Digital Commons Network^™

South Asian American Experiences Of Microaggressions And Wellbeing: The Moderating Role Of Social Support, Archita Birla

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Although the South Asian American community is rapidly expanding in the United States (South Asian Americans Leading Together [SAALT], 2015), there remains a dearth of psychological research regarding the impacts on mental health and wellbeing affecting this diverse community. Racial microaggressions, or verbal or behavioral actions indicating hostile or negative attitudes toward marginalized individuals (Sue et al., 2007), negatively impact People of Color (POC) mental health and wellbeing (Forrest-Bank & Jenson, 2015a; Nadal, Wong, et al., 2015). Some research exists on South Asian American communities and microaggressions (Houshmand et al., 2014; Poolokasingham et al., 2014) but there is limited research …

Resilience And Grit In Children And Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Danielle Oehring

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Resilience is the way in which an individual positively adapts to challenging or difficult life experiences. This process is marked by adjustments to external and internal demands through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility. Grit is perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Although grit and resilience have been researched in children and adolescents, there is a gap in the literature for how these variables relate to developmental disorders, like autism spectrum disorder, in children and adolescents. This study aimed to explore the relationship between autism spectrum disorder and internalizing and externalizing symptoms and whether grit and resilience moderates these relationships. Based …

Educator Perceptions Of Crisis Frequency And Levels Of Preparedness In Rural Schools, Misty C. Duncan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Recent national trends, particularly in rural education, highlight the urgent need for enhanced crisis prevention and intervention strategies. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of crisis frequency and preparedness among rural educators. Through a survey, data were collected on participants' perceptions of crisis frequency and preparedness across various crisis areas. Preliminary findings revealed a significant gap between the perceived level of preparedness and the actual needs for school safety. Despite some training, the quantity and quality of training received by rural educators varied widely, impacting their preparedness to respond to crises. Moreover, an alarming percentage of educators reported not …

Does Friend Groups’ Co-Rumination Explain Depression Homophily Among Undergraduate Women's Friendship Groups?, Alyssa D. C. Klas

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The transition to college is a period known for changes in social support and increases in depression risk. Undergraduate women are particularly vulnerable to developing internalizing symptoms like depression in response to relational stressors and social norm pressures associated with college life. Co-rumination, defined as excessive and ongoing discussion about problems and emotionally distressing topics, both fosters connection and intimacy between friends and increases risk of depressive symptoms. Thus, relationships that are typically seen as buffers from depression may, paradoxically, contribute to risk when support-seeking becomes maladaptive. Most research on co-rumination’s effects is limited to friendship dyads. However, within larger …

“Stay Afloat, Stay Alive”: Stories Of The Challenges And Perseverance Of Foster Care Alumni In Higher Education, Marshall S. Parrent

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this critical narrative inquiry was to collect the stories of foster care alumni (FCA) in higher education, and so that we may better understand how FCA describe their experiences and what colleges and universities can do to help FCA achieve their goal of degree completion. This study highlights the need for a culturally responsive and sustaining curriculum in order to create an environment supportive of FCA needs. Undergraduate FCA are considered one of the most underserved student populations in higher education (Johnson, 2021). While 70-84% of FCA wish to attend college and earn a two- or four-year …

Dystopian Fiction As Liberatory Practice: Dystopian Theory In The Classroom, Hailey C. Bowen

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Dystopian Fiction as Liberatory Practice, a title inspired by bell hooks’ “Theory as Liberatory Practice,” is a proposal for an English 2090 course that focuses on dystopian theory. This class is centered on The Nine Symptoms of Dystopian Theory, which I developed using multiple theoretical models including Afrofuturist Reading Practices, Marxist theory, and feminist, gender, and sexuality theories in conjunction with my own observations about the genre. Dystopian theory is a nine-step reading process that I have developed to reframe any text as dystopian. It is possible to argue that any text is dystopian using this process because, in any …

Student Centers: The Intersection Of Campus Ecology And Sense Of Community, Caitlyn A. Wine

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Student centers are more than physical structures as they function as dynamic environments that serve as the hearthstone of campus, providing spaces for students to gather, connect, and engage. However, their role in fostering students’ sense of community remains underexplored. Grounded in campus ecology theory, this study explored whether time spent in the student center and specific forms of interaction predicted students’ sense of community. A quantitative survey design was employed, the Student Center and Sense of Community Intersection Survey (SCSCIS), to assess student center usage and perceived sense of community. Results indicated that time spent in the student center …

Children At The Heart Of Dialectical Tension In Ernest Hemingway's In Our Time, Holly A. Garrett

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

As a product of its time, Ernest Hemingway’s short-story cycle In Our Time explores the modernist struggle for human connection in a post-World-War-I landscape. This search for meaningful connection is demonstrated through various forms of relationships, but specifically those of the romantic nature. These relationships are brought to the forefront by a series of marriage stories along with multiple Nick Adams stories that feature dysfunctional couples who are often alienated by their inability to properly communicate. The tension surrounding these imperfect unions often features a child at the center of the conflict, exacerbating the preexisting issue. If the short-story cycle …

Application Of Machine Learning And Large Language Models In Healthcare For Data Prediction And Summarization, Chiazam Chisom Izuchukwu

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study aims to examine the use of machine learning (ML) and large language models (LLMs) in healthcare to enhance disease prediction, clinical decision-making, and information management. Five supervised ML models—Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Decision Trees (DT), and Naïve Bayes (NB)—on three different computing platforms—Google Colab, Databricks, and Snowflake—were employed for disease classification. Data preprocessing included treating missing values, encoding categorical variables utilizing one-hot-encoding, feature scaling when needed, and tackling class imbalance with Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) before an 80-20 train-test separation. Models were created with Scikit-learn (Google Collab), Spark MLlib (Databricks), and …

Contextual Augmentation In Artificial Intelligence, Emmanuel Joshua Balogun

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Contextual understanding is a significant challenge of Large Language Models (LLMs), which are typically trained on general-purpose datasets. Due to this, LLMs fail to capture nuanced or domain-specific information and may struggle to interpret user queries accurately. Consequently, prompt engineering can become complex in automating, and LLMs are prone to “hallucinating”—generating random or irrelevant texts—when they lack sufficient context. This undermines their ability to provide focused, accurate responses. Accordingly, this thesis seeks to enhance the contextual understanding capabilities of Artificial Intelligence systems to facilitate more precise and relevant answer generation. Study A looks into a new approach to combating misinformation …

Theopoetics Prothesis: An Exploration In Faith And Form, Elise Aleman, Elise Aleman

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

My work is rooted in the biblical definition of faith: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Like the Bible’s layered complexity—its patterns, metaphors, and cultural references—faith is not merely intellectual but an active trust in what is unseen. It transcends knowledge, anchoring itself in conviction and hope. This intersection of theology and lived experience is at the core of my practice.

Theopoetics—a framework that fuses theology and artistic expression—shapes my approach, allowing faith to be embodied through form rather than merely explained. Two seemingly distinct bodies of work—one centered …

Unmasked, Unbroken, And Transgressional: A Womanist Approach To Black Female Educators' Experiences With Intersectionality And Their Quest To Teach For Educational Liberation, Ty-Ria S. Jenkins

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative study examines the experiences of six Black female educators committed to educational liberation, using Baszile’s (2006) Black Self and Beauboeuf-Lafontant’s (2008) politicized mothering as frameworks. Grounded in Black feminist thought (Hill Collins, 2000) and womanist pedagogy (Walker,1983), it explores how these educators navigate race, gender, and systemic barriers in education. Through qualitative interviews and sista circles (Johnson, 2015), participants shared their journeys of self-realization, political clarity, and transgressional teaching practices.

Findings reveal that Black female educators embody three layers of the Black Self—emergence, absence “invisibility” and self-awareness—while also engaging in politicized mothering through maternal care, political clarity, and …

Stirring Up Foxfire: Rekindling Personal Passion For Teaching Through Storytelling, Frank E. Bird Iii

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

STIRRING UP FOXFIRE: REKINDLING PERSONAL PASSION FOR TEACHING THROUGH STORYTELLING.

by

FRANK BIRD III

Under the Direction of Robert Lake

ABSTRACT

There are two guiding questions for my dissertation and research. The first question pertains to the Foxfire program, a teaching program that originated in Rabun County, Georgia. What is Foxfire? Foxfire is many things. It is a glowing fungus in the mountains of North Georgia. It is fifty-plus years of publishing the Foxfire magazine, a high school class for fifty years, an approach to teaching, a museum, an intern program for high school students, and so much more (Smith, …

Literary Homeplace As A Site Of Knowing And Healing, Shamonique Hassell

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The concept of literary homeplace serves as a locus of rhetorical healing for Black women, emphasizing their lived experiences and creative expressions as forms of resistance and restoration (Collins, 1986; hooks, 1990; Nettles, 2001). The labor of Black women within families, churches, and artistic endeavors contributes to the cultivation of a collective consciousness surrounding oppression and healing (Edwards, 2010; Carey, 2016; Morrison, 1992). Building upon hooks’ (1990) notion of homeplace, this dissertation examines how Black women foster spaces characterized by care, dignity, and resilience (Hersey, 2022; Tate, 1984). Using personal narrative and articulating Black women’s voices, I position homeplace as …

Providing Healthcare Access For The African Population Using An International Care Coordination System: A Case Study Of Nigeria And Ghana, Aminat B. Nwaonumah

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Healthcare access is a major population health challenge among underserved populations in many parts of the world, and the situation in Africa is no exception. Foreign aid, a significant component of healthcare financing in Africa, has played a crucial role in mitigating communicable diseases. However, there is a lacuna in care for non-communicable diseases, such as chronic illnesses, especially among the elderly. This study explored an innovative approach to expanding healthcare access in Nigeria and Ghana through care coordination sponsored by migrant family members residing in the United States. Beyond foreign aid, this research elucidates how the International Care …

Ease Of Product Disassembly Through A Systematic Structured Time-Based Design For Disassembly Methodology, Emeka S. Igwe

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This research introduces a systematic time-based design for disassembly (DfD) framework aimed at optimizing product disassembly by addressing important features like liaisons between components in product, component accessibility and the overall modularity of the product. This study specifically covers electromechanical and mechatronic systems in both household and industrial setup, identifying their disassembly challenges and high value pointers for improvement. The methodology involves using a design for disassembly framework called LeanDfD in carrying out a holistic disassembly process and evaluating quantitative metrics like disassembly time and complexity and suggesting further redesign strategies to minimize disassembly time and cost. Adopting this systematic …

Machine Learning Methods For Intrusion Detection And Response In Network Security, Ayomide Oyemaja

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) play a crucial role in computer network security by identifying malicious activities and potential cyberattacks. This thesis combines machine learning and cybersecurity by applying Reinforcement Learning (RL) in intrusion detection and response using the NSL-KDD dataset.

We designed and implemented a Q-learning framework where an agent learns to classify network traffic over time by interacting with the environment and receiving rewards based on detection accuracy. We also look at the importance of feature selection and classification techniques and how effective they are in improving model performance, reducing the complexity of computation, and producing more desirable results. …

Insider Threat Agent: A Behavioral Based Zero Trust Access Control Using Machine Learning Agent, Michael Fojude

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Hybrid work, cloud adoption, and freely available AI‑enabled attack tools have exposed critical weaknesses in perimeter‑centric security. Current breach reports attribute more than one‑third of incidents to insider misuse or credential compromise, yet many organizations still depend on static Role‑ or Attribute‑Based Access Control that neither verifies intent continuously nor adapts to subtle behavioral change. This research addresses that gap by designing and validating a behavioral based Zero Trust Access Control (ZTAC) Agent. A five‑year enterprise log Dataset was extracted and cleansed to establish a high‑fidelity baseline of normal user behavior. Feature engineering captured temporal regularity (login sequence, session duration), …

Perceptions Of Agricultural Careers In African American School-Age Students Implications For Public Health Workforce, Brittany M. Prince

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study evaluated a six-week enriched agricultural education curriculum on African American students’ knowledge and perceptions of agriculture and agricultural careers in two selected populations. The study aimed to expand awareness about agriculture and diverse agricultural career opportunities in an effort to reduce perceived stereotypes. The study employed a pre-post-test design, implemented at one middle school and one high school that were intentionally selected based on their population demographics. Participants included 108 students across both schools, with the majority identifying as African American. Data analysis included paired-sample t-tests and One-Way ANOVAs and revealed statistically significant increases in knowledge for middle …

Synthesis And Characterization Of A Biobased Polymer From Tung Oil And Pine Rosin & Characterization Of Polyhydroxybutyrate., Arijanet P. Osumah

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents two independents but thematically aligned research projects focused on the development and evaluation of sustainable polymers. The first involves the synthesis and characterization of a biobased polymer derived from tung oil and pine rosin. Tung oil, which is a triglyceride was chemically modified to produce tung oil diglyceride (TDG), which subsequently reacted with abietic acid-rich pine rosin to yield tung oil abietate (TOA), a biobased monomer. The TOA monomer was polymerized with butyl methacrylate (BMA) and divinylbenzene (DVB) using di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP) as a thermal initiator. The resulting polymer was thoroughly characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy …

Effects Of Perinatal Exposure To Lipopolysaccharide And Acetaminophen On Learning In Adult Long-Evans Rats, Lucy A. Sivils

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The present study investigated the individual and combined effects of elevated perinatal inflammation, oxidative stress caused by acetaminophen (APAP) exposure, or elevated inflammation and oxidative stress on adult learning behaviors in Long-Evans rats. While prior studies have examined these factors independently, the combined effects of inflammation and oxidative stress via APAP exposure during early development on learning-related behaviors remain unexplored. The present research aimed to address this gap by the analysis of potential long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and APAP-induced oxidative stress. LPS, APAP, or LPS + APAP was administered during the perinatal period: postnatal days (PD) 9, …

People Of The Ogeechee: Subsistence And Landscape Use In The Late Archaic Ogeechee River Valley, Caleb R. Jeck

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Precontact life in the Ogeechee River valley of Georgia’s Coastal Plain is significantly understudied in contrast to the adjacent Savannah River valley and the coast of Georgia. Research in these regions has provided a substantial amount of archaeological data that has helped us to understand Late Archaic period dynamics and the settlement patterns of precontact people, primarily those associated with Stallings culture. The Ogeechee River valley figured prominently during the Late Archaic period, especially during Classic Stallings times, yet the region’s archaeological record is largely unexamined. Settlement patterns for coastal Georgia and the middle Savannah River valley have been proposed …

The Affordable Care Act And The For-Profit Congregate Care Industry: How Good Policy Intent Turned A Fringe Industry Into A Taxpayer-Funded Multi Billion Dollar Industry, Erin Viehmann

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The Affordable Care Act significantly transformed the for-profit congregate care (FPCC) industry, which provides residential treatment for adolescents with behavioral and mental health issues. This study analyzes financial records from Universal Health Services (UHS), the largest provider in the industry, to examine how healthcare policy changes and economic conditions affected the industry's growth and funding structure. Through analysis of SEC Form 10-K filings from 2006-2016, the research documents how the ACA's mental health coverage mandates created new revenue streams that enabled dramatic industry expansion. Findings show that following ACA passage in 2010, UHS more than doubled its behavioral health capacity …

Temporal Analysis Of Construction Safety Incidents In Southeastern U.S. Using Machine Learning Techniques, Mayowa O. Oladele

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Construction safety incidents remain a significant concern, particularly in the Southeastern U.S. due to the high-risk nature of the industry. Analyzing patterns in these incidents can help improve safety practices and reduce accidents. Machine learning (ML) techniques were employed in this study to identify temporal patterns in construction safety incidents, aiming to enhance proactive safety management. The machine learning methods used in this research included logistic regression, decision trees, random forest, support vector machine (SVM), and K nearest neighbors (KNN).

The objective of the study was to analyze temporal trends in safety incidents and identify the most effective machine learningtechnique …

Motivating Students Through Problem-Based And Project-Based Learning, Dennis J. Moore

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

As educators, motivating students can be a difficult task.Sixteen eighth-grade students discuss their perceptions of what makes educational programs motivating. In teacher-centered classrooms, teachers lecture while their students take notes, quizzes, and tests and practice memorization skills in preparation for high-stakes testing. Is this a fair assessment of a student's knowledge, and does this type of instruction fulfill students’ needs for a successful future? Research for this case study focused on students' perceptions of an agricultural program that utilizes problem-based and project-based learning with a sustainability focus.

In problem-based learning (PBL) classes, students are given real-world problems and asked …

Experiences Of Special Education Teachers During Covid-19: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Sheds Light On Learning Loss Among Young Students With Disabilities, Cassidy A. Stine

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Many aspects of teaching and learning for students with disabilities (SWDs) were drastically altered during the height of COVID-19. While many students experienced learning gaps or loss related to unprecedented and abrupt changes to their education, young SWDs in rural areas were faced with unique challenges. The purpose of this Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study was to gain knowledge regarding teaching experiences/perceptions of rural Georgia K-5 special education teachers during the height of COVID-19 that shed light on learning loss among SWDs. The researcher was specifically interested in knowing more about teachers’ perceptions of academic and social-emotional learning loss as …

Comparative Analysis Of Lidar And Close-Range Photogrammetry Techniques For Inspection Of Mse Walls In Two Georgia Bridges, Md. Mehrab Hossain

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining walls are durable, settlement tolerant, easy to install, and present cost-effectiveness, in highway bridges. Nevertheless, the cost of repairing MSE walls is high, and it is crucial to have an accurate, quantitative, and scalable inspection method for early detection of potential problems. This study aims to analyze and evaluate undesired displacements that may affect these walls over time. For this, two remote-sensing technologies are considered: Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and 3D Close Range Photogrammetry (CRP). Their performances are compared against an accurate Robotic Total Station (RTS) device, serving as the benchmarking instrument. This work …

Examining The Experiences Of Student Veterans With Support Services At Their Higher Education Institutions, Alejandra Miles

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of student veterans with support services at their higher education institutions. Using a phenomenological design, it provided space for student veterans to share their stories and amplify their voices. Grounded in Astin’s (1984) theory of student involvement, the study conducted eight in-depth interviews with student veterans. The findings aligned with the theoretical framework and contributed to the literature on student veterans in higher education. Six key themes emerged: early preparation and planning for college, the impact of faculty interactions, peer connections with fellow veterans, understaffing of campus military-affiliated offices, awareness and use of …

Visual Attention And Memory Performance On Advertisements Featuring Celebrities, Kyrho Callis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

VISUAL ATTENTION AND MEMORY PERFORMANCE ON ADVERTISEMENTS FEATURING CELEBRITIES

Accuracy In Real World To Pixel Coordinate Conversion, Noredia O. Imudia

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The field of computer vision has numerous applications of the real-world to pixel coordinate conversion. Related fields of machine learning, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality share similar benefits. My contribution involves assessing the accuracy of multiple coordinate conversion methods through experimentation. The Focal Length Calibration method allows for manual calibration using the scale factor. I have concluded that manual camera calibration causes the greatest improvements to accuracy when the method focuses on every point in the image. Methods that localize accuracy still increase accuracy, but not to the same degree.