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The Impact Of A Group Mentoring Program On Psychosocial Development And Sense Of Belonging In Undergraduate Students, Natasha L. Varnick May 2024

The Impact Of A Group Mentoring Program On Psychosocial Development And Sense Of Belonging In Undergraduate Students, Natasha L. Varnick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mentoring has been studied in corporate and academic environments as a means of providing career and psychosocial support for young colleagues or students. Initially, mentoring was viewed as a single dyadic relationship between a mentor and a mentee. However, in recent years, it has been better understood in terms of mentoring constellations or group mentoring, as multiple mentors may best aid the development of individuals. While much mentoring research has examined professional development, this study focused on the psychosocial development that mentoring can provide. The relationship between mentoring and sense of belonging was also examined. It was hypothesized that students …


Profiles In Influence: Shaping American Perceptions, Attitudes, And Policy Towards China, Benjamin Merritt May 2024

Profiles In Influence: Shaping American Perceptions, Attitudes, And Policy Towards China, Benjamin Merritt

Masters Theses

Pearl Buck, Henry Luce, Edgar Snow, and Richard Nixon have profoundly influenced Sino-American relations throughout the 20th century. Their impact on American perceptions, attitudes, and foreign policy has played a pivotal role in shaping the current state of relations between the United States government and the People’s Republic of China. Pivotal historical events such as WWI & WWII, the Sino-Japanese War, China’s Civil War, and the Soviet-Sino conflict—among other events—have also significantly influenced the dynamics of Sino-American relations. Despite their importance, there is a notable absence of studies that comprehensively explore the collective impact of these individuals and events. Understanding …


The Impact Of Creative And Performing Arts In The Chicago Public School System, Lashanda Holts May 2024

The Impact Of Creative And Performing Arts In The Chicago Public School System, Lashanda Holts

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the importance of creative and performing arts through the multifaceted production, “Mop and Bucket Blues”. This thesis was also created to bring awareness to Chicago’s inner city gun violence, poverty, absentee fathers’, and the lack of funding for the creative arts in public schools, in high crime areas. By analyzing the thematic elements, artistic techniques, and socio-political impact of the play, this study seeks to shed light on the potential of theater as a powerful medium for social change and educational reform.


Good Taste No Waste: A Solution For Managing Food Waste In Newly Independent Young Adults, David Eppinger May 2024

Good Taste No Waste: A Solution For Managing Food Waste In Newly Independent Young Adults, David Eppinger

Masters Theses

Consumers are the biggest contributors to food waste in the United States and in other developed countries, though most of them don’t realize it. American young adults living independently for the first time lack education on responsible food management in the areas of planning, preparation, and preservation. This lack of skills results in excessive waste of food, money, and energy, and leads to significant damage to the economy and the environment. Ample research exists identifying this issue and the changes that need to be made, yet effective visual solutions have not yet followed. Through a comprehensive topical survey, along with …


Shining Lights In A Crooked Generation: The Experiences And Impact Of Soviet Evangelical Youth, Abigail Coker May 2024

Shining Lights In A Crooked Generation: The Experiences And Impact Of Soviet Evangelical Youth, Abigail Coker

Masters Theses

Despite facing severe pressure from their secular surroundings, Soviet evangelical youth displayed resilience and creativity throughout the Soviet era, becoming key figures in the preservation and growth of the Russian Baptist church. Up until now, western scholars have largely ignored this story or treated it peripherally. This research seeks to address this gap by examining the experiences and impact of Soviet evangelical youth. Throughout the Soviet period, the content of the evangelical youth experience remained essentially unchanged, focusing on fellowship, service, and Bible teaching through preaching, singing, and poetry readings. The period from 1908 – 1929 became a foundational one …


The Communal Table: A Wholistic Perspective On Food And Social Development, Sarah Cook May 2024

The Communal Table: A Wholistic Perspective On Food And Social Development, Sarah Cook

Masters Theses

In order to address issues of isolation in the wake of a global pandemic, this thesis examines the nature of the connection between food and community through commensality. “Commensality” is defined as the practice of eating together, which has demonstrable health benefits on personal, interpersonal, and psychological levels. Research reveals that, while commensality has been a foundational tenet of society since civilization’s beginnings, instances of commensality appear to be at an all time low for modern Americans. The results are diminished mental health, undeveloped support networks, and missed opportunities for emotional connection. All of these may be thought of as …


Ai In Graphic Design: Here To Help Or Replace Us?, Christian Jovan Rodriguez May 2024

Ai In Graphic Design: Here To Help Or Replace Us?, Christian Jovan Rodriguez

Masters Theses

Artificial intelligence is becoming more commonly used in the creative space. With the implementation of AI, it has provided many benefits to working design professionals making their workflow more efficient. AI has also proposed a potential threat to the careers of graphic designers by reducing job opportunities in art and design. This thesis will expand on areas where artificial intelligence is impacting the fields of art and design. Possible use cases will be expressed throughout, for example graphic designers eventually having to adapt and implement the use of AI daily to promote creativity and speed up workflow. After completing this …


Organic Chemistry In Virtual Reality: Bridging Gaps Between Two-Dimensional And Three-Dimensional Representations, Scott Vayakone May 2024

Organic Chemistry In Virtual Reality: Bridging Gaps Between Two-Dimensional And Three-Dimensional Representations, Scott Vayakone

Masters Theses

The traditional two-dimensional representations in organic chemistry education highlighted the lack of depth and interactivity, impeding student learning, engagement, and comprehension. By emphasizing on the limitations of conventional educational materials, the research advocated for integrating Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies, which enhance organic chemistry visualization. The main objective was to bridge the gap between two and three-dimensional perspectives, offering a more dynamic and interactive learning experience. The thesis aimed to assess traditional teaching methods in organic chemistry—lectures, textbooks, and laboratory exercises. It also aimed to identify their challenges in conveying complex molecular structures and reactions effectively. Additionally, …


Preparing For Times Of Uncertainty: A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Residential Faculty In Colleges In Upstate New York, Daniel Soltis May 2024

Preparing For Times Of Uncertainty: A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Residential Faculty In Colleges In Upstate New York, Daniel Soltis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the preparations for times of uncertainty for residential college faculty at higher education institutions in upstate New York. The theory that guided this study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory. Social cognitive theory defines learning through social contexts like residential faculty experiencing times of uncertainty. The study addressed the question: What are the lived experiences of residential college faculty in preparing for times of uncertainty? This qualitative study employed a transcendental phenomenological design to interact virtually with upstate New York residential faculty members of universities or colleges. To participate in the study, …


Do More Than Train New Nurses...Retain Them! A Qualitative Research Study, Kerrin L. Hampton May 2024

Do More Than Train New Nurses...Retain Them! A Qualitative Research Study, Kerrin L. Hampton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to understand the orientation experiences of new graduate nurses and identify retention practices that are relevant and beneficial to the population of interest. Study participants were new graduate nurses employed at a five-hospital healthcare system. Using social constructivism as the theoretical framework, the study sought to answer the research question of what are the lived experiences of new graduate nurses during orientation? Ten new graduate nurses participated in individual interviews to discuss their personal orientation experiences. The interviews informed the researcher regarding the meaning and value new graduates place on their orientation …


A Glance Into The Suzuki Triangle Approach Of Teaching Violin As An Intervention For The Military Child: A Case Study Of Parental Engagement Promoting Positive Self-Esteem, Self-Expression, And Coping Skills, Heather R. Howard-Hannock May 2024

A Glance Into The Suzuki Triangle Approach Of Teaching Violin As An Intervention For The Military Child: A Case Study Of Parental Engagement Promoting Positive Self-Esteem, Self-Expression, And Coping Skills, Heather R. Howard-Hannock

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative descriptive case study followed four volunteer families over four weeks of private Suzuki violin lessons, highlighting the Suzuki Triangle as an intervention for the military child. Participants enrolled in private weekly music lessons and learned to play the violin through the relational triangle of teacher-parent-student working together for the child's well-being. The study particularly emphasized the active role of the service member parents, who attended weekly lessons with their children and worked with them daily at home during practice sessions. The researcher photographed lessons and interviewed and observed participants who completed a preliminary, practice, and exit survey. This …


Navigating Secondary Traumatic Stress: The Role And Strategies Of Law Enforcement Spouses In Promoting Family Well-Being And Resilience, Ninive Gonzalez May 2024

Navigating Secondary Traumatic Stress: The Role And Strategies Of Law Enforcement Spouses In Promoting Family Well-Being And Resilience, Ninive Gonzalez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Law enforcement officers’ (LEO) spouses play an important role in supporting their officers and maintaining family well-being and resilience in the face of unique challenges associated with the law enforcement career. This hermeneutic phenomenological study explores the experiences, challenges, and strategies LEO spouses utilize to navigate their roles’ demands and promote resilience within their families. This study aimed to understand better LEO spouses’ perceived roles and strategies for fostering family well-being and resilience. Specifically, it explored the challenges accompanied by the law enforcement career that LEO spouses face, the coping strategies they utilize, and the factors contributing to their resilience. …


A Correlational Study Of Culturally Responsive Christian School Leadership And Its Impact On Culturally Marginalized Students, Denecia B. Anderson May 2024

A Correlational Study Of Culturally Responsive Christian School Leadership And Its Impact On Culturally Marginalized Students, Denecia B. Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2022), the Private School Universe Survey (PSS) was given and disclosed that 4.7 million students were served in private elementary and secondary schools in the fall of 2019. Approximately twenty-five percent of private schools in the United States of America are considered conservative Christian schools (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022). Within the conservative Christian schools, 0.7% of the students were American Indian, 5.3% were Asian, 68.6% were white, 11.2% were Black, 9.2% were Hispanic, 0.8% were Pacific Islander, and 4.3% were two or more races. Diversity in conservative Christian schools is …


Experiences Of Educators With Libraries And Educational Technology To Close The Literacy Gap: A Phenomenological Study, Pamela Madina Jones May 2024

Experiences Of Educators With Libraries And Educational Technology To Close The Literacy Gap: A Phenomenological Study, Pamela Madina Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to discover how educators view the use of school libraries with educational technology’s contribution to the development of literacy skills of learners in K12 learning environments. The theoretical framework that guided this research study was Vygotsky and Leont’ev’s Activity theory. The central research question for this study was How do educators describe their professional experiences with school libraries and educational technology? Purposive and Snowball sampling methods were used to select the sites and the 12 participants located in rural, urban, and suburban K12 public school districts that educate K5 learners across Central …


The Nuclear Threat: A Homeland Security Perspective, Renae Katherine Harvey May 2024

The Nuclear Threat: A Homeland Security Perspective, Renae Katherine Harvey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

On December 8, 1987, the United States and Russia signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Since then, it has been a common misconception that this solidified the end of the Cold War and the Nuclear Arms Race. To this day, nuclear installations are plaguing bordering countries within the European Union. As a result, severe transnational issues become evident as transnational crime groups grow and technological advancements of terrorist groups continue to gain ground within the nuclear power threshold. Furthermore, countries within the Asian Peninsula and the Middle East continue to demonstrate nuclear prowess via mass media attention as a sense …


Students With Learning Disabilities In A Postsecondary Education Setting: Identifying The Most Significant Supports, Daniella F. Giordano May 2024

Students With Learning Disabilities In A Postsecondary Education Setting: Identifying The Most Significant Supports, Daniella F. Giordano

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenology was to understand the perceptions that postsecondary students with learning disabilities have in receiving academic supports and accommodations from their institutions in alignment with their educational goals. A significant disparity has occurred between the number of students with disabilities in higher education and the support services available to them. The central question of this study is: What are the experiences of students with learning disabilities in receiving academic support services from their institution? The theory that supports this central question and guided this study is Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory. The design of this study …


Collaborative Care Management: The Influence Of Location Of Care On Mental Health Self-Stigma, Melicia Ivette Tanner May 2024

Collaborative Care Management: The Influence Of Location Of Care On Mental Health Self-Stigma, Melicia Ivette Tanner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study was designed to contribute to the literature on self-stigma as it relates to mental health. Specifically, it was designed to explore whether those who received a certain type of care in the primary care setting (i.e., Collaborative Care [CoCM]) experienced self-stigma differently than those who received mental health care in more traditional settings or no care at all. It was hypothesized that those who received CoCM would experience lower rates of self-stigma. Participants for the study were drawn from a purposive sample of adult primary care patients with depression from a large health system located in upstate South …


Educator Motivation For Acquiring Expertise To Support Students With Dyslexia: A Phenomenological Study, Maria T. Casale May 2024

Educator Motivation For Acquiring Expertise To Support Students With Dyslexia: A Phenomenological Study, Maria T. Casale

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the invested motivation for acquiring expertise to support students with dyslexia for elementary school teachers at a charter school in a northeastern state. Teachers employed at Oakdale-Mission Charter School are uniquely positioned to receive in-service teacher training support regarding teaching those with dyslexia. The lack of Orton Gillingham-certified teachers to provide for those with dyslexia prevents these students from adequately receiving access and equity in a school district in a large metropolitan city in a northeastern state. Therefore, Oakdale-Mission Charter School was explored as a unique and innovative solution for those …


Preparing Three Southern Baptist Churches In Mason, Tennessee, As Lighthouses Of Hope In Crisis And Disaster: The Intersection Of The Firehouse And The Church House During A Global Pandemic, Brian J. Styer May 2024

Preparing Three Southern Baptist Churches In Mason, Tennessee, As Lighthouses Of Hope In Crisis And Disaster: The Intersection Of The Firehouse And The Church House During A Global Pandemic, Brian J. Styer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) ministry program faces challenges due to limited awareness among Southern Baptist pastors, leading to inadequate promotion and participation. The proposed solution involves providing targeted education, improved advertising, and encouraging local leaders to promote engagement. The project aims to prepare three churches in Mason and Stanton, TN, to serve as Disaster Relief teams through specialized training and courses like ‘Introduction to Disaster Relief.’ The goal is to increase awareness of SBDR, recruit and train new members, and inspire individuals to become endorsed SBDR and Public Safety Chaplains. The project incorporates a theological foundation to integrate …


Does Education Enhance A Recruit's Academic Performance During Academy Training, Mark A. Lahr May 2024

Does Education Enhance A Recruit's Academic Performance During Academy Training, Mark A. Lahr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study will examine cadet/recruit academic performance while attending the Illinois State Police Training Academy. The focus will be primarily on the academic testing portion of the academy training. This quantitative study will evaluate whether there is a correlation between the academic achievement of the recruit before entry into the academy and academic performance while attending the academy training. This research will explore questions such as: What is the relationship between educational levels and academic performance among recruits while in the police academy? Does having a college education impact the recruit’s ability to score higher on academic testing sections within …


Moral Injury In Active Service And Veteran Female Military Combatants, William Curtis Neal May 2024

Moral Injury In Active Service And Veteran Female Military Combatants, William Curtis Neal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A topic of concern and discussion in the mental health community, and maybe a special concern from both governmental and civilian practitioners, is the subject of moral injury. Moral Injury has been widely researched over the last 10 years and is a known and discussed condition that is linked to military personnel and veterans who have experienced events while deployed or operating in adverse conditions such as combat. The following descriptive study focuses on one group from which they have been excluded or overlooked in past studies. This creates a gap in the published literature: female servicewomen and veterans. Both …


The Shared Experiences Of Self-Care Practices Among Postgraduate Residents-In-Counseling, Pursuing Virginia Licensure: A Phenomenological Study, Audrey A. King May 2024

The Shared Experiences Of Self-Care Practices Among Postgraduate Residents-In-Counseling, Pursuing Virginia Licensure: A Phenomenological Study, Audrey A. King

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the shared experiences of residents-in-counseling in the state of Virginia seeking postgraduate hours who are currently in supervision, and how it affects their self-care. The central phenomenon for the study surrounded the encouragement, emphasis of, and practice of self-care by supervisors at the participant’s supervision site. The theory grounding the study is cognitive-behavioral supervision with an emphasis on the evaluation of a supervisor on the behavioral interactions of a resident-in-training obtaining direct client contact hours to meet state licensing requirements to practice as a mental health counselor. Four participants were …


Challenging The Cancer Of Consumerism Ravaging The American Protestant Church, John A. Thompson Ii May 2024

Challenging The Cancer Of Consumerism Ravaging The American Protestant Church, John A. Thompson Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The American Protestant church is sick and, in some cases, dying. The primary factors adversely influencing the church contribute to church members’ warped view of Christianity. The American church is suffering from individualism, consumerism, and uncommitted Christianity. The church may be described as critically ill, and in the I.C.U. The purpose of this study was to address the effects of this cultural illness as it has impacted the people and ministry of Kingdom Life Community Church. This topic is chosen because of the researcher’s experience serving as the church’s lead pastor, observing members approach the church with a consumer bias. …


Experiences Of Teachers Who Have Taught Physical Education Remotely: A Qualitative Study, Danielle Causer Brabston May 2024

Experiences Of Teachers Who Have Taught Physical Education Remotely: A Qualitative Study, Danielle Causer Brabston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand and describe the essence of the experiences of teachers who have taught physical education remotely. The problem is physical education is a core curriculum subject that is designed for in-person instruction and is not easily adaptable to an online setting. The central research question that this study sought to address was what are the experiences of K-12 physical education teachers who taught P.E. remotely? The theory guiding of this study is Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration as it details how people can adapt and adjust in response to stressful situations …


Impact Of Leadership Decisions On Police Officer Well-Being: A Covid-19 Response, Jason N. Spencer May 2024

Impact Of Leadership Decisions On Police Officer Well-Being: A Covid-19 Response, Jason N. Spencer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative dissertation research project is to determine the impact that law enforcement leaders, their leadership styles, and decision-making processes have on the well-being of police officers. This study sought to understand this impact by focusing on the perspectives of frontline police officers, detectives, and first-line supervisors from various law enforcement organizations in the Central Virginia Region and within the context of leadership decisions made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the constructivist grounded theory approach to research design, 12 participants responded to an initial qualitative questionnaire, followed by a semi-structured interview to gain the rich, …


Long-Term Partnerships Between Communities And Mission Organizations: A Case Study, Rebecca Boggs Bishop May 2024

Long-Term Partnerships Between Communities And Mission Organizations: A Case Study, Rebecca Boggs Bishop

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the long-term partnership of World Changers with the community of Chattanooga, Tennessee to understand best practices for creating similar cross-sector partnerships involving short-term mission work. Within this research, long-term partnership is defined as an arrangement existing for at least ten years. The study utilized the theories of covenant community (Lingenfelter, 2008), legitimate peripheral participation (Lave & Wenger, 1991), and cross-sector social-oriented partnerships (Selsky & Parker, 2005) to guide the research. The study considered the perspectives of community members, ministry leaders, and mission organization leadership to determine benefits and areas of …


Predictive Correlation Between Leader Self-Efficacy, Emotional Intelligence, Years Of Experience, And Transformational Leadership Of Physician Assistant Program Directors, Violet A. Kulo May 2024

Predictive Correlation Between Leader Self-Efficacy, Emotional Intelligence, Years Of Experience, And Transformational Leadership Of Physician Assistant Program Directors, Violet A. Kulo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to investigate the relationship between leader self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, years of experience, and transformational leadership practices of physician assistant (PA) program directors. This study is important in providing a greater understanding of the internal determinants and factors that influence the program directors’ beliefs in their success and effectiveness as leaders. Participants for this study included a sample of 86 PA program directors across the United States. Data were collected using the Leader Efficacy Questionnaire, Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, Leadership Practices Inventory, and a demographic questionnaire administered via a survey. …


Bridging Faith And Restoration: A Phenomenological Study Exploring Evangelical Pastors’ Experiences Ministering To Congregants With Trauma In The Greater Toronto Area, Lindsay Knox Mcvety May 2024

Bridging Faith And Restoration: A Phenomenological Study Exploring Evangelical Pastors’ Experiences Ministering To Congregants With Trauma In The Greater Toronto Area, Lindsay Knox Mcvety

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how evangelical pastors in the Greater Toronto Area describe their experiences with discussing trauma with congregants and their experiences with trauma-informed care in the church. The theory guiding this research is Transformative Learning Theory (TLT). As discussed by Mezirow (1991), TLT explains transformation occurs by increasing knowledge by learning about topics where outdated or misinformed concepts previously existed. The main research question is, how do evangelical pastors in the Greater Toronto Area describe their experiences ministering to congregants who have experienced trauma? Further sub-questions ask, how do evangelical pastors in …


Commonalities In Teaching Strategies Among Middle School Band Directors For Individuals Auditioning For The Georgia All-State Band, Michael Christopher Harper May 2024

Commonalities In Teaching Strategies Among Middle School Band Directors For Individuals Auditioning For The Georgia All-State Band, Michael Christopher Harper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The thesis aims to survey, observe, and interview selected Georgia middle school band directors to determine if there are commonalities in instructional strategies for student audition preparation for acceptance into the Georgia All-State Middle School Band. The survey provided directors with ten specific questions about their daily classroom rehearsal practices and strategies that could aid the students in auditioning and successfully being selected for the Georgia All-State Middle School Band. In-class observations of the director’s rehearsal practices and techniques were taken and examined for commonalities among participating directors. By interviewing each participant, the answers provided from the surveys were discussed …


Developing A Discipleship Training Guide At Greater Love Baptist Church For The Retention Of Young Adults, Frances W. Cox May 2024

Developing A Discipleship Training Guide At Greater Love Baptist Church For The Retention Of Young Adults, Frances W. Cox

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem is that Greater Love Baptist is struggling to sustain young adults' attendance because the leadership lacks the necessary tools and training to disciple them. As a result, there is a mass exodus of young people from the church. Therefore, this research project’s purpose is to develop a Discipleship Training Guide to equip the leadership of Greater Love Church to disciple young adults. The primary theme of the guide is “Knowing Jesus.” The concept of the guide is based on the premise that no one can effectively train, teach or model the life of Christ without having a personal …