Digital Commons Network^™

The Church As An Ecological And Cultural Anchor: Examining Its Role In Gifted Education, Advanced Academic Access, And Educational Equity, Matrissa Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examines the role of the Black church as an ecological and cultural anchor in addressing the inequities of gifted education and expanding access to advanced academic opportunities for Black students. The study is grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, critical race theory, and racial and ethnical socialization, and it explores how the Black church can support student development, empower parental advocacy, and partner with schools to promote educational equity. Conducted at Mountain Valley Baptist Church in South Carolina, the interventions included student mentoring, goal setting sessions, academic enrichment, emotional support initiatives, a parent workshop, and a …

In Praise Of Dust, Hasler Gomez-Perez

Theses and Dissertations

A desire path is a physical manifestation of where a system has failed, but also where it has been refused, where a new path has been made. The wake exists in the post, it is not a singular, untethered event, but a subtle double entendre that lives in the post-death, but also in the pre-life—not a liminal limbo, but a superposition of dying and waking.

This collection was assembled and composed over the course of two years as I navigated my practice, myself, and others. Present here are my thoughts, my experiences, and in many ways my beliefs. IN PRAISE …

The Divine Digital Divide: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Effects Of Implementing Information And Communications Technology In The Black Baptist Worship Service Experience On Attraction And Retention Of Young Adults Post Covid-19, Ladonna Y. Boyd

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of using information and communication technology (ICT) in the Black worship experience for recruiting and retaining young adults in relation to church services, engagement (defined in this study as communication, community outreach, social activism and collaboration, and support services), and cultural identity within the community of faith. The relevancy and engagement for emerging generations and the cultural and ancestral ties of the Baptist church will be explored. Data analysis from these findings will be used to identify opportunities for faith and community leaders in relation to young Black adults, defined …

How Do Cultural Norms Shape Healthy Eating In African Americans? The Role Of Cultural Congruence And Mindsets Of Health In Healthy Eating Intentions Among African American College Students, Danyel Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Targeting dietary behaviors is a predominant strategy to reduce rates of obesity among African Americans, across the lifespan. Notably, dietary behaviors are shaped by social, cultural and environmental affordances. This study integrated Theory of planned behavior (TPB), identity-based motivation, and mindset theory to unearth cultural mechanisms that inform motivations to eat healthy among African American college students. This project employed a cross-sectional (Study 1) and experimental design (Study 2) to contextualize the antecedents of intentions to eat healthy among African American college students. Recruitment occurred via university-wide digital channels. Eligible participants: were 18+ years; Black/African American; were undergraduate students; and …

The Role Of Civil Society Organizations In Youth Inclusion Reforms In Post-Uprising Tunisia, Amal Tobich

Theses and Dissertations

Tunisia has a large youth population; more than half of the population are youth aged between 15-30 years in 2011. Tunisia has long faced challenges adopting serious reforms for youth inclusion and participation. Young people, especially since the Arab Spring, are driving social and economic innovation, challenging policies, and representing governments. More connected than ever, young people exert a greater influence on their fellow citizens and their country and youth inclusion is a central aspect of the post-2015 global development agenda. This study seeks to determine the role of Civil society Organizations in youth inclusion by drawing on extensive literature …

National Athletes' Perceived Image Of The Government In The Development Of Sports In Malaysia, Danial Bin Azizan Durisic

Theses and Dissertations

Malaysian national sports depend on the support of the government to further improve its quality and continue to grow. The declining quality of Malaysian sports prompted this study, which seeks to explore the perceptions of the Malaysian government’s sport development efforts through the lens of the national athletes and provide recommendations that could lead to strengthened sports development and improved quality of sports in Malaysia. This research intends to compare the results obtained from current and former national athletes and compare it with the Sport Policy Factors Leading to International Sporting Success or SPLISS Model (Bosscher et al., 2006), which …

The Relationship Of Student Demographic And Academic Characteristics On Students' Success In High School Online Courses, Jerri Luemora Ward

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past decades, online learning has contributed to a large percentage of educational success in higher education and K-12 learning environments. It has not only allowed a number of opportunities for students to receive education due to flexibility, reachability, but also additional course offerings and educational advancement. As K-12 online learning has continued to soar as an option for educating students, concerns relating to students’ success in these courses have arose. Due to the concerns relating to student success, researchers have sought to determine what attributes can contribute to student success in online courses offered to students in elementary …

The Effects Of Positive Youth Development Education On Youth Minister Self-Efficacy, Kenna Storey Spiller

Theses and Dissertations

Youth minister self-efficacy may be affected by the education received regarding positive youth development and adolescent development in general. A survey intended to explore the correlation between youth minister self-efficacy and education was administered to 43 Southern Baptist youth ministers in Mississippi. The survey used Lykert-type scales, multiple-choice questions, and open-ended questions to assess self-efficacy and positive youth development and adolescent development knowledge. Analysis of variance and correlations were used to analyze the data. Findings indicate that youth minister self-efficacy is related to adolescent development knowledge, but not significantly related to positive youth development knowledge. These findings provide insight into …

How To Make A Mudsparkler, Ethan Fogus

Theses and Dissertations

How to Make a Mudsparkler is a collection of lyrical narratives that address issues of masculinity and identity. These poems are threaded through with repeated themes— religion, place, and the nature of work—as they interrogate familial lineage with inventories of memory. The first section ruminates on family history as it is linked to formative memories. Section two continues these themes, but adds an exploration of adolescence and isolation. Finally, section three is the most immediate section as the speaker explores the fundamental questions of love, loss, and the nature of friendship.

Leadership Traits Of Long Tenured Youth Ministers In Churches Of Christ, Gregory Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Although typically not responsible for leadership decision-making that impacts the spiritual growth of the entire organization, youth ministers play a vital leadership role in congregational health as leaders of smaller communities within greater communities of faith. This leadership role is threatened by numerous challenges facing youth ministers of all denominations. Specific to this study, the vital role of youth ministry in Churches of Christ is threatened by high turnover rates of those within the profession. The purpose of this study was to determine leadership practices and strategies that are employed by long tenured youth ministers in Churches of Christ, identify …

Best Teaching Strategies And Practices Of Session Directors In The Especially For Youth Program, Traci Garff

Theses and Dissertations

Especially for Youth (EFY) is a Brigham Young University Continuing Education program for youths (ages 14–18) that upholds the values and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). During the week-long EFY program, or session, youths received classroom instruction with religious emphasis from EFY faculty. A subgroup of the EFY faculty include session directors, invited by EFY staff to supervise an EFY session. Recognized by the EFY program as high-quality teachers, session directors help reach the program’s objectives by teaching youths and supporting EFY faculty and other staff. The purpose of this study was to investigate …

Courageous Solstice: Reconstructing Fairy Tales For A Black Youth Aesthetic, Tanya Boucicaut

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis interrogates the historical, philosophical, and existential implications of the Black Arts Movement and its major artists on the recurring themes of social injustice, Western hegemony, and the fight for aesthetic authenticity to reimagine fairy tales for the youth Black Aesthetic. As a personal reflection and foundational document for a larger project, this work weaves these implications through the practical application of the varied stages of program development for youth artists. This project also is a handbook that encompasses scholarly research, reflective analysis and anecdotal journal evidence. The subsequent chapters explore the theological and theatre pedagogical educational influences that …

Institutionalizing Youth Aspirations In The Public Policy Process In Egypt, Mohamed Kadry Ibrahim

Theses and Dissertations

After leading change in the 2011 revolution, and being the majority of the Egyptian population, young Egyptians became the focus of much attention. Youth empowerment and participation in shaping the future of their country became one of the primary concerns after the revolution. The research purpose is to identify the extent to which youth aspirations and dreams are incorporated in the process of public policy making. The research takes the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Ministry of Manpower and Migration as a case study to see their role and experience in institutionalizing youth aspirations in the national public policy …

Egyptian Youth Building A Peaceful Community – A Case Study, Shereen Aly Sayed

Theses and Dissertations

This is a qualitative case-study that focuses on a sample of Egyptian youth-led initiatives that are working in the field of peace-building within “Selmiyah” movement. These initiatives have a variety of activities and interventions, working with different age groups from children to adults and in different communities, addressing different aspects of the peace education; such as conflict resolution skills, environmental issues, community organizing, and development-related projects. Using interviews, participant observations and document reviews; the researcher was able to provide a deeper view of the background and perceptions of the founders of these initiatives and the movement, the motives for creating …

Apology As A Leadership Behavior: A Meta-Analysis With Implications For Organizational Leaders, Matthew W. Brubaker

Theses and Dissertations

Leaders are frequently called to apologize on behalf of their organizations, in some cases skillfully resolving episodes of failure while meeting the unique, competing needs of diverse stakeholders. However, too often leaders handle apology poorly, exacerbating tense situations and alienating key constituents. This study is an examination of the practice of apology as a leadership behavior in an organizational context. To answer the question, How might the existing literatures on apology be examined, integrated and refocused to apply specifically to leaders operating within an organizational context? the study provides a meta-analysis of the diverse literatures that address the practice of …

Honest To God: Confessions Of A Pastor's Wife, Deana Carol Nall

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an honest reflection on my experience as a minister's wife and how I have handled this role differently than my mother and grandmother, who were also married to ministers. It documents the events that have shaped my views of God, church, and politics, and how my evolving views have affected my faith. Included are observations on traditional expectations of clergy wives and the ways I and others in this role have broken with stereotypical ideas to embrace our individuality.

The Church In The Square: Negotiations Of Religion And Revolution At An Evangelical Church In Cairo, Egypt, Anna Dowell

Theses and Dissertations

In the wake of the Egyptian January 25, 2011 popular uprisings that deposed Hosni Mubarak from the presidency, youth and leaders from Kanisset Kasr el Dobara (KDEC) in Tahrir Square embarked on new and unpredictable political projects and activisms. This ethnographic study is an engagement with these new revolutionary negotiations on the part of the largest Protestant congregation in the Middle East. Using participant observation, focus groups, and interviews this research seeks to elucidate the ways that youth and leaders utilized institutionalized discourse, religious imagery, and relational networks in order to carve out a place in the Egyptian public sphere …

Credibility Of Online Political News Among Egyptian Youth, Dalia Elabd

Theses and Dissertations

This study confirms previous literature discoveries that perceived credibility of medium, source and message have a direct influence on the perceived credibility of online political news. Each credibility factor is examined separately to identify its influence and strength on the dependent variable. Medium credibility, Internet, is considered the factor that has the strongest influence on perceived credibility of online political news, followed by the source then finally message of online political news. Consumption of online political news has also a direct influence on perception of credibility of online political news but to a much lesser extent. Timely coverage, freedom of …

Women In Leadership: Strategies For Work-Life Balance, Kerri Heath

Theses and Dissertations

Although women have been a prominent presence in the workplace for over 5 decades, the struggles surrounding work-life balance still drive some women to opt out of career opportunities. Women now make up more than half of the populations at universities and in the work force, yet they are not advancing into the highest positions at the same rate as their male counterparts. This study seeks to empower women who desire both families and careers by analyzing the work-life balance strategies of women in leadership. Data collected from interviews of 22 women leaders are used to identify strategies that integrate …

Using Appreciative Inquiry In The 360-Degree Survey Feedback Process For Leaders, Aaron C. Herbert

Theses and Dissertations

This study identified how an appreciative 360-degree leader survey enhanced the feedback process for leaders. The qualitative study was conducted at a 1500-member Protestant church in Virginia. The two senior-most leaders (pastor and executive associate pastor) were evaluated by 10 subordinates. Examination of the impact of the appreciative process on the implementation and use of survey results identified risks, benefits, and suggested interventions. The study found that the appreciative process generally enhanced subordinates' willingness to participate, although some concerns did arise. Pastors and subordinates stated they did not have sufficient time to absorb the feedback or to identify deliberate action …

A Hell House Divided: Performing Identity Politics Through Christian Mediums Of Proselytization, Allan N. Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Every year, during the month of October, hundreds of Christian churches throughout the United States open the doors of their Hell House to surrounding communities. Hell Houses are Christian haunted houses designed to literally scare the Hell out of visitors so they will accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. In the place of vampires or zombies, Hell Houses portray the sins Satan is mostly likely to tempt teenagers to commit. Scenes include young girls receiving abortions, young men believing lies that they were born gay, and careless individuals drinking and driving. As para-theatrical performances, Hell Houses lead …

The Actor As Vessel: A Journey Towards Citizen Artistry, Joseph Carlson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a personal journey examining the applications of Ritual Poetic Drama Within the African Continuum as developed by my mentor Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, to the profession of the dramatic artist whether they are actor, director, educator or producer, to the training of the dramatic artist as a means of empowering generative, self defined, self validating artists, and as a means of developing community specific dramas in the hopes of facilitating individual and personal revelation. Using the author’s personal experiences as evidence, it intends to affirm Ritual Poetic Drama Within the African Continuum as an emergent methodology for theatrical …

Irregular Egyptian Migration Of Unaccompanied Minors To Italy: A Journey Of Death Or Salvation?, Hend A. F. Hafez

Theses and Dissertations

The irregular migration of Egyptian unaccompanied minors to Italy is a recent development within the migration flow between the two countries. The alarming rate of increase since 2007 of Egyptian boys under the age of 18 arriving in Italy unaccompanied and the lack of information explaining this phenomenon necessitated research in the field. The study reviews the reasons behind this type of migration, recent policy developments in both countries, the problems experienced by the social workers and managers of the boys in Italy, and the dilemmas facing the boys because of this migration. The study relied mainly on primary sources …

The Art Of Collaboration In The Classroom: Team Teaching Performance, Jenna M. Neilsen

Theses and Dissertations

The Art of Collaboration in the Classroom: Team Teaching Performance is a co-written master's thesis which records our research in the field of team teaching as it relates to theatre education at the university level. It is our intent that this text be used as a tool for helping universities and teachers decide if a collaborative teaching model is right for their courses. A portion of the text is research-based, examining the scholarly writings which have preceded our work. In Chapter 1, we compiled a set of definitions, in the hopes of codifying the language used within this document as …

The Art Of Collaboration In The Classroom: Team Teaching Performance, Julie K. Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

The Art of Collaboration in the Classroom: Team Teaching Performance is a co-written masters thesis which records our research in the field of team teaching as it relates to theatre education at the university level. It is our intent that this text be used as a tool for helping universities and teachers decide if a collaborative teaching model is right for their courses. A portion of the text is research-based, examining the scholarly writings which have preceded our work. In Chapter 1, we compiled a set of definitions, in the hopes of codifying the language used within this document as …

A Study Of The Best Messages, Channels And Audiences To Increase Vocations To The Catholic Diocesan Priesthood, Martin R. Coppola

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the best messages, channels and audiences to increase vocations to the Catholic diocesan priesthood. The study sought to determine the best messages, channels for those messages and audiences to receive those messages in an effort to increase vocations to the Catholic diocesan priesthood.

In addition to providing a demographic profile of priests, seminarians and men considering a vocation from three different dioceses across the country, the study sought to determine general information on the messages and channels that had influenced men who are already priests, seminarians and considering a vocation.

This non-probability …