Machine Learning And Optimization For Intelligent Decision-Making, Elson Cibaku

Dissertations

This dissertation presents a series of innovative machine learning and optimization model designs that address complex operational challenges across logistics and power systems. By integrating advanced neural architectures with robust optimization techniques, the work delivers scalable solutions designed to improve efficiency, reliability, and decision-making in dynamic and real-world environments. The first study introduces a two-stage approach to effective vaccine distribution. This framework tackles the capacitated vehicle routing problem by combining adaptive clustering techniques with reinforcement learning and a simulated annealing pickup policy. Through extensive computational experiments, the approach demonstrates substantial improvements in routing efficiency, reducing both computational time and logistical …

The Interplay Of Accommodation And Oculomotor Vergence Within Young Adults With Binocularly Normal Vision And Typically-Occurring Convergence Insufficiency, Sebastian Fine

Dissertations

Concerted binocular coordination evoking oculomotor and refractive responses to visual stimuli are essential to daily function. Oculomotor dysfunctions can inhibit binocular responses to visually-near stimuli and have high comorbidities to accommodative dysfunctions. Three visual cues for inward (convergent) and outward (divergent) oculomotor movements, when presented concertedly create natural-viewing conditions: disparity- the binocular difference in light cast onto the fovea due to differing ocular perspectives, blur- the acuity of a visual target which stimulates accommodation, and proximal- the perceived distance of a visual stimuli based on size.

This study aims to quantitatively investigate oculomotor vergence and accommodation performances between individuals with …

Modulation Of Cerebellar Cells By Transcranial Ac Stimulation In Anesthetized Rats, Qi Kang

Dissertations

Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is increasingly utilized in clinical trials for the treatment of neurological disorders. Each NIBS technique offers distinct advantages. Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is easy to apply and requires only simple equipment, while transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can penetrate deeper than tES into the brain and it is more focal. Transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (FUS) is superior to both in terms of penetration and focal stimulation. This study focuses on the modulation of the cerebellum, traditionally believed to be associated with motor coordination but increasingly recognized for its role in cognition and emotion as well. While tES …

An Inquiry Into The Physics Of Mixing And Floc Filtration, Andrew P. Pennock

Dissertations

Flocculation and clarification are two essential processes to deliver safe water at a reasonable cost to consumers. There are two major thrusts to the research presented in this dissertation. The first is to better characterize the physics and mixing parameters used for the design of hydraulic flocculators in the context of drinking water treatment plants. The second major thrust is to investigate floc filtration as a mechanism for the removal of primary particles during floc blanket clarification.

The intensity of mixing in environmental and chemical engineering applications is often characterized by the Camp and Stein velocity gradient. This parameter has …

Fact-Checking As A Multi-Step Process: From Ambiguity Resolution To Claim Validation, Wenbo Wang

Dissertations

The spread of misinformation and disinformation has become a major concern, particularly with the rise of social media as a primary source of information for many people. Fact-checking—the process of verifying claims against credible evidence—has emerged as a critical safeguard against misinformation. Yet, the task is fraught with challenges: claims are often ambiguous, context-dependent, or composed of multiple intertwined assertions, while automated systems struggle to replicate the nuanced reasoning of human experts. This dissertation addresses these challenges by reimagining fact-checking as a multi-step, knowledge-guided process that systematically resolves ambiguity, decomposes complexity, and validates claims through structured reasoning. Additionally, the proposed …

Next-Generation Extended Reality Systems With Real-Time Edge Artificial Intelligence And Mobile Computing, Pedro H. Regalado

Dissertations

Mixed reality (MR) and augmented reality (AR) systems are reshaping digital experiences by seamlessly integrating physical and virtual environments. This dissertation presents a comprehensive framework for next-generation immersive systems, combining advances in real-time data processing, multi-user synchronization, and secure communication. The core contributions are structured around three interconnected systems: MediVerse, TeleAvatar, and MultiAvatarLink, each addressing critical challenges in mobile MR.

MediVerse is a secure and scalable framework for real-time health and performance monitoring, integrating intelligent IoT sensors, wearable technologies, and MR interfaces. It supports multi-camera fusion, adaptive compression, and real-time three-dimensional (3D) point cloud generation, enhancing data accuracy and responsiveness …

Enriching Vision Representation By Deep Neural Networks And Self-Supervised Learning, Yucong Shen

Dissertations

Nowadays, more and more interesting computer vision tasks are tackled by deep learning approaches. However, the increasing model complexity imposes significant computational and storage costs. To address this challenge, this dissertation explores efficient deep learning techniques, proposing morphological layer, an efficient feature extraction layer. It achieves competitive image classification accuracy with significantly decreased model parameters. Another attempt at efficient deep learning is a proposed channel pruning approach that compresses deep neural networks by identifying and removing redundant channels using optimal transport theory. This approach achieves significant reductions in model size and computational cost while maintaining or even improving performance across …

Constructing Portraits Of Elementary Teachers Of Ethnic Studies: Examining The Narratives Of Anti-Racist Educators In An Era Of Common Core Curriculum And Instruction, Jennifer S. Manglicmot

Dissertations

The emergence of policies requiring ethnic studies courses in California’s secondary and higher education institutions amplified calls for anti-racist pedagogy and content in all K-12 grade levels. Currently, little empirical research exists on how ethnic studies is taught in elementary school classrooms. This absence is significant because instruction in these settings tend to focus heavily on meeting state content standards (i.e. Common Core), frameworks which have been critiqued as ignoring communities of Color epistemologies and promoting color-evasive ideologies, among other concerns. Through interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis, this qualitative multiple-case study explored how anti-racist and ethnic studies pedagogies are …

Through The Four Truth Lens: Exploring Climate Change Communication At Joshua Tree And Glacier Bay National Parks, Heather A. Waterman, Amanda Berlinski

Dissertations

The climate crisis threatens our global communities, cultures, and futures. Communication that brings climate change into everyday conversations and galvanizes the public to respond to it collectively is needed. However, political divides in the United States make climate change a contested heritage topic that is challenging to address. The purpose of this applied, basic qualitative research study was to use the Four Truth Framework, developed by the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to investigate climate change communication at Joshua Tree National Park in California and Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. Climate change affects national parks more than other …

Reclaiming Data: A Participatory Action Research Study To Empower Educators, Diana Hammond

Dissertations

Abstract

Currently, the day-to-day data collection and analysis work of teachers is often only deemed valuable if it is easily observed and quantitatively recorded. Teachers are asked to produce results with an incomplete set of tools and are then personally blamed — instead of blame being placed on the structural system — when the desired results don’t manifest. This participatory action research (PAR) study challenged the status quo by asking: What if teachers were empowered to expand their definition of data to include the rich, qualitative data at their fingertips, and what if teachers’ experience and intuition were valued instead …

Building A Grounded Theory Of Resilience Among Survivors Of Chronic Ischemic Stroke, Erin Marie Tompkins Doan

Dissertations

Abstract

Stroke is disruptive with elusive recovery and adjustment. Beyond traditional aspects of stroke rehabilitation, literature suggests adjustment to stroke should also include intervention with focus on resilience. A gap exists between conceptualization, theoretical models, and strategies for supporting resilience in persons with chronic ischemic stroke. This three-manuscript dissertation research comprised a scoping literature review, a pilot study, and a phenomenological case study. We employed a convergent mixed methods design in which we implemented and studied outcomes of an adaptive mindfulness intervention. We implemented eight focus groups with eight adults and four individual interviews over 13 months. The Brief Resilience …

Parent’S Health Literacy And Stress Level In The Inpatient Pediatric Setting, Tina C. Smith

Dissertations

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between parent health literacy and stress levels during their child’s inpatient hospitalization.

Background: In 2019, over five million pediatric hospitalizations occurred in the United States. Parents are central to their child’s care, but stress and sociodemographic factors may hinder their ability to understand and apply health information. This study explored how stress and other variables impact parent health literacy during hospitalization.

Methods: A cross-sectional design included a demographic survey, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and the Newest Vital Sign (NVS). Bivariate analyses (Chi-square, t-tests) and logistic regression were used to assess …

Does The Value Last? Exploring The Longitudinal Value Of A Research Experience For Preservice Science Teachers, Elizabeth A. Leong

Dissertations

Little attention has been given to the preparation of secondary preservice science teachers (PST) to meet the vision for science teaching and learning outlined in A Framework for K-12 Science Education. Existing literature suggests PSTs would benefit from authentic engagement in scientific research. But research experiences for preservice science teachers or preRETs are rare (Krim et al., 2019). This longitudinal qualitative case study explores the value retained one year after participation in a preRET, which engages PSTs in scientific research and education-focused professional learning. This study utilizes the preRET Value Creation Model (preRET VCM) (Authors, 2024), which overlays the Value-Creation …

Jewish College Students' Experiences Of Belonging, Identity, And Inclusion Within Campus Dei Initiatives, Laurence Allen Bolotin

Dissertations

Jewish college students navigate complex identities within higher education, often facing challenges related to antisemitism, exclusion, and the omission of religious identity within many Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This qualitative narrative inquiry explores the lived experiences of Jewish undergraduate students at public universities across the United States, examining their perceptions of belonging and the effectiveness of campus DEI initiatives in addressing their needs. Grounded in Jewish Critical Theory (JewishCrit), this study analyzes semi-structured interviews with 11 Jewish students, identifying five key themes: Belonging and Community, Intersectionality and Identity, Experiences with Antisemitism, Institutional Responses and DEI Initiatives, and the …

Creating A Positive Social-Emotional Learning Environment For Transgender Students: A Post-Pandemic Participatory Action Research, Mark Christopher Maranto

Dissertations

This qualitative research employing participatory action protocols (PAR) engages a limited number of gender minority adolescents (current transgender, nonbinary, and gender-fluid secondary students) and allied staff members at one large Midwestern public high school district. The principal purpose is to improve transgender secondary student schooling experiences. This study extends the current educational discourse on SEL (social-emotional learning) in post-pandemic high schools as far as the commitment to improving students' sense of belonging, growth mindset, resilience, and well-being should be a top priority for all educators. The primary researcher positions all participants as co-researchers to explore ways that could improve the …

Mirrors And Windows: Exploring Queer Identity Representation In Graduate Curriculum, Brody C. Tate

Dissertations

Queer representation in higher education curricula remains sparse, particularly at the graduate level, leaving many students without mirrors to reflect their identities or windows into broader queer experiences. This dissertation explores the extent to which queer graduate students perceive their identities as represented in their academic coursework. Using a narrative ethnographic approach, this study amplifies the voices of queer students, examining their lived experiences in relation to curriculum design, classroom discussions, and institutional inclusion. Framed through Queer Theory and Emily Style’s (1988) “Curriculum as Windows and Mirrors,” this research interrogates heteronormativity in graduate education and highlights the importance of visibility, …

Leading Through Crisis: San Diego County Schools' Response To The Social Emotional Needs Of All Students, Johana Bielma

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented school closures, forcing administrators to take decisive action to radically change the educational system. The imperative to switch to remote learning transformed the dynamics of teaching and learning, leading to both immediate and long-term academic and social emotional consequences for all stakeholders. When schools reopened, administrators faced the challenge of reintegrating students into in-person learning while addressing the pandemic’s lasting effects on academics, mental health, and school safety. While academic regression was evident, the extent of students’ emotional struggles was less anticipated. Many students exhibited increased irritability and mental health issues such as depression …

How We Show Up Matters: Transformative Adult Social Emotional Learning To Build Equity-Centered Schools, Samantha L. Rummage-Massey

Dissertations

Transformative Social Emotional Learning (tSEL) expands traditional SEL by integrating equity and social justice to cultivate student development and as a framework for educator growth and systemic change in education (Jagers et al., 2019). Unlike traditional SEL, which primarily targets students, tSEL emphasizes educators’ role in disrupting inequitable practices, making it a powerful tool for reimagining schools as justice-oriented spaces. This qualitative case study explores how tSEL professional development influences educators’ sense of identity, agency, and belonging, along with their reflections on systemic inequities and application of Critical Pedagogy (Freire, 1970) in personal and professional contexts. Data collection included semi-structured …

Liberatory Love: Exploring Educators’ Perspectives In Alternative Education, Kamala J. Mallipudi

Dissertations

Establishing an operational understanding of love is difficult. The struggle is magnified when attempting to create a shared vision of love across a group of educators. As Freire (1970/2005) and Darder (2011) affirmed, academic success is advanced when educators demonstrate love as part of their praxis. Continuation high schools represent a population of at-promise students who stand to gain much when their educators employ liberatory love practices. This study examined how educators’ perceptions about liberatory love are shifted or formed when they read, discuss, and reflect on the topic with their colleagues. This study drew on critical pedagogy and engaged …

Latinas In Higher Education: Paving & Weaving Wholeheartedly, Ariela M. Canizal

Dissertations

The deficit model in research has often framed Latinas in higher education through a lens of barriers and challenges, reinforcing stereotypes that depict them as unlikely to succeed in academic spaces. However, Latinas are actively resisting these narratives, weaving their resilience into their stories as they navigate the complexities of higher education, culture, and identity. This study examines how Latina students incorporate cultural background, familial support, and personal agency to thrive academically while challenging systemic obstacles and societal expectations. The research question that guided this study is: In what ways do undergraduate Latina students navigate identity as they experience leadership …

Post Racial Reckoning: Montessori Instructors' Perspectives On Teaching Through An Antibias Antiracist Lens, Jasmine E. Williams

Dissertations

Prior to the racial reckoning of 2020, Montessori teacher education programs (MTEPs) have only narrowly focused on social justice education (Aronson et al., 2020; Bartolomè, 2004; Cook, 2015; Cross, 2005; D’Cruz, 2022; King, 1991). Although MTEPs began to respond differently post-reckoning, support for implementing practices like antibias antiracist (ABAR) instruction was often absent. This study sought to understand how the racial reckoning and efforts to include an ABAR lens impacted the teaching practices of instructors in MTEPs. While ABAR-related studies exist in general teacher education (Blanchard et al., 2018; Madkins & Nazar, 2022; Martinez-Alba, Herrera, & Hersi, 2022), few focus …

Walking The Tightropes: Tensions In High School Religious Education, Nicholas Hurt

Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation examined the challenges faced by high school religion teachers in Catholic education through interviews with 16 teachers from nine U.S. dioceses. The dissertation explored four key tensions the literature indicates have emerged in Catholic education since the Second Vatican Council: (1) balancing catechetical and academic approaches, (2) navigating the dual role of educator and minister, (3) reconciling prescribed curricula with diverse student needs, and (4) addressing training disparities and their impact on teacher morale.

Beyond these tensions, teachers identified additional challenges absent from the literature. First, they noted that nurturing authentic faith is difficult when students fear …

Challenging Dominant Mindset Ideologies: Transforming Teaching And Learning That Impact Latinx Students, Francisco Lopez

Dissertations

Teacher identity poses a central connection to social justice education as researchers call for studies to pay attention to the cultural identities of those teaching in our schools when practices like color blindness are a common practice amongst teachers that keeps racial and social power intact. Despite the overwhelming presence of White teachers nationwide, we must pay attention to the specific needs of Teachers of Color in our classrooms. The assumption is often made that teachers of Color already have the knowledge on how to enact culturally responsive pedagogy. This study investigates the relationship between Critical Race Theory (CRT) and …

The Integration Struggles Of Myanmar/Burmese-Catholic Youth Refugees In The United States, Nant Thazin Shwe

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Myanmar, previously known as Burma, generates a significant yearly refugee exodus stemming from ongoing ethnic conflicts, political instability, human rights violations, and the targeted persecution of Christian minority groups. Individuals seek shelter and improved opportunities in other nations. From 2011 to 2023, for example, Burmese refugees represented the largest group among U.S. refugee arrivals, accounting for 18 per cent.

Presently, there is a lack of knowledge about what the Burmese-Catholic youth refugees experiences during their integration journey into the US society. This qualitative study aimed to shed light on how the larger socio-cultural and religious environment intersects with Burmese-Catholic …

The Complexities Of Hiring In A Remote Landscape: Examining The Role Of Remote Work Opportunities For Individuals With Criminal Records, Sivasubbarayan Srinivasan

Dissertations

This study examined how employer risk perceptions, beliefs in rehabilitation, and support for second-chance employment influence hiring decisions regarding individuals with criminal records, while also evaluating whether remote work moderates these relationships. Prior research has extensively explored employer attitudes toward ex-offenders in traditional, in-office environments; however, limited attention has been given to how remote work arrangements may alter perceived risk or hiring willingness. Given the expansion of remote and hybrid work models in the United States, understanding whether physical workplace separation reduces stigma or perceived liability is both theoretically and practically significant.

The study collected survey data from 605 hiring …

Development And Evaluation Of A Multiple Sclerosis-Related Suffering Index, Carolyn A. Wilder, Jennifer Gravesa, Salem O. Dehomb, Amanda L. Goodinga, Elizabeth J. Taylor

Dissertations

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive neurological disease characterized by complex physical, psychological, and emotional challenges that profoundly impact patients’ quality of life. Despite advances in symptom management, the multifaceted suffering experienced by individuals with MS remains inadequately measured, understood, and addressed. This study aimed to develop and validate the Wilder Multiple Sclerosis Suffering Index (WMSSI), a novel tool designed to quantitatively measure the unique dimensions of suffering in this population.

Student Engagement In Ela Choice-Based Core Curriculum: A Case Study Of The Dramatic Writing For Film, Television, And Theater Course, Brian Thomas Clements

Dissertations

This paper describes a case study examining student feelings towards engagement in choice-based core ELA courses and teacher feelings towards student engagement specifically within the Dramatic Writing for Film, Television, and Theater course offered in the state of Georgia. The context of this study focuses on the impact that student agency, choice, and voice have on student engagement from their own perspective and how Invitational Education Theory connects to this impact and the course itself. The case study examines the course, its students, and teachers in two schools in a large, suburban metro Atlanta school district. Through interviews and observations, …

Can You Hear Me Now? Student Perspectives Of 3d Phenomena-Based Science Teaching Practices, Leshea A. Moncrease

Dissertations

This dissertation presents findings of a self-study that investigated how student input, through reality pedagogy, may inform 3D phenomena-based teaching practices. 3D phenomena-based teaching practices are not new, but teachers are trying to determine how to use this framework to meet the needs of all students. 3D phenomena-based lessons use phenomena to drive instruction using core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and science and engineering practices. The goal of using 3D phenomena-based teaching practices is to create 21^st century critical thinkers and problem-solvers who engage in scientific habits. The acquisition of student perceptions through the analysis of student interviews, reflective journal …

Using Sustained Silent Reading In The Secondary English Language Arts Classroom To Increase Reading Engagement, Hannah S. Burwell

Dissertations

Reading scores have dropped precipitously over the past twenty years, and English Language Arts (ELA) teachers are looking for in-school academic interventions to mitigate this decline. This descriptive case study explored classroom experiences and student engagement with reading in a choice-based Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) program in a high school. The study examines student experiences through Expectancy-Value Theory (EVT). EVT suggests that a student’s engagement with reading will increase when they find the task valuable and believe success is achievable. The study explores how providing students with the independence to select their reading materials influences their experience in class and …

The Impact Of Focused Specific Phonemic Awareness Instruction On English Language Learners In The Kindergarten Classroom, Bethany Brewer

Dissertations

This study is about the impact of focused phonemic awareness instruction on English language learners in a Kindergarten classroom. The gaps in early literacy skills for students entering Kindergarten can create long-lasting deficits for students (NAEP, 2022). The purpose of this study is to determine if the engagement and performance of ELL students changes during whole group phonemic awareness and phonics instruction when taught specific skills in small group. The study took place in a Kindergarten classroom with students who have been identified as English Language Learners through ACCESS testing. This qualitative study used interviews with teachers to determine the …