Digital Commons Network^™

From Crisis To Capability: The Evolution Of Leadership Models And Essential Competencies In The Post-Pandemic Era, Mimi Bekele

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for organizations and leaders, requiring rapid responses to uncertainty. This qualitative study examined how leadership models evolved in response to lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) essential for effective leadership in a post-pandemic environment, guided by Heifetz's Adaptive Leadership Theory. Chapter 2 situated the study within four leadership models: situational, skills, transformational, and adaptive. It also examined three pandemic-era drivers of workplace change: the multigenerational workforce, the Great Resignation, and employee mental health. Chapter 3 employed a mixed-methods design consisting of a survey of 43 respondents …

Barriers Or Bridges? Analyzing The Role Of Admissions Criteria In Shaping Access To Law School, Meghan Donnelly

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Law school admissions processes play a pivotal role in shaping access to the legal profession, yet their reliance on standardized metrics such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and undergraduate grade point averages (GPAs) continues to raise concerns about equity. This study examines how admissions evaluation practices influence access to law school and explores alternative approaches that may better support equitable outcomes.

Using a mixed methods approach, this study draws on the experiences and perspectives of law school applicants and law school admissions professionals to assess perceptions of equity, accessibility, and opportunity within the law school admissions process. Particular …

The Use Of Assisted Repeated Reading To Increase Fluency And Comprehension Among Adolescent English Language Learners, Matthew J. Wentzell

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Wentzell, M. (2026). The Use of Assisted Repeated Reading to Increase Fluency and Comprehension Among Adolescent English Language Learners

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of audio-assisted repeated reading on fluency and comprehension among adolescent English learners and gauge their opinions on the intervention and its impact on their reading ability. Areas of exploration within the literature review included the evolution of fluency research, the relationship between fluency, prosody, and comprehension, and fluency within the context of English learners. Additionally, the literature review encompassed the strategy of repeated reading with and without audio-assistance and its …

Strategies For Classroom Teachers Using Generative Artificial Intelligence, Hoang-Kim Nguyen

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated strategies for classroom teachers using generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI), the challenges high school teachers face when integrating Gen AI tools into the classroom, and how teachers address these challenges. Using a qualitative approach, the study surveyed 26 teachers and conducted five interviews with teachers in two suburban school districts. The results indicated that there are leadership and professional development gaps in Gen AI in high schools. The findings suggested that districts need to provide professional development and leadership on Gen AI to help teachers integrate it into the classroom and prepare students for the Gen AI …

Sharing The Voices Of Latine Students: Their Experiences Of Community, Belonging And Joy In A Suburban Public High School, Ashley Acosta-Meyers

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenological and ethnographic study explored how seven Latine high school students in a suburban public high school defined and experienced community, belonging, and joy, asking what school spaces, experiences, and practices build or diminish these three concepts. Data was collected through four interview sessions per participant, reflective journaling, and three culturally and linguistically responsive walkthrough observations, and were analyzed through layered linguistic, narrative, and thematic coding. Findings showed that belonging and joy were tied to specific spaces rather than felt evenly across the school day. Institutional fairness shaped belonging as much as any relationship. Latine identity was contested, …

Beyond Casebooks: Law School’S Hidden Curriculum, Nubia Nelly Esparza

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods study sought to understand how the hidden curriculum affects first-generation, marginalized, and underrepresented law students and attorneys, what educational and career opportunities they have missed as a result of not knowing these unwritten rules, and what law schools could do to better prepare this population for the realities of legal education and practice. Data were collected through an anonymous online survey and a focus group with first-generation law students and attorneys who have been in the profession for ten years or less. Analysis of the data was mapped against the Conceptual Framework of the Hidden Curriculum in …

I Didn’T Think Teaching Was For Me: An Autoethnography Of Teaching Other People's Children, Jaquinetta Mitchell

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic study examines how the cooperating teacher-student teacher relationships shapes professional identity, culturally responsive practice, and long-term teaching efficacy, particularly when preparing educators to work with students of color. Drawing on my own reflective narrative as a Black woman who navigated a predominantly White teacher preparation program and entered the profession inadequately prepared to serve diverse students, alongside three rounds of data collected from former student teachers, this study asks: How does the student teaching experience affect teachers’ educational journeys? What support do cooperating teachers need to effectively mentor student teachers working with students of color? How does the …

What Leadership And Operational Strategies Should Twin Cities Black-Led Charter Schools Have To Promote School Improvement, Enhance Student Achievement, And Ensure Sustained Organizational Success?, Donald W-R. Allen, Ii

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Allen, D. (2026). What Leadership and Operational Strategies should Twin Cities Black-led Charter Schools have to Promote School Improvement, Enhance Student Achievement, and Ensure Sustained Organizational Success?  

This dissertation examined my story along with the leadership and operational strategies employed by Twin Cities Black-led charter schools to support school improvement, enhance student achievement, and sustain long-term organizational success. Black-led charter schools emerged as community-centered educational alternatives designed to provide culturally responsive learning environments for Black students and families while addressing persistent educational inequities. Despite their important role within Minnesota's educational landscape, limited empirical research has examined the organizational conditions that …

Understanding Chronic Bodily Pain Across Multisystemic Illnesses: A Comparative Analysis Using Exploratory Factor Analysis And Invariance Testing, Suvetha Ravichandran

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Chronic pain is a debilitating symptom that often remains under-researched and poorly treated, particularly for those with multisystemic conditions. This study explored the shared and distinct experiences of chronic bodily pain across four multisystemic illnesses: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS), and Long COVID. Comparative exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and invariance testing were used to examine commonalities and differences in underlying pain experiences for those with the above diagnoses as well as healthy controls based on their responses to pain items from the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire-1 (DSQ-1). A total of 3,724 participants were included: 2,403 …

Improving Vector Embedding Generation Throughput For Neural Information Retrieval Models, Conrad Tkacz

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

For decades, advancements in information retrieval technologies have changed how individuals discover data with computer systems. More recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have also made the benefits of neural information retrieval systems available to millions. These information retrieval systems help empower future discoveries, though this is not the case for scientific data and High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems. HPC systems can generate enormous amounts of data, and no tools are currently available that can ingest data at the rates required to efficiently build an information retrieval system to explore scientific data. This thesis explores the current state of constructing a …

Using Recommender Systems To Help Revitalize Local News, Payam Pourashraf

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Local news outlets have experienced steep declines in readership as national and global online news sources have expanded and consolidated audience attention. Because many local media companies rely primarily on subscription-based business models, they must increase user engagement and provide clearer value to local subscribers. Personalization and recommender systems offer one promising path toward this goal. However, many recommender systems assume that a user’s past behavior can be summarized in a single unified profile. In practice, preferences are often context-dependent: the same person may prefer different content depending on geography, time, task, or situation. Local news offers a socially important …

Retirement Investment Behaviors Of Itin Immigrants, Krzysztof Zoltek

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This study examines retirement related financial behaviors among foreign-born immigrants living in the United States, with particular focus on the role of Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) status. Using a cross-sectional survey of 223 foreign-born respondents, including both ITIN and non-ITIN respondents, the study examined whether ITIN status, financial literacy, fintech usage, remittance behavior, demographic characteristics, and attitudes toward financial inclusion were associated with participation in formal retirement saving and likelihood of using retirement products if available. Binary logistic regression and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to test the study hypotheses. The findings indicated that ITIN status was negatively …

Procedural Justice And Instructional Alignment In Body-Worn Camera Policies: A Comparative Policy Analysis Of Large U.S. Urban Police Departments, Michael A. O'Connor

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This study examined how written Body-Worn Camera (BWC) policies in large U.S. urban police departments operationalize Procedural Justice (PJ) through instructional alignment and how those policies shape expectations for officer training. Policy analysis showed that all departments required BWC activation during key encounters such as traffic stops and arrests and included some form of supervisory review. However, substantial variation existed in policies governing data retention, citizen notification, pre-report viewing safeguards and documentation requirements, and disciplinary guidance. These inconsistencies were most evident in the PJ dimensions of neutrality and voice, particularly where policies permitted pre-report viewing without consistent documentation requirements and …

Analysis Of Clinical Health Worker Notes With Explainable Artificial Intelligence For A Better Perspective In Preventing Readmission, Christopher Scott Klimp

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Emergency Department (ED) readmissions remain a major challenge for healthcare systems, affecting both patient care quality and financial costs. Most prediction models depend largely on structured data from clinical tools that assign points to a small set of predefined factors – such as comorbidities, previous hospital visits, and behaviors such as smoking and drinking – and then sum those points to produce an overall risk score. These point-based tools leave out important information from Social Determinants of Health and a wealth of information from Community Health Workers (Community health workers (CHWs), trusted members of a community who help connect people …

Color Shift: A Graphic Design Process Book Exploring How Color And Motion Influence Emotional Perception And Brand Connection In Affordable Women's Fashion Jewelry, Elizabeth Voight

Theses

This study examines how manipulating color and motion within a single brand identity system influences consumer emotional response and brand consistency. Using a fictional modern jewelry brand, Quanta & Co., the research isolates color as the primary variable by applying nine distinct mid-range color palettes to identical layouts, logos, and structures across both print and digital touchpoints. These collateral assets include jewelry packaging, vehicle wraps, digital advertisements, and an animated logo. A quantitative survey was executed to capture real-time audience impressions regarding brand traits, perceived quality, and the overall alignment of each color variation with the brand's identity.

The findings …

Evaluating The Use Of Artificial Intelligence To Enhance Pediatric Simulation Among Associate Degree Nursing Students, Kaitlyn Price

Theses

Abstract

Background: Simulation has long been used to prepare pre-licensure nursing students for clinical practice. Traditional written pre-simulation assignments have been the assignment of choice for many years. However, artificial intelligence (AI) guided preparatory tools may offer students a more interactive, personalized way to enhance their simulation experience.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to utilize AI technology in pre-simulation preparatory work to enhance learning in second-semester associate degree nursing students. 

Methods: The study consisted of randomized traditional and AI-guided preparatory groups among consenting participants. The sample consisted of 23 participants. Both sets of students completed the same simulation. …

Pragmatic Measures In Aided Language Measurement: Aac Clinical Expert Perspectives, Makayla Hydiea Smith

Speech and Hearing Sciences ETDs

Purpose: The augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) discipline currently lacks psychometrically sound aided language measures. This thesis is designed to address one step in developing such measures: to begin to establish the clinical feasibility of three pragmatic measures – communicative intent, independence/co-construction, and imitation/non-imitation. Therefore, the objective of this thesis is to identify the useability of these pragmatic measures.

Method: A qualitative approach in the form of a focus group was used to examine the perceptions of SLP practitioners who are experts in AAC. Rapid qualitative analysis (RQA) was used to identify relevant themes and subthemes.

Results: Overall, the themes …

Veribrief: A Multi-Agent Retrieval-Augmented Generation System For Policy Decision Support, Imane Bahji

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

VeriBrief is a multi-agent retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) system for evidence-grounded economic policy analysis. The system orchestrates a five-stage LangGraph pipeline, retrieval, research, analysis, synthesis, and critique, to produce cited, structured responses while detecting out-of-scope queries. An empirical evaluation on eight questions drawn from official U.S. macroeconomic releases compared VeriBrief against a single-pass RAG baseline. The multi-agent system achieved 100% refusal precision on unanswerable analytical queries versus 0% for the baseline. Unsupported claims fell substantially on answerable factual questions. A context-propagation defect discovered during evaluation was diagnosed and corrected. Limitations include failure of the evidence gate on policy-counterfactual queries and a …

“Retalhos De Mim Costurados Por Nós” (A Patchwork Of Me, Stitched Together By Us), Marjorye Graves

MFA in Dance Theses

This document represents the culmination of my thesis project "Retalhos de Mim Costurados por Nós" (A Patchwork of Me, Stitched Together by Us), a choreographic project integrating scholarly perspectives from Dance and Social Justice, Phenomenology, and Somatics courses. Employing both dance film and solo live performance, the research interrogates the complexities of identity within the overlapping contexts of immigration, domestic violence, and motherhood. Through an embodied praxis, the project addresses the intersection of adversity and resilience, highlighting the transformative potential of community, cultural inheritance, and spirituality in my healing process.

Voices Unheard: A Phenomenological Study Of Access And Inclusion Of College Students With Autism In The Southeastern United States, Janet L. Kuchinski

Dissertations

Although access to higher education has expanded for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), many continue to encounter barriers to meaningful inclusion, belonging, and participation within the college environment. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to explore the lived experiences of college students with ASD regarding access and inclusion in higher education. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit five college students with ASD who were at least 19 years of age, currently enrolled in college, and registered with disability services. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted via Microsoft Teams and analyzed using established IPA procedures. …

Adjustment Challenges In The International Student Population At A Rural Mid-Size Midwestern University, Sara El Bizri Hussein

All NMU Master's Theses

This qualitative descriptive study explored the adjustment experiences of non-athlete international students attending a rural, mid-size Midwestern university and identified the challenges and supports that shaped their transition.

Guided by Berry’s acculturation framework and informed by theories of student integration and coping, data were collected through an initial survey and semi-structured interviews. Seven participants were interviewed. Interview transcripts were analyzed using open and focused coding procedures to identify recurring patterns and themes.

Analysis revealed that international student adjustment is multidimensional and influenced by social, academic, emotional, cultural, environmental, and structural factors. Three major themes emerged from the data: (1) Social …

The Relationship Between Cognitive Control And Individual Differences In Working Memory Capacity: A High-Density Eeg Study, Conghao Gao

All NMU Master's Theses

Empirical evidence has suggested a close relationship between human working memory capacity and cognitive control approaches. Proactive control refers to the anticipatory, sustainable maintenance of cognitive control process. However, the relationship between higher working memory capacity and the use of proactive cognitive control has been inconsistent. Understanding the neural bases would substantially expand our current understanding of cognitive control and working memory models. Specifically, the examination of P3b amplitude, part of the event-related potential, evoked by a cue would provide further understanding in neural mechanisms of cognitive control. The current study examined participants’ cognitive control approaches and their electrocortical activity …

Using Zebrafish To Investigate The Innate Immune Response To R132h Mutant Glioma, Mikaela L. Fairbanks

All NMU Master's Theses

Gliomas are the most commonly occurring brain tumor found in adults. The most dominant mutation found in glioma is in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) gene. IDH converts isocitrate into α-ketoglutarate (α-KG), but the mutated form of it will take α-KG and further convert it into D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D-2-HG). Mutated IDH1 glioma (mIDH1) produces a higher concentration of D-2-HG than the wild-type IDH1 glioblastoma (wtIDH1). These mIDH1 tumors tend to have a better prognosis, growing slower and having less inflammation than the wtIDH1 counterpart, potentially due to the increased D-2-HG. However, the effects of mIDH1 and D-2-HG on the innate immune …

Assessing The Relationship Between The Degree Of Static And Dynamic Quadricep Angle And Kinetic Asymmetry Index % In Females During The Follicular Phase Of Menstruation, Madeline Grace Poirier

All NMU Master's Theses

The quadriceps angle (q-angle) quantifies lateral pull on the knee. Females have greater static and dynamic q-angles due to anatomical factors including a wider pelvis and more lateral tibial tuberosity, which may influence ACL injury risk. The kinetic asymmetry index (KAI %) measures limb-to-limb differences in ground reaction force (GRF) impulses during dynamic tasks including countermovement jumps (CMJs), with values > 10% linked to injury risk. During the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, fluctuating hormones increase joint laxity, further heightening biomechanical vulnerability in females.

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between static and dynamic q-angle and KAI % in active, …

Evaluation Of Laser Power, Heat Treatment, And Wall Configuration Of Ss316l And Er70s-6 Structures Fabricated By Wire Laser Metal Deposition, Ayman Abdelgwwad

Theses

Wire-Laser Metal Deposition (W-LMD) is a transformative direct energy deposition additive manufacturing technology that utilizes a laser heat source to melt metallic wire feedstock for the high-efficiency fabrication of large-scale, near-net-shape components. The technology is distinguished by its high material utilization efficiency and superior safety compared to metal powder-based systems. W-LMD systems are composed of a focused laser, a wire feeder mechanism, a multi-degree of freedom motion system, cooling system, and a shielding gas supply to prevent oxidation. Deviation in process parameters can lead to external defects such as stubbing (insufficient melting) and dripping (melting above the melt pool), as …

Understanding The Lubrication Mechanisms Of Environmentally Compatible Protic Ionic Liquids, Davis Kipkania Kiboi

Theses

The development of environmentally sustainable lubricants is increasingly important as industries seek to reduce friction, wear, energy losses, and environmental impact. Choline amino acid protic ionic liquids (PILs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their bio-based constituents, tunable molecular structures, and favorable lubrication properties. However, the influence of amino acid structure on their lubrication mechanisms and tribological performance remains poorly understood. This dissertation investigates the physicochemical properties, tribological behavior, and tribofilm formation mechanisms of choline amino acid PILs to establish structure–property–performance relationships for sustainable lubricant design. Ten choline amino acid PILs containing glycine, alanine, lysine, leucine, isoleucine, aspartic acid, …

Exergy Analyses Of Potential Clean Hydrogen Technologies In The Uae, Gaurav Cjk Kewalramani

Theses

This thesis evaluates clean hydrogen production pathways suitable for the United Arab Emirates by  integrating nuclear, solar, and wind energy with proton exchange membrane electrolysis (PEM), anion  exchange membrane electrolysis with a liquid alkaline separator (AEM), and alkaline water electrolysis  (AWE). A literature review was first conducted to compare hydrogen production technologies based on  efficiency, cost, scalability, environmental performance, and compatibility with UAE energy resources.  Energy and exergy models were then developed for the APR1400 steam Rankine cycle, the Mohammed bin  Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the Sir Bani Yas wind farm, and the three electrolysis technologies.  The APR1400 Rankine-cycle …

Large Language Model-Driven Agents In Virtual Reality For Inclusive Communication Training, Ziming Li

Theses

Vocational training programs aimed at improving the employability and autonomy of autistic individuals primarily focus on enhancing social communication skills. However, developing and implementing such training activities often demands significant time and effort from job coaches, who must adapt to various interview and workplace scenarios while customizing the training to meet the specific needs of autistic trainees. These challenges create barriers for job coaches to efficiently train autistic individuals and objectively evaluate their performance. To address these challenges, this dissertation explores the use of virtual reality (VR) and large language model (LLM)-driven agents to create customizable and interactive training platforms …

Rooted Worlds, Eli Groborchik

Theses

Plant Awareness Disparity (PAD) describes a widespread cognitive bias where plant life is systematically overlooked in favor of its animal counterparts. This disconnect is acutely visible in natural history museums where plant life is notoriously difficult to display. Rooted Worlds is an interactive, physical-digital installation designed to combat this bias by bridging the emotional and educational gap between audiences and Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Rejecting traditional flat screens and passive dioramas, the exhibit utilizes a fourteen-foot, 270-degree cylindrical projection screen to immerse visitors in six distinct, digitally rendered global biomes, creating a restorative and engaging space that leverages Attention Restoration Theory …

Prototyping Of A Spectropolarimetry Module For Lenslet-Based Integral Field Spectrographs, Manasa Lakshmi Narasimhan

Theses

Integral-field spectropolarimetry enables simultaneous spatial, spectral, and polarization measurements. Observations of polarized light allow researchers to map magnetic fields, distinguish scattering from intrinsic emission, and characterize the geometry of sources illuminating the large-scale dust distribution within and around galaxies. In tandem with spectral information, polarized emission can be used to detail the kinematics of dust expelled from galaxies and to probe the underlying spectrum of scattered light—measurements that help constrain key open questions such as the missing baryon problem and the role of feedback in galaxy evolution. However, spectropolarimetry is a rare capability among ground-based observatories. This thesis showcases a …