Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Faculty Perceptions Of Shared Governance At A Four-Year Public University: A Case Study Of The University Of Ghana, Patrick Amponsah

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to explore how faculty at the University of Ghana perceive and experience shared governance, how it is practiced institutionally, and what outcomes they associate with it. Although shared governance is widely promoted as a democratic and collegial model of decision-making in higher education, its implementation remains underexamined. The study interviewed twelve (12) full-time faculty members who worked at the University of Ghana. Thematic analysis revealed ten interrelated themes, including structured participation with limited influence, shared governance as an opportunity for faculty input, and the presence of both collaborative attitudes and formal committee …

First- And Second-Generation Immigrant Emerging Adults’ Career Aspirations, Laura A. Botros

Theses and Dissertations

Despite first- and second-generation immigrants making up 19.6% of the U.S. workforce (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024), research exploring their career aspirations is scarce. Studies show that individuals’ cultural backgrounds significantly shape first- and second-generation immigrants' career aspirations, values, and professional goals (Kao, 2004; Polenova et al., 2017). The purpose of the study is to examine how first- and second-generation immigrant emerging adults' cultural backgrounds inform their career aspirations. I utilized a qualitative approach by asking participants about their cultural background, career aspirations, and what influenced their career aspirations. Interviews and a cognitive map activity were conducted to investigate …

Evaluation Of Valley Healthcare System Inc. School-Based Health Clinic/Center At Dorothy I. Heights Elementary School In Columbus, Georgia, Nakia Ford

Theses and Dissertations

School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) are an important strategy for addressing health disparities and improving educational outcomes among underserved students. In Columbus, Georgia, barriers such as limited insurance, transportation challenges, and provider shortages contribute to unmet health needs, which are linked to increased absenteeism. To address these issues, Valley Healthcare System, Inc. (VHCS) implemented a School-Based Health Clinic (SBHC) at Dorothy I. Heights Elementary School. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the SBHC in improving student attendance outcomes. A quasi-experimental, difference-in-differences design compared Dorothy I. Heights Elementary School (treatment group) before and after SBHC implementation (2021–2022 and 2022–2023) with a similar …

Prescriptive Behaviors: Tracking The Social Impact Of Film Portrayals Of Black Men, Garfield Ronald Benjamin

Theses and Dissertations

Cinematic and televisual media express the thoughts and emotions of people and cultures with the potential of unifying people through the social realities that are created around the visuals, narratives, and on-screen interpersonal interactions. Through media like film, television, and short-form online video, people interact with others in ways that, because of barriers like physical distance and/or social structures, they may not be able to in real life. The images, sounds, and stories depict their own realities, which are consumed, interpreted, and understood by viewers and can inform their perceptions and interpersonal interactions. Stuart Hall, Jamaican-British, cultural theorist, and political …

African American Women’S Engagement In The Black Liberation Struggle At Home And Abroad 1910-1977, Ryhaan Ameena Shakoor

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation studies the major social and political events of the twentieth century as seen through the eyes of seven African American women, Mary Church Terrell, Amy Jacques Garvey, Claudia Jones, Salaria Kea, Eslanda Robeson, Maida Springer and Shirley Graham Du Bois. It brings to light the significance of their efforts in the fight against racism, fascism, colonialism, apartheid and neo-colonialism in the United States and abroad. As the history of the Black liberation struggle was mostly dominated by male historians and writers, this work demonstrates that amongst others, these seven African American women made gender an important component to …

Have Gun, Will Travel: The Domestic Intelligence Implications Of Travel-To-Target Distances In Domestic Violent Extremist Attacks, Kyle W. Mcdonnell

Theses and Dissertations

Domestic violent extremist (DVE) attacks in the U.S. present a fluid and dynamic threat to national security. While past research has extensively examined the ideological drivers of DVE violence, relatively little focus has been placed on their geographic mobility, particularly how far DVE actors travel from their hometowns to attack sites and what insights this provides for intelligence and law enforcement. This dissertation explores how geographic proximity, ideological motivation, and logistical constraints shape DVE travel patterns. Using a comprehensive dataset covering U.S.-based DVE incidents from 2001 to 2025, this study employs a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative geospatial analysis with qualitative …

Exploratory Research Into U.S.-Based College/University Population Perceptions And Security Responses To On-Campus Active Shooter Incidents, Donald E. Stanton

Theses and Dissertations

On-campus active shooter incidents challenge U.S.-based Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) as they are usually only identifiable after the first shot. My mixed-methods, exploratory study was conducted to fill gaps in the limited research regarding on-campus active shooter incidents. Using purposive sampling, I identified two IHL security directors for the initial qualitative phase of my research. I conducted separate virtual interviews to discuss active shooter-specific responses, policies, procedures, security measures, potential active shooter-specific security systems, and their views on the importance of open-campus learning and social environments. We also discussed their active shooter response postures and whether they believed their …

Performance-Based Funding’S Influence On Higher Education Through The Eyes Of Department Chairs, Jonathan W. Lackland

Theses and Dissertations

Performance-based funding (PBF) has become a widely adopted policy in higher education, linking state appropriations to measurable outcomes such as graduation rates, degree completions, and workforce alignment. While PBF aims to enhance institutional accountability and efficiency, its implementation has raised significant concerns about equity and political influence. This dissertation examines the political equity and implications of PBF policies through a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews with department chairs, and critical discourse analysis of state statutes and legislative debates. The findings reveal that PBF often exacerbates inequities, particularly for non-flagship universities serving diverse and under-resourced student populations. Department chairs expressed concerns …

More Than A Seat At The Table: Examining How Psychological Safety, Identity Representation, And Leadership Accountability Impact African American Women In Global Workplace Environments, Shelbi Chandler

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of African American women working in corporate technology environments, with particular attention to psychological safety, representation, and systemic barriers to advancement. Despite increased organizational commitments to equity and inclusion, research continues to demonstrate that Black women encounter persistent intersectional barriers shaped by race and gender within professional settings (Erskine et al., 2021; Field et al., 2023; Roberson, 2019). Guided by Du Bois’s (2008) theory of double consciousness, Goosby Smith’s (2014a) Ubuntic inclusion framework, and appreciative inquiry (AI; Cooperrider & Whitney, 2005), this study explored how African American women interpret, navigate, and respond …

Neoliberalism In Education: Three Studies On The Intersection Of Neoliberalism, Science Of Reading, And Policy, Candace Bechtold

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three linking projects that study the intersection of neoliberal ideology, American education policymaking, and the Science of Reading (SOR). I sought to understand how neoliberal mechanisms like standardization and accountability have shaped past and current education policies in the United States. In the first project, I take an historical approach to conceptualize neoliberal ideology to explain how it is manifested in Standards-Based Accountability (SBA) reform and demonstrate how its implications have progressed over time. In the second project, I focus on one state's SOR policy–the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA)– to conduct a discourse analysis of documents …

Follow The Cyclists: Everyday Navigation Of Richmond's Bike Infrastructure, Emily E. Schreer

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the embodied experience of cycling in Richmond, emphasizing the importance of centering firsthand, lived experience in cycling research and urban planning. While traditional transportation planning can often myopically prioritize efficiency and safety metrics to evaluate infrastructure, this project argues that such approaches overlook essential experiential, sensory, and emotional dimensions of cycling that determine how infrastructure is perceived, used, and ultimately succeeds or fails.

Through an ethnographic approach combining field observation of cyclist behavior and mental mapping sessions with Richmond cyclists, this study positions people who bike in Richmond as expert knowledge holders. Participant contributions, combined with observations …

Trajectories Of Egyptian Women In The Us, Sageda A. Tagen

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis aimed at studying and analyzing the experiences of highly skilled Egyptian migrant women living in the US both who migrated as adults and those who migrated as children with their families. It analyzed their backgrounds prior to the migration decision, the migration decision and their legal status, the role of the family in their journey and their challenges within the social context of their workplaces. The study utilized a qualitative ethnographic lens. The study is based on ethnographic interviews with 15 highly skilled women living in the US, most of whom are concentrated in Indiana and Michigan. The …

Daisyworld, Eva Foldy

Theses and Dissertations

Daisyworld explores how painting can represent ecological and sociopolitical crisis without relying on narratives of total collapse as a catastrophic end, instead framing the present as a condition of ongoing, uneven transformation. Drawing on ecological models of adaptation, interdependence, and planetary self-regulation, it uses plant fasciation as both a biological reference and speculative metaphor for distorted yet generative forms of survival. Situating painting within a broader history of visual culture, it examines how images function as accessible systems of knowledge while challenging colonial and human-centered modes of representation. In dialogue with contemporary, systems-based artistic practices, the project repositions painting as …

Algorhythm: Commodification Of Hobbies On Social Media Platforms, Fariha Ahmed

Theses and Dissertations

Forcing the world online, the COVID-19 pandemic appeared to turn social-media-based hobbies into income-generating cash cows. Digital creative spaces became sites of capitalist logic where hobbyists came to operate as both laborers and commodities. Profit-focused algorithms operate imperceptibly, shaping creative behavior and decision-making in ways that are difficult to recognize, and even harder to resist. This thesis asks how algorithmic participation on platforms such as Instagram conditions a hobbyist, and how that conditioning can be made legible to audiences who inhabit such platforms without always seeing them. Using autoethnography, I position myself as both researcher and subject to document the …

Waxing And Waning: Hidden Interiors Of Grassroots Expression, Asmita Baskar

Theses and Dissertations

Concealed interiors historically emerged from necessity in response to dominant systems around surveillance, control, and visibility. These hidden spaces carefully regulated access, cultivated intimacy, and enabled self-expression within grassroots groups and marginalized communities. Operating free from surveillance and in contrast to surrounding architectural and urban systems, these concealed spaces were not formally “interior designed”, yet they reveal how communities activate the interiors they encounter to retain agency.

Scholarship on grassroots resistance is largely examined through sociology, anthropology, psychology, or political science, with limited literature directly linking interiority, interior design, and resistance within covert spaces. This thesis addresses the gap in …

Managing Identity, Claiming Expertise, And Emotional Labor: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Of The Experience Of People With Serious Mental Illnesses In Primary Care, Jeffrey Ciak

Theses and Dissertations

People with serious mental illnesses (SMI) die 15 to 20 years before their peers without mental illness primarily due to chronic physical health conditions. Preventative care and treatment for chronic physical health conditions primarily occurs through primary care, but the experience of people with SMI in primary care is understudied. This constructivist grounded theory dissertation explored the experiences of people with SMI in primary care. Theoretical sampling resulted in 19 participants who were adults with SMI and long-term anti-psychotic use. Data was collected through one-to-two-hour long intensive interviews. The analytical process occurred concurrently with data collection. The abductive analytical process …

Between Stigma And Strength: How Ghanaian Mothers Navigate Societal Judgement And Build Resilience While Raising Children With Disabilities., Vera Bonku Turkson

Theses and Dissertations

The study explores the lived experiences of mothers raising children with disabilities in Ghana, West Africa. The purpose of the study is to understand mothers’ everyday caregiving realities, their experiences with social stigma, and the ways they build resilience. A semi-structured interview was conducted where a total of eleven Ghanaian mothers/caregivers were interviewed through phone calls, WhatsApp calls, and Zoom. The data were then analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis guide, which resulted in the development of five themes. The findings reveal that mothers’ experiences are shaped by continuous caregiving demands, financial strain, and deeply embedded cultural beliefs …

The Role Of Non-Academic Staff In First-Year Retention At Regional, Comprehensive Universities, Marco A. Krcatovich Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Regional comprehensive universities (RCUs) serve a large share of U.S. undergraduates, yet the role of non‑academic staff in shaping first‑year retention remains understudied. This dissertation examines how staff diversity and staffing structures relate to student persistence using seven years of IPEDS panel data and Linear Mixed‑Effects Models. Analyses were conducted separately for residential and commuter RCUs to reflect their distinct engagement environments. Findings show that staff diversity is significantly associated with retention, though the direction and magnitude vary by campus type and staff role. Staffing structure also matters as higher proportions of full‑time staff are positively associated with retention at …

Exploring Culturally Responsive Faculty Practices That Support Student Success In Community College Classrooms, Mary Catherine Flynn

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the culturally responsive teaching practices used by six community college faculty and instructors in their in-person courses. Faculty and instructors taught courses included in certificate and degree programs related to early childhood education, human services, and criminal justice at one midwestern community college. Specific content areas included sociology, political science, and child development. Data collection for this study included comprehensive interviews with each instructor, an analysis of documents including syllabi, student assignments, and assessments, and multiple classroom observations. This study was anchored in a theoretical framework based on the constructs of culturally responsive teaching practices. Each …

Low Early Reading Skills In Children Entering Kindergarten In An Urban K-8 Center, Shelly D. Smith-Harding

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to investigate the preparedness of kindergarten children in early reading skills, drawing comparisons from their experiences in comparable preschool programs and to gain insight about how to address the problem of low early reading skills among children entering kindergarten. Using archival data from i-Ready reading diagnostic tests over a 4-year period (2021-2022 to 2024-2025), the researcher compared students who attended an urban K-8 Center Head Start program (n=47) with students from other preschools (n=33).

The researcher conducted an independent t-test with SPSS, version 30 software, to analyze differences at the baseline (Assessment Period 1) and …

“America Is For Americans Only”: Journalistic Professionalism, Populism, And Latino Ethnic Media In The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, Maria Villarroel

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines how journalistic professionalism shaped news coverage of Latino-related issues during the 2024 U.S. presidential election across mainstream and Latino ethnic media outlets. In a polarized political environment, immigration and the “Latino vote” were not only central campaign issues but also sites of radicalized rhetoric that frequently targeted Latino communities and journalists. In this context, journalists were tasked with reporting on highly contentious, hostile narratives while adhering to professional norms. This study argues that these norms influenced how journalists selected, framed, and contextualized political rhetoric, and how media coverage further elevated immigration and Latino communities as key electoral …

Perceptions And Experiences Of Teachers Regarding How Their Students’ Attendance Rate Impacts Their Academic Achievement, John Logan Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic absenteeism has emerged as a critical educational concern nationwide, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. National data indicate that chronic absence rates increased from 15% in 2019 to 28% in 2022, and in the targeted rural South Carolina district, 25% of students were chronically absent in 2022–2023, rising to 28% in 2023–2024. Persistent absenteeism is associated with lower academic performance, widened achievement gaps, and diminished long-term educational and workforce outcomes, especially among socioeconomically disadvantaged and minority students.

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine teachers’ perceptions and experiences regarding how students’ attendance rates influence academic achievement in …

Balancing Care And Chaos: A Phenomenological Study On The Emotional And Mental Health Challenges Of Emergency Department Nurses, Shantilee Green

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of emergency department nurses related to emotional and mental health challenges, coping with stress, and ways to provide them with better workplace support. Emergency department nurses are required to work 12-hour shifts in a high-stress environment with a significant patient load and an inadequate patient-to-nurse ratio. Emergency department nurses are exposed daily to patient events that can be traumatic and affect their mental and emotional health, and nurses may find it challenging to cope with the resultant stress.

The researcher created an interview protocol of 14 questions to …

Impact Of Single-Gender Education On Academic Performance, Stacey Wilcher

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the performance of middle school students Grades 6–8 in single-gender versus coeducational schools in a large urban district in the southeastern United States. It evaluates whether single-gender education leads to better academic outcomes and higher engagement, offering important insights for educational leaders and policymakers.

The study utilized Social Cognitive Theory and gender segregation theory through a mixed-methods approach, collecting quantitative data from standardized assessments (2021-2025) like the GMAS and MAP. Statistical analyses, including t-tests and ANOVA, were used to assess academic performance. Qualitative data from interviews and focus groups explored classroom engagement and teaching practices.

Participants included …

Effects Of Mental Health Services On Adolescents’ Mental Health-Related Behavior Problems And Academic Performance, Marsha Bernard

Theses and Dissertations

The problem to be addressed in the research study was that students who are marginalized and racially profiled exhibit behavioral problems in school and lack the resources to understand and manage their emotional behaviors. The purpose of the study was to determine how mental health counselors in schools and in the community can assist marginalized families with adequate mental health services. The study sought an understanding of the underlying causes of disruptive behaviors and miscommunication between students and administrators. Overall, the study revealed that mental health has an impact and plays a critical role in the day-to-day experiences of marginalized …

Preferred Practices For A Student Support Services Program To Improve Retention Of African-Caribbean Students Enrolled In U.S. Universities, Jean F. Edouard

Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this research was the high attrition rate of African-Caribbean students enrolled in U.S. universities. This study aimed to ascertain preferred practices in student support services programs to improve the retention of African-Caribbean students enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions. African-Caribbean students come to the United States with premigration experiences (e.g., language, cultural differences, and financial constraints). This generic qualitative study used semistructured Zoom interviews lasting 45–60 minutes with 12 African-Caribbean students who left their country of origin after age 12; interviews offered insight into their lived experiences and perceptions of U.S. higher education institutions. This study …

Flowers Of Petra: The Identification Of Floral Motifs On Nabataean Painted Fine Wares, Jacob Samuel Blood

Theses and Dissertations

The Nabataeans are notable for their eggshell-thin fine ware pottery on which they often painted plant motifs. Since the discovery of these painted fine wares, several archaeologists have attempted to identify some of the plants depicted on the vessels. However, these attempts have often been incidental and not explicitly systematic. The purpose of this study is to apply the principles of plant taxonomy to identify eleven flower motifs that are depicted on Nabataean fine wares and to then determine what significance these flowers held for the Nabataeans. By using the principles of plant taxonomy, this thesis was able to confidently …

Three Case Studies Of Transformative Learning In A Service-Learning Anthropology Course, Elizabeth S. Schulte

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the processes of personal transformation of three students enrolled in a service-learning based course that I taught at Brigham Young University. Informed by my observations as instructor of the course, in the analysis below I draw upon these students' weekly personal reflection essays to describe the process of individual transformation of these three students across the semester. This accounting provides insight into aspects of and contributing factors to that growth. I propose that a service-learning based course design with a framework of anthropological theory is a good way to facilitate transformational educational experiences. Aspects of service-learning such …

Exploring The Individual Relationships Of Mothers' And Fathers' Parenting Styles With Emerging Adults' First-Term Gpa, Tiffany Fox Okeke

Theses and Dissertations

Parenting styles have most often been studied through the lens of adolescent academic outcomes but less is known about how mothers' and fathers' parenting styles influence academic performance separately, especially during the critical transitionary period to post-secondary education. This study examines how mothers' and fathers' parenting styles distinctly shape emerging adults' first-term academic outcomes during their postsecondary education, with a focus on the dimensions of parental warmth and control. The study uses the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 dataset and the NLSY97 Post-Secondary Transcript Data focusing on the 1997-2005 cohorts (N=3,478) along with OLS regression analyses to predict emerging …

An Analysis Of Ukrainians' Language Attitudes And Ideology: A Conflict-Catalyzed Language And Identity Shift, Kateryna Kravchenko

Theses and Dissertations

On February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine. According to Vladimir Putin's speech, the main goal of the war was to protect the Russian-speaking population of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Many Ukrainians indeed speak Russian on a daily basis, largely due to the long and complicated history between the two countries. Recently, there has been an increase in pro-Ukrainian ideologies (Kulyk 2016); however, as the full-scale invasion began, people started advocating for Ukrainian usage in all public domains, and many even vowed to never speak Russian again. Since then, there has been a profound change in language …