Digital Commons Network^™

Imago Dei Leadership Model, Jessica Lei Kritner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Dissertation-in-Praxis sought to observe the intentional application of leadership styles at Birmingham Master Commission (BMC), a traditional discipleship program for college aged adults (ages 18–25). While biblically centered and focused on spiritual formation, BMC lacked healthy leadership precedent and defaulted to peer-leadership only. This practice created a sporadic leadership culture that restricted student growth, autonomy, and investment in the program. This Dissertation-in-Praxis served as a process-based intervention on the psychological and spiritual impacts leadership styles have on young adult leaders. Transformational, servant, and participative leadership practices were modeled in existing ministry systems: one-on-one mentoring, leadership labs, and small group …

Our Hbcus Matter: Factors Influencing Hbcus’ Graduation Rates, Brandon Markelle Graham

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative comparative multi case study examined how institutional practices, leadership philosophies, and academic support systems affect Pell Grant recipients' student success at Atlantic A&M University (AAMU) and Heritage State University (HSU). Based on Swail's Geometric Model of Student Persistence and Achievement, the study examined cognitive, institutional, and social factors of student success using institutional data, NCES datasets, and two former HBCU presidents' perspectives. Semi-structured interviews with former tenured HBCU presidents illuminated how financial constraints, performance-based accountability metrics, and admissions standards shaped campus strategies from 2012 to 2021. The study examined first-time, first-year Pell Grant recipients' graduation outcomes, standardized test …

Nebraska Transcript (University Of Nebraska College Of Law), Fall 2023

Nebraska Transcript

Dean's message

Inclusive Leadership

Team earns $1M to bridge connections between history, civil rights

New student organizations highlight varied law student experiences

Inclusive Leadership Fellows guide 1L class 8 Bishop, ’92, named multicultural homecoming honoree

Mangram, ’24, named Inspire Scholarship Finalist

Student wellness initiatives expand

Ruiz, ’25, finds balance on and off the track

Advancing Justice Professor Danielle Jefferis: Protecting the Rights of the Incarcerated and Confined

Storer, ’17, works to combat human trafficking

2023 Strategic Plan Update

Inaugural Public Interest Scholars named

New clinic at Nebraska Law will defend First Amendment rights

Children’s Justice Clinic receives grant from Women …

Residence Life As Learning Organizations: An Inquiry Into Organizational Elements That Support Integration Of The Residential Curriculum, Heather Kropf

Dissertations and Theses

Student learning and success is tied to the learning goals and mission of each institution, including environments outside of the classroom. Students are more diverse than ever in terms of their lived experience and their culture, identity, and how they engage in learning. Research has indicated that students spend the majority of their time outside the classroom, where they are learning through informal and formal environments. This has significance and opportunities for student affairs practitioners who desire to create student learning environments. In fact, residence life curricular approaches have demonstrated positive learning experiences for students.

However, implementing a learning-based curricular …

Fostering A Sense Of Belonging: The Asian American Student Experience, Linh Phuong Nguyen

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my research is twofold: to examine the ways that Asian American graduate students within the School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) experience a sense of social belonging at the University of San Diego (USD) and to create a means through which their sense of social belonging may be enhanced. There were two cycles, consisting a total of three focus groups, which worked through the four phases of appreciative inquiry. Cultural themes, such as difficulty approaching authority figures, preference for ethnic subgroup identification, and experiences of marginalization by those from within the Asian American community, other people …

Discipleship As A Catalyst For Personal Transformation In The Christian Faith, Vanessa Marie Seifert

Theses & Dissertations

Some Christian churches approach the majority of their faith expression with a 'go to the community' dynamic, while other churches focus primarily on attracting the community to 'come to them.' The problem is that there is a growing population of religiously unaffiliated people in the United States for whom traditional forms of faith expression are not meaningful. A new way of thinking about communal faith expression is needed if the church seeks to reach people who are spiritually curious but not interested in the attractional church model. The journey towards organizational change, even for churches, often begins with a commitment …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Student Spiritual Development In A Living-Learning Community, Jason Morris, Mimi Barnard, Greg Morris, Julie Williamson

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The purpose of this study is to examine the spiritual development of eight participants in a living-learning community at Abilene Christian University. Using a qualitative methodology, this study attempted to capture the voices of participants as they concluded a year together in a Barrett Hall living-learning community (LCC). Data were collected over a period of 2-3 weeks through individual semi-structured interviews, as well as one focus group comprised of all eight community members. Data were analyzed to capture meaningful themes and categories. Implications for practice are discussed.