A Needs Assessment For College Students Of Incarcerated Parents (Csips), Deetra A. Wiley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The presence and needs of children of incarcerated parents are largely invisible within higher education, even though they experience a variety of adverse social, emotional, and academic outcomes. A population that navigates complex trauma, financial instability, stigma, and institutional neglect with limited support is the focus of this dissertation in practice (DiP): College Students of Incarcerated Parents (CSIPS). This manuscript assesses the availability of institutional services and examines the academic challenges faced by CSIPS, as guided by the Advocacy Strategy Framework (Kozleski, 2010). A thorough examination of the literature has revealed that a sense of belonging and academic persistence are …

Exploring Academic Support And Motivation Among Current And Prospective Adult Learners In Mississippi Pursuing A Diploma Through The University Of Mississippi Online High School Program, Reham Helal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the academic support systems and motivational factors influencing adult learners in Mississippi who are enrolled in or consider enrollment in the University of Mississippi High School (UMHS) online diploma program. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000), the research examined how autonomy, capability, and connection influence adult learners’ motivation to return to and persist in education after periods of interruption.

By conducting semi-structured interviews with five adult learners aged 27 to 51, the study revealed the real-life experiences and challenges that shape their educational journeys. The findings showed that participants’ initial withdrawals from high school …

School Counselor Preparation For Supporting Special Education Competencies In Mississippi, Rachel Mcclain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

School counselors play a critical role in supporting the academic, social, emotional, and career development of students with disabilities (SWD) in K-12 educational settings. However, current preparation standards provide limited guidance regarding how school counseling programs should prepare school counselors-in-training to work with special education populations. This qualitative case study explored how two CACREP-accredited school counseling programs in Mississippi prepare school counselors-in-training to support SWD. Participants included school counselor educators, site supervisors, and school counseling interns affiliated with the programs. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a document review of course syllabi and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed …

Invisible: An Autoethnographic Study Of Teaching And Learning With Physical Disabilities And Neurodivergence, Amanda Josephine Austin Goodwin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this autoethnographic study, vignettes of a female high school teacher and graduate student with invisible disabilities are analyzed through the lens of Critical Disability Theory. This study provides teachers, administrators, and policy makers with a first-hand account of some of the barriers individuals with invisible disabilities face. Policies, environments, and practices in K-12 education, higher education, and broader society are analyzed. Advancements in inclusivity and accessibility as well as improvements in teacher education programs are suggested. Reflection throughout this study, three core themes emerged: listen, believe, and support individuals with invisible disabilities.

Exploring Integrated Arts Education For Students With Autism, Karen Denise Harrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often misunderstood because of challenges in communication, social-emotional development, and sensory processing. Neuroscience research highlights that individuals with ASD process information and stimuli differently, particularly in areas related to sensory integration, executive functioning, and emotional regulation. Traditional educational methods often isolate these students from their neurotypical peers, reducing opportunities to engage meaningfully with standards-based curricula. Integrated arts education offers an alternative approach, aligning with neuroscience principles by engaging multiple brain regions through movement, rhythm, imagery, and creativity, allowing students with ASD to demonstrate their learning through project-based and creative experiences that meet diverse …

Faculty Socialization In Physical Therapy Residencies, Joseph Michael Meurrier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Therapy schools. Many of the new faculty members will be composed of former clinicians who have made the transition to academia without any prior preparation or experience in the academic sphere. To help with this transition, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has accredited Faculty Development Residencies (FDRs) to help prepare new faculty for academic life. However, many clinicians transitioning to faculty life are not in a position to go through a residency prior to starting an academic position. Therefore, my goal with the Dissertation in Practice (DiP) was to take the socialization elements from the FDRs and propose a …

Exploring Mississippi Valley State University’S First-Year Experience Program: Students’ Perceptions Of Its Impact On Their Sense Of Belonging, Jordan Freeman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Colleges and universities have a primary goal of providing quality education to their students with the hope that those students go on to make positive contributions to society. While many people tend to credit classroom learning for those societal contributions, an argument can be made that supplementary experiences are just as valuable. At Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), a small, public Historically Black College/University in the Mississippi Delta area, student engagement initiatives are of extreme importance for first-year students. Students at MVSU face several challenges including college readiness, ability to afford college, and desire to persist and earn their degrees. …

Could Grange Membership Reduce Brain Drain?: Perceptions Of Student Fraternal Members On Returning To Rural America After Graduation, Amanda Leigh Brozana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rural communities across the United States continue to experience population decline as young adults with postsecondary aspirations often leave their hometowns in pursuit of educational and economic opportunities. This migration, commonly referred to as rural brain drain, is often a result of the cumulative effects of limited access to postsecondary resources, career pathways, and community infrastructure that support rural retention. While extensive research documents the economic and educational dimensions of this phenomenon, fewer studies explore the influence of social, civic, and fraternal organizations on sustaining rural identity and fostering connection to place. This Dissertation in Practice proposes a study to …

Life Balance And Teacher Wellness: Exploring Protective Factors Among Early Childhood Educators, Kathryn Amidon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Early childhood educators shape future generations by guiding the development of young children. The well-being of early childhood educators is a concern due to unique stressors within the early childhood education context, including heavy workloads, high demands, and too few resources. Previous studies on the topic of teacher wellness have shown that teachers’ mental wellness impacts teacher burnout, teacher retention, and student outcomes, making the need for better understanding of the factors influencing teacher wellness a priority for future research. This quantitative study aimed to explore life balance as a protective factor of teacher wellness, inquiring about the extent of …

Institutional Strain And Substance Coping: Analyzing Perceived Racial Discrimination As A Predictor Of Adolescent Marijuana Use, Fahad Bin Islam Khan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between perceived racial/ethnic discrimination, psychological distress, and youth marijuana consumption through the lens of the General Strain Theory. It uses the complete-case sample from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), which surveyed 17,268 high school students across the United States, in a cross-sectional study. The study used logistic regression analyses to assess the association between perceived racial or ethnic bias (e.g., actual discriminatory experiences), psychological distress, and substance use (marijuana), and how closely emotional stress linked these two phenomena. The results indicate that perceived discrimination has a significant positive association (greater likelihood) with both …

With Equity And Inclusivity For All: Self-Reported Preparedness Of Band Directors To Teach Students With Exceptional Needs, Kendra Jenkins Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The traditional memory theory of personal identity relies on an implicit storage model of memory to explain how the self persists over time. This model assumes that memories endure as stable representations that can be accurately retrieved, and that such representational continuity grounds diachronic identity. However, contemporary cognitive science demonstrates that remembering is an active and reconstructive process. Each act of recall reorganizes and transforms prior experience during the window of ecphory. This reconstructive reality poses a significant philosophical challenge. If memory is inherently unstable and transformable, it cannot straightforwardly ground the kind of continuity the theory requires.

In this …

The 6th United States Volunteer Infantry: The Last Of The Galvanized Yankees, Seth Ihde

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the formation, service, post-war life, and impact of the 6th United States Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This regiment and the five preceding it consisted of Confederate POWs who enlisted in the Union Army between 1864 and 1865. The project intersects with a few different historiographies, including Confederate nationalism/dissent and the military’s role in westward expansion. The 6th was formed from soldiers in Camp Douglas, Illinois, Camp Morton, Indiana, and Camp Chase, Ohio. The soldiers were predominantly young and poor southern farmers. These men represent a form of southern dissent to Confederate nationalism and the claims of the Lost …

Open For Victims, Sorry We're Dead, Sela Ricketts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a documentary exploration of paranormal tourism in the French Quarter neighborhood of New Orleans. As of completing this project, paranormal tourism is relatively new to the city, starting in earnest in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This niche industry has woven itself into the larger New Orleans tourism industry and drastically changed the landscape and popular identity of the French Quarter. The photos give a personal perspective of how the industry manifested within the city.

The throughline of this project is a feedback loop I identified- a cycle of influences that has ultimately made the French …

Foundations And Scope Of Moral Standing, Vikas Beniwal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the foundational grounds of moral standing. I contend that sentience, while frequently cited as the primary criterion, lacks sufficient justification when asserted as a necessary condition. I propose an alternate feature as sufficient grounds of moral standing.

The Role Of Pre-K Teachers In Fostering Academic Resilience In Their Students In Preparation For Elementary School, Safa Alkaabi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated Pre-K teachers’ perceptions and pedagogical practices in fostering academic resilience, defined as the ability to persevere through challenges in early learning. Eight Pre-K teachers in Tennessee participated through interviews, focus groups, and analysis of lesson plans aligned with the Tennessee Early Learning Developmental Standards (TNELDS) and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework. The study aimed to address three research questions related to teachers’ conceptualization of resilience, instructional strategies, and documentation practices.

Findings revealed that teachers conceptualized academic resilience as a developable capacity rather than an innate trait, encompassing perseverance through challenges, emotional regulation, and the …

Perceptions Of Educators To Recognize And Respond To Suicidal Ideation Of Secondary Students, Clary Aaron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how secondary teachers in East Tennessee perceive district-provided suicide prevention training and its role in supporting students experiencing suicidal ideation. Eleven middle and high school teachers who had previously made a crisis referral participated in semi-structured interviews. The study examined teachers’ experiences, perceived strengths and limitations of training, and needed resources. Findings revealed that teachers felt confident recognizing warning signs, especially behavioral changes, when strong student relationships existed. However, training was often described as repetitive, generic, and minimally engaging. Social media and limited support systems were seen as major stressors for students. Teachers emphasized relationship-centered …

“The Distance And Time Difference Aren’T Helping”: Family Communication Practices Of African Graduate Students Adapting To A New Country, Hummuh Abubakar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how international graduate students maintained long-distance communication with family members while adapting to life in the United States. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with seven international students, the research explored how participants sustained emotional closeness, manage disclosure, and select communication media across geographic distance. Guided by Communication Privacy Management Theory and Media Richness Theory, the study analyzed how students regulated private information and strategically used video calls, voice calls, and messaging platforms to meet relational and emotional needs. Findings revealed four primary themes: reliance on digital communication technologies; the emotional and psychological functions of family communication; structural …

Branding The Protector And Helper: How The U.S. Army National Guard Presents Itself In Humanitarian Outreach, Aaron Otoo Acromond

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how the United States Army National Guard constructs and communicates its humanitarian identity during domestic disaster response through official social media. Addressing limited scholarship on how hybrid military institutions frame their roles in domestic crises, the research applies qualitative content analysis to visual and textual posts from official Facebook and Instagram accounts during three disasters: Hurricane Ian (2022), the Hawaii Wildfires (2023), and Hurricane Helene (2024). The analysis identifies three communication themes: operational preparedness and technical capacity, humanitarian assistance to affected civilians, and collaboration with civilian agencies. These narratives portray the National Guard as a professional and …

The Development And Evaluation Of A Group Therapy Program For Perinatal Loss In Rural Appalachia, Hope O'Neill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Perinatal loss can have vast adverse psychological consequences and has limited psychotherapeutic options to assist with those outcomes. Currently, there is no gold standard psychotherapy for the treatment of perinatal grief. Group therapy has proven to be an effective modality for various populations and has been shown to be beneficial for perinatal loss and the subsequent psychological outcomes. This study utilized a previously conducted systematic review to develop and evaluate a group psychotherapy for perinatal loss. The ten sessions of the group were completed by two participants and several constructs were explored pre- and post-intervention: grief, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, …

Academic Self-Efficacy Of Black, White, And Hispanic Students Pursuing Professional Education Degrees And Licensure At An Hbcu In Midwest Ohio, Nathan Boles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this comparative quantitative study was to determine, using three self-efficacy scales, General Self-Efficacy (GSE), Academic Self-Efficacy (ASE), and Educational Self-Efficacy (ESE), the differences in academic and educational self-efficacy among Black, White, and Hispanic students seeking a Professional Education degree and licensure at a Historically Black College and University in Midwest Ohio. Pre-service students’ self-efficacy and goal commitment can affect their likelihood of graduating with a license and may directly affect the number of novice teachers of color in the classroom. The literature examines factors that disrupt students’ self-efficacy, academic confidence, and persistence through the theoretical frameworks of …

University Student Mental Health: Service Utilization, Equity Gaps, And Strategies To Improve Access, Richard Mutua Kilonzo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Student mental health and access to care are pressing concerns in higher education. This study assesses mental health outcomes and access to campus mental health services at East Tennessee State University. Survey data from the 2023–2024 Healthy Minds Study were analyzed to report the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation across the student population. The study evaluates disparities in these outcomes and barriers to care across student groups, with particular attention to equity-impacted students, especially sexual and gender minority students.

Findings indicate widespread psychological distress alongside persistent barriers, including long wait times, limited-service availability, and stigma-related concerns. These barriers …

Malnutrition And Frailty Risk Among Community Dwelling Older Adults In Northeast Tennessee, Shreeyesha Pradhan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Frailty and malnutrition are prevalent conditions among community-dwelling older adults, affecting approximately 10% and 25% of this population, respectively. Despite overlapping symptoms such as functional decline, their relationship remains underexplored in community dwelling older adults. This cross-sectional feasibility study examined the association between frailty and nutritional status among 47 older adults in the East Tennessee Tri-Cities area using the Fried’s Frailty Phenotype (FFP) and the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Long Form (MNA-LF®). Results indicated 13% were pre-frail, 24% were frail, 21% were at risk for malnutrition, and 2% were malnourished. Regression analyses revealed that self-perceived nutritional status (37.6%), daily meal frequency (29.0%), …

Addressing Substance Use Disorder In Rural Appalachia: Improving Access And Treatment Outcomes For Justice-Involved Individuals, Jessica Muldowney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) represents a critical public health crisis disproportionately affecting justice-involved (JI) populations, with approximately 65% of incarcerated individuals having substance use disorders (James & Beatty, 2006). Rural Appalachian communities face compounded challenges due to limited healthcare access, provider shortages, and cultural stigma surrounding addiction treatment. Despite evidence demonstrating that medication-assisted treatment (MAT) reduces recidivism and overdose deaths, only 20% of correctional facilities offer these services (Klein & Seppala, 2019).

Objective: This mixed-methods study evaluated organizational readiness and infrastructure capacity for implementing evidence-based OUD interventions, specifically MAT programs across three rural counties in northwestern North Carolina.

Methods: …

Feasibility Of Assessing Dietary Patterns And Anxiety In College Students: A Pilot Study Using Nutrition Questionnaires, Gad-7, And Asq, Kylie Ford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety is highly prevalent among college students representing a significant public health concern. Research indicates that dietary patterns may influence mental health outcomes; however, the practicality of collecting comprehensive dietary and psychological data in college populations remains unclear. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of evaluating dietary patterns and anxiety using self-report instruments. Participants completed the Nutrition and Eating Habit questionnaire, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and the Anxiety Sensitivity Questionnaire (ASQ). Although twenty-one students were recruited, survey completion rates were low, with only seven participants completing the nutrition questionnaire necessary to calculate the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII). Descriptive analyses …

Ethical Engagement In Global Missions: A Qualitative Inquiry Into Planner Motivations And Host Experiences, Harrison J. Ihrig

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Short-term mission (STM) trips are limited duration service experiences, commonly organized by faith-based organizations (FBO), in which volunteers travel domestically or international to provide ministry, community outreach, and/or health-related services. In recent decades, the number of these trips organized by organizations in the United States has increased exponentially, but the phenomenon is difficult to accurately measure due to its decentralized nature and the lack of standardized terminology. Despite their prominence, limited research has been conducted to examine planning, implementation, and evaluation processes of international STMs organized by FBO, particularly through a public health lens. The purpose of this study was …

The Influence Of Intervention Strategies On Students With Disabilities Who Exhibit Challenging Behaviors In Rural Public Schools: Teacher Perceptions, Ben B. Robertson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative study addressed rural teachers' perceptions of the influence of intervention strategies on students with disabilities who exhibit challenging behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ perceptions of the effect of intervention strategies on academic achievement, student behavior outcomes, and teacher self-efficacy through the lens of Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory. This theory is a complex, dynamic interaction among people, their behaviors, and their environments. Data collection included 14 individual interviews, conducted on Zoom with educators from one school district in Southern Virginia, including seven general education teachers and seven special education teachers. Data analysis strategies …

Perceptions Of Rural School Resource Officers On Training, Roles, And Interactions With Students In Special Populations, Mary Jane M. Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative inductive study was conducted with rural school districts located in the Middle Grand Division of Tennessee. School Resource Officers' (SROs) and K–12 school administrators’ perceptions of their roles were assessed. Perceptions of school policing from both samples were assessed regarding SRO training, roles, and expectations for working with school law enforcement officials. This also included respondents' views on how students with disabilities are treated. The research conducted in rural Middle Tennessee counties examined SROs’ and K–12 administrators’ perceptions through data collected from in-depth open-ended interviews and a pre-written analysis. The proliferation of police officers assigned to schools beginning …

Rationalizing Atrocity: Vindicatory Careerism And Mass Murder As A Career Path, 1939-1943, Bethany G. Bare

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines members of the Nazi Schutzstaffel from an occupational perspective, focusing on how professional roles shaped their participation in systematic mass murder. As National Socialism gained influence in interwar Germany, it coincided with the rise of a generation of ambitious and embittered men eager to distinguish themselves. The transition from the T4 Program (1939-1941), the involuntary euthanasia of disabled Germans, to Operation Reinhard (1942-1943), the extermination of Polish Jews, demonstrates how mass murder evolved into a career path, as each of the men examined served as T4 personnel before transferring to Poland to assume positions as extermination camp …

Academic And Demographic Predictors Of Retention And Persistence In Business Programs: Post-Covid Cohorts Of Traditional And Ncccs Transfer Students, Matthew K. Crump

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined academic and demographic predictors of first-year retention and major persistence among traditional first-year and North Carolina community college transfer students enrolled in undergraduate business programs. Guided by Tinto’s 1993 Model of Student Retention and Astin’s 1984 Theory of Student Involvement, the research focused on students who entered two AACSB-accredited institutions within the UNC System during Fall 2021, Fall 2022, and Fall 2023 as traditional first-year students or as transfer students from North Carolina community colleges.

Institutional data from the Banner Student Information System provided the basis for logistic regression analyses that examined predictors including high school …

The Impact Of Traditional Machismo On Mental Health Outcomes: Depression And Suicide Risk Among Latino Immigrant And Non-Immigrant Men, Yesenia A, Romero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traditional masculine norms have long been recognized as influential factors in men’s psychological well-being. Within Latino cultures, the construct of machismo represents a culturally specific form of masculinity characterized by ideals of masculinity and characterized by ideals of strength, dominance, and emotional restraint. While these norms may promote resilience and family responsibilities, rigid adherence to traditional machismo has also been associated with emotional suppression, reduced help-seeking behaviors, and increased psychological distress. The present study conducted a meta-analysis to examine the relationship between traditional machismo and mental health outcomes among Latino men, with particular attention to depressive symptoms as well as …