Leading Through Stability: How Relational Leadership And Stability Transformed The Culture Of Boone Middle School, Luke P. Thuston

Dissertations

Principal turnover remains a persistent challenge in American education, yet limited research has examined the long-term cultural consequences of chronic leadership instability or the mechanisms through which schools recover. This convergent mixed-methods case study investigated how leadership stability and intentional relationship-building practices influenced the transformation of school climate and culture at Boone Middle School, a suburban middle school in Missouri with a sustained history of administrative turnover. Between 2001 and 2022, the school experienced seven principals and fifteen assistant principals, contributing to normalized instability, diminished relational trust, and skepticism toward organizational change. This study examined the period of leadership stabilization …

Cripping The Border – Acompañamiento As Access: An Ethnographic Case Study Of Transborder Youth With Disabilities, Marco O. Amaral

Dissertations

The U.S.-Mexico border is a historical, geopolitical site of intense militarization where colonial logics of "othering" converge to marginalize disabled transborder youth. While transborder studies have expanded, students with disabilities remain relegated to the "void" and contained by educational systems that prioritize surveillance over access. Grounded in Sepúlveda’s (2011) acompañamiento and Transborder DisCrit, this ethnographic case study examines the lived experiences of both students and their families who cross the border daily to attend school in the U.S. It frames these journeys not as mere commutes, but as acts of defiance within the broader disability rights movement.

As a teacher-activist, …

Organizing To Engage: A Framework For Conflict Strategy, Paul Mason Carpenter

Dissertations

Conflict strategy can be exceedingly complex. While many of the basics are simple, even the simple can be highly complicated to execute. The Schlieffen Plan in World War I appeared straight forward, but execution was a great deal more complex. It failed and the result was years of trench warfare.  In addition, leaders entering conflict may not fully appreciate the full context, its effect, and the need for a long term result--a better state of peace.

Strategy and tactics may be challenging to transform as an engagement evolves. In addition, strategists must often commit to courses of action within very …

Effective Leadership Strategies For Character Education, Kim Fricke Bilanko

Dissertations

Although character education has been widely studied, limited research has examined the specific leadership strategies building administrators use to implement and sustain comprehensive character initiatives. This qualitative study investigated the leadership practices of building administrators whose schools were designated as National Schools of Character (NSOC) in order to better understand how character education is institutionalized and maintained over time. Guided by an exemplar model and informed by constructivist grounded theory methods, the qualitative study explored (a) the leadership strategies administrators identified as essential to implementation and (b) the challenges they encountered, and the responses used to address them.

Semi-structured interviews …

Percy Green: A Legacy Of Tactical Innovation And Leadership In St. Louis' Black Freedom Movement, Christopher M. Fletcher

Dissertations

Abstract

            This study explored Percy Green’s efforts against systemic racism, his innovative protest tactics, leadership qualities and principles, and his lasting impact within the Black Freedom Movement in St. Louis, Missouri, throughout the 1960s and 1970s. A qualitative single-case approach was utilized, analyzing archival records, interviews, a documentary about Green’s activism, newspaper articles, and Green’s own documentation of his work in the movement—all examined through thematic analysis. This process revealed key themes related to Green’s activism. The findings showed that Green employed non-violent, creative, and provocative protest tactics, including civil disobedience and direct action. These strategies revealed hidden racial inequalities, …

Toward Understanding Faculty Engagement In Professional Development: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Conference Attendance By Community College Faculty, Jared Durden

Dissertations

Conference attendance is often framed as an individual choice, but this community college-focused study found it operates as a system. Institutional supports, signals, and constraints either make attendance more feasible or reinforce barriers to attendance. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, I integrated a faculty survey, policy document analysis, and faculty panels (moderated small-group interviews) to identify what most consistently separates attendance from non-attendance and what institutions can change. Survey results included 56 complete responses (analytic n = 54) from full-time faculty working at Missouri community colleges. Faculty reported moderate to moderately high perceptions of institutional support, professional value, and belonging …

Active Listening And Reassurance In Text-Based Virtual Health Coaches, Ghulam Hussain

Dissertations

Conversational agents (CAs) have strong potential to support health and physical wellbeing through text-based coaching, but they remain limited in their ability to demonstrate supportive social behaviours that are important in human coaching interactions. In particular, relatively little is known about how Active Listening and Reassurance are perceived, modelled, and evaluated in text-based virtual healthcare coaching, or how such behaviours should be adapted to individual users.

This dissertation investigates how supportive interaction behaviours can enhance text based virtual health coaching, with an initial focus on Active Listening and Reassurance and a later theoretical emphasis on Active Listening. Across five unique …

Mathematics In Crisis: Predictors Of Achievement For Black And Latino High School Students Post-Covid-19, David Mikel Etheridge

Dissertations

This quantitative study examines systemic factors predicting math achievement for Black and Latino high school students in Chicagoland's 2025 graduating class, using public Illinois School Report Card data. It identifies teacher qualifications, chronic absenteeism, and school ratings as statistically significant predictors, confirming systemic inequities. The study advocates for structural policy reform, targeted teacher investment, and culturally responsive pedagogy to achieve equity and disrupt barriers for marginalized students.

The Impact Of Social-Emotional Learning On Student Academic Achievement And Outcomes, Tanya L. Fields

Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined the impact of the Second Step social-emotional learning (SEL) program on student achievement and outcomes in Forest Elementary School District (FESD). Guided by Patton’s utilization-focused evaluation framework, the research addressed five questions: (1) How has Second Step implementation during SY23–24 and SY24–25 impacted behavioral referrals in K–5 students? (2) How has it influenced NWEA, ELA, and Math grades in SY23–24 and SY24–25? (3) To what extent do teachers and leaders feel prepared to implement SEL and the Second Step program? (4) How effective is the training and support provided by school leaders? and (5) What additional …

Adapting The Alternative Program At Panther Community High School To Meet The Needs Of Its Students, Citlali J. Flores Hernandez

Dissertations

This study presents a comprehensive program evaluation of the PAGD alternative education program (a pseudonym) at Panther Community High School, a program that had not undergone formal revision since approximately 2015. The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of the PAGD program in addressing students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs, and to identify areas in need of improvement to support both student success and long-term program sustainability. The evaluation was guided by four primary research questions: To what extent is the PAGD program meeting students’ needs? To what extent are PAGD program teachers receiving the necessary support? …

“I Should’Ve Listened!”: Lived Experiences Of Postsecondary Transitions Among Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders From Non-Traditional High Schools, Kristen De Rose

Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of former students with EBD who attended a non-traditional high school. Eight semi-structured individual interviews were conducted to understand how students experienced emotional and academic supports during high school and throughout the transition into adulthood. Results revealed that participants appreciated attending a non-traditional school for its school connectedness, emotional and instructional supports, and school-based counseling. Additionally, findings suggest the school did not prepare them for the transition to post-secondary life. These findings suggest that emotional and academic support for students with EBD in non-traditional high school settings positively affected students’ sense of success …

Beyond Interventions: District Design Of Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support As An Equity Framework To Address Inequitable Student Outcomes, Joyce Debrah

Dissertations

Although multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) is often examined through the lens of school-level intervention systems and the fidelity of tiered academic and behavioral supports, this study approached MTSS from a district leadership and systems design perspective. Rather than evaluating the implementation of specific interventions within individual schools, the study investigated how district-level leadership structures, governance practices, and implementation infrastructure shape the capacity to operationalize MTSS as a coherent framework for advancing equitable student outcomes across a portfolio of schools. By examining district systems, structures, and decision-making processes, the study positioned the district as the primary unit of change and …

Examining The Impact Of Restorative Practices On Student Behavior, Discipline, And Relationships In A K–5 Elementary School, Kathleen Tomaszewski

Dissertations

This study examined the implementation of restorative practices in a K–5 elementary school and their influence on student behavior, disciplinary actions, and teacher–student relationships. Restorative practices in schools focus on building a positive school climate and addressing student behavior through community and relationship-building rather than punitive measures. The rationale for the study was grounded in concerns regarding the use of exclusionary discipline practices and the need for proactive, student-centered approaches to improving school climate. Two main research questions guided the inquiry: To what extent do restorative practices impact student referrals and disciplinary actions in a K-5 elementary school? How do …

The Impact Of Social-Emotional Learning Instruction On Intermediate Grade Levels, Leah Frances Davis

Dissertations

The study, The Impact of Social-emotional Learning on Intermediate Grade Levels, examined the perceived impact of social-emotional learning on the five core CASEL competencies. This included: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The study was a mixed methods design using qualitative research methods of surveys and interviews to analyze the teachers’ perceptions on the impact of social-emotional learning. Quantitative analysis reviewed attendance and discipline data to determine the impact of social-emotional learning on these factors. Teachers’ perceptions, coupled with and compared to the quantitative component of change in discipline infractions and daily attendance, offer great insight into …

Gamification And Serious Games In Undergraduate Nursing Education For Disaster Preparedness In The United States, Jacob Fast

Dissertations

Disaster preparedness is a critical component of undergraduate nursing education, yet traditional instructional approaches often inadequately prepare students for the complexity and uncertainty of real-world emergencies. Emerging literature suggests that gamification and serious games may enhance engagement and applied learning; however, limited research has examined their integration within nursing curricula from the perspective of faculty responsible for instructional design. This convergent mixed-methods study investigated the extent of integration, perceived effectiveness, and practical utility of gamification and serious games in undergraduate nursing education for disaster preparedness. Quantitative data were collected through a national survey of faculty teaching in CCNE- and ACEN-accredited …

Black Men's Perception Of Mentorship In A Black Male Initiative Program, Caprice Butts

Dissertations

Black men in higher education often navigate systemic barriers, including underrepresentation, limited access to resources, and challenges related to belonging and identity within predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Mentorship programs, such as Black Male Initiative (BMI), have emerged as a key support mechanism; however, limited research explores how Black men experience these programs and how mentorship influences their personal and professional development. This study examined how Black men perceive the influence of a BMI mentorship program on their personal and professional development during and after their postsecondary journeys.

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of Black men who participated …

The Intersection Of Social Desirability And Cultural Competence In Counselors: Broaching Sexual Topics With Sexually Minoritized (Lgb) Clients, Jareb Kinney

Dissertations

Mental health counselors increasingly work with sexually minoritized clients, yet limited understanding exists regarding how social desirability shapes counselors' perceived cultural competence and their willingness to broach sensitive sexual topics in therapeutic settings. This gap can obscure the subtle ways personal conditioning and professional performance pressures influence clinical practice. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore how social desirability influences mental health counselors' experiences and perceived cultural competence when discussing sex-related topics with sexually minoritized clients. Guided by symbolic interactionism, the study employed a purposive and snowball sampling strategy to recruit ten mental health counselors with direct clinical experience serving …

The Vital Role Of Communication In Elementary Education: Strategies For Bridging Language, Cultural, And Diversity Gaps To Strengthen Family-School Partnerships, Daniel H. Rack

Dissertations

This study examines how communication systems in elementary schools influence equitable family engagement within a linguistically and culturally diverse, Title I context. The purpose of this research is to evaluate how communication practices support or limit access, participation, and partnership between schools and families. The overarching research question guiding this study is: How do current communication systems support or constrain equitable family engagement? A convergent mixed-methods design was utilized to collect and analyze both quantitative and qualitative data. Data sources included educator surveys, family surveys, and focus group interviews, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of communication practices from multiple stakeholder …

Cotheorizing Healing With Undergraduate Queer And Trans Latina Survivors Of Power-Based Violence, Kimberly Correa

Dissertations

Current research on healing from power-based violence highlights the importance of integrating victim-survivors’ personal culture and identities into healing approaches, yet few studies actually focus on the culturally distinct healing processes of victim-survivors (O’Brien & Macy, 2016; Sinko et al., 2023). Grounded in Jotería theory (Alvarez, 2023) and Latina/Chicana feminist frameworks (Garcia, 1989), this qualitative study employs queer pláticas as both a methodology and method to center culturally rooted dialogue, reciprocity, and cariño as a political praxis. This study explores how six queer and trans Latina undergraduate victim-survivors conceptualize healing from power-based violence and how their identities, cultural values, and …

Determinants Of Evaluation Demand In The United States Federal Government: A Sequential Mixed Methods Study With Hierarchical Linear Modeling, Ruqayyah Abu-Obaid

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the factors that influence demand for evaluation in the federal government of the United States. Although evaluation has become a central element of evidence-based policymaking, limited empirical research explains what drives variation in evaluation activity across federal agencies. The study addresses this gap through a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design that integrates qualitative document analysis with quantitative hierarchical (panel) data modeling. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was employed to analyze longitudinal data from 23 federal agencies (2008–2024), accounting for both within- and between-agency variation over time and providing more accurate estimates of factors influencing evaluation demand.

In the qualitative …

Application Of The Tridiagonal Representation Approach And The J- Matrix Method Of Scattering In Theoretical Physics, Tunde Joseph Osunmusanmi

Dissertations

This dissertation is about the application of the Tridiagonal Representation Approach (TRA) in handling linear phenomenons, and for the first time, the J-matrix method of scattering in handling nonlinear phenomenons. The TRA is an algebraic method for solving linear ordinary differential equations of the second order. The advantage of the method in being algebraic is reinforced by the analytic power of orthogonal polynomials and special functions. On the computational side, it is favored as being reliant on powerful numerical techniques that deal with tridiagonal matrices such as Gauss quadrature and continued fraction. In the method, the solution of the differential …

Fully Decentralized Hierarchical Federated Learning At The Edge With Post-Quantum Secure Communication, Tariq Qayyum

Dissertations

Federated learning (FL) enables collaborative model training without centralizing raw data, but deploying FL at scale in real edge environments remains challenging because iterative training and aggregation must operate over heterogeneous, resource-constrained, and often mobile devices with time-varying connectivity. Conventional hierarchical federated learning (HFL) partially mitigates communication cost by introducing fog/edge aggregation, yet many designs retain cloud-based global aggregation and cloud-centric coordination. This places wide-area network latency on the critical path of every training round, creates a single point of failure, and limits responsiveness as model sizes and federation scale grow. Moreover, moving coordination and aggregation closer to the edge …

Mental Health Literacy Among Perinatal Healthcare Professionals In The United Arab Emirates: A Multiphase Convergent Mixedmethods Study, Rouwida Khalil Elkhalil

Dissertations

Perinatal mental disorders (PNMDs) pose a significant public health concern due to their impact on maternal well-being, infant development, and family functioning. Effective identification and management of PNMDs depend largely on the mental health literacy (MHL) of healthcare professionals, particularly those working in perinatal settings. However, MHL among perinatal healthcare professionals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains underexplored. This dissertation aimed to examine and conceptualize MHL among perinatal healthcare professionals in the UAE, explore factors influencing its application in clinical practice, and inform evidence-based improvements in perinatal mental health care. A multiphase convergent mixed-methods design was employed across four …

Intelligent Deep Learning-Based Sign Language Translation System, Nada Rasem Shahin

Dissertations

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community uses sign language as a primary means of communication. However, the shortage of sign language interpreters and the existence of hundreds of sign languages limit accessibility and inclusion. Sign Language Machine Translation (SLMT) systems present a promising solution for bridging the communication gap between the DHH and the hearing individuals, supporting inclusive societies. In smart cities, such systems play an essential role in improving the quality of life on a community level. In particular, as the population’s well-being is critical, developing intelligent assistive technologies, such as SLMT systems, is necessary to provide …

Efficient Energy Management In Networked Microgrids Using Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning In The Presence Of Uncertainties, Ayodele Benjamin Chukwuyem

Dissertations

Microgrid technology is essential in facilitating the transition to smart energy grids in developed countries and mitigating energy poverty in developing countries, particularly in areas where grid extensions are not feasible. Recently, the concept of networked microgrids (NMGs) has garnered tremendous attention due to the plausibility of interactions among interconnected microgrids leading to power networks that are more resilient, reliable, and stable. However, because each microgrid has diverse distributed generation resources (renewables and controllable generators) and each microgrid operator (MO) has different objectives, coordinated energy management is required to satisfy local and system-wide goals under conditions with significant uncertainty. Existing …

Hybrid Neural Network Model Defenses, Eric Yocam

Dissertations

Hybrid neural networks (HNNs), which integrate classical convolutional neural networks with quantum circuit components, are highly vulnerable to white-box targeted compound (WTC) adversarial attacks. Previous research has primarily evaluated defenses against single-method attacks, leaving a critical gap in understanding defense effectiveness against compound attacks that combine multiple perturbation strategies. This research study systematically evaluates defense mechanisms against WTC adversarial attacks on HNN models across 120 experimental conditions. Three defense categories are investigated: test-time defenses (input transformation and randomization, applied during inference without retraining) and training-time defense (adversarial training, requiring model retraining). Evaluation uses four datasets (MNIST, EMNIST "Digits", TinyImageNet, TrafficSigns) …

Braiding Epistemologies: A Testimonio Of A Woman Of Color Coach Creating Space In California Community College Athletics, Erika Marie Vargas

Dissertations

This qualitative ethnographic study examined the experiences of one woman of color intercollegiate coach navigating her path to a head coaching position within the California Community College (CCC) system using testimonio. Drawing on interviews with the head coach, her mentor, assistant coach, and a former athlete supported by ethnographic fieldnotes, the study analyzed her experiences through Critical Race Theory, Black Feminist Epistemology, Chicana Feminist Epistemology, and a newly articulated Indigenous Feminist Epistemology centered on relational accountability, embodied knowledge, ancestral grounding, and community responsibility. Findings show that her coaching developed within institutional structures not designed for women of color. She navigated …

From Classroom To Leadership: Anchoring My Leadership In Literacy, Character, And Equity, Amanda Patty-Ingram

Dissertations

My leadership journey as an urban educator has evolved through multiple roles—beginning as a classroom teacher, growing into an academic instructional coach, and now serving as an assistant principal. Across these roles, three values have consistently guided how I lead: literacy, character education, and equity. These are not separate initiatives—they are the foundation of my decisions, relationships, and instructional leadership.

Over time, I have come to understand that effective literacy leadership must be grounded in both character education and equity. Yet in practice, these values are often treated as disconnected: literacy becomes test prep, character becomes behavior compliance, and equity …

Emotional Tides In The Sea Of Automation: The Interplay Of Emotions And Trust On Automation Reliance, Lei Shirase

Dissertations

The present study examined the interplay between emotions and trust in the context of automation reliance. The study investigated whether specific emotions (happiness, interest, anger, sadness, and fear) systematically impacted users’ trust in an x-ray screening decision aid, their reliance on the aid, as well as their resilience to any errors made by the aid. Despite successfully inducing certain emotional states, there was no significant relationship between emotions and trust in / reliance on the automated aid. Supplemental analyses revealed that stable individual difference traits (i.e. propensity to trust) to be a strong predictor of initial trust levels in the …

Quantum Safe Encryption (Qse) Within The Internet Of Medical Things (Iomt) Environment Using Zero Trust Architecture (Zta), Michael Grant Williams

Dissertations

This research will use a Design Science Research (DSR) methodology and show that the results would be feasible, since there will not be any actual validating or testing occurring within or on this research project because this model is a theoretical model. In addition, this proposed theoretical model is based on extensive use of NIST standards and frameworks. This theoretical model will focused on the use of Quantum-Safe Encryption (QSE) within the Vivalink Electrocardiogram (ECG) Patch Monitor Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) device in a Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA). The advancement of quantum computing (QC) is expected to …