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I Am Because We Are: A Narrative Inquiry Of Waiver Teachers’ Sense Of Belonging In Title I High Schools, Bernard Young

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative narrative inquiry examined how former waiver teachers in low-performing Title I high schools in Georgia experienced a sense of belonging within their school communities and how that sense of belonging influenced their engagement in professional learning and their perceived effectiveness in supporting student achievement. Grounded in the Belongingness Hypothesis and guided by narrative inquiry methodology, the study framed participants’ experiences through the Bildungsroman structure to explore their journeys of professional becoming. Data were collected using a life-story interview protocol that combined open-ended narrative invitations with responsive follow-up questioning and were analyzed through a multi-phase narrative inquiry process informed …

Spieltrieb, Edward F. Newcomb

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis investigates the creative and pedagogical intersections of nostalgia, play, and neurodivergent experience through a mixed-media studio practice. Grounded in Friedrich Schiller’s concept of Spieltrieb—the human drive to play as a balance between sensual and rational impulses—this work explores how childhood memory, instinct, and impulsive mark making inform both artistic production and art education.

Drawing on theoretical frameworks by Susan Sontag and John Berger, the work resists overinterpretation in favor of sensory immediacy, inviting viewers into direct, embodied encounters with material form. Sontag’s critique of mimetic representation and Berger’s analysis of reproducibility and context inform a practice that …

The Monster Consuming American Education: An Ethnodramatic Exploration Of Standardized Testing And Student Stress, Jennifer Bagley

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study looks at how elementary students experience Standardized Testing, focusing on the emotional and physical effects of the Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS). Most research on high-stakes testing focuses on scores, accountability, and policy, but fewer studies look at how students actually describe these experiences. Grounded in Cultural Studies and informed by Critical Pedagogy, this study examines how students interpret and make meaning of their testing experiences within the broader culture of accountability and standardized assessment. This study focuses on student voices to better understand what testing feels like for them and how they make sense of it in …

Exploring Acculturation And Its Role In Substance Abuse Behaviors Among Refugee Populations In Bowling Green, Ky: An Interactive Learning Experience Through Provider’S Perspectives., Aishwarya Potluri

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Substance use among refugee populations is an emerging public health concern shaped/influenced by cultural, social, and structural factors associated with resettlement. This qualitative study explored providers’ perspectives on substance use behaviors among refugees in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Using Health Behavior Theory with acculturation as a contextual construct, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 providers working with refugee-serving organizations. Data collected through the interviews was analyzed using thematic analysis in NVivo. The findings indicate that substance use is being influenced by peer exposure, occupational stress, and the increased availability of substances in the United States. Providers identified cultural stigma surrounding mental …

Female Athletes’ Mental Health Help-Seeking Experiences: Understanding The Impact Of The Coach-Athlete Relationship And Coach Sex, Verena Zaisberger

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Mental health help-seeking remains stigmatized in the world of sports (Cosh et al., 2024). Evidence suggests that female athletes may prefer to disclose vulnerable topics to individuals of the same sex (Keil et al., 2023), including help-seeking (O’Keeffe et al., 2022). However, no investigations have explored how coach sex or the coach-athlete relationship may influence female athletes help-seeking experiences. This is despite the importance of coaches in promoting and facilitating mental health services utilization (Bissett et al., 2020). To further understand this topic, the aim of this study was to explore what female athletes’ mental health help-seeking experiences are under …

2026 Georgia Southern University Men's Soccer Roster, Georgia Southern University

Men's Soccer Records

No abstract provided.

2025 Georgia Southern University Softball Media Guide, Georgia Southern University

Women's Softball Records

No abstract provided.

2025-2026 Georgia Southern University Women's Swimming And Diving Roster, Georgia Southern University

Women's Swimming Records

No abstract provided.

Negotiating Disability Stigma In Undergraduate Students With Academic Accommodations, Demetruis Leonard, Pietro A. Sasso

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

To understand how undergraduate students diagnosed with a disability who receive academic accommodations negotiate stigma, this phenomenological qualitative study was conducted at a midwestern private university using Gibson's (2006) Disability Identity Development Model. Findings from this study of six undergraduates receiving academic accommodations suggest they qualified for reasonable accommodations to guarantee equal access and mitigate the impact of their diagnosed ADHD, depression, and/or anxiety and were granted academic accommodations such as extended time for testing and assignments. These students also used family, friends, and peers to support the navigation of the negative stigma of being perceived as “lazy” or “taking …

Conceptualizations Of Hazing: An Exploratory Study Using Lukes’ Three Dimensions Of Power, David James Kerschner, Emily Feuer, Elizabeth J. Allan

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Building on connections between hazing and power in the literature, we analyzed data generated from campus hazing climate interviews with 308 participants (209 staff members, 99 students) at nine research universities in the United States. Our analysis draws on Lukes’ (1974, 2005) three dimensions of power as a conceptual framework and highlights how each of these dimensions is embedded in staff member and student definitions, conceptualizations, and understandings of hazing. Findings and subthemes for each of Lukes’ dimensions are shared and described, illuminating sources of power associated with each dimension. This investigation reveals important nuances associated with hazing, aligning with …

Racial Discrimination And Racial Identity Among Asian College Students: The Moderating Role Of Interdependent Self-Construal, Foong Yan Lee, Qianyi Wang, Eunseon Gong

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

The current study examined the moderating role of interdependent self-construal in the relationship between perceived racial discrimination and racial group identification among 130 Asian college students at a U.S. institution. Using moderation regression analyses, results indicated that perceived racial discrimination was associated with lower racial group identification, and this relationship was significantly moderated by interdependent self-construal. Specifically, racial discrimination was negatively associated with racial group identification among students reporting lower levels of interdependent self-construal, whereas this association was not significant among those with higher interdependent self-construal. These findings suggest that individual differences in self-construal shape how Asian college students interpret …

The Impact Of Belonging To Identity-Based Student Organizations On Minority Stress In A Midwestern Predominantly White University, Mallory Millet, Akanksha Das, Christian C. Garcia, Rose Marie Ward

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Minoritized students are exposed to additional unique stressors due to the systematic devaluation of their identities (i.e., minority stress). Additionally, minoritized students report higher levels of mental health concerns than their peers (e.g., anxiety, depression). Identity-based student organizations can be one avenue that universities could use to support these students. These organizations, designed to build social connections among students with shared experiences, may reduce minority stress through fostering students’ sense of belonging. However, the relationship between sense of belonging, minority stress, and identity-based student organizations has yet to be studied. The present study used quantitative and qualitative methods to understand …

Financial Stress And Academic Disruption Among U.S. Postsecondary Students: The Mediating Role Of Anxiety, Tania Akter

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Given the growing mental health challenges among students in the United States, this study examines how financial stress is associated with anxiety and assesses whether anxiety mediates the relationship between financial stress and academic disruption among U.S. postsecondary students. Data from the 2023–2024 Healthy Minds Study were analyzed using survey-weighted linear regression models to assess the association between financial stress and anxiety, and a generalized structural equation model (GSEM) to test whether anxiety mediates the relationship between financial stress and academic disruption. Results showed that financial stress was significantly associated with anxiety. Mediation analysis indicated that anxiety significantly mediated the …

“Maybe I’M Not Valued Here”: Organizational Toxins In Student Affairs, William R. Bowey Jr

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Organizations of student affairs are dynamic entities that are situated to support the learning, growth, development, and wellbeing of students. However, like any organization, they may contain toxins that detract from these goals. This study situates ambiguity and exploitation as organizational toxins faced by individuals in student affairs. The conceptualization of organizational toxins is novel to the student affairs literature, and the findings provide fertile ground for future research and the implementation of strategies to mitigate toxins in student affairs.

2025-2026 University Awards Of Excellence, Georgia Southern University

University Awards of Excellence

• Innovation and Discovery
• Economic and Social Mobility
• People and Community Development
• Academic Excellence
• Collaboration and Partnership
• Leadership
• Sustainable Stewardship
• John D. and Merlyn J. Denitto Outstanding Endeavor Award
• Collective Impact

From The Classroom To The Workplace: The Role Of Internships In Shaping Student Values, Jasmine Williams

Honors College Theses

A significant degree of research on workplace values has been conducted to better understand how employees are motivated in the hopes of reducing turnover. There also exists a significant body of literature on how internships impact career outcome and can effectively prepare students for the workforce. However, previous studies have not explored the differences between students who have completed internships in comparison to those who have not. The goal of this research is to determine whether internships create a significant impact on students’ workplace values (e.g. intrinsic, extrinsic, altruistic, and social) when compared to students who have not completed an …

More Than Just Multiculturally Competent: Doctoral Student Competency And Preparedness To Work With Individuals With Disabilities, Kristen N. Dickens, Chantrelle Varnado-Johnson, Synthia Best

Georgia Educational Researcher

Phenomenological inquiry was used to interview counselor education doctoral students about their experiences and perceived competency and preparedness to counsel individuals with disabilities. Three overarching themes emerged: (1) continuous self-directed learning, (2) disability is multifaceted, misunderstood, and evolving, and (3) influential learning factors. Implications and recommendations for counselor educators and training programs are provided.

Using Culturally Familiar Readings In A Predominantly Latinx Middle School To Bolster Self-Efficacy, Heather M. Kelley Ph.D., Morgan Adams, Meagan Chisholm, Kate Warner

Georgia Educational Researcher

Twenty-eight seventh graders from a predominantly Latinx middle school participated in an instructional intervention involving both a culturally familiar and unfamiliar reading task. Immediately after reading, students joined focus groups to discuss their experiences. These sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a discourse analysis framework. The analysis revealed that students based their reading self-efficacy on three key factors: their ability to relate to the text, their interest in the story, and the perceived difficulty of the task. The findings suggest that implementing culturally sustaining pedagogy—through the use of culturally relevant texts—can enhance reading self-efficacy and support academic achievement for …

2026 Georgia Southern University Football Roster, Georgia Southern University

Men's Football Records

No abstract provided.

Moral Outrage To Market Impact: A Multi-Level Analysis Of Corporate Cancel Culture, Sayan Gupta, T. Andrew Poehlman

AMTP Proceedings 2026

Corporate cancel culture is often dismissed as “just social media noise,” but for managers the real stakes show up in markets. This paper develops and tests a three-level framework linking moralized social-media discourse, online brand reputation, and firm-level financial outcomes. Using three canonical cancellations—Dolce & Gabbana’s China controversy, Tesla’s politicization via Elon Musk, and Bud Light’s backlash after its transgender influencer partnership—we first show that these events are organized around spikes in moral-emotional language and structural virality, not generic negativity. We then document how this moral outrage predicts shifts in brand sentiment, associations, and engagement across platforms, before examining corresponding …

Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among People Who Smoke In Rural Southwest Georgia: Perspectives And Influencing Factors, Shadé Owolabi, Helen Singer, Katherine Reilly, Łucja T. Bundy Ma-Edm, J.K. Veluswamy, Carla Berg, Regine Haardörfer, James Hotz, Ajay Gehlot, Michelle Kegler

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The COVID-19 vaccine is a critical tool in reducing COVID-19 related morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, vaccine hesitancy is an ongoing public health challenge, especially in certain geographic areas and sub-populations. This study assessed factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake and hesitancy among individuals who smoke in rural communities in southwest Georgia, one of the first COVID-19 “hot spots” in the U.S.

Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews (n=23) using a semi-structured interview guide, informed by the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM), that assessed vaccine-related behavior, intention to be vaccinated, perceived risk, social norms, attitudes, and environmental barriers and facilitators …

Decoding The Dynamics Of Ceo Sociopolitical Activism And Stakeholders’ Response, Nayyer Naseem, Yuqi Wang, Faraz Moin

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

Business leaders today function as powerful symbolic figures whose sociopolitical stances can transform consumer loyalty, investor confidence, and organizational stability. This study decodes how stakeholders interpret executive actions and respond through behaviors such as boycotts, divestment, or heightened advocacy, highlighting both short and long-term consequences. Drawing on signaling, stakeholder, social identity, social influence, intrinsic motivation, and reputational risk theoretical frameworks, this study develops a four-stage interpretive model that links leadership behavior to stakeholder perceptions, reactions, and market outcomes within varying contextual and environmental conditions. Through a case-based analysis, it illustrates how CEO stance, media framing, and ideological alignment shape these …

Educating For Impact: A Prosocial Marketing Approach To Foster Altruism Among Young Consumers, Bela Florenthal

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

This study explores how a prosocial marketing intervention in a dual-enrollment course fosters altruistic values and emotional development among young consumers while deepening their understanding of cause-related and social marketing. Grounded in holistic and experiential learning, the project required students to engage in weekly acts of kindness, reflect on their experiences, and share their actions on social media to amplify impact. Thematic analysis of qualitative data collected over two academic years revealed personal growth driven by intrinsic motivation (e.g., belonging, self-esteem) and positive emotions (e.g., joy, pride). Students demonstrated greater social awareness and practical application of marketing principles through volunteering, …

Is Political Information Over Facebook Credible? A Look At The 2020 Presidential Election, Kristina Harrison, Shawn Thelen, Boonghee Yoo, John B. Ford

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

Much controversy still exists surrounding the events before, during, and after the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Some of this is attributable to voters’ uncertainty, driven by conflicting messages transmitted over social media, about the credibility of information surrounding the candidates and election results. Examining data collected shortly before the 2020 election, this study investigates how consumers perceive political information presented on Facebook. Drawing from Source Credibility Theory and the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), the research tests a model that includes medium dependency, medium interactivity, information quality, information presentation, personal expertise, and power perception. Data from 407 participants were analyzed using …

The Role Of Apparel In College Student Athletic Affiliation, Robin Hardin, Michelle L. Childs

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

Athletics is often considered the virtual front porch of a university, as it is often the most recognizable aspect of a college or university. This study examines how college students use apparel to affiliate with their university’s athletic brand. Results revealed three key factors influencing athletic-related merchandise preference: fashionable appeal, uniqueness, and official merchandise. Further analysis found that merchandise featuring official logos, colors, and recognizable branding elements significantly enhances consumers’ ability to associate with the university’s athletics brand. Gender differences emerged in preferences for fashionable items, with men showing greater interest. These findings provide valuable insights for marketers and university …

Involvement Of Students With Extensive Support Needs In Pbis: Middle School Educator And Administrator Perspectives, Virginia L. Walker, Megan E. Carpenter, Sheldon Loman

Journal of Case Learning & Exceptional Learners

School-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is a widely adopted multi-tiered system of behavioral supports designed to promote a safe, predictable, and inclusive school environment for all students. Despite the positive outcomes associated with PBIS, students with extensive support needs (ESN) may have limited access to and involvement in all aspects of PBIS. In this article, we describe the perspectives of three staff members––an administrator, general education teacher, and special education teacher––who participated in interviews about the involvement of students with ESN in PBIS. These staff members provided insightful information about how students with ESN were involved in PBIS …

Faculty Senate Agenda, Georgia Southern University, Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Ethical Tensions In The Ethics Review Of Scholarship Of Teaching And Learning Projects: Revealing Values From A Health Faculty In Aotearoa New Zealand., Amanda B. Lees, Rosemary Godbold, Simon Walters

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This study employed a case study approach to explore ethical conduct in Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) research. Originating within biomedical research, the remit of ethics review bodies now commonly extends to assessing SoTL projects. Set within a health faculty at a university in Aotearoa New Zealand, we examined student and academic perspectives on ethical conduct in SoTL research to gauge how their values align with those who decide on ethical standards of research involving them. Drawing on reflexive thematic analysis, our findings reflect tensions between the relational and cultural values of SoTL and the biomedically based values of …

Purposeful Presence: Faculty Perspectives On Social Presence In Online Learning, Thomas D. Dyer

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Social presence is a critical component of effective online education, fostering engagement, connection, and a sense of community among students and instructors. This qualitative descriptive study explored how online faculty conceptualize and operationalize social presence in their virtual classrooms. Through interviews and focus groups, faculty described practices that cultivated connection, responsiveness, and authentic interaction. The findings informed the development of the Social Presence Literacy Framework (SPLF), which offers a lens for understanding the varied ways instructors approach presence in online environments. This study provides insights for professional development and instructional design by grounding pedagogical strategies in the lived experiences of …

Examining The Motivational Climate In An Anatomy Course: Instructional Practices To Engage Students In Learning, Emily M. Holt Foerst, Brett D. Jones, Meghan Byrnes

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Anatomy education presents a complex motivational environment, yet little is known about how medical students experience this climate. Grounded in the MUSIC Model of Motivation framework, this study explored students’ perceptions of the motivational climate in a first-year medical anatomy course. Using a mixed-methods design, we surveyed students early in the course and conducted interviews following course completion. Although students reported strong Caring perceptions on the survey, their Empowerment, Usefulness, Success, and Interest perceptions were more variable, and some were suboptimal. Interview findings revealed specific instructional practices (e.g., lecture format, lab group dynamics, alignment with clinical goals) that either supported …