Digital Commons Network^™

Implementing Person-Centered Planning In Stem To Enhance Self-Determination And Self-Advocacy For Transitioning High School Students With Disabilities, Lynda Shanahan

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated person-centered planning as an evidence-based approach for high school students with disabilities. The primary objective of this research was first to determine the impact of person-centered planning on the development of self-advocacy and self-determination skills among high-functioning students with disabilities embedded in a special education STEM curriculum, and to explore students' perceptions of transition services. To address this objective, the study employed a Mixed-Methods Action Research Design, consisting of focus group interviews with 11th- and 12th-grade high school students with disabilities. This study drew on a transformative theoretical framework grounded in quality-of-life and communities-of-practice theories. Key findings …

Comparative Evolution Of Caenorhabditis Hermaphrodites, James Francis Kennedy

Theses and Dissertations

The Caenorhabditis genus produced three independently-evolved hermaphroditic species, C. elegans, C. briggsae, and C. tropicalis. This convergence happened by the independent co-option of male programs for use in a female body. This required two distinct steps: (1) mutations in the sex-determination pathway that activated spermatogenesis in XX animals, and (2) mutations that expressed one of the redundant sperm activation signals in XX animals. My project focused on characterizing how sex-determination genes work in C. briggsae and C. tropicalis. Loss-of-function alleles were used to compare the core sex-determination pathway to that of C. elegans. I found that the somatic sex-determination pathway …

Densest Subgraph Discovery On The Cpu, Hunter Gerard Gareau

Theses and Dissertations

The Densest Subgraph Discovery (DSD) problem is a prevalent problem in the field of graph mining, aiming to find the cohesive subgraph. Given a graph �� = (��,��) and an integer �� ≥ 2, the goal is to find a vertex sub- set �� ⊆ �� whose induced subgraph �� (��) maximizes the ��-clique density, defined as the number of ��-cliques per vertex. Larger val- ues of �� capture higher-order connectivity patterns beyond edges, enabling the discovery of more cohesive structures. There have been many solutions to this problem. However, one avenue that other graph mining problems have gone down …

What Representation Looks Like: A Content Analysis Of African American Characters In Louisiana’S Young Readers’ Choice And Teen Readers’ Choice Graphic Novels, Samantha J. Green

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this content analysis is to show how African Americans are represented in the novels selected for the Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice and Louisiana Teen Readers’ Choice programs. Twenty-one graphic novels and one graphic story were used in this study. The primary source of data collection was analyzing the texts using the African American text features list. Findings indicated that when included, the representation of African Americans in the graphic novels was accurate and authentic. However, there was not a large number of graphic novels that have been selected for the lists. It is suggested that future research …

Acoustic Analysis Of Prosodic Speech Pause In Autistic And Neurotypical Adults, Rachel Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine prosodic speech pause across two groups: neurotypical and autistic young adults. Conversational speech samples were collected from 11 neurotypical and 11 autistic young adults between the ages of 18 and 26. Speech samples were subsequently transcribed and analyzed using Praat Software. The boundaries of between- and within-utterance pauses were identified, as well as acoustically determining if the pause was filled, silent, or a combination of both. Results found a significant difference in the frequency of pauses as a function of location, pause type, and neurological status. As expected, combination pauses were the …

Perception Of Prosodic Speech Patterns Of Autistic Individuals, Rebecca Lunt

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the perception that neurotypical individuals have of autistic individuals’ speech, including their speech prosody. Speech samples were collected from four neurotypical and four autistic young adults as they answered interview questions. Then, 50 neurotypical listeners (28 female, 22 male) were recruited to listen to the speech samples and rate the speech on visual analogy scales on their likeability and ability to communicate. Participants were told prior to listening to the speech samples whether or not the speaker had autism; however, there were both deceptive and truthful listening conditions, with some autistic speakers …

Infinite Line, Infinite Knowledge: The 'Spera' And Organized Chaos In Lambert's Encyclopedia, The 'Liber Floridus', Ava Romano

Theses and Dissertations

The Liber Floridus is a medieval encyclopedia renowned for its program of circular diagrams, or sperae. Inside this manuscript of 190 chapters, these diagrams frame and embody written knowledge, revealing a connection between encyclopedism and life in the Benedictine monastery by creating a coherent visual organization of chapters.

Following The Thread: Maria Lai’S 1981 Legarsi Alla Montagna, Claire Borre

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines Maria Lai’s (1919-2013) Legarsi alla montagna (1981), a three-day, relational project in which seventeen miles of ribbon were wound through the Sardinian town of Ulassai. In its conception, execution, and legacy, Lai’s project represented a significant challenge to traditional monumentality.

Fugitive Formalisms: Strategies Of Dissemblance And Dissent In The Work Of Queer-Identifying Artists, 1970–Present, Rowan Diaz-Toth

Theses and Dissertations

Utilizing case studies of works by Hélio Oiticica, Scott Burton, and Felix Gonzalez-Torres as points of departure, this thesis puts forth a speculative historical framework for reconsidering queer art practices up through the present day in opposition to regimes of visibility and transparency, exploring the subversive, fugitive potential of non-representational formalisms.

Rhetorical Awareness And Vision In The Four Speeches Of Ellison’S Invisible Man, Asif Ibrahim

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis evaluates Ralph Ellison’s account of rhetoric’s role in establishing, disguising, and contesting racism in the early- and mid-twentieth-century United States. The thesis is structured around four pivotal public orations by the protagonist of Ellison’s 1952 novel Invisible Man. Drawing on Ellison’s private letters and essays to further illuminate his concern for the relationship between speech, public engagement, and self-perception, I propose that Ellison’s novel dramatizes some ways that shifts in speech style, technique, and addressee enable intellectual development and political efficacy. Even techniques that initially appear self-sabotaging and “blind,” Ellison suggests, have the potential to develop into politically …

Simulation Of Quantum Walks For Secure Data Access Patterns, Arslan Ahmad Janjua

Theses and Dissertations

Quantum computing is revolutionizing computational science, offering fundamentally new approaches to information processing that surpass classical limitations. One of the most versatile and powerful tools in this emerging field is quantum walks. Quantum walks are quantum analogs of classical random walks that leverage superposition and interference to explore complex spaces efficiently.

This thesis will explore how discrete-time scattering quantum walks can be simulated and analyzed to investigate patterns of secure data access. By modeling quantum walks on a variety of graph structures and studying the dynamics of marked vertices, the project aims to demonstrate how quantum interference and graph topology …

The Decadent Bible: Biblical Intertextuality In Flaubert’S Herodias And Wilde’S Salome, Shoshana Mintz

Theses and Dissertations

This paper argues that Gustave Flaubert’s Hérodias and Oscar Wilde’s Salomé incorporate biblical intertextuality throughout their work as a means to showcase Decadent technique and themes. Both authors weave direct quotations from biblical sources such as the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Revelation, and Acts into their texts, layering biblical passages with themes of excess, eroticism, and decay central to the Decadent movement. Drawing on Julia Kristeva’s theory of intertextuality, I show how these biblical fragments intersect with narrative voice to destabilize meaning and form a unique, new work of writing that intertwines their own words with biblical …

O Esqueleto De Um Romance, Lanna Leite

Theses and Dissertations

In O Esqueleto de um Romance: The Film (2025), a Berlin legal dispute between a mayor and evangelicals sparks filmmaker Lanna Leite’s reflection on faith, memory, and belief. Using archival, 16mm, and 8mm footage, the experimental film frames filmmaking as an ephemeral, performative practice resisting closure and conventional narrative finality.

The Double Gaze: Weaving Historical, Decolonial, And Indigenous Perspectives Through Maruch Sántiz Gómez’S Creencias., Elisa Gutiérrez Eriksen

Theses and Dissertations

The Double Gaze examines Maruch Sántiz Gómez’s series Creencias (1994-2000) at the intersection of sociopolitical changes in southeastern Mexico and the 1995 Johannesburg Biennial. Drawing on Rita Segato’s “capillary disobedience” and the Mayan philosophy of kab’awil, the research considers Creencias as a theoretical proposal for reading Indigenous art practices.

Structural Characterization Of Peptide Nanoaggregates At Varying Concentrations And Their Impact On Cellular Responses, Malika Rozmetova

Theses and Dissertations

Peptide nano-assemblies can regulate cellular pathways in a structure-dependent manner. Here, we show that the enzyme-responsive peptide NapFFK(NBD)Yp forms distinct nanoscale assemblies at different concentrations, triggering differential ER stress and extracellular vesicle release in MDA-MB231 cells. These results highlight the importance of supramolecular organization in peptide–cell interactions.

One Stone's Journey, Satoko Saito

Theses and Dissertations

One Stone’s Journey is a participatory, experiential thirty-minute documentary about uranium. By using an embroidered world map and appealing to participants’ senses—especially touch—the project explores the possibility of telling the story of radiation, which is invisible, intangible, and silent. Uranium is a radioactive material used by the United States in the development and production of the atomic bombs during the Manhattan Project. This year, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in 2011 was on a scale comparable to the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, and the threat …

The Impact Of Social Media On The Occurrence And Prevalence Of Stress And Anxiety On College Students, Pushpita Paul

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the ways that social media affects stress and anxiety levels within college students. A self-administered, anonymous survey was used to assess college students’ perceptions of social media’s impact on mental health. The 14- item survey included questions on social media use, stress, anxiety, social interaction, and demographics. Data were collected both online and in person at St. John’s University. Online surveys were shared through student groups using Google Forms. In-person surveys were conducted at campus locations such as the cafeteria, student lounge, library, and events. Each survey took about 5–10 minutes to …

Mass Tourism And Sustainability Discourses: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Stakeholder Communication Across The Canary Islands, Iceland, And Puerto Rico, Carmen Collins

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzes 123 websites from the Canary Islands, Iceland, and Puerto Rico, each including an equal number of tourism businesses, environmental organizations, and governments from each region, to examine the rhetorical digital communication strategies used and the textual differences between these websites. Thematic analysis was the methodology employed in this study. Ten themes were found inductively from the data, which are: 1) economic value framing, 2) cultural identity and heritage, 3) technological mediation, 4) inspiring guilt, awe, and urgency, 5) sustainability as an instrument, 6) intergenerational responsibility, 7) global versus local contestations, 8) accessibility and inclusion, 9) transparency and …

Advising With Heart: How Institutional Selectivity And Size Shape Emotional Labor In Higher Education Academic Advising, Dallas W. Maddox

Theses and Dissertations

Academic advising serves as a vital bridge between students and their educational experiences and success, yet the emotional complexities of this meaningful work remain underexplored. This mixed-methods study examined how institutional selectivity and size influence emotional labor awareness and application among academic advisors, addressing a critical gap in understanding the human dimensions of advising relationships. The research explored whether advisors at smaller, selective institutions demonstrate enhanced emotional labor competencies compared to colleagues at larger, more inclusive institutions. Eleven dedicated academic advisors participated in this study, representing experienced professionals with 5-17 years of advising experience across four institutional categories defined by …

Deconstructing Shifting Narratives: Critical Discourse Analysis Of Terminology Trends In Unfpa’S State Of World Population Reports (1978-2024), Naqib A. Noory

Theses and Dissertations

Rooted in both scholarly inquiry and lived experience in global development, this study explored how language shapes power, inclusion, and representation. It analyzed the evolution of population and development discourse in UNFPA’s State of World Population reports (1978–2024) using Fairclough’s Level 1 Critical Discourse Analysis framework. Giddens’ Structuration Theory provided a broader lens linking linguistic change to the interaction between institutional structures and human agency. A theory-based coding framework, drawing on Malthusian, Senian, Spivakian, and MDG/SDG paradigms, guided the analysis of evolving discourse. Findings revealed a layered narrative: earlier scarcity framings persisted beneath newer development language; rights and empowerment rhetoric …

Peeking Behind The Veil Of The District-Level Literacy Leader: Does Research Match Reality?, Kristel R. Collins

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate district-level literacy leadership (DLLL), focusing on the leadership behaviors enacted by district-level literacy leaders, their alignment with the International Literacy Association Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals (2017), and their use of systems thinking principles to influence literacy improvement in K–12 settings. The study addressed a critical gap in the literature regarding how DLLLs function at the district level to mediate between policy and classroom practice. Participants included six DLLLs from Central Texas public school districts. All participants held advanced degrees, had at least two years of district-level literacy leadership experience, …

Exploring The Leadership Qualities Of Lgbtq+ School Administrators Through The Prism Of The Developmental Model Of The Closet, Andrew Mcintosh

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored how LGBTQ+ school administrators perceive the influence of their lived experiences on their leadership qualities. Additionally, this study examined post-closet growth, closet adaptations, and how legal protections influence LGBTQ+ school administrators. A narrative methodology was employed to shed light on the lived experiences of participants. A mix of purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling was used for this study. The researcher recruited school administrators from public school districts and private schools located in the Northeastern United States. School administrators include positions such as assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, director, superintendent, and head of school. Eight participants took …

Investigating The Practicality Of Parent-Implemented Intervention In Literacy For Children With Autism Residing In Under-Resourced Communities, Chasidy P. Kennedy

Theses and Dissertations

The opportunity to learn how to read is a human right that should be available to all students. Developing strong reading skills significantly impacts a student’s quality of life, societal integration, and establishes the foundation for future academic success. Unfortunately, this belief is not always equally prioritized when it comes to educating students with developmental delays, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Students with ASD often face unfair assumptions about their abilities, leading to delays in exposure to literacy instruction. Additionally, students with ASD from under-resourced communities face increased challenges, as access to timely diagnosis, high-quality educational facilities, and supportive …

A Case Study On Implementing Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education: Tesol Teachers’ Perspectives On Supporting Caribbean Immigrant Ell Students, Barbara Delaleu

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) teachers implemented Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education (CRSE) practices to support Caribbean immigrant English Language Learners (ELLs) in suburban schools. Grounded in Ogbu’s cultural ecological theory and the CRSE framework, the study examined teachers’ beliefs, instructional practices, and professional experiences to understand how culturally sustaining pedagogy (CSP) influenced student engagement and academic growth. Eight middle school TESOL teachers who worked with Caribbean immigrant ELLs—speakers of Haitian Creole, Spanish, and English-based Creoles participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, …

An Exploration Of The Perceptions Of Black Women Leading Interscholastic Sports Programs, Leslie Zeelika Pieters-Klatsky

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the perceptions of Black women leading interscholastic sports programs. Prior research examined the underrepresentation of women in sports leadership, but no study has examined prejudice toward the Black woman in an interscholastic sports leadership role. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with Black women leading interscholastic athletics, using Kimberlé Crenshaw's intersectionality as a theoretical framework. This study sought to give voice to a select group of women who perceived being barred entry into the white-male-dominated field of interscholastic sports leadership by the Good Old Boys’ Network and the Good Old Girls’ …

Reading Between The Lines: Exploring How Technical High School Teachers Navigate Race And Neurodiversity Through Literacy Practices, Genesis A. Ryant

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study employed a hybrid hermeneutic phenomenological design to explore how technical high school teachers experienced and interpreted literacy instruction for Black and Brown neurodivergent students. Grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Disability Critical Race Theory (DisCrit), the research examined how educators’ perceptions, instructional practices, and collaborative relationships shaped access, equity, and empowerment in career and technical education contexts. Data was collected from seven academic and trade teachers through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, lesson artifacts, and reflective journals. Analysis followed Peoples’ (2020) hermeneutic explication process and Saldaña’s (2021) multi-cycle coding methods, integrating in vivo, process, and axial coding …

Servant Leadership And Student Achievement In High Schools: Graduation Rate And Regents Performance In Mathematics And English, Saida Rodriguez-Tabone

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative, correlational study examined how teachers’ and families’ perceptions of principals’ servant-leadership behaviors relate to student outcomes in New York City (NYC) public high schools. Guided by Greenleaf’s (1977) servant leadership theory, the study examined whether leadership grounded in purpose, empathy, and collaboration is associated with improved academic outcomes. Data were drawn from the 2022 NYC School Survey Reports for 122 schools across the five boroughs of NYC school district. Composite indices representing teacher- and family-perceived servant leadership served as predictors of three school level outcomes: 4-year graduation rate, Algebra I Regents proficiency, and English Language Arts (ELA) Regents …

Police Supervisor Selection Process And The Need For Uniformity In Practices To Improve Police Leadership In The Usa, Catrina M. Rhatigan

Theses and Dissertations

Effective police leadership is crucial to sustaining the culture shift in law enforcement. Leaders need to lead, and how the executive staff assess their leadership capabilities will determine whether they are up to the task. Police executives need to determine first what their motives are: to fill open supervisory spots? Promote the best leaders? This study and the results highlight the need to focus on the latter, identify the leadership qualities that best fit your department's needs, and work from there. A lack of oversight and inconsistent standards for police supervisors leads to poor policing and inadequate responses to significant …

First, But Not Alone: A Phenomenological Study Of Sibling Dynamics In First-Generation College Student Success, Alison Celaya

Theses and Dissertations

First-generation college students represent a significant and growing demographic within higher education, facing unique challenges in navigating their educational path. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of first-generation college students (FGCS) by focusing on their relationships with siblings and their influence on academic success. Prior research has primarily focused on the disadvantages faced by FGCS compared to their counterparts in continuing-generation college students. At the same time, little attention has been given to the differences among FGCS between the first sibling to attend college and those who follow older siblings into higher education. This study aimed to address that …

Initial Phonemic Awareness Instruction With Printed Words Compared To Oral-Only Instruction: Segmenting, Blending, And Letter–Sound Learning, Jill R. Zablocki

Theses and Dissertations

Two methods of instruction for blending and segmenting eight vowel-consonant words were compared to examine whether instruction that referenced printed words was beneficial during the initial stages of phonemic awareness instruction. Preschool children included in the study (N = 30, M = 4.4 years) could not fully segment any of the words and did not know the sounds of more than four of the nine included letters (M = 1.0 letter sound). Children were randomly assigned to either instruction that mapped the segmented and blended sounds in spoken words to the letters in printed words or similar oral-only instruction that …