Digital Commons Network^™

Examining Non-Academic Staff's Perceived Value Of Professional Development On Job Satisfaction And Anticipated Turnover In Higher Education, Elnora Lewis

Dissertations

One of the most important assets in an organization is its employees (Chong & Lee, 2017). Developing staff employees is critical in the university setting (Gornitzka & Larsen, 2004), in addition to satisfying and retaining them (Grohnert et al., 2021). Given today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world, staff development is more vital than ever in the workplace (Gibson, 2020). Higher education institutions should be concerned about employee's professional development (Gerken et al., 2016), not only academic staff but also non-academic staff. Additionally, organizations should ensure employees are satisfied by offering learning and development opportunities, which can contribute to …

Hispanic/Latinx Faculty Members’ Experiences Within Academia, Sarah Muñoz

Dissertations

This dissertation research was written and pursued to explore the experience of Hispanic/Latinx faculty within academia. A phenomenological, qualitative methodology was utilized to explore this phenomenon. The researcher used listservs, Facebook groups, and snowball sampling to recruit participants. Potential participants completed a prescreening questionnaire and were then contacted to participate in the interview portion of the study. Ten individuals thoroughly described their experiences holding a Hispanic/Latinx faculty identity within academia. The following six themes emerged from data analysis of the interviews: a) Impacts of the Lack of Representation of Diverse Faculty, b) Challenging Experiences of Hispanic/Latinx Faculty, c) Positive Experiences …

Evaluating The Indirect Effect Of Microaffirmations On Intersecting Marginalized Identities And School Sense Of Belonging Among School Psychology Graduate Students, April Pratt

Dissertations

There is a discrepancy between the proportion of school psychologists identified as racially, ethnically, or linguistically diverse (REL) in the United States and the proportion of REL students they serve (Blake et al., 2016; Proctor & Owens, 2019). Current data estimates over 80% of school psychologists identify as white (Goforth et al., 2021), whereas more than 50% of U.S. public school students have non-white racial/ethnic identities (Irwin et al., 2024). In addition to increased recruitment of REL students to school psychology graduate programs, trainers in these programs must implement effective strategies to ensure retention. One method is to increase students’ …

El Salvador’S Cultural Memory And María De Baratta’S Piano Music: Kushkatan, Nahualismo, And The Representation Of Indigeneity, Alejandro Jose Arroyo Alberto

Dissertations

Following independence from the Viceroyalty of New Spain between 1821 and 1823, the United Provinces of Central America entered a period of cultural redefinition, as emerging national frameworks sought to integrate diverse ethnic and historical legacies. After a century, in early twentieth-century El Salvador, a revival of Kushkatan—a pre-Hispanic Indigenous territory within present-day El Salvador—gained symbolic traction among intellectual elites during a politically volatile era marked by social upheaval and cultural realignment. Within this historical context, Cuzcatlán Típico (1951) by María de Baratta, published by the Ministry of Culture, stands as the first ethnomusicological study dedicated to Indigenous music in …

Ethnic Studies For Secondary Schooling: Collaborative Curricular Insights From A Working Collective, Kelly León

Dissertations

The rapid expansion of policy-mandated ethnic studies (ES) in U.S. schools suggests the need to reconceptualize the field of ES for the school curriculum. This exploratory case study sought to contribute to a better understanding of the ways in which secondary ES curricula can be negotiated and made by teachers and their collaborators, illuminating its future possibilities in public schools. The research explored how teachers, academics, and ES graduate students collaborated in a Collective to use and relate various knowledge resources, including local oral histories, to develop community-focused ES curricular guidance. Little is known about the type of knowledge work …

Deadtime In The Vale Of Soul-Making: Hermeneutics, Humanization, And Higher Education In Prison, Dale Michael Brown

Dissertations

This body of work examines higher education with and for justice-involved people from a descriptive, theoretical, and empirical perspective—pulling together multiple disciplines and employing different methodologies from the humanities and social sciences. The investigation is written from a philosophical perspective via educational foundations and a social science perspective via qualitative research, including an examination of carceral higher education’s connections to teaching and experiential learning. This approach reflects the interdisciplinary nature of both the author’s degree program and the topic itself, which (as a field of academic inquiry) is part theoretical and part empirical (both qualitative and quantitative). The papers in …

The Role Of Affordable Housing In Enhancing Tenants' Economic Stability In Connecticut: A Focus On Income, Employment, And Housing Stability, Osaid Zubi

Dissertations

This study examined the role of affordable housing in promoting economic stability among low- and moderate-income households in Connecticut. Focusing on income security, employment opportunities, and housing retention, this research highlighted the significance of affordable housing as a means to alleviate financial strain, support job retention, and foster community resilience. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, the study gathered insights from tenants, policymakers, and developers through conducting interviews and a focus group. Connecticut was chosen as the study site due to its high cost of living and affordable housing shortage, exacerbated by its proximity to New York City. Findings underscore the economic …

A Multiple Case Study Of Four-Year Public, Non-Flagship Universities: Meeting Common Institutional Goals Of Increased Enrollment And Academic Profile, Alicia Kornowa

Dissertations

For several reasons, the number of students seeking and enrolling in a postsecondary education has started to decline in the United States (U.S.) and the decrease is expected to intensify for the foreseeable future. This trend is cause for concern among higher education enrollment leaders, especially those who serve at institutions not among the most elite universities or without a national brand—the campuses researchers project will have the greatest difficulty maintaining enrollment levels. Using strategic enrollment management (SEM) as an example of general systems theory and systems thinking, this multiple case study explored how four public, four-year, non-flagship institutions increased …

Roses And Concrete: Black Teachers' Roles And Challenges In Marginalized Communities, Alyse N. Barry

Dissertations

Black educators play a vital role in schools that serve marginalized communities, yet their stories are often overlooked in academic research. This phenomenological study explores how Black teachers interpret their roles and navigate challenges within these spaces. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), I centered the voices of ten Black educators to better understand the emotional, cultural, and professional layers of their experience.

Through in-depth interviews, participants described themselves as more than just instructors. They saw themselves as cultural connectors, advocates, and protectors for their students. Their presence helps affirm student identities and bridge cultural divides, but they also carry significant …

Development Of Al Ain Flash Flood Risk Maps\ Utilizing High-Resolution And Accurate Remote Sensing Data, Khaled Khamis Al Arfati

Dissertations

Al Ain City has undergone significant land use transformations from 1992 to 2022, marked by a population increase of over 50% and extensive development activities. This period has seen the construction of new residential areas, infrastructure, and commercial establishments, as well as enhancements to green spaces. An analysis of the Digital Terrain Model (DTM) revealed an 83% alteration in the terrain due to urbanization and shifting sand dunes, with most elevation changes under 5 meters.

The primary aim of this dissertation is to develop accurate flash flood risk maps for

Al Ain using high-resolution remote sensing data. This research highlights …

Anchored Networks: Navigating Formal And Informal Pathways To Access Educational Resources In Transient And Military Families, Lara Ray

Dissertations

This study examines how Navy families in San Diego establish and use formal and informal networks to access educational resources for their children following relocation. Grounded in social capital theory, the research employed a multiple-case study approach, integrating data from interviews, focus groups, and digital analysis of Navy-affiliated social media platforms. The study explores how parents navigate these networks to promote their children’s academic success, with particular attention to key decision-making moments, resource negotiation, and equity considerations. Participants included Navy spouses from diverse ranks (E-3 to O-6) and socioeconomic backgrounds, providing insight into disparities in resource access. Findings reveal that …

High School Students' Mathematics Experiences And Mathematics Learner Identities In A Rural Georgia Town: A Qualitative Study Using Autophotography With Photo-Elicitation, Wesley Cooper

Dissertations

This study examines the mathematics experiences (MEs) and mathematics learner identities (MLIs) of high school students in a rural Georgia town, addressing the underrepresentation of rural perspectives in mathematics education through an asset-based lens. Using autophotography with photo-elicitation, ten participants captured images reflecting their MEs, MLIs, and recommendations for improvement. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups along with two mini-cases amplified participant voices, guided by the frameworks of Four Faces of Mathematics Learner Identity (4F), Content Learning and Identity Construction (CLIC), and Critical Rural Theory (CRuT). Findings highlight how rural students’ MEs and MLIs are shaped by both the strengths of …

A Phenomenological Study Of Southern California Charter School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Creating An Inclusive School Culture, Barbara Hale

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe the culturally responsive leadership practices that charter school leaders use to create a culture of inclusiveness. A second purpose of the study was to identify and describe the supports and barriers charter school leaders perceive affect the development of a culture of inclusiveness for students. Methodology: This study identified and described the culturally responsive leadership practices implemented by charter school leaders to create a culture of inclusiveness and identify the supports and barriers the leaders perceived to affect the development of the inclusive culture. I interviewed 10 participants …

Adaptive Leadership: Strategies Used By U.S. Navy Command Senior Enlisted Leaders To Build Adaptive Capacity In Times Of Great Change, Derek Wayne King

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe strategies used by U.S. Navy command senior enlisted leaders (CSELs) to build an adaptive capacity based on the five key characteristics of adaptive leadership identified by Heifetz et al. (2009).Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of U.S. Navy CSELs. Purposeful, convenience sampling was used to identify 10 participants who met the study’s criteria. The semistructured, open-ended interview protocol was developed by a thematic research team of nine peer researchers and three faculty advisors. Data collected from the interviews and artifacts were analyzed to identify themes related …

Examining The Current Utilization Of Conceptual Data Modeling In Database Modeling Practices: Mixed Methods Research, Abhishek Sharma

Dissertations

The database system is essential to modern life and helps us in our day-to-day existence, even though it is invisible to us. The most optimal way to architect a new but efficient database is a modeling technique called conceptual data modeling. Despite this importance, research studies have suggested a divergence between actual practice and the ideal expectation from practitioners. Therefore, it was imperative to establish the ground truth in this context and explore the reasons behind the gap between practice and expectation. This mixed-method study used a survey and interviews to establish that only a small fraction of practitioners consistently …

A Delphi Study On Strategic Behaviors From The Adaptive Leadership Framework Used By Successful Cxos For Business Agility In A Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, And Ambiguity Environment, Sevak Markarian

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this Delphi study was to identify the strategic leadership behaviors, as outlined in Heifetz et al.’s (2009) adaptive leadership framework, that CXOs use to develop agile and adaptive organizations that succeed in volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) change environments. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the effectiveness of these behaviors and determine specific actions that CXOs recommend for implementing them successfully.

Methodology: This mixed-method Delphi study collected data from 20 technology executives through surveys and interviews, using purposive, convenience, and expert sampling. In Round 1, participants identified strategic adaptive leadership behaviors from Heifetz et al.’s …

Adaptive Leadership: Strategies Used By U.S. Navy Command Senior Enlisted Leaders To Build Adaptive Capacity In Times Of Great Change, Derek Wayne King

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe strategies used by U.S. Navy command senior enlisted leaders (CSELs) to build an adaptive capacity based on the five key characteristics of adaptive leadership identified by Heifetz et al. (2009).Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of U.S. Navy CSELs. Purposeful, convenience sampling was used to identify 10 participants who met the study’s criteria. The semistructured, open-ended interview protocol was developed by a thematic research team of nine peer researchers and three faculty advisors. Data collected from the interviews and artifacts were analyzed to identify themes related …

Attracting Secondary Public School Teachers Through Servant Leadership In South Carolina, Chetara Lee

Dissertations

This study investigated the impact servant leader administrators have on the recruitment of secondary public-school teachers in South Carolina. The purpose of this study was to identify effective servant leadership behaviors that align with teacher recruitment. This research sought to enhance the existing body of knowledge on servant leadership in education by offering a comprehensive understanding of how school leaders can recruit career changers as teachers by aligning their servant leadership behaviors with the motivations of prospective educators for transitioning into teaching.

This research assessed 16 secondary public-school teachers and 3 school district HR personnel employed within various school districts …

Bridging The Gap: A Comparative Delphi Study Of Elementary Educators And Business Leaders On Interpersonal Workforce Skill Needs, Jazmyne Mercedes Chaffin

Dissertations

The purpose of this comparative Delphi study was to identify similarities and differences between elementary educators and business leaders regarding interpersonal workforce skill needs for students leaving elementary school and workers entering the workforce. Additionally, this study sought to identify how both panels rate the importance of the identified skills and gather recommendations for teaching the skills. Finally, the study was designed to compare results. This study used a comparative Delphi method, consisting of three data collection rounds with expert elementary educators and business leaders. In Round 1, participants responded to an open-ended question designed to elicit perspectives on essential …

The Effect Of Inclusive Leadership By Pastoral Leaders On Catholic Parish Vitality, Matthew F. Manion

Dissertations

Catholic parish life in the United States has passed the point of decline where minor changes will enable it to grow again. Church leaders need a new missionary culture and outward-focused approaches to reach people today with the timeless truths of the faith. The old mindset of putting all the responsibility on the shoulders of the clergy to solve problems no longer works. Since heterogeneous groups make better decisions than homogeneous groups in complex, adaptive situations, this study explores the hypothesis that inclusive leadership by Catholic parish leaders leads to more innovation and better solutions to the challenges of church …

Mansiones: A New Look At Mansio Archaeology In Light Of San Miceli And Household Archaeology, Christopher Randall Chadwick

Dissertations

Problem

The identification of mansiones in the archaeological record has proven difficult, if not impossible. One factor contributing to the problem has been focusing on typological and descriptive studies in order to identify the functional characteristics of mansiones. Another has been the lack of any explicit method and theory for interpreting the functional characteristics of the archaeological data related to mansiones. Both of these factors have been observed in the recent excavations at San Miceli.

Method

Due to the functional nature of mansiones, there is a need to reevaluate current paradigms for interpreting the archaeological data related to mansiones. One …

Increase Successful Outcomes With Technology-Driven Mergers And Acquisitions : Prioritize Post-Merger Integration Risk Mitigation, Kingsley Eromosele Usianeneh

Dissertations

In the post-COVID-19 era, accelerated engineering advances including Artificial Intelligence (AI) have increased firm’s reliance on technology-driven mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as an expedient strategy to bolster their technological innovation capabilities, retain competitive advantage and ensure sustainability. However, many M&As fail to achieve their strategic goals because of persistent challenges during post-merger integration (PMI). This dissertation adopts and integrates chapter 2 – chapter 4 to identify, theorize, and proactively mitigate the primary recurring PMI challenges that impede successful technology-driven M&A outcomes. Chapter 2 adopts PRISMA guidelines, conducts a systematic literature review, identifies, and synthesizes four persistent PMI risk categories: (1) …

Middle-Level Teachers’ Attitudes On Disciplinary Literacy Instruction In The Non-Ela Classroom, Katherine E. Bowers

Dissertations

The persistent gaps in student achievement, particularly in the context of discipline-specific literacy skills, across public schools in the United States continue to widen. With a focus on South Carolina, this study investigates how professional development efforts have sought to address these gaps and enhance literacy instruction. Despite many initiatives, testing scores and teacher perceptions reveal limited progress in literacy outcomes. The study discusses a key challenge: the lack of substantial literacy instruction beyond English language arts (ELA) classes, resulting in a growing disparity between literacy mastery and the current reality. The research acknowledges the existence of literacy-focused professional development …

Talk Like An Egyptian: Egyptian Influence And Appropriation In The Book Of Exodus, Dorian W. Alexander

Dissertations

Problem

It is an inarguable truth that ancient Egypt has left a legacy upon world culture. However, the one area of Egyptian influence and legacy that remains to be studied in greater scholarship is the Bible. While many have made observations in effort to detract from and even outrightly refute any Egyptian influence on the Bible, one merely need read through any number of passages in the Bible (particularly the Old Testament) to witness just how large of an imprint is made upon it by ancient Egypt.

Method

Within just the limits of the book of Exodus alone, one finds …

The Concept Of Israel In The Old Testament And Its Divine Purpose: An Exegetical And Theological Analysis, Gregory Arutyunyan

Dissertations

The aim of this study is to undertake a fresh look into the concept of Israel in the Old Testament and its divine purpose in the context of the overarching theology of the Hebrew Bible. The working method used in this research is a theological and exegetical analysis of relevant Hebrew text along with incorporating historical and socio-archaeological background studies.

The conclusion that is reached is that Old Testament Israel was a cosmopolitan community of people connected through biological links, intermarriage relationships, and political alliances. In a spiritual sense, the term Israel served as a characterizing title granted to Jacob …

Analyzing The Population Structure Of The Rhizobia Associated With Astragalus Lentiginosus, Joshua Adam Melnick

Dissertations

Legumes are an incredibly diverse and agriculturally important family of plants. They have a special relationship with symbiotic bacteria known as rhizobia which fix nitrogen into ammonia within nodules on their roots. Astragalus is the largest plant genus on Earth, and the species Astragalus lentiginosus is extraordinarily diverse, consisting of approximately 40 varieties. However, the rhizobia of A. lentiginosus have never been studied. In this study, root nodules were extracted from 17 varieties of A. lentiginosus to obtain rhizobial strains and metagenomes. A. lentiginosus primarily associates with rhizobia from the genera Mesorhizobium and Allomesorhizobium. There was little evidence of horizontal …

“What’S Happening In The Gulf Of Maine?”: Middle School Students’ Engagement In Climate Science Through Data Visual Representation And Reflections, Grace Ocular

Dissertations

This study examined how middle school students engaged with science concepts while working with data visualizations during a field trip learning experience. Fifty-one teams of 2–4 students from 35 schools participating in the LabVenture program were video- and audio-recorded. Students completed two activities: one using a frequency table of marine species illustrating threats to Maine’s lobster population, and another using maps depicting changes in Gulf of Maine sea surface temperature. After each activity, students annotated the visualization, discussed their claims, and recorded short reflections. Transcripts were coded for science-related talk, and annotations and gestures were also analyzed. Findings indicate that …

The Forced Sterilization Of Quechua-Speaking Women In Peru: The Role Of Epistemic Injustice In The Perpetration Of Genocide, Geraldine Diaz

Dissertations

The forced sterilization of Quechua-speaking women in Peru from 1996 to 2000 represents a case of genocide in which the state as an epistemic agent has a fundamental role. Although the systematic sterilization was carried out under the guise of a family planning program, the targeting of these women provides strong circumstantial evidence of genocidal intent. According to the testimonies of these women, medical staff, acting on behalf of the government, performed tubal ligation procedures through coercion, threats, lies, bribery, manipulation, and other tactics where the state intentionally withheld information, misinformed women, and failed to obtain proper consent. This research …

Ensemble Learning Models For Large-Scale Time Series Forecasting In Supply Chain, Minjuan Zhang

Dissertations

Machine learning and AI techniques are transforming supply chain forecasting, driven by the expanding availability of data assets. These advanced methods offer powerful opportunities to optimize management processes, reduce operational costs, and enhance strategic decision-making, which is crucial for enterprise success. However, conventional statistical approaches, such as Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Models (ARIMA), dynamic regression, and Unobserved Component Models (UCMs)—which have long dominated time series forecasting—often fall short in accuracy and scalability. These traditional models face limitations in batch processing, handling large-scale data, addressing uncertainty-induced disruptions, and synchronizing demand-supply scenarios.

To address these challenges, a novel class of AI-powered ensemble …

Impact Of Disciplinary Literacy Pedagogy On Student Historical Content Learning: A Mixed Methods Research Study, Jeffrey Mayr

Dissertations

This study sought to assess if a disciplinary literacy (DL) teaching intervention could increase student historical content learning. The purpose of this study was to help make recommendations for usage of DL teaching strategies in the future. DL is a new and promising teaching strategy that has a multitude of research-backed benefits. However, DL adoption has been hampered by a lack of clarity on if DL can improve student content learning and test scores. This study used mixed methods methodology. Quantitative assessment was utilized for a quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design to assess the impact of a two-week DL teaching …