno

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced work-related personal accomplishment. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is a widely used tool for measuring burnout syndrome. Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the reliability and validity of various versions of the MBI, including the MBI-Student Survey. However, cultural, social, and economic factors may affect burnout differently in African countries, highlighting the need for more research. The study examined burnout among college students in Kenya, specifically by investigating the factorial structure, validity, and reliability of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS). The study involved a total of 422 participants. The …

When Quitting Isn't An Option: Learner Perceptions Of Persistence Factors In A Faith-Based Online Global English As An International Language Course, Heather Porter Ugege

Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores the perceptions of learners in an online, global, faith-based, English as an international language (EIL) course. The course is designed to help students with limited access to educational opportunities develop English skills and prepare for enrollment in an online university. Since its launch, course enrollment, retention, engagement, and completion metrics have shown significant gains year over year. However, the number of learners in the course who have met all course completion criteria is still limited. This inquiry aims to gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing learner persistence from the perspectives of both course completers and …

Storytelling Pedagogy To Promote Musical Expression Through Community Building In The High School Ensemble Class, Hector E. Ayerdiz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite research on technical pedagogical techniques to improve musicianship in students, there are still some non-conventional pedagogical approaches that educators have not researched in detail. Among these is purposeful storytelling to develop community and vulnerability in students to enhance musical expression and technique. This study sought to understand the impact of the music teachers' use of storytelling on high school music ensemble students. It also investigated storytelling's usefulness in developing music skills and techniques in students by forming positive learning environments. Guided by narrative design, this qualitative research study looked at the phenomenon of storytelling in the high school music …

Examining Literacy Habits, Reading Attitudes, And Literacy Perceptions Of College-Educated Black Men: A Case Study, Turkesshia D. Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple-case qualitative study was to explore the literacy attitudes, reading habits, and literacy perceptions of college-educated Black men in North Carolina. The theory guiding this study is Freire’s Critical Literacy Theory (CLT). CLT supports educators in providing critical pedagogy, which includes critical thinking and critical text analysis. Participants in this study viewed literacy as a valuable life skill. They felt they would have had more positive literacy experiences during their K-12 schooling if they received culturally relevant and culturally responsive instruction. The central research question for the case study was: How do college-educated Black men describe …

Investigating Black Students’ Perceived Motivations For Degree Attainment At A Community College: A Case Study, Kacie Rene Birdsong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study is to discover the motivation that influences the retention for Black student graduates at a local community college in southern Mississippi. The practical implications of this research are significant, as college graduation rates directly reflect the financial health of a higher education institution. Understanding why Black students are particularly motivated to complete their degrees is not only academically intriguing but also has practical implications for the future of higher education. As enrollment rates are on the decline, graduation rates become even more critical. When it becomes an issue of many students dropping out of …

Teacher Perspectives Of Supporting High School Students Who Are Sex Trafficked In Northeast Ohio: A Qualitative Study, Melanie Timco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the perspectives of supporting students who are actively sex trafficked for the teachers at high schools in Northeast Ohio. The theory guiding the study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory as it applies to the formation of teacher perspectives based on cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors. Teachers shared their perspective of supporting students who were actively sex trafficked in high school through hermeneutic phenomenology. I utilized criteria and snowball sampling of 12 high school teachers in Northeast Ohio. Open-ended surveys, interviews, and focus groups were conducted with teachers to render their …

Catholic Mass Music And Spiritual Growth, Stephenie Dinah Mokriakow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Participation in music among Catholic grade school students is insufficient, despite research suggesting the importance of music at Catholic Mass. Student perspectives provide researchers with an understanding of music's connection to students' spiritual development. This qualitative experimental case study investigates fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade student perspectives of their spiritual development through worship music participation during the Mass. This experimental case study identifies perspectives not yet explored and documented concerning this group of students. This study focuses on students' social, emotional, and physical well-being throughout the study regarding the connection of music to spiritual development. Approximately thirty students participated in pre- …

Exploring School-Based Early Intervention For Developmental Disabilities: A Phenomenological Study Of Parental Experiences, Brenda Nichol Webb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Today it is estimated that one in six children in the United States has one or more developmental disabilities or other developmental delays. There is a large body of evidence pointing to the necessity of early intervention to improve both short and long-term life outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities from both the medical and social sciences. Despite this fact, the identification process during early childhood from a parental perspective remains under- researched. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of parents of children with developmental disabilities during the evaluation process and receipt of services …

Motivational Factors Affecting Female Students' Choice Of Stem And Non-Stem Majors At Us Universities, Buthaina Ruyyashi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is the persistently low enrollment of female undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors within U.S. universities. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between female undergraduate students' choice of STEM versus non-STEM majors and their motivational factors, as measured by the Motivations Influencing Course Choice (MICC) survey. The study was grounded in social cognitive career theory, which emphasizes the role of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal goals in academic decision-making. The analysis assessed the predictive power of career aspiration, interest, helping, and loafing in determining major …

Predictive Correlation Analysis Of Admissions Criteria To A Doctor Of Physical Therapy Program And Graduation Success, Mark Amir

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to examine the relationship between admissions criteria and academic success in a non-traditional, weekend-format Doctor of Physical Therapy program known as Palisades Weekend University. This study contributes to the literature by exploring how cognitive and non-cognitive variables may predict student outcomes. The sample included 112 participants enrolled between 2016 and 2021 at a private university in New York. Data was collected using the General Self-Efficacy Scale via Google Forms, and archival admissions data was obtained from the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service. Logistic regression analysis assessed the predictive relationship between self-efficacy, …

Understanding Educators’ Experiences With Chronic Student Absenteeism In Rural High Schools In Southwest Virginia: A Phenomenological Study, Tina Louise Dean

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand educators’ experiences and the influences chronic absenteeism has on low-income rural high school students in Southwest Virginia. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s social cognition theory on learning, which develops through interaction and modeling. The central research question was, “How do teachers describe their experiences with chronic student absenteeism in rural high schools in Southwest Virginia?” A hermeneutic phenomenological design was used, and the researcher focused on 10 educators from rural high schools in southwest Virginia who had experienced student chronic absenteeism and/or truancy. Data for this study was collected …

A Qualitative Study On Retention And Engagement At A Private Historically Black College And University Among First-Year African American Students From Rural Communities, Miquelle Latoine Fields

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how the intersection of rural culture and race influences the lived experiences of first-year African American students at a private Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Moustakas's theory on phenomenological research methods, based on Husserl's transcendental phenomenology framework, guided the study. The research focused on how cultural context intersects with the lived experiences of first-year African American students from rural areas. It examined how this diversity affects their retention and engagement at a private HBCU. The central research question was: How do the lived experiences of first-year African American college students …

A Quantitative Examination Of School Psychologists And The Relationships Between Work-Life Balance, Burnout, And Turnover Intentions, Brittany Leigh Storti

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research for the past twenty-five years has documented that there is a national shortage of school psychologists across the United States. It is vital to study the magnitude of school psychologists working in the educational field and the impact of work-life balance has on burnout and turnover intentions. The study surveyed 75 school psychologists who work in a brick-and-mortar, hybrid, and virtual setting across the United States to compare the relationships and to determine if there is a difference between turnover intentions based on work setting. A moderation analysis and an ANOVA determined that the research failed to reject the …

Resurgent Education In Native American Catholic Schools: The Stories Of Indigenous Educators Who Attended Boarding Schools, William Newkirk

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Although news coverage has discussed the history of Native American boarding schools with more attention, a problematic lack of Native voice has continued to remain in these discussions. In particular, the perspectives of former students of boarding schools are too often missing. Further, there are former residential school students teaching in Native American Catholic schools whose stories and experiences have not yet been documented. This research was not meant to strictly learn from their time as students in the schools, but also their perspectives and successes found within their time as educators. They are teachers with deeply important historical experiences, …

A Force To Be Reckoned: Strategic Equity Sense Leadership Of Unit-Level Higher Education Leaders, Jin M. Mims

LMU Theses and Dissertations

The #BlackLivesMatter (#BLM) movement in 2020 pressured higher education institutions to address their oppressive and exclusive systems. As these institutions communicated their diversity, equity, and inclusion, (DEI) commitments and processes, it was those who took charge to facilitate the operational and cultural change for their respective area through the DEI lens, those who assumed DEI roles in their designated units, actualized the ground-level work of designing and implementing DEI programs and policies to produce the institutional progress reported by the university’s executive leadership. I will refer to those change agents as Unit-level DEI Officers (UDOs). Meanwhile, the current body of …

Barriers In Trauma-Responsive School Implementation: A Study Exploring And Comparing Rural, Suburban, And Urban Districts In Indiana, Allison L. Makowski

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trauma responsive practices are a type of educational practice currently being utilized in our schools. Our students come to school every day with some type of trauma which is a negative event that a child experiences. Types of traumatic experiences could be in the form of a natural disaster, car accident, or some type of abuse. The current study examined barriers that schools experience when implementing trauma responsive practices. The schools were examined further to investigate whether or not there were differences in barriers in rural, suburban, and urban school districts in the state of Indiana.

A Convergent Parallel Mixed Method Design Analysis Of Sponsorship And The Advancement Of Women In The Workplace, Shaparak Malek-Morvai

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Sponsorship is vital for advancing women's careers but is often inconsistently applied. Limited programs for women seeking leadership roles and a lack of sponsors can hinder progress. This study used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative survey data from 73 participants with qualitative insights. Sponsors advocate for protégés, emphasizing visibility, promotion, and networking, while mentorship offers guidance and coaching. Many leadership roles confuse sponsorship with mentorship, as noted by Helms et al. (2016). However, the key difference lies in influence. The study had four objectives: to explore women's perceptions of sponsorship, analyze how roles and tenure influence these perceptions, enhance discussions …

Ua21 What's New, Wku Institutional Equity

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by and about the Office of Institutional Equity.

• Demir, Ena. A Message from the Executive Director
• Training Opportunities: Stay Informed & Engaged
• Understanding Title VI
• Student Accessibility Center Joins the Office of Institutional Equity
• Need Workplace Accommodations?
• Web Accessibility Regulations
• Relevant Information
• Stop Campus Hazing Act
• Meet the Team

Elizabeth Female Academy: A Historical Case Study Revealing Antebellum Mississippi's Role In Shaping The Southern Belle, Summer Cutrer Tierno

Dissertations

Historians and educational scholars have extensively examined the subject of women's education, resulting in a rich body of literature that traces its evolution over the centuries. Moreover, this body of work encompasses significant movements advocating for women's rights to education and the establishment of colleges specifically for women. Scholars have also analyzed the challenges women encounter in accessing educational opportunities, including societal norms, economic barriers, and institutional discrimination. Notable works highlight the contributions of key figures, such as Mary Wollstonecraft, who advocated for women's education in both historical and contemporary contexts. Overall, this comprehensive scholarship not only documents the advancement …

Adolescent Students’ Adaptability During The Covid-19 Pandemic Impacting Their Academic Preparedness In College: A Qualitative Exploration Of Resilience In Secondary School Disruptions, Nicole Tyanne Jameson

Dissertations

This study, conducted several years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, takes a unique approach to investigating the long-term effects of the pandemic-induced disruptions on adolescents during secondary schooling and their academic preparedness in college. The study combined a descriptive qualitative analysis of academic routine data with quantifiable resilience scores, providing a comprehensive understanding of the challenges students faced, their adaptability and resilience, and the overall impact on their education journey into college. This comprehensive descriptive qualitative study utilizes triangulation of quantitative data and qualitative approaches to understand the subject matter thoroughly. The quantitative scores meticulously analyzed resiliency and …