Digital Commons Network^™

Leading Beyond The Lecture: A Case Study Exploring How Community College Students Experience Their Instructors’ Positive Leadership Strategies, Mandy Morrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Positive leadership, an approach to leading individuals to the point of flourishing, has been studied in corporate contexts. While the student-to-instructor relationships only distantly compare to the employee-to-supervisor dynamics, the relationships and power differential have similarities, making the pillars of positive leadership relevant in the context of higher education. Given the critical nature of student success to stakeholders in higher education and the students themselves, discovering instructor strategies that enhance student success can demonstrate an upward spiral of positivity that extends from the student, to the instructor, to the college, and ultimately to the community. Framed by leader-member exchange (LMX) …

Breaking Barriers: Mentorship Pathways For Hispanic Women In Leadership Roles, Ana Paola Gonzalez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to understand the unique lived experiences of 10 Hispanic Latinas serving in leadership roles in 2-year community colleges in Texas. As the graduation rate of Hispanic women increases, institutions must identify mentorship programs that motivate women who continue to graduate to seek leadership positions within their institutions. Through life stories and lived experiences, the study's findings illustrate that mentorship is essential to creating, but that self-determination and self-advocacy also make it possible to find paths to leadership. Through thematic analysis, three themes emerged from the data: identity and representation, mentorship and support structures, and resilience and advocacy. …

Synergetics In Complex Adaptive Systems, Joseph C. Mckinley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Synergetics is an emerging paradigm which quantitatively describes and predicts the dynamics of complex living and nonliving systems. It has illuminated how complex systems can spontaneously self-organize by coordinating the activity of their constituent components toward some coherent, collective behavior. This coordinated activity can produce complex macroscopic spatiotemporal patterns without the need for central planning. In this dissertation, we develop and explore generalizations of the Haken-Kelso-Bunz (HKB) model of coordination dynamics. These generalizations include modeling higher-dimensional systems of coupled multistable oscillators with arbitrary diversity and coupling parameters, where the system components have the capacity to “learn” or adapt their intrinsic …

Analyzing Flexible Fillers For Enhanced Protection In Post-Tensioned Bridges, Amanda Armudi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Florida’s extensive coastline, dense network of bridges, and highly aggressive environmental conditions make corrosion a critical concern for the durability of bridges infrastructure. To minimize corrosion in bridge structures that use unbonded post-tension tendons, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is using flexible fillers as an alternative material to cementitious grout. This study evaluated the performance of five flexible fillers under sodium chloride (NaCl) exposure using NaCl solutions at concentrations of 10mM, 100mM and 1M over an 8-month period. Visual inspections revealed that filler composition and pre-existing cracks and voids in the filler samples significantly influenced degradation behavior. The samples …

Challenging Truth, Exploring Fluidity, And Reclaiming Bodily Autonomy Through Revisited Personal Narratives, Peyton Lane Sibert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores and analyzes revisited personal narratives, which I define as layering perspectives or theorizing upon previously presented narratives. Specifically, I argue that revisited personal narratives are uniquely positioned to not only explore the intricacies of fluidity and truth within narrative but also deepen the insight into the perspectives of marginalized identities, thereby aiding in the deconstruction of cisheteronormativity and the reclaiming of autonomy—both bodily and narrative. Bodily autonomy refers to the freedom and ability to make choices about one’s own body and identity, including the right to not have one’s body violated, the right to access healthcare, the …

A Quality Improvement Project To Standardize Sexual Dysfunction Screening In Primary Care, Ashley M. D’Anna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sexual health is an essential aspect of overall well-being but is often overlooked in primary care due to provider discomfort, time constraints, and lack of standardized screening protocols. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to implement a consistent approach to screening for sexual dysfunction using the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), a validated five-item tool assessing sex drive, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction. Guided by Swanson’s Theory of Caring and Pender’s Health Promotion Model, the project emphasized compassionate, patient-centered care and the promotion of health-enhancing behaviors.

Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, the ASEX tool was incorporated into annual wellness visits following …

Decision-Making During A Crisis: A Case Study Of How A University Responded To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ryan Joseph Iocco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Scant research is available on how university leaders make decisions and communicate those decisions to their stakeholders during times of crisis. The purpose of this case study was to better understand the decision-making process used by administrative leaders at a higher education institution during a time of organizational crisis. This study examined decision-making by higher education leaders within and across different functional areas at a single higher education institution between February 2020 and September 2020, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected through interviews and document analysis. Although research exists on decision-making during crises, there is limited …

Invited But Not Welcome: Assimilation, Emotional Labor, And The Limits Of Belonging For Middle-Class Haitians, Jodie Boisvert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The problem of the 21st century is not simply that of the “color line,” but rather of how diverse groups of Blacks (Americans and immigrants alike) experience the “color line.” This interview-based dissertation project addresses this problem by examining how thirty-eight first-, 1.5-, and second-generation middle-class Haitian immigrants engage with and reconcile the color line in their lives. This dissertation finds that these immigrants “performatively assimilate” to access privileged middle- and upper-class spaces. Through strategies of strategic ethnicity, code switching, and signifying Haitian exceptionalism, they are able to achieve stable and fulfilling careers and financial security. This dissertation proposes a …

Does The Acquisition Of Spanish Affect The Acquisition Of English? A Longitudinal Study Of Minority-Majority Simultaneous Bilingual Development From 2.5 To 12 Years, Heather J. Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Past work with bilinguals suggests that the acquisition of one language has an impact on the acquisition of another. What is unclear is the direction and strength of the relation between the two languages and whether the relation changes with age. Participants were children in South Florida who heard both Spanish and English at home. They were assessed in expressive (from 2.5 to 12 years) and receptive vocabulary (from 4 to 12 years). Both concurrent bivariate correlations and bivariate splines were used to evaluate the cross-language relations. Results suggest that early in acquisition the two languages compete for resources, but …

Hire And Hope: An Exploration Of Principal Turnover, Jessica D. True

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is designed to investigate the possible relationships between principal turnover within K-12 public schools in the State of Texas, and demographic characteristics of school location, principal’s ethnicity, principal’s gender, and principal’s level of post-secondary degree. Data for participating schools was gathered from state-reported educator information specifically for the 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023, and 2023/2024 school years. The longitudinal study reviewed K-12 non-charter public schools in Education Service Center (ESC) 11, which encompasses all public schools in the Fort Worth metroplex of North Texas, allowing this study to analyze a robust and inclusive dataset. The Chi-Square Test of …

African American Female College Students’ Experiences At Predominately White Institutions, Sh'nita Louise Mitchell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

African American women who attend predominantly White institutions (PWIs) have historically encountered systemic challenges that include racial isolation, microaggressions, a lack of cultural understanding, and insufficient institutional support. These barriers often impact their sense of belonging, academic persistence, and overall success. I aimed to explore the lived experiences of African American women who graduated from PWIs to understand how these women navigate institutional structures and sustain their academic journeys. I aimed to examine the unique challenges and supports experienced by African American women, and to identify factors that contribute to or hinder their persistence and success at their PWI. The …

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence, School Culture, And School Leadership, Virginia Lorean Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This study was a qualitative instrumental single holistic case study as outlined by Robert Stake in

1995. It focused on three research questions. The goal was to gain perspectives from teachers

and a principal on teacher retention and the culture of a campus. The emotional level of the

principal was evaluated on social awareness, self-awareness, relationship management, and self-

management by the principal taking part in an emotional intelligence assessment. The single

holistic case study approach was used, which had six phases of analyzing the data. The results

were then compared to the teachers’ interviews and surveys that were …

Digital Leadership: Secondary Education Principals’ Perceptions And Change Competencies Toward Implementing Digital Citizenship Curricula, Waylon M. Randolph

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Secondary education public schools are increasingly being confronted with student misuse of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Students are using these technologies to engage in disruptive and harmful behaviors like cyberbullying and sexting. As a result, some public school districts have responded by banning the use of ICTs in the classroom, while others have turned to teaching digital citizenship through a dedicated digital citizenship curriculum. However, effectively implementing such a curriculum remains a significant challenge. According to the literature, the best way to implement a digital citizenship curriculum is by fostering a positive school culture where stakeholders model and support …

Professor Perspectives: Inclusion Of Students With An Intellectual Disability In Transition Programming On A College Campus, Melissa Jane Massey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with intellectual disabilities (ID) are often unemployed or underemployed compared to students who do not have ID. Transition or postsecondary programming for students with ID has increased in recent years in response to the U.S. federal requirement for special education professionals to complete transition plans before students turn 16. The requirement for transition planning in Texas is age 14, and the ARD committee including the student and parent come together to develop goals for future planning. Transition plans include information on future employment, future independent living skills, and agency connections that students with ID may need to access to …

"Are We Okay?": Exploring Departmental Leadership Behavior In Higher Education Organizational Crises, Melody Y. Zuniga

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored how faculty in higher education institutions experienced their department leaders during organizational crises. With academic department leaders often appointed with little training for the role’s administrative challenges, they can be underprepared when a crisis befalls their institutions. A qualitative narrative design allowed 10 social work faculty from nine Christian institutions across the United States to share their stories of navigating internal and external crises. Data collection occurred primarily through semistructured interviews, with questions allowing for narrative elements of time, place, and sociality to emerge. Through reflexive thematic analysis, findings revealed four themes in faculty’s experiences with …

Stress Management Strategies In An Investment Firm: A Managerial Perspective, Cheri C. Nelson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how client relationship managers and market supervision managers in the investment industry experienced, interpreted, and managed workplace stress within the context of organizational culture, leadership practices, and available resources. Guided by the job-demands resources (JD-R) model, semistructured interviews were conducted with participants across multiple markets to investigate the interplay between high job demands, leadership behaviors, and employee well-being. Findings indicated that while trusted colleagues and positive leadership behaviors served as protective resources that reduced strain and fostered resilience, negative attitudes, favoritism, and lack of collaboration among colleagues amplified stress. Communication breakdowns, poorly managed organizational change, and …

Closing The Graduation Gap: Factors That Impact The Graduation And Enrollment Rates Of First Generation African American Male Students At Predominantly White Christian Universities, Byron C. Johnson Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

First-generation African American male students encounter unique challenges on their journey through higher education. These challenges include inadequate academic preparation, limited family support, financial hardships, and difficulties in finding a sense of belonging. Additionally, factors such as race and religion present significant barriers that hinder their ability to persist in and graduate from colleges and universities without institutional support. Strategic initiatives, programs, and services that address the specific needs of these students are crucial for promoting their academic and social integration, ultimately influencing their success in higher education. This study focused on the experiences of successful first-generation African American students …

Understanding Digital Communication Gaps With Hispanic Families In A Charter School In South Texas, Ruby Cabrera Aguilar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Now that access to technology is prevalent, digital communication in school districts and between schools and parents should be of high priority. Since schools do not emphasize digital communication policies and practices, a problem seen is a lack of communication across districts involving school staff, parents, and students. Determining school leaders’ roles in closing digital communication gaps through policies and procedures deserves further study because effective communication leads to awareness, involvement, relationship building, and student success. In this study, the knowledge gap theory and qualitative action research through reports and interviews assisted in understanding the perspectives of six school staff …

Beyond Leadership Turnover: Examining The Relationship Between Principal Supervisor Coaching And Student Academic Performance, Margo L. Nottingham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Schools that maintain stable leadership report increased student achievement outcomes. The problem is that over 21% of U.S. principals leave their positions in the first year in high-poverty contexts. Principals leave their roles due to high job demands, inadequate support, and limited professional development, leading to decreased performance and poor school culture. The problem examined in this study was the lack of evidence on whether coaching principal supervisors contributed to improved student achievement outcomes. The study aimed to determine whether coaching principal supervisors through a regional service center was associated with higher student achievement in low-performing elementary and middle schools. …

Leading Employees Remotely In A Post-Covid-19 Era: A Phenomenology Study Of Remotely Working Employees, George M. Hardy Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this study was that remote working employees felt disconnected from their organizations, leading to post-COVID-19 studies on phenomena such as quiet quitting and the great resignation. The purpose of this study was to investigate remotely working employees’ perspectives on connectedness to gain an understanding of commitment within their organization that ultimately leads to the decision to remain or leave. A qualitative phenomenology study was used with data collected from 12 remotely working participants across multiple industries and states. Data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using a thematic approach with member-checking and triangulation to ensure credibility. Two …

Advancing Medical Education With Lifestyle Medicine: A Comprehensive Program Evaluation Using The Kirkpatrick Framework, Shanna L. Mello

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined how a U.S. national lifestyle medicine residency curriculum influenced resident learning and practice using a program evaluation paradigm with a convergent mixed methods design guided by Kirkpatrick’s four-level evaluation model. The problem addressed was the persistent gap between evidence for lifestyle interventions and the limited preparation residents receive to deliver lifestyle counseling in routine care. The purpose of the study was to evaluate changes in residents’ reactions, learning, and clinical behaviors and to identify early patient-level signals and the implementation conditions that enabled or constrained behavior change. Quantitative methods analyzed archived pre- and posttraining surveys from 148 …

A Computational Framework For Multi-Scale Analysis Of Mouse Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation, Hadi Esfandi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cerebral hemodynamic imaging is increasingly used as a non-invasive technique to study brain function and dysfunction in both research and clinical settings. Recent advances in imaging technologies have enabled high-speed, high-resolution, whole-brain measurements of blood flow and oxygenation. Improving the interpretation of these cerebral hemodynamic signals through a mechanistic understanding of their cellular drivers would enable more accurate characterization of brain function and pathology. However, no existing biophysical model fully captures the fine-grained dynamics observed in these signals. This dissertation introduces a biophysically grounded computational framework for multi-scale analysis of the mouse cerebral blood flow regulatory system, which captures mechanistic …

Investigating How Evolution Has Affected The Neuroanatomy Of Adult Astyanax Mexicanus, Peter Igwilo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The topology of the brain is highly conserved across phyla, yet the evolutionary processes driving anatomical divergence remain poorly understood. The fish Astyanax mexicanus, which exists in both surface- and cave-dwelling morphs within the same species, provides a powerful model for studying brain evolution. While previous studies have focused on larvae, imaging adult brains has been challenging due to their size and opacity. This study overcame these limitations using tissue clearing, light sheet imaging, and computational analysis to generate a comprehensive adult brain atlas. Using nuclear staining and antibody labeling, brain-wide 3D maps were created to compare regional size, shape, …

Nursing Education For Type 2 Diabetes And Nutrition Using Individual 1:1 Sessions In Rural Health Care, Meagan F. Wheat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

What if proper nutrition were a nonpharmacological treatment for health problems? Nutrition is an important key to overall wellness. When patients receive the right education, they not only get the proper nutrition in their diet but also can manage their diabetes and live a better quality of life. In rural U.S. health areas, lack of access to nutrition is a barrier to patient care. Rural areas are at an even higher risk due to a lack of resources for good nutrition. One-to-one nutrition education with a nurse specialized in diabetes helps teach patients at a learning level they will comprehend. …

Pre-K Teachers’ Perceptions About Professional Learning: Influence On Instructional Methods, Classroom Management Skills, And Student Outcomes, Victoria A. Korsah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was to solicit pre-K teachers’ perceptions about professional development and its influences on instructional methodology, classroom management skills, and student outcomes. Interviews conducted with 11 teachers from childcare centers in a major urban city of Illinois provided insight into experiences of types of PL and development engagement, such as online courses, webinars, learning communities, coaching, mentoring, professional conferences, and content selection. Other experiences involved social-emotional learning, lesson planning, project-based learning, and how to teach children with special needs. The interview data collected from the participants yielded five themes using Colizzi’s data analysis …

Transformational Leadership Disparities Within Nonprofit Organizations, Hillman Evans Iv

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Leadership development is a primary organizational development function. It provides an opportunity for professional growth and is essential to assisting personal evolution for individuals in any capacity. This qualitative case study explored incorporating the transformational leadership style in a multilocation nonprofit organization. Eight participants participated in semistructured interviews. Each interview lasted approximately 30–45 minutes. The interview format consisted of asking open-ended semistructured questions and allowing participants to respond based on their organizational experiences. The researcher employed three coding passes in the data analysis (open, axial, and selective) and identified eight themes. The findings suggested that managers desired a leader who …

Navigating Barriers: The Experiences Of First-Generation, Low-Income, Hispanic Male Stem Majors Enrolled In Texas Universities, Katherine L. Autry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive study explored barriers, strategies, and career aspirations of 10 firstgeneration, low-income Hispanic male STEM students at Texas universities. Prior research highlighted systemic inequities affecting this group’s academic success. The study addressed how these students described educational barriers, strategies to overcome them, and influences on their STEM career aspirations. Data were collected via 10 semistructured Zoom interviews, online questionnaires, and open-ended questionnaires from participants at four Texas-based universities. Reflexive thematic analysis with NVivo software identified five themes: sociocultural and economic barriers, academic and institutional challenges, resilience and coping strategies, support systems, and influence on career aspirations and identity. …

Impostor Phenomenon, Psychological Safety, And The Intent To Leave Of Novice Pa Faculty, Barbara J. Quillin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The growing healthcare demands of the aging population in the United States, along with the growth of physician assistant (PA) educational programs, has created a pressing need for qualified PA educators. This study examined the role of impostor phenomenon and psychological safety in shaping PA faculty members’ intent to leave. Grounded in the job demands-resources framework, the research explored how individual psychological experiences and perceptions of the organizational climate relate to faculty turnover intentions in PA education. This study aimed to provide PA program administrators with information that may reduce faculty attrition and improve the overall well-being of novice faculty. …

Differences In Peer Social Connections Between Traditional And Online Nurse Residency Programs, Tatum Leonard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The anticipated retirement of baby boomer nurses by 2030 will intensify the global nursing shortage, a crisis that demands innovative strategies for onboarding and retaining new graduate nurses. Nurse residency programs (NRPs) are designed to ease the transition from student to practicing nurse, reduce turnover, and foster professional resilience. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many NRPs rapidly transitioned from traditional, in-person seminars to synchronous, online formats. This study explored differences in peer social connections between traditional and online NRPs, focusing on three constructs: sense of community, collaborative learning, and peer social support. Using a quasi-experimental, mixed methods approach, this secondary data …

School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Restorative Practices On Student Behavior, Jennifer M. Herold Fontenot

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

United States public schools turned to a zero-tolerance approach to school discipline with hopes of improving school safety and climate in the 1990s. Administrators dispensed consequences such as suspension and expulsion without considering the whole student, regardless of the student’s conditions, motivations, or background. Many schools today focus on punitive measures rather than a holistic approach that considers the root causes of behavior, such as socioeconomic factors, mental health issues, or the student’s home life. Such actions can lead to disproportionately harsh punishments for marginalized students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds or communities of color, exacerbating existing inequalities. Thus, the …