Digital Commons Network^™

Either At The Table Or On The Menu: Strategies For Enabling Practitioner-Led Policy Co-Creation In Education Systems, Robert Reyes

Theses and Dissertations

Demands for educational transformation present unparalleled challenges for practitioners, as successive reform initiatives often exclude their voices and discount their expertise. Despite empirical evidence recognizing educators as key agents of change, systemic barriers continue to hinder their participation in policy-centered decision making. This study underscores the urgent need for education systems to invest in practitioner capacity-building, structural enablement, and cross-sector collaboration to create a more equitable and responsive future for education governance. A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed to explore how best to prepare and enable PK-12 practitioners to co-create education policy at the state level, aiming to empower them …

When Purpose Isn’T Enough: Adapting For-Profit Retention Practices To Support Early-Career Professionals In Youth- Serving Nonprofits, Brittany Erway Soto

Theses and Dissertations

This comparative qualitative study explored how nonprofit and for-profit organizations approach the retention and development of early-career professionals aged 18 to 25. Drawing on Jay Galbraith’s (1995) STAR model of organizational design—encompassing strategy, structure, process, people, and rewards—the study investigated what practices are currently in place and which strategies nonprofits might adopt from for-profit organizations to improve employee engagement and retention. Data were collected through 10 semi-structured interviews with senior leaders from five large, youth-serving nonprofit organizations and five for-profit companies with strong employee retention reputations. The findings revealed six core differences between sectors, with for-profit organizations demonstrating more consistent …

Practitioner Perspectives On Barriers And Opportunities Shaping Contemporary Dei, Carlen Arima

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the lived experiences of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practitioners to understand the barriers and opportunities shaping their work in the current landscape. The study identified conditions for success, including two organizational conditions (authentic leadership commitment and strategic business alignment), three practitioner-driven strategies (human resource operations and systemic integration, use of data and metrics, and adaptive framing to increase adoption), and three persistent barriers (leadership support without operational follow-through, funding and time constraints, and structural marginalization of DEI). A central finding revealed that leadership commitment was both the most cited enabler of success and, when lacking operational …

Leadership In Behavioral Health, Rebecca Mccoy

School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Leadership in healthcare is difficult when dealing with human contact in its most raw and vulnerable way. Leadership in behavioral health is just as challenging as direct practice practitioners tend to be the ones who move up into these roles. This study will exam “Identifying factors that promote successful leadership and challenges that cause barriers to having successful leadership in behavioral health.” This includes soft and hard skill knowledge, growth opportunities and the strengths and struggles in moving into leadership roles in this industry.

The study is based on phenomenological research to gain an understanding of the individual experience …

When Coalitions Do Not Form: The Disability Movement And The Sustainability Movement In Congressional Hearings, Samantha Lavenhagen

American Studies Honors Papers

This thesis examines why and how the disability issue network has traditionally been excluded from the legislative process. The integration of the disability issue network into congressional hearings demonstrates larger themes of power and respect in politics and society. Whether through quotes, statements for the record, or testifying as a witness, issue networks influence lawmakers and lawmaking, building and maintaining relationships with Congress Members and other issue networks. This integration of the disability issue network into congressional hearings reveals larger themes of power and respect in politics and society. More specifically, this thesis investigates the absence of disability organizations from …

Public University Gift Management Policies: Building A Best Practice Guide, Cristin Costello

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Currently, no consistent standards exist for how institutions of higher education should manage their non-endowed gift revenue. Good stewardship of gift funds is vital to ensuring the maintenance of donor relationships to create unions that bring further financial opportunities to universities for years to come. Public institutions, as recipients of government dollars, are especially vulnerable to the negative repercussions that could come with the scandal of misappropriated gift dollars. Overall cash donations to higher education have significantly increased in the past few decades as state appropriations fall short and the need to keep tuition rates stable increases. It is more …

Challenges And Effects: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Unique Challenges Faced By Black Male Care Givers In Long-Term Care, Qudrat Oluwatimilehin Olufemi-Dirisu

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The existing literature on caregivers working in long-term care focuses on the challenges ranging from being overworked, mental stress, low wages, and abuse. However, little is known about the unique intersectional experiences of Black male caregivers, particularly regarding how race and gender shape their professional encounters, societal perceptions, and coping strategies. The present study analyzed unique stressors of Black male care givers in long term care using their personal experiences and how these stressors impact their mental health. The effects of societal expectations, client biases, and workplace stereotypes significantly affect Black male caregivers are also examined against the background that …

The Effects Of An Organizational Shift To Pay Transparency On Employees’ Justified Under-Met Pay Standing Expectations And Turnover Intentions, Heather Godsey

Industrial-Organizational Psychology Dissertations

Pay transparency is becoming more commonplace within U.S. organizations, due to the enactment of state pay transparency laws attempting to reduce the gender wage gap and broader calls for greater transparency in organizations. While transparency may be ideal, its effects on employee attitudes and behaviors are unclear. This study explored a potential unintended outcome of pay transparency, employee turnover, by examining how fairness perceptions mediate the justified under-met pay standing expectations and employees’ turnover intentions relationship, while investigating gender and justice sensitivity as moderators. A sample of 426 participants experienced an organizational shift from pay secrecy to pay transparency and …

A Change In Climate: Inclusion And Menopause Experience At Work, Janie D. Stuart

Industrial-Organizational Psychology Dissertations

Inclusion within workplace environments is increasingly important as workforce diversity continues to expand. Despite anti-discrimination laws, women and other underrepresented groups often face exclusion in the workplace, which negatively affects their professional growth, health, and well-being. This research focused on how menopause, a natural biological transition, compounds workplace exclusion for women. Specifically, the study investigated the relationship between Menopause Experience and two workplace outcomes, Organizational Commitment and Turnover Intention, and assessed the moderating effects of Inclusion in organizations, teams, and non-gendered workplace cultures. There were strong positive relationships between all three dimensions of Inclusion with both Organizational Commitment and Turnover …

Healthcare Providers’ Lived Experiences During Pivotal Change, Lisa Raynelle Shelley

Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined healthcare providers’ lived experiences of psychological safety and administrative leader behaviors that influenced those experiences during pivotal change. While much research addressed psychological safety among frontline healthcare staff, a gap was noticed concerning providers. This study aimed to investigate the impact of psychological safety and administrative support on provider engagement, emotional response, and retention during periods of significant change. Data were collected via a survey containing multiple-choice and open-ended questions, followed by semi-structured interviews. Four findings emerged. First, the providers’ pivotal events generated themes of “workplace power dynamics,” “systemic and organizational change,” “transformational crisis,” and “physical …

An Introductory Guide To Trauma Informed Care, Isabella Fallon

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project will consist of researching and analyzing at least 30 scholarly and government publications about trauma-informed care (TIC), resulting in a literature review at between 20-25 pages in length. TIC encompasses direct practice with clients, assessment tools, organizational structure and policy, as well as governing documents that impact service delivery. This literature review will build on the work of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach, focusing on providing practical examples of the physical and mental impacts of trauma, trauma-informed frameworks, trauma-informed tools/assessments, and trauma-informed policy, while analyzing and …

Internal Or External: An Exploration Of The United States Police Chief Hiring Process, Kayleigh Walker

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper explores the hiring processes of police chiefs across the United States, focusing on internal versus external hiring practices. The goal of this research was to identify common trends, legislative barriers, and the impact of leadership on the hiring process through historical context, legal analysis, and case studies. The findings suggest that internal hires dominate chief appointments, though external hires are often sought during crises. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research and highlights the need to more fully understand this phenomenon. Understanding the processes and limitations surrounding the appointment of new leadership is critical to reform and …

Organizational Culture Formation In Early-Stage, Mission-Driven Ventures, Janezee Bond

Theses and Dissertations

This research seeks to understand how organization culture is formed in early-stage nonprofit, mission-driven, and purpose driven organizations. Growth stage was determined by looking at Flamholtz and Randl’s “Growing Pains” stages of organizational growth and Cameron & Quinn’s Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) was utilized to identify the current organizational culture type. The research focused on the insights and experiences of founders of early-stage companies (defined as having been founded in the past 15 years). The research revealed that founders are integral in culture creation through their roles and especially through role modeling in the early stages. Additionally, one significant …

'No Girl-On Girl Crime': A Qualitative Interview Study Of How Older Women In The Police Force Experience Competition, Social Support, And Discrimination, Bridget Graham

Theses and Dissertations

Law enforcement remains a male-dominated field in which women continually have to prove they belong. As women achieve recognition and move into high-ranking roles in law enforcement, they encounter unique forms of discrimination and social support opportunities that are shaped by their years of experience. To better understand the unique lived experiences of aging women in the context of the police force, this thesis conducted qualitative interviews with women in their fifties who have achieved success as police officers. Semi-structured interviews with six aging adult women within law enforcement were conducted. The interviews included questions related to the evolution of …

Effective Onboarding For C-Suites, Ming Hwee Low

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research explored what constituted effective onboarding for C-suite leaders, particularly CEOs and their direct reports, to support their rapid integration and effectiveness within organizations. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 10 C-suite leaders across multiple sectors, the study aimed to contribute to the fields of organizational development and leadership development by identifying key onboarding practices that facilitate a new leader’s success. The research employed a grounded theory approach, coding and analyzing quotes from participants to derive central themes. Findings indicated that effective onboarding at the C-suite level extended beyond the initial weeks of orientation. Participants emphasized the need for …

The Inner Emotional Landscape Of Nascent Od Entrepreneurs: A Qualitative Study Of Women Founders, Jordan Alexandra Davies

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the inner emotional landscape of nascent female entrepreneurs in the field of Organization Development (OD), illuminating the paradoxes they encounter as they build values-based businesses in a field that socializes deep personal alignment. Through semi-structured interviews with 10 founders of boutique OD firms, the research surfaced tensions between authenticity and performance, empowerment and dependency, coherence, and emotional dissonance. The findings suggest that becoming an OD entrepreneur involves working through paradox, not erasing it. In doing so, the study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of emotional labor, legitimacy, and the quiet cost of performing congruence in a …

Impacts Of Artificial Intelligence On The Human Workforce, Dwayne A. Henry

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored how artificial intelligence (AI) implementation was experienced by employees across organizations with varying levels of AI maturity. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with fifteen professionals across twelve organizations, including technology firms, government agencies, and healthcare providers, the research examined perceptions of AI's impact on daily work, role evolution, organizational culture, and employee learning. Thematic analysis revealed seven major themes: trust and transparency in AI, productivity and job security, training and learning support, organizational culture, customer-centric use of AI, ethical and environmental concerns, and evolving roles. While participants recognized AI’s potential to enhance efficiency and innovation, they also …

Analysis Of Dual Roles: Work-Life Balance Experiences Of Female Professors And Mothers In California, Lu Liang

Theses and Dissertations

The study aims to discover and understand the work-life balance experience of mothers who are also professors working in higher education institutions in California. The research reveals the unique challenges, needs, and motivations to manage work and family responsibilities. The literature review indicates that mother professors encounter conflicts of roles and responsibilities from academic work and domestic duties. Moreover, mother professors experience persistent gender disparity and systemic barriers as an underrepresented group in academia, hindering their personal and professional advancements. This qualitative study utilizes quantitative ethnography (QE), an incorporated research methodology to examine mother professors’ work-life balance experience. Additionally, the …

Ai For The Common Good: Exploring Global Nonprofit Framing Of Artificial Intelligence, Kathleen Teresa Scott

Theses and Dissertations

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes nearly every sector, global nonprofits face a distinct challenge: embracing innovation without compromising their core missions. This study investigated how three leading nonprofit organizations--the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Brookings Institution, and the Center for Creative Leadership--publicly framed their AI implementation approaches between 2018 and 2025. These organizations span the fields of humanitarian aid, policy research, and leadership development, offering a cross-sector perspective on how mission-driven institutions navigate technological transformation.Using a mixed-methods document analysis, this research examined both internal implementation narratives and outward-facing thought leadership. Findings revealed that while all three organizations …

How Does Organization Growth Affect The Organization’S Culture, Megan Howe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand how organization growth affects the organization’s culture. Culture was generally defined as the behavioral norms and ways of working at an organization. Following interviews with 28 people in an organization that had been growing and was expecting to grow further, the results of the study suggested that organization growth did not have a noticeable impact on culture. Instead, the data suggest that the longer a person is a part of a culture, the more opportunity there is to see evolution or how things like growth, the passing of time, generational differences, and …

An Exploration Of Compassion Fatigue In Organization Development Practitioners, Ciara Henschke

Theses and Dissertations

Compassion fatigue is well-documented in helping professions but remains underexplored in the field of organization development (OD). This qualitative study examines the contributing factors, manifestations, and mitigation strategies of compassion fatigue among OD practitioners. Findings from interviews with experienced practitioners reveal that leadership dysfunction, large-scale change, role-based emotional labor, and personal vulnerability contribute to fatigue. Manifestations span emotional, cognitive, physical, and relational domains, sometimes spilling into practitioners’ personal lives and diminishing professional effectiveness. Common coping strategies include physical regulation, boundary-setting, peer support, and reframing — similar to those in other helping fields, yet uniquely adapted in the absence of formal …

Supports For Mental Well-Being Valued By Healthcare Workers: Qualitative Analysis Of Data From A Canadian Cohort Of Healthcare Workers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Shannon Marie Ruzycki, Anil Adisesh, Quentin Durand-Moreau, France Labrèche, Tanis Zadunayski, Erica Stroud, Nicola Cherry

Études primaires

A prospective cohort of 4964 HCWs from four Canadian provinces was established early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were invited to comment about workplace mental health supports at three time points. We performed a thematic content analysis of responses from 1738 participants using the Social Support Behaviour Code framework to categorize barriers to support as informational, tangible, emotional, social, or expressing esteem. Themes were synthesized into suggestions for healthcare organizations to prepare for future crises. Formal and informal peer support, workplace mental health supports, and one-on-one counseling were most often mentioned as valued. Analysis suggested that workplace social networks as …

Urban Isolation In The Digital Age- Examining The Sociological Impact Of The Digital Divide On Civic Life In U.S. Cities, Delante Clark

Graduate Scholarship and Creative Works

The digital divide remains a persistent barrier to civic participation and social inclusion in urban America, particularly in historically underserved communities. This mixed-methods study investigates how digital lack of access affects civic engagement, social capital, and community cohesion in U.S. cities, with a focus on Chicago’s South Side, Harlem New York, St. Louis, and Orlando. Drawing on quantitative data from recent surveys and qualitative insights from peer-reviewed literature, the research applies four sociological frameworks, Urban Sociology, Social Capital Theory, Critical Race Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism. These were used to examine the structural and interpretive aspects of digital isolation. Findings reveal …

Relationship Between Transformational Leadership And Employees' Psychological Safety, Minahil Khan

SSLA Culminating Experience

This study explored how psychological safety manifests in the workplace and how it is influenced by transformational leadership. Using quantitative survey data from 101 employees—pre-dominantly based in Karachi, Pakistan—the research investigated the relationship between psychological safety and transformational leadership. It also explored whether there is a gender difference in the employees’ perception of transformational leadership and psychological safety. Findings indicate that transformational leadership has a significant positive correlation of 0.734 with psychological safety, which in turn enhances employees’ willingness to speak up and engage in creative problem-solving. Additionally results also indicated that there is no statistically significant gender difference in …

Diverse Environments: Refining The Concept Of Remote Work Through A Job Demands-Resources Lens, Riley Schwanz

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Global events such as globalization, technological advancements, and fundamentally new methods for completing work are contributing factors to the mass migration of employees from in-person to more remote work modalities. Researchers have found evidence for advantages (e.g., autonomy) and disadvantages (i.e., lack of teamwork) for employees in more remote modalities. However, there are critical gaps in the literature including a lack of clear definitions, assessments, taxonomies, and application of well-established theories. Beyond focusing on the physical aspects of remote work, I proposed a new concept, degree of remoteness, to capture the psychological experience of working remotely. Further, I proposed that …

Ready, Set, Resistance: A Dual Continuum Approach To Organizational Change Acceptance, Alexandria Bohn

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

With organizations operating in increasingly dynamic and competitive landscapes, organizations need to be able to get their employees to adapt to system-wide changes that are needed. However, research has suggested a 70% failure rate for organizational change initiatives (Hughes, 2011). Prior research has produced mixed research results when examining resistance and readiness to organizational change on either a single dimension (e.g., Kaplan, 1972) or two dimensions (e.g., Repovs, Drnovsek, & Kase, 2019). I extended prior research by examining resistance versus readiness as residing on a single continuum and whether effects on outcomes were moderated by change orientations. Research has suggested …

The Loneliest Number: Implications For Using Single-Item Measures In Regression Analysis, Juliana Reis

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The current study examines the use of single-item measures to assess constructs used by occupational stress researchers. Surveys are fundamental tools for I/O Psychologist practitioners, and multiple-item measures are commonly used to fulfill that purpose. However, long surveys may offer challenges to both administrators and respondents. As an effort to mitigate those challenges, single-item measures have been receiving recognition as a promising alternative to the current psychometric measures due to their benefits, such as reduced cost and higher face validity. We will discuss the previous studies on single-item measures and why it’s relevant to explore its potential by performing a …

Sealing The Deal: A Case Study Of A Private, Southeastern, Regional College’S Student Onboarding Practices, Alicia R. Gaston, Kristen Meyer, Tyler Ogden, Jennifer Perkinson, Casey Yocum Michaels

Doctor of Education Capstones

Each year, higher education institutions offer support to new, incoming students through an onboarding process that requires dedication and collaboration across multiple departments. Offering streamlined guidance and clear communication throughout the onboarding process is essential to ensure incoming students understand action steps without becoming overwhelmed with new terminology, processes, and environments. This explanatory case study is set to understand the current communication practices and technology use across onboarding departments at Brightside College – also referred to as Brightside or BC (pseudonym). The research team aimed to understand Brightside's onboarding staff's perspective of current processes and practices. With emphasis on the …

Surviving And Thriving In The Hybrid Cloud: A Review Of The Current Cloud Computing Landscape, Peter Munsch, Alison Munsch

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Background and Purpose

Both academic and industry institutions have increasingly migrated essential services to public cloud providers (e.g., Microsoft, AWS, Google) with mixed outcomes. Some industry leaders attempted to fully replace their on-premises data centers with public cloud services, a move not advised without thorough performance and cost analyses (Potel, 2023). Despite some organizations pulling back from the “Cloud First” strategy, the public cloud services market continued to grow, with revenue increasing by approximately 20% year-over-year since 2020 and surpassing half a trillion dollars in 2022 (IDC Worldwide Semiannual Public Cloud Services Tracker, 2H 2022). Cloud technologists suggested that hybrid …

Fostering Collaboration And Synergy: Utilizing The Lorna Model Of Problem Solving To Assist New Leaders With Pre-Existing Teams, Kennetia A. Brooks

Doctor of Leadership Projects

New leaders can face several challenges that hinder their ability to succeed. Ranking high on these challenges is the absence of developed skills to manage others, make strategic decisions, and navigate new workplace cultures. Another hurdle can be an inability to build effective, synergetic teams. Specific leadership training is necessary to establish collaboration and success amongst team members. Through literature research and leadership experiences, one training has been developed and used to equip new leaders for these tasks. The LORNA Model is a prescriptive approach to problem-solving that intentionally navigates through workplace relationships and incorporates elements of team members’ recognition, …