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Influence Of The Solar Cycle And Interplanetary Shocks On Turbulence At 1 Au, Sujan Prasad Gautam

Dissertations

This thesis studies the effect of the solar cycle and interplanetary shocks on turbulent fluctuations at 1 AU. We examine the solar cycle dependence of turbulence cascade rates corresponding to the total turbulence energy using the methodology developed by Adhikari et al. that utilizes a Kolmogorov phenomenology. Turbulence cascade rates are derived using 25 years (1995–2020) of Wind spacecraft plasma and magnetic-field observations. We find that the total turbulence energy cascade rate changes with the solar cycle, such that the cascade rate is largest during solar maximum and smallest during solar minimum. It is positively correlated with the solar wind …

Principal Leader Behaviors That Create Meaning For Their Teachers To Reduce Stress And Burnout, Angelina Santana

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify and describe the behaviors that exemplary high school principals use to create meaning for themselves and their teacher followers through relationships, character, vision, wisdom, and inspiration. In addition, the study aimed to determine the new teachers’ perceived degree of importance of the principal leader behaviors related to relationships, character, vision, wisdom, and inspiration to help create meaning.Methodology: The mixed methods convergent study design uses qualitative and quantitative means to collect and analyze data to understand how exemplary high school principals make meaning for their teacher followers. First, qualitative interviews …

Constructing Effectiveness: Culture, Legitimacy, And Strategic Planning In Zoos And Aquariums, Robin Keith

Dissertations

Zoos and aquariums are complex organizations operating with multiple mandates—saving species, providing exceptional care to animals, connecting communities with nature, and inspiring environmental action—making “effectiveness” difficult to define. What counts as success depends on who is asked and which goals are foregrounded. This study investigated how stakeholders in Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)–accredited organizations conceptualize and operationalize effectiveness within strategic planning processes. Prior research on nonprofit and mission-driven organizations has shown effectiveness is multidimensional and often defined differently by various stakeholders. However, little has been known about how these definitions are negotiated through the practice of strategic planning, …

Recruitment Of Black Minority Community Into Irish Police: Evaluating The Dynamics Of Culture In Decision-Making., Adeyemi Adekanle

Dissertations

Ethnic and racial diversity in police services has been a focus for criminologists and policing scholars for some considerable time. But despite intense efforts, most multicultural societies still struggle to get Black minority communities recruited into their police services. Two widely held interconnected assumptions appear to be at issue. The first is that police occupational culture, which has been shown in some studies to be prejudicial, is, in many cases, blatantly racist. This may well be a catalyst or “push factor” in discouraging members of Black communities in particular from taking up police careers. The second is that members of …

Continuity And Development In The Eschatological Sabbath: Themes In Seventh-Day Adventist Thought (1842–2020), Joseph Nesbit

Dissertations

The Topic

This dissertation explores continuity and development in the eschatological understanding of the seventh-day Sabbath within selected Adventist theological writings from its Millerite origins to the contemporary scholarship of Jo Ann Davidson. The eschatological aspects of the Sabbath have played a central role in both pioneer and contemporary Adventist thought, particularly in its identification as the seal of God in Revelation and as a sign of covenant loyalty in the final crisis. While this understanding has displayed remarkable continuity in its essential themes, it has also undergone significant maturation in tone, scope, and theological emphasis. By tracing both enduring …

A Case Study Of California Postsecondary Faculty Collaboration On Rubric Development To Foster Student Learning, Emmanuel Kwadwo Frimpong

Dissertations

Although perceived as the ‘gold standard’ strategy for conquering complex problems, collaboration can be ignored by intellectuals who prefer to work independently. This oversight may occur even in the face of challenging problems such as assessment of scholarships, institutional effectiveness, strategizing, and even the crafting of effective rubrics for assessing student learning. The scholarly literature clearly reveals that real difficulties often refuse to respond to routine assignments or common bureaucratic patterns. Additionally, 21st century conflicts may require creative solutions involving interdependence, joining of forces and brains, or vision sharing. Effective assessment of student learning within higher education may reflect just …

The Symphony Of Justice: An Intertextual Study Of Social Justice Material Between The Torah And The Psalms, Daniel Gordan

Dissertations

Do passages dealing with social justice in the Torah and the Psalms together comprise an intentionally composed grand symphony, or do they merely form an ad hoc patchwork quilt in which their echoes of similarity are mere coincidences?1 Literary interactions between the Torah and the Prophets of the Hebrew Bible have been a focus of biblical scholarship, but the intertextual connections between the legal corpus of the Torah and poetry in Psalms have not received sufficient attention. Scholars have noticed some thematic similarities, but there are no systematic studies that analyze these interactions to determine whether they involve reuse and, …

Role Of Mkp-2 In Pancreatic Beta Cell Function & Development Of Diabetes, Nabin Ghimire

Dissertations

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by persistent hyperglycemia. Type 1 diabetes results from autoimmune destruction of β-cells, whereas Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) are closely linked, as individuals with T2D are twice as likely to develop MAFLD. Previous work from our lab demonstrated that overexpression of MKP-2 in obesity promotes hepatic steatosis, diet-induced obesity, reduced insulin sensitivity, and increased body weight. However, the role of MKP-2 in the onset and progression of diabetes remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to …

Mechanisms Of Interface Formation In Bi-Metallic Components Fabricated Using Additive Manufacturing Processes, Michael P. Santangelo

Dissertations

As the expansion of metal additive manufacturing (MAM) brings forward new techniques and processes, compatibility between combinations of materials in multi-material components needs to be considered. Currently, the process by which compatibility between various metal alloys are evaluated is through laborious characterization of representative samples, which are products of both the additive manufacturing (AM) process used as well as the material chemistry. If a methodology for understanding the driving mechanisms behind formation of a compatible metallic interface can be created with the use of a predictive model, then wider implementation of multi-material MAM can be achieved. The objective of this …

Exploring Cultural Competence Of Alabama Nurse Educators : A Mixed Methods Study, Rachel Bloodworth

Dissertations

Cultural competence is a vital skill in nursing practice and nursing education. Nurse educators must be able to teach this concept and prepare students to provide culturally competent care to patients. This study examined the cultural competence of Alabama pre-licensure nurse educators in associate degree nursing (ADN) and baccalaureate (BSN) programs and explored their perceptions of cultural competence's role in nursing education. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed, guided by Campinha-Bacote's Process of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Health Care Services Model. In Phase I, 51 nurse educators completed the Cultural Diversity Questionnaire for Nurse Educators-Revised (CDQNE-R) and …

Utility Of Model-Based And Probabilistic Approaches For Rocket Engine Affordability : Exemplified On The Rs-25 Engine, Shreyas Lakshmipuram Raghu

Dissertations

Rocket engine development has historically relied on test–fail–fix (TFF) methodologies to uncover structural and fatigue deficiencies under representative operating conditions. While effective, TFF is inherently costly and schedule-intensive, often revealing life-limiting behavior late in the development lifecycle. The increasing use of additive manufacturing (AM) amplifies this challenge by introducing material property scatter and process-induced variability. Without explicit early treatment of uncertainty, these effects can increase reliance on physical testing and drive additional TFF cycles. This work presents a reliability-driven life-consistent design-bounding framework intended as an early lifecycle decision-support tool to assess and mitigate TFF risk. Although material variability is inherently …

Called To Lead: Leadership Journeys And Workplace Experiences Of Women Presidents In Seventh-Day Adventist Institutions, Gary Thurber

Dissertations

Problem

Although women constitute more than half of Seventh-day Adventist Church membership, they remain substantially underrepresented in senior leadership roles across North America. This disparity raises important questions about the historical, theological, organizational, and gender-related factors that shape women’s access to institutional leadership within the denomination. A growing body of scholarship has examined the life experiences of women clergy in the church; however, limited research has explored the experiences of women serving in presidential leadership roles within Seventh-day Adventist institutions.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to understand and describe the experiences of women serving in presidential leadership roles …

A Phenomenological Qualitative Study Of The Experiences Of Board Chairs Toward Governance In Seventh-Day Adventist Schools Across Canada, Shad Lehmann

Dissertations

Problem

There is limited understanding of how school board chairs within the Canadian Seventh-day Adventist education system perceive and carry out their leadership and governance roles. The role of the board chair is complex, involving oversight of the organization, adherence to denominational policies, and alignment with the school’s academic and spiritual missions. Although effective governance is vital for school success, there remains a lack of clarity about how board chairs interpret their roles, fulfill their responsibilities, and navigate the unique demands of faith-based school leadership. This gap in understanding restricts the system’s ability to provide appropriate training, support, and clear …

A Proposed Conceptual Framework For Assessing Quality Of Life In The United Arab Emirates: Application To Ras Al Khaimah Emirate, Aaesha Saif Al Shehhi

Dissertations

Quality of Life (QoL) has become a central concern in urban planning and sustainable development, particularly in rapidly transforming contexts such as the United Arab Emirates. This dissertation proposes and empirically validates a comprehensive framework for assessing urban QoL, with a focused application to the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. A mixed-methods approach integrates objective indicators and residents' subjective perceptions, aligned with national strategies including UAE Vision 2030, the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031, and UAE Centennial 2071.

The methodology combines Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and statistical analyses to evaluate seven key sectors: environment, infrastructure …

Teaching And Learning With Feeling: A Qualitative Case Study Of Teacher Candidates’ Experiences With Socio-Emotional Learning, Anna Melinda Press

Dissertations

Research on socio-emotional learning (SEL) has demonstrated its many benefits for students, justifying its prevalence in pre-kindergarten to grade 12 schools across the U.S. Despite evidence of the centrality of a teacher’s role in effective SEL implementation, less research has been conducted on teacher training in SEL – particularly for teacher candidates (TCs). The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine TCs’ experiences with SEL, and the impact of those experiences on their development as providers of SEL. Purposive sampling was used to recruit TCs in either the second or third year of one specific undergraduate, field-based teacher …

A Mixed-Methods Design-Based Research: Study Of Teacher Self-Efficacy And The Implementation Of Social Emotional Learning In The High School Classroom, Avia Brown

Dissertations

The escalating mental health crisis among adolescents, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, positioned schools as critical intervention sites for supporting student well-being (K. McNamara, 2020). However, teacher capacity and self-efficacy in implementing social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies remain significant barriers to effective, sustainable practice. This mixed-methods design-based research study examined the efficacy of professional development and instructional coaching in enhancing teacher self-efficacy and supporting the implementation of SEL competencies in high school classrooms.

The researcher employed a comprehensive, five-stage design thinking framework (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test) to develop and evaluate a structured eight-week professional development and coaching intervention targeting SEL …

Title I School Principals And Academic Coaches’ Perceptions Of School Strategic Planning, Implementation, And Monitoring On Plan Outcomes: A Case Study, Elizabeth A. Mize

Dissertations

This qualitative case study involved a sample of Title I elementary schools, their principal, academic coach, and district Title I supervisor, who are involved in the school strategic planning process. The study aimed to explore the strategies and processes Title I schools use to develop, implement, and monitor their school strategic plans to grow student achievement. Data collection methods included a demographic questionnaire, a document analysis of each school’s strategic plan and mid-year monitoring plan, and one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The findings highlighted the importance of well-developed plans that incorporate implementation processes and strong monitoring used to adjust, if needed, the …

Navigating The Intersection: Black Women’S Leadership Journey In Educational Technology, Monika Davis

Dissertations

Despite the significant underrepresentation of Black women in district-level leadership for public school districts, diversity in educational technology leadership has been recognized as essential for student success. This phenomenographic study investigated the experiences and perceptions of Black women in district-level educational technology leadership roles within public school districts across the United States. The study addressed two research questions about how these leaders perceive and interpret the intersectional challenges of race, gender, and technology, as well as the variations in their experiences. Using two questionnaires and in-depth semi-structured interviews with seven Black female educational technology leaders, the study explored their lived …

Elucidating Differences In Constitutionally Isomeric Diamine- And Bisphenol-Based Polybenzoxazine Networks, Benjamin L. G. Morasch

Dissertations

This dissertation aims to expand the fundamental understanding of diamine-based benzoxazine chemistry by examining how synthesis influences the network properties of 4,4’-ddm and phenol-based (P-ddm) benzoxazine, compared to the constitutionally isomeric bisphenol-F and aniline-based (BF-a) benzoxazine. While bisphenol-based benzoxazines such as BF-a have been studied more extensively, diamine-based benzoxazines are still relatively unexplored due to the competition with the formation of 1,3,5-hexahydrotriazine intermediates and the inconsistent thermal and mechanical properties reported in the literature. These inconsistencies stem from factors including synthetic methods, curing conditions, and degradation during polymerization that have been overlooked.

To address these issues, this dissertation is organized …

General Education Teachers' Perspectives And Practices For Supporting English Language Learners In Memphis Charter Schools, Ijiah Hargrove

Dissertations

The growing enrollment of English Language Learners (ELLs) in U.S. schools, particularly within urban charter settings, presents unique challenges for general education teachers who are often underprepared to meet both linguistic and academic needs. The purpose of this study was to explore the instructional strategies, perspectives of their ability of self-efficacy, and institutional factors that shape how K–8 charter school teachers in Memphis support ELLs. This work is significant because teachers’ beliefs, preparation, and available resources directly impact ELL achievement and equity in education.

A qualitative single-case study design was employed, with twelve general education teachers recruited through purposeful sampling. …

Exploring Faculty Perspectives Of Roadblocks To Accommodating Students With Disabilities In Community Colleges, Shalither S. Cushenberry

Dissertations

This qualitative study explores faculty perspectives on student accommodation in the community college setting. The one-on-one, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with faculty and perspectives of accommodation experts will result in outcomes that better prepare faculty, as a workforce, to support students with accommodations. The study utilized the social cognitive career theory (SCCT) to understand how increasing faculty awareness and engagement through professional development can enhance their ability to provide services to students with accommodation requests. The study underscores the critical importance of understanding the rationale for students with granted accommodations and faculty members supporting their academic success. The findings revealed gaps …

“The Goal Is To Help The Community”: Motivations And Experiences Of Diverse Families In A Special Education Parent Advocacy Program, Diana Cruz

Dissertations

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004) entitles parents of eligible students with disabilities to meaningful participation in their children’s educational planning. Despite this mandate, many parents encountered barriers that limited their ability to participate in special education processes. These challenges were amplified for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families who often lacked the social and cultural capital needed to navigate the system (Trainor, 2010b). Culturally and linguistically diverse parents experience systemic barriers such as limited interpretation, discrimination, and cultural differences that restrict their engagement (Buren et al., 2018; Doucet, 2011; Harry, 2008; Kalyanpur et al., 2000; Sanders-Smith et …

Exploring The Integration Of Social And Emotional Learning In Chinese High School Music Courses, Yao Lu

Dissertations

Social and emotional learning has become increasingly important in recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health and emotional well-being of students have received unprecedented attention. However, in China, social and emotional learning is still a relatively new concept. High school students are in a critical period for self-identification and the development of values. Academic competition and peer comparisons have increased significantly, making them more in need of systematic, operational SEL support. Music, as a “natural carrier” of emotions, can externalize, identify, and regulate individual emotions, and can also cultivate empathy and relationship skills in collaborative settings such …

The Interpretation And Historical Performance Practices Of Black Choral Music: The Spiritual And Gospel Music, A Comparative Study, Travis Terrence Kornegay

Dissertations

African American spirituals and gospel music are two foundational folk traditions that have profoundly shaped the American musical landscape and continue to influence cultural identity and sacred expression. Emerging from the resilience and faith of enslaved African Americans, spirituals often carried coded messages of liberation. Meanwhile, gospel music developed in the early twentieth-century urban Black church, blending elements of spirituals, blues, and jazz to communicate collective and personal religious experiences. Although linked by shared cultural lineage, the genres diverge in their historical development, linguistic expression, and performance practices, necessitating comparative scholarly inquiry. This dissertation investigates the similarities and key differences …

Existence, Difference, And The Nigerian Woman: A Feminist Praxis Beyond Patriarchy, Hannah Yemisi Ajewole

Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the postcolonial condition of Nigerian woman through a critical philosophical engagement with feminist theory, focusing particularly on Simone de Beauvoir’s existentialism and Irigaray’s ethics of sexual difference. It interrogates the historical processes through which gender became the basis of hierarchy in the Nigerian society, arguing that colonial and patriarchal override precolonial forms of relationality—marked by dual-sex relationship and age-based hierarchies—into rigid, male-dominated structures of authority and representation. Drawing also on Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí’s critique of western gender epistemologies, the work contextualizes the Nigerian woman’s experience within a broader matrix of colonial imposition, cultural displacement, and epistemic violence. This …

Exploring Hiring Managers’ Strategies For Recruiting Diverse Educators In A Southeastern State, Keisa K. Davis Ma

Dissertations

This dissertation examined the strategies applied by hiring managers within one state in the southeastern United States to recruit diverse teachers. The purpose of the study was to explore hiring managers’ experiences and knowledge of minority teacher recruitment. The primary research question for this study was: What strategies do hiring managers in the school district under study find most effective in overcoming barriers to recruiting minority educators, and how do they measure their success? Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, and thematic coding was used to arrive at emerging themes, patterns, and perceptions. The findings revealed that while hiring managers …

Finding Utopia: An Examination Of Pedagogical Approaches To Teaching Utopianism In U.S. College Classrooms, Brittany Page Brake

Dissertations

This dissertation investigates how, and if, utopianism is being taught in college classrooms across the United States. Long considered impractical, overly idealistic, and/or politically dangerous, utopianism has been largely marginalized in political science and American culture. However, this project finds that there are instructors teaching utopianism and they are using the concept to challenge students to think differently about governance, justice, and institutional design. Drawing from political theory literature, course syllabi submitted by faculty from different U.S. universities, interviews with instructors, and personal case studies of my own courses at Central State University and Manchester University, I explore how utopian …

Environmental Beliefs Among Evangelical Leadership, Jeffrey Stark

Dissertations

There has been consensus among climate scientists for over a decade about the reality of human caused climate change. Even with this consensus, the public understanding of this issue remains divided based on factors generally unrelated to the science. Evangelical Protestants are one group which consistently polls as more skeptical of climate change. This is true not only when compared to the general population but also when compared to other religious demographics. Most large-scale surveys of evangelicals assume the demographic to be a monolith and do not attempt to break the demographic down further. In this mixed methods study, we …

Exploring The Use Of Culturally And Linguistically Responsive Practices Within The Multi-Tiered System Of Support (Mtss) Framework When Supporting Students With Disabilities At A Dual Language Immersion School, Sylvia Simmons

Dissertations

The integration of culturally and linguistically responsive practices (CLRP) within the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework has been recognized as a promising method for improving learning opportunities for diverse students. However, little to no research has been conducted on the intersection of CLRP within the MTSS framework to support students with disabilities in dual language immersion schools (DLI). This lack of research has posed challenges for educators seeking effective strategies to support diverse learners with disabilities in such settings. Therefore, the purposes of this qualitative case study were to (a) explore how a dual language immersion school utilizes the …

Civics Teachers’ Perceptions Of Disciplinary Literacy Strategies That Use Primary Sources: A Case Study, Whitney Williams

Dissertations

This study has been designed as a case study to examine teachers’ perceptions of document-based strategies when combined with primary sources as pedagogical tools. The participants were ninth grade civics teachers. Semi-structured interviews, focused observations, and artifact collection were the sources of collected data. As the researcher, my constructivism guided this study through the lens of Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory (SCT). Therefore, the participants’ perception will be interpreted through SCT concepts such as personal influences, behavioral influences, and environmental influences. Findings show a handful of disciplinary literacy strategies that occurred most often across all participants. Teachers valued an emphasis …