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An Investigation Of Paleoclimate Through A Sedimentological Lens In The Gulf Of Mexico And Western North Pacific, Sarah Monica

Dissertations

This dissertation explores the use of sediment cores as proxy data for the reconstruction of paleoclimatic and environmental conditions. Human-caused climate change is leading to dramatic shifts in the global climate. As the instrumental record of climate is relatively short compared to the amount of time Earth has experienced weather, this work aims to extend our knowledge of climate beyond the instrumental record, thereby improving our holistic understanding of the climate system. In Chapter one, sediment cores from the central Texas inner shelf are used to produce a record of intense tropical cyclone (TC) activity over a ~4500-year period. X-Ray …

Motor And Phonic Tic Severity And Its Relationship To Social, Emotional, And School Functioning In Children With Tourette Syndrome From The Caregivers’ Perspective, Courtney C. Thompson

Dissertations

Abstract

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor and phonic tics that is frequently associated with functional impairments. The present study examined the relationship between motor and phonic tic severity, comorbid conditions, academic accommodations, and the social, emotional, and school functioning of children with TS. Caregiver data were collected on tic severity, comorbid conditions, social, emotional, and school functioning, academic accommodations, and grades. Overall, social, emotional, and school functioning fell within the moderate range, with school functioning positively associated with social and emotional functioning. Phonic tics were linked to social functioning, whereas both motor and overall tic …

The Perceived Effects Of Gaslighting In K-12 Public Schools: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, Landon Williams

Dissertations

The problems and mechanisms of gaslighting in the K–12 academic setting parallel those in other professional contexts. The gaslighting phenomenon threatens the optimal performance organizations, although little research exists within the context of K–12 public education that addresses perceptions of gaslighting. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to investigate the perceptions of gaslighting among employees within a K–12 educational setting and to explore its potential impact. This study relied on data collected from interview participants (N=16) via Zoom and components of interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) to better understand the phenomenon of gaslighting in the context of K–12 education. …

Using Descriptive Phenomenology To Understand Women In Leadership Navigating Work-Life Integration Before And After The Coronavirus Pandemic, Tara Elaine Scroggins Glass

Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of women leaders as they integrated professional and personal roles before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Although leadership during crisis has been widely studied, limited research has explored how women leaders across diverse sectors negotiated organizational change while sustaining worklife integration. Guided by the Haddon et al. (2009) model of work-life integration and informed by role conflict, conservation of resources, and intersectionality theories, this study sought to capture the essence of women leaders’ experiences navigating unprecedented disruption. Data were collected through semi-structured virtual interviews with twelve women leaders representing healthcare, education, corporate, …

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 …

Assessing The Impact Of Social Network On Cyber-Argumentation, Bhargav Krishna Thota

Dissertations

Argumentation is one of the basic activities people perform in our society. People often spend a lot of time arguing about social, cultural, economic, financial, political, and other issues. Existing cyber-argumentation platforms facilitate large-scale discussions among participants and play an important role in the analysis of collective opinions and collective decision-making. However, they do not provide social networking capabilities and are not designed to be used in social networking environments. Social networks in argumentation platforms can reveal the patterns, shifts, and true relationships between the users in a discourse that influence the collective decision-making process, outlier opinions and so on. …

Machine Learning-Aided Design Of High-Performance Aluminum Rotors For Enhanced Regenerative Braking Efficiency In Electric Vehicles, Sai Krishna Kancharla

Dissertations

This thesis investigates automotive brake system improvements through computational fluid dynamics (CFD), experimental testing, additive manufacturing, and machine learning techniques. The primary objective is to develop realistic simulations and eco-friendly brake materials for enhanced performance and sustainability. Initially, a CFD model was developed using ANSYS CFX to analyze brake rotor interactions with aluminum NASA alloy material supplied by the company. Preliminary tribological assessment on a Universal Mechanical Tester (UMT) confirmed the material suitability. Multiple rotor geometries provided were modeled and simulated under FMVSS 135 hot stop conditions. Friction performance was validated through scaled-down UMT tests using commercial brake pads and …

Imagine The Peace: Exploring The Intimacy Of Imagined Intergroup Contact In Kosovo, Eric Manley

Dissertations

Peacebuilders have utilized positive intergroup contact in various settings to help groups encounter each other. I implemented three different intimate imagined contact scenarios in Peja, Kosovo with Albanian and Serb participants. I conducted this research to understand how multiple intimate social settings could impact individuals’ encounters with the outgroup during each imagined scenario, thus gathering better operationalization efforts regarding intimacy and imagined contact. Using written responses, interviews, and one-year follow-up interviews, the café and workplace scenarios created a positive experience for most participants, and while half of participants had a positive experience with the fiancé scenario, many more had negative …

Molecular Design And Engineering Of Luminophores For Aggregation Induced Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence, Jesy Alka Motchaalangaram

Dissertations

Most conventional luminophores produce intense emissions in solutions but suffer from weak emissions or quenching when aggregated in poor solvents due to intermolecular interactions, such as π-π stacking. This phenomenon is known as aggregation caused by quenching (ACQ), limits their applications in their solid state. In contrast, aggregation induced emission (AIE) is a phenomenon in which luminophores are weak- or non-emissive in solution but emit intensively in their aggregated or solid states. AIE has enabled significant advancements in various real-world applications and has inspired new areas of research. The combination of AIE with electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) has resulted in a …

Processing-Driven Crystallization, Morphology, And Mechanics In Pekk Composites, Nicholas Ryan Enos

Dissertations

This dissertation aims to understand how thermoplastic composites can be processed at faster manufacturing rates while identifying how processing variables influence crystallization, morphology, and mechanical properties. Throughout this dissertation, the influence of nano-scale additives, carbon fibers, rapid cooling, shear, and molecular weight on polymer physics, crystallization, morphology, and mechanics is investigated.

The inclusion of carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoplatelets accelerated crystallization, increased nucleation density, reduced lamellar thickness, and shifted governing Hoffman-Lauritzen growth regimes in PEKK. Velisaris-Seferis modelling identified a surface-induced nucleation mechanism in PEKK nanocomposites, and fast scanning calorimetry allowed for the study of rapid cooling rates, helping to identify …

Public Perceptions Of Sexual And Dating Violence: How Attitudes On Sexual Education, Pornography, And Masculinity Relate To Rape Myth Acceptance, Bailey Lane Saldana

Dissertations

Rape myths are false beliefs that explain sexual violence, and uphold current beliefs on sexual violence (Payne, Lonsway, & Fitzgerald, 1999). These myths can be learned and reinforced through a variety of sources, including formal school-based sexual education programs, pornography consumption, and peers. Through two studies, sexual education and rape myth were examined. In the first study, an exploratory content analysis of state sexual education guidelines was completed to better understand what information and guidance is provided by states to those providing sexual education. In the second study, a sample of 420 U.S. adults completed a factorial survey experiment wherein …

Educational Data Mining Techniques To Analyze Student Behavior In A Learning Management System, Mohamad Ali Bin Baba

Dissertations

This study identifies course-level patterns of LMS use in fully asynchronous graduate engineering management courses and examines the relationships between LMS use, course type, student satisfaction, and performance. Using the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework and Moore’s interaction types, LMS metrics were mapped to learner–content, learner–learner, and learner–instructor interactions and clustered with k-means across nine courses. Profiles emerged—content-dominant, instructor-active, and balanced—showing that knowledge-based courses often emphasize content engagement, while application-based courses tend to be more balanced or instructor-driven. Satisfaction correlated most strongly with teaching/social-presence indicators (e.g., feedback cadence, discussion activity), whereas performance aligned with content-oriented engagement. The five strongest predictors …

Adsorption-Based Electrochemical Assay For Nucleic Acid Detection On 2d Nanomaterials, Prabhangshu Kumer Das

Dissertations

Electrochemical biosensing based on the adsorption of nucleic acids onto two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials offers distinct advantages over conventional techniques, including enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and simplified probe immobilization. Significant efforts have been directed toward developing sensing platforms that exploit the high surface area and unique physicochemical properties of materials such as graphene oxide (GO) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) to achieve efficient signal transduction. This adsorption-based approach eliminates the need for complex surface modifications or labeling, as nucleic acids interact with 2D surfaces through π–π stacking, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and ion bridging.The efficiency of nucleic acid immobilization …

Ukrainian Women In The Russo-Ukrainian War: Between Survival And Resistance, Jelena Nikolic Khatatbeh

Dissertations

This dissertation explores how the Russo-Ukrainian war has transformed the lives, identities, and resistance strategies of Ukrainian women. Drawing on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with forty-five Ukrainian women conducted between March 2022 and February 2023, it analyzes how everyday survival, political thought, and civic activism have changed during the war. Using a modified grounded theory approach and a feminist lens, this study examines women’s psychosocial experiences, their evolving political consciousness, and their active roles in humanitarian, cultural, and cyber resistance.Findings reveal that the war simultaneously reinforced and disrupted traditional gender expectations. While Ukrainian women dealt with increased domestic and caregiving burdens …

The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) And Benevolent Childhood Experiences (Bces) On The Physical And Mental Health Of African American Veterans, Lenorris Edward Hughes

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) on the physical and mental health of African American veterans. Although a large body of research has documented the long-term health consequences of early adversity, there remains limited empirical work focusing specifically on African American veterans and the potentially protective role of BCEs. This study addresses that gap by investigating whether ACEs and BCEs are predictive of physical health conditions, behavioral health patterns, and mental health outcomes in this population.The research utilized data from the 2021–2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), focusing on a …

The Role Of Sex And Genetic Background In Early Life Stress Effects On Locus Coeruleus Physiology And Related Cognitive And Affective Behaviors, Savannah Grace Brannan

Dissertations

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been associated with many neurodevelopmental and affective disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), with more exposures increasing negative risks. Sex and genetic background are biological variables involved in adverse psychiatric outcomes due to ACE exposure(s). Few preclinical studies have properly powered each sex to determine the interaction between sex and genetics on stress-impacting behavior, especially in early life. Females generally have an increased prevalence of stress-related psychopathologies beginning after adolescence, indicative of the adolescent time period as a female-specific sensitive period. To understand the underlying neuronal components responsible for …

Gender Considerations When Examining The Association Between Military Sexual Trauma And Chronic Pain Conditions, Lily Sarfaraz

Dissertations

Military sexual trauma (MST) amongst veterans is a growing concern for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Veterans who screen positive for MST receive VHA care for any injuries caused as a result of MST, psychological or physical, free of charge. MST is difficult to track, can result in long-term disability, and the burden of illness varies across genders. Current data highlights discrepancies seen across the literature of actual detected MST cases, with rates varying vastly. Efforts to track prevalence of MST identify additional concerns over the various comorbidities seen in MST cases. When examining symptom sequalae of MST, there is …

Evaluating The Perceptions, Barriers, And Impact Of Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports (Pbis) In Grades K-12, Serena Sowin

Dissertations

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is designed to promote positive behaviors and prevent behavioral challenges. Despite widespread adoption, implementation fidelity, especially at Tier 2 and Tier 3 levels, remains inconsistent, impacting students who require the most intensive support. This study was conducted in one middle school. The purpose of the program evaluation was to investigate the perceptions of, and barriers to, PBIS implementation, with a specific focus on evaluating the impact on student behavioral and disciplinary outcomes, identifying the training and support provided to educators, and examining how data are used to drive decisions. Overarching research questions assessed educator …

The Withdrawal From Afghanistan: Impacts On U.S. Veterans Who Served In Afghanistan, Nicole Wall

Dissertations

This study explored the experiences and perspectives of U.S. military veterans who served in Afghanistan regarding their views on the impacts of withdrawal from Afghanistan. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study explored the effects of the immediate and unexpected withdrawal from Afghanistan as it pertains to military veterans' perspectives on the purpose, value, and meaning of their previous military service, and the service of future generations. The study included 10 participants who had previously served at least one deployment to Afghanistan; each participated in a semi-structured interview via phone call, Zoom meeting, or in-person. The interview included 10 demographic …

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 …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of A Fully Immersive Esol Elementary Program: A Mixed-Methods Study, Equitia D. Armour

Dissertations

With the enrollment of students who are English Language Learners (ELL) steadily rising across the United States, this research sought to understand how immersive models support both language acquisition and academic achievement. This study examined the effectiveness of a fully immersive English Speaker of Other Languages (ESOL) program in one elementary school. The purpose was to identify the qualities of successful ESOL programming, and the conditions needed for sustained growth. The primary research question for this study was: What are the qualities of a successful fully immersive ELL elementary program? Using a mixed-methods design, data were drawn from surveys, interviews, …

Raise Your Digital Hand – Multilingual Learner Student And Teacher Perceptions Of Live Digital Feedback, Naveed Khan

Dissertations

Teachers of Multilingual Learners (MLs) must support students with varying English proficiency as they work toward meaningful academic progress. One promising support is live digital feedback, which can be multimodal—written, typed, drawn, or audiovisual—and serves as an added scaffold as MLs work within their zone of proximal development (ZPD). This qualitative case study examined ML student and teacher perceptions of live teacher and peer digital feedback in one-to-one (1:1) classrooms, grounded in sociocultural theory, effective feedback, and multimodality. The research questions focused on the types of feedback provided by teachers and peers and how ML students—both recipients and peer helpers—and …

Immersive Learning In Action: A Qualitative Case Study Of High School Teachers’ Experiences With Prisms Learning In Science And Mathematics, Hilary A. Cassidy

Dissertations

The use of virtual reality (VR) in the secondary STEM educational space is increasing as costs to access VR technology decrease. There is a current lack of research supporting the efficacy of virtual reality use in the secondary space to improve student success criteria, particularly for specific VR-based instructional products like Prisms. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of Prisms VR curriculum from the teacher perspective, with specific attention to student engagement, conceptual understanding, and instructional practices. The goal of the study was to contribute to existing research about the paradigm shift toward active student participation …

Fostering Connection And Empowerment: Amplifying Women’S And Indigenous Voices Through Place-Based Education, Inclusive Narratives, And Empathy Building, Paige N. Jones

Dissertations

The diverse experiences, perspectives, and identities of people across groups shape history. Educators and heritage professionals bear the responsibility of teaching historical content in ways that ensure all feel represented, valued, and safe. Despite these aims, the experiences and contributions of women and Indigenous Peoples have long been underrepresented in social studies curricula and heritage programming.

This dissertation integrates two complementary studies that examine how harnessing the power of place and centering the narratives and oral histories of underrepresented groups can advance connection and empowerment through educational experiences. The first study utilized focus group interviews with educators and heritage professionals …

Patriarchal Logics In Entrepreneurial Ecosystems And Outcomes For Female Entrepreneurs, Alexandria Krause Matlack

Dissertations

This dissertation examines how patriarchal logics shape the efficiency of funding for female entrepreneurs by comparing two U.S. entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) within the same state: Kansas City and St. Louis. Although these EEs are geographically proximate and structurally comparable, St. Louis has nearly twice as many women-led ventures as Kansas City receiving institutional capital. Drawing on 31 semi-structured interviews, the study includes 20 entrepreneurs, 11 from Kansas City (5 women, 6 men) and 9 from St. Louis (4 women, 5 men), of whom are CEOs of startups founded between 2014 and 2022 and recipients of institutional funding (e.g., grants, angel, …

The Psychology Of Telework, Emily K. Lane

Dissertations

The growth of telework has reshaped the modern workplace, changing how employees experience connection, fairness, and satisfaction. This dissertation examined the psychological dynamics of teleworking by exploring how the extent of remote work influences job satisfaction through feelings of professional isolation. It also investigated how perceptions of procedural, informational, and interpersonal justice, as well as employee choice and telework normativeness, shape these relationships. Grounded in organizational justice theory (Colquitt, 2001), the study used a two-wave, pseudo-cross-sectional survey of 506 teleworkers. Results indicated that professional isolation did not mediate the relationship between telework extent and job satisfaction when fairness perceptions were …

Understanding The Lived Experience Of Mental Health Following An Alpha-Gal Syndrome Diagnosis: A Phenomenological Study Grounded In Maslow’S Hierarchy Of Needs, Heather L. Hargis

Dissertations

Alpha-gal syndrome is a tick-borne food allergy that triggers delayed allergic reactions to mammalian products and profoundly alters daily life. While growing research examines the physiological aspects of alpha-gal syndrome, little is known about its psychological impact. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of individuals with alpha-gal syndrome to understand how the condition influences mental health through the lens of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Data was collected through semi-structured virtual interviews with adults medically diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome. Thematic analysis revealed significant challenges in meeting Maslow’s lower-tier needs—physiological, safety, and love/belonging—due to dietary restrictions, medical uncertainty, social isolation, and …

Building Bridges: Co-Producing Philanthropic Public-Private Partnerships For The United States National Park System, Jason S. Northern

Dissertations

The sustainability of America's National Park System increasingly relies on public–private partnerships that leverage private philanthropy. While the National Park Foundation provides national support, local Park Partner nonprofit organizations, like the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, are key to community-level fundraising and advocacy. This qualitative study of the St. Louis Arch grounds renovation examines how this public–private partnership structure influences donor motivation, trust, and engagement. Guided by Social Exchange Theory and Resource Dependency Theory, this research explores the relational and structural dynamics of this philanthropic co-production including reciprocal donor motivations and interdependence among public, private, and nonprofit partners. Fifteen semi-structured interviews …

The Impact Of Teachers' Mathematics Qualifications On Student Proficiency, Riaz H. Zaidi

Dissertations

Schools across the United States face persistent challenges in strengthening mathematics and science education. The present study investigates the relationship between mathematics teachers’ qualifications and their students’ performance on standardized assessments, using data from a Midwestern urban school district’s ACT mathematics scores. Findings are discussed within the broader context of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and national efforts to enhance competitiveness among industrialized nations. Despite the presence of leading universities and colleges, U.S. students continue to rank near the middle internationally in math and science achievement, according to the Pew Research Center. Contributing factors include disparities in teacher …

The Effects Of Learning Environment Resources And Psycap On Student Burnout And Outcomes, Elisandra Rodriguez Moreno

Dissertations

This study examined links between learning environmental resources (i.e., social support and feedback environment), burnout, and student outcomes (i.e., satisfaction and academic performance) among 198 graduate healthcare students. The study also investigated whether Psychological Capital (PsyCap) moderated these relationships. Social support and feedback did not predict overall burnout, but both were significantly linked to the burnout dimensions, specifically: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and academic efficacy. PsyCap did not moderate most relationships, yet it was consistently associated with lower levels of burnout and higher satisfaction. One exception emerged—for social support and depersonalization, PsyCap served as a compensatory resource, where students with lower …