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Disproportionately Disadvantaged: A Narrative Literature Review Into How External Stressors And Stigmas Impact And Affect A Lgbtq+ High School And College Student's Mental Health And Education, Amaya Perkins

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The LGBTQ+ community faces many stressors in educational, societal, and professional contexts. It is important to understand the factors that affect the lives of LGBTQ+ high school and college students, as they can impact their educational quality. This thesis will explore and identify the structures in place that affect the mental health of LGBTQ+ students which range from a lack of medical support to how stigmatization and violence impact mental health. This is a narrative literature review that aims to review, critique, and synthesize the literature of 26 academic journal articles. This thesis found that LGBTQ+ students were scared to …

Applying The Quadruple Process Model To A Measure Of Implicit Bias Towards Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder, Erin Marie Portillo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Alcohol use disorders is one of the major burdens of disease, yet it remains one of the disorders with the lowest treatment prevalence. For individuals who seek treatment for their alcohol use disorder, they may experience higher levels of social disintegration, guilt, shame, and stigmatization. Stigma is a multistep process that makes way for stereotypes, prejudice, and acts of discrimination to take place. With labels such as “alcoholic” implying negative connotation and being frequently used, the fear of being stigmatized and negatively labeled often results in delayed or entirely avoided care. Research has turned to the use of implicit measures …

‘The Weight That We Carry’: Using Photovoice To Uncover Student Parents’ Experiences In Higher Education, Maria Fatima Rodriguez Velasquez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Caregiving students carry identities that have historically been marginalized within academia and continue to face limited institutional awareness and support (Lovell, 2020; McCourt, 2018; Yates, 2022). This study analyzes the experiences of student parents at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) to understand how they balance their family and academic responsibilities, the challenges they face, and the communities of support they find within their university experience. Using Photovoice as a method, 22 student parents shared photographs and the narratives behind each image that represented their daily lives inside and outside the classroom. The data analysis, guided by grounded …

“War Is God” And “Unguessed Kinships”: Blood Meridian And Cormac Mccarthy’S “Border Tetralogy”, Seth Reeves

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis applies the metaphysics of philosopher Gilles Deleuze to Cormac McCarthy’s novel Blood Meridian, arguing that the novel initiates a thread of immanent subjectivity that unfolds throughout the Border Trilogy that follows it. Against a hierarchical metaphysics of transcendence, specifically an inverted Platonic Idealism, Blood Meridian dramatizes an immanent world of “optical democracy,” a prose style that levels the human and nonhuman and eludes subject and object categories. The kid’s autonomy from Judge Holden’s violent domination marks the truncated beginning of a Deleuzian subjectivity of becoming-other and immanent kinship. This incomplete gesture continues in the Border Trilogy, where …

A Secret Society Of Readers: College-Age Mentors’ Literacy Experiences With Young Adolescent Mentees, Lindsay Persohn, Dulcey B. Hunter, Chelsea Rivera, Karyn Z. Mendez, Cheryl R. Ellerbrock, Lucy Monette

Journal of Global Education and Research

This study occurred within Year One and Year Two of an ongoing literacy initiative designed to build reader identities among underserved middle school students. Using a near-peer mentoring model, mentees were paired with college-student mentors to interact weekly around books and reading. Reader interests and identities are influenced by affective and relational approaches through mentored reading experiences and a variety of texts. This qualitative case study (n = 11 of 24 Year One and n = 13 of 37 Year Two mentors) aimed to identify the ways mentor/mentee relationships affect reader interests, attitudes, and skills, and to evaluate the …

Internationalization Of Indian Higher Education: Mapping The Origins And Academic Choices Of International Students, Sanjeev Kumar Jha

Journal of Global Education and Research

This study explores the geographical origins, academic preferences, and key factors influencing the enrollment of international students in Indian higher education institutions. Drawing on primary data from interviews with 25 international students and secondary data from All India Survey on Higher Education reports, it provides an in-depth analysis of student mobility trends and factors shaping their choices. The results indicate that the international student enrollment is significantly below the Indian government’s target of 500,000 by 2024. Students come from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Nigeria, with Karnataka and Punjab emerging as the most preferred states within India. Engineering, particularly …

Protecting The Poor: Financial Distress In Credit Unions, Lakisha Atkins

All Dissertations

Credit unions are essential to financial inclusion, particularly in underserved communities; however, they face increasing instability, closures, and consolidations. Traditional corporate bankruptcy models, such as the Altman Z-Score, were designed for profit-driven firms and do not adequately account for the nonprofit, member-owned structure of credit unions. As a result, they overlook both the financial and governance dynamics that shape credit union performance. This dissertation addressed that gap by examining the financial indicators that are most useful for identifying early signs of distress, while interpreting those indicators through the lens of Agency Theory.

Drawing on longitudinal data from the National Credit …

Examining School Facilities And Their Impact On Student Achievement, Andre’ Donnell Walker

All Dissertations

This quantitative study examined the impact of school facility conditions on student performance in a large urban school district in Texas. Drawing on Allen’s (2017) nine foundations of a healthy building, such as air quality, lighting, and ventilation, the study explored whether students in modern, rebuilt schools outperformed those in older or renovated facilities. Using data from the Texas Education Agency, the analysis focused on standardized test scores, attendance rates, and graduation rates. Results showed that rebuilt schools consistently outperformed renovated schools on STAAR assessments, particularly in mathematics (+8.2%) and science (+7.6%). Rebuilt schools also demonstrated higher attendance (+3.2%) and …

The Lived Experiences Of Black Female Leaders At An Hbcu Whose Predecessors Are Non-Black Females, Patricia Pearsall Williams

All Dissertations

This study used a rigorous qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological approach to examine the lived experiences of eight Black female leaders at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in one of the following geographic regions in the United States: the South Atlantic, Eastern South Central, and West South Central (U.S. Census Bureau, 2022). The leadership roles for this study included, but were not limited to, president, senior vice president, assistant provost, vice president, dean, executive director, director, assistant director, associate director, department head, manager, or supervisor.

By examining the essences, nuances, and differences of these experiences, the researcher aimed to understand how …

Roadmap To Success: Perspectives Of Black Females Overcoming Barriers In Doctoral Programs At Predominantly White Institutions (Pwis) And Historically Black Colleges And Universities (Hbcus) In Southeast Texas, Jenta’ Monique Young

All Dissertations

This study employed a qualitative research design to explore the experiences of 10 Black female doctoral students as they matriculated and successfully graduated from doctoral programs at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) and a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Southeast Texas. A descriptive phenomenological research methodology was employed in this study to illustrate the struggles and barriers Black females face during matriculation and their persistence in achieving success in a doctoral program. The participants were women who self-identified as Black or African American. Participants were previously enrolled full-time in a cohort-oriented doctoral program with face-to-face, online, or hybrid instruction …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Full-Time Student Retention Rates Among Public Land-Grant Universities Based On Carnegie Engagement Classification Status And Availability Of Mental Health Counseling Services, Natriez B. Peterson

All Dissertations

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data, in 2019–2020, public four-year institutions had a retention rate of 81.5%, compared to 68.8% at private, for-profit institutions. Public universities use such metrics to address concerns about institutional effectiveness and educational value (Kelchen, 2018; Stryker, 1999; Tinto, 2017). This causal-comparative quantitative study examined whether full-time student retention rates differed significantly between Carnegie Community Engagement Classified Institutions and non-classified public land-grant universities, while controlling for the availability of institutional social support services. A two-way ANOVA tested the effects of Carnegie Engagement Classification Status and the presence of institutional social support services …

The Use Of Alcohol-Free And Low-Alcohol Drinks In Pregnancy In The Uk, Kate Maslin, Heather Hopper, Jill Shawe

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Alcohol-free drinks [beers, ciders, wines, and spirits containing <0.05% alcohol by volume (ABV)], and lowalcohol drinks (between 0.05% and 1.2% ABV) are increasingly available and may be used as a harm reduction measure. However, it is not known what pregnant women think and feel about these drinks and how regularly they are consumed before and during pregnancy. A cross-sectional online survey was developed and piloted. Women ≥18 years in the UK who were pregnant, or recently pregnant, were recruited via targeted social media advertising. Of the 2092 respondents, 47.8% (n ¼ 1001) were currently pregnant; 55.7% (n ¼ 1167) were between 25 and 34 years, 90.0% were White (n ¼ 1881); 6.1% (n ¼ 128) were drinking alcohol at “increasing risk” levels (>14 units/week) before pregnancy. During pregnancy, 13.5% (n ¼ 282) consumed alcohol, which was more common in the increasing risk category (P < .01). Alcohol-free or low-alcohol drinks were consumed by 71.3% (n ¼ 1491) of respondents during pregnancy; 91.4% of the increasing risk category versus 69.9% of the lower risk category (P < .01). The most common reasons for consuming alcohol-free or low-alcohol drinks were “to choose a safer alternative” (71.9%, n ¼ 1073) and “to feel included in social events involving alcohol” (68.8%, n ¼ 1026). More than half of respondents (56.7%) thought there was insufficient information available about consuming alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks during pregnancy, with internet searching the primary source of information. Although alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks are commonly consumed during pregnancy, there are some safety concerns. Their role as a harm reduction measure in those who are drinking alcohol at increasing risk levels prepregnancy needs further investigation.

Neutrosophic Cubic Fuzzy Set For Analyzing The Positive Psychological Quality Importance During Vocal Performance Process, Jie Zhu

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Impacts Of Facial Gestures On Global Participants’ Perception Of The Speaker, Perception Of The Message, Emotional Responses, And Engagement During Video Conferencing, Hanan Mohammed Alghamdi

Theses and Dissertations

Facial expressions play a crucial role in shaping communication and emotional understanding during virtual interactions. This study investigated how facial expressions influence participants’ perceptions of the speaker, perceptions of the message, emotional responses, and engagement during video conferencing across diverse cultural contexts. A hybrid experimental design was implemented using self-administered questionnaires to collect quantitative data and examine cause-and-effect relationships. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three facial-expression conditions Positive (smiling and joyful), Negative (angry or nervous), or Neutral (expressionless) and viewed speakers representing three ethnic backgrounds: White American, Black American, and Middle Eastern. Using a seven-point semantic differential scale, …

Conflict Management: Values-Based Training Effects On Shifts In Strategy Preference Among Formerly Incarcerated Individuals, Candace Renae Fay

Theses and Dissertations

Problem-solving refers to a behavior evoked by a problem in which the behaver manipulates, supplements, and consequently, generates discriminative stimuli (SD) that they subsequently respond to (Donahoe & Palmer, 2004; Skinner, 1957, 1968). The use of problem-solving when faced with interpersonal conflict reflects pro-social behavior patterns, while providing a learning opportunity for identifying relevant variables and contingencies, and possible reductions of extended conflict or escalation in anti-social behavior patterns. Patterns of preference can be identified following multiple opportunities, given an array of options, resulting in consistency of choice responses (Martin, 2006). When less prosocial (avoiding, yielding), or antisocial (forcing) conflict …

Employers’ Perceptions Of Workplace Readiness Skills, Tabitha S. Young, Natalie K. Ferand

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Employability skills are continually changing, and the workforce provides the transparency needed for the success of business employment. Workplace readiness skills and human capital theory form the backbone for organizational success and sustainability. This study examined employers’ perceptions of workplace readiness skills at the expected proficiency level of an entry-level employee, the average level of skill for an entry-level employee, and the level of importance of the skill to their industry. The Virginia Workplace Readiness Skills have impacted employers and prepared students for the workplace. The results indicated that the workplace readiness skills mentioned in the literature align with the …

Reported Value Of Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices Of Virginia Agricultural Education Teachers, Natalie K. Ferand, Kendrick Spencer, Bradley Bowen

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

To address the increasing diversity in schools and the monolithic culture of teachers, researchers have called for pedagogies that reflect the diverse and pluralistic identities of students. While core academic areas have long adopted culturally relevant pedagogy, school-based agricultural education (SBAE) has lagged behind. This study aimed to determine the views of agricultural education teachers in Virginia on culturally responsive pedagogy dispositions and identify areas of professional development need. Teachers valued the differences among students and the communities in which their schools are located. However, results revealed a need for professional development in using the local community as a resource …

Online Experiential Learning In Career And Technical Education, Matthew Bornak

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

This scoping review investigates the integration of OEL into Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Using Arksey and O’Malley’s five-step scoping review framework, articles were identified through ERIC and Google Scholar and managed in Zotero. MAXQDA was used for coding, revealing thematic clusters related to modalities (synchronous, asynchronous, hybrid), technologies (LMS, AR/VR, simulation tools), and learner characteristics (nontraditional students, CTE-specific learning styles). The review highlights the conceptual anchors of Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, Carver et al.’s Experiential E-Learning Model, and Baasanjav’s online experiential design. Findings reveal that while OEL in CTE remains underexplored, it offers potential to increase accessibility, inclusivity, …

Supporting Career Navigation With An Online Occupational Information-Sharing Platform, Jay W. Rojewski, Janette R. Hill, Eunice Kim, Sejung Kwon, Linda Mccauley, Ikseon Choi

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Rapid changes to the nature of work and the workplace have shifted responsibility for career success from organizations to individual workers. Successful navigation of one’s career requires a proactive perspective where individuals anticipate training needs and make decisions for achieving both short- and long-term career goals. Relevant and accurate occupational information is an essential component of career success; yet few sources of reliable and targeted information exist for adult workers. This article provides a conceptual overview of an online system (eMPACT) that provides personalized occupational information for selected health care professionals. The contributions and benefits of key stakeholders—employees, trainers, employers—in …

Clarifying The Role Of Need For Uniqueness In Preferences For Conspiratorial Beliefs, Marie Altgilbers

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Need for uniqueness has previously been identified as an individual difference predictor of conspiratorial beliefs, but has not been studied systematically. The current research investigated this relationship across 3 studies through the lens of uniqueness theory. Study 1 replicated previously reported associations and identified new moderators of this relationship. Study 2 experimentally tested the impact of receiving high uniqueness vs. high similarity feedback on conspiracy beliefs. This feedback did not impact conspiracy beliefs by itself, but interacted with cognitive processing preferences. Study 3 tested a manipulation of high vs. moderate uniqueness feedback on conspiracy beliefs. There were no effects of …

Collective Learning In Philanthropy: Ai, Trust, And The Future Of Grant Reporting, Rachel Kimber, Valerie Ehrlich, Blanch Vance, Abigail Osei

The Foundation Review

Grant reporting has largely devolved from a learning tool to a bureaucratic exercise that reinforces power asymmetries and burdens nonprofits. As philanthropy confronts mounting crises demanding equity and transparency, reporting must transform into a space for collective sensemaking.

This paper explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI), paired with Oral and Alternate Reporting (OAR) methods, can build equitable, human-centered reporting systems. We propose the E⁴ framework — Efficiency, Effectiveness, Expansiveness, and Equity — for intentionally leveraging AI in service of more equitable reporting practices.

Traditional reporting often sidelines the expertise of nonprofit staff and communities most affected by funded programs. Drawing …

Base Building Evaluation: Three Opportunities To Improve Its Use And Relevance, Katie Fox, Margaret A. Post

The Foundation Review

The concept of base building comes from the traditions of electoral and labor organizing, where organizers focus on drawing leadership from a specific constituency or geography. Base building is foundational to organizing efforts. It involves the recruitment, training, and leadership development of people who are often most directly impacted by the issues and causes that organizing focuses on.

In recent years, base building has seen increased interest and investment from the philanthropic sector as funders recognize base building as critical to community-led change. As funders expand their investment in base building, they increasingly seek information and data about base building …

Philanthropy As Risk Capital: Shaping Trust And Learning At The Speed Of Ai, Nina Sabarre, Clara Bennett, Laura Chavez-Varela

The Foundation Review

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes society, philanthropy is increasingly called to act as "risk capital" for the public good. But risk alone is not enough. Without rigorous, field-wide learning, philanthropy's bold bets may remain isolated and short-sighted, failing to catalyze the systemic change this moment demands.

This article draws on three sources of learning at Omidyar Network—an evaluation of The Tech We Want initiative, external strategy consultations with 29 stakeholders, and early learnings from a generative AI portfolio—to identify how philanthropy can uniquely "de-risk" AI innovation for collective benefit.

Through trust-based partnerships, ecosystem infrastructure support, and narrative change, these learning …

Utilization Of Mushroom Stems As A Feed Resource For Sustainable Poultry Production, Kayla Stamps

All Theses

Soybean meal (SBM) is the primary protein source in poultry diets; however, its escalating cost and the environmental impact of soybean cultivation underscore the need for sustainable alternatives. Mushroom stems are generated at large volumes as agricultural waste, yet contain bioactive compounds and essential nutrients that may benefit poultry health and productivity. Despite these attributes, limited research has evaluated their potential as feed ingredients across different poultry species. This study addressed this gap by investigating whether mushroom stem powder can partially replace SBM in poultry diets while improving performance, health, and environmental outcomes.

Specifically, four experiments were conducted to evaluate …

A Qualitative Study On Black Women Leaders And Their Career Paths In Higher Education, Beatrice Porter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Black women remain significantly underrepresented in senior leadership roles within higher education, especially in the presidency at historically Black colleges and universities. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the career paths and challenges Black women faced through their lived experiences in leadership roles across higher education institutions within predominantly White institutions and HBCUs. Guided by Black Feminist Thought as the theoretical lens, the study examined the intersecting barriers of race and gender that shaped the participants’ leadership trajectories in higher education. Data were collected through open-ended questionnaires, allowing participants to reflect on systemic inequities, mentorship experiences, and leadership development. Findings revealed …

Understanding Social And Cognitive Influences In Medical Students' Learning Processes For Step 1: An Interpretivist Case Study., Ashley Elaine Triplett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative interpretivist case study explores, at a singular institution, medical students’ perspectives on the social and cognitive factors influencing the learning process as students prepare for the Step 1 examination. While prior research regarding medical students Step 1 preparation have focused primarily on wellness, stress, and career outcomes, limited studies have examined medical students' lived experiences to navigate what occurs during the learning process while they prepare for this critical exam. Utilizing a qualitative case study approach, this dissertation draws on fourteen student interviews, seven that passed Step 1 on their first attempt, and seven that failed. Findings reveal …

The Kangaroo Care Project: Implementation Of Skin-To-Skin (Sts) In Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Bianca Wong, Katherine Do, Martha Calero, Lydia Nambala

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

Background: Skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care or kangaroo mother care, is an intervention typically done after birth to promote physiologic stability, bonding, and breastfeeding.

Aim: The Kangaroo Care project aimed to increase the incidence of skin-to-skin contact in the neonatal intensive care unit at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento.

Methods: A pre-survey was conducted to assess staff comfort with skin to skin. Interventions to increase skin-to-skin rates included staff e-learning, unplanned extubation mock codes, nurse champions, and a policy change to Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento’s handbook.

Results: TBD. Preliminary results indicated use of STS in the NICU and post-results …

Losing Control: Evaluative Access And The Limits Of Attributability In Angela Smith’S Theory Of Moral Responsibility, Henry Kissam

Honors Theses

The unwilling addict agent archetype–who wholeheartedly resolves to abstain from taking a drug but takes it regardless–is important to moral responsibility theorists for many reasons, but two in particular stand head-and-shoulders above the rest. The first is the frequency with which the archetype must be reckoned with through our everyday practices of moral assessment. It is not an idle thought experiment, pushing nothing but the theoretical limits of a particular theory. It is a near-ubiquitous presence in real, practical moral assessment. The second reason is a consequence of the first. Because we deal with the archetype frequently, we morally assess …

Cultural Roots Of Eating: A Comparative Analysis Of Organic Discourse And Marketing Practices In China And The United States, Zubing (Jane) Guo

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how cultural frameworks influence the development of the organic food market and shape individual attitudes towards the label “organic” in the U.S. and China. While the popularity of organic food has increased in recent years, cognitive and behavioral reactions toward the label “organic” have differed across societies. In the U.S., healthy eating discourse aligns closely with the individualistic culture and atomistic cognitive style, highlighting the importance of salient elements such as specific nutrients or chemical use. In contrast, Chinese healthy eating discourse is based on balance and harmony, which is directly related to traditional Chinese culture of …

Cool As An Aesthetic Quality, James Kirwan

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

To find a thing cool is to see it as the expression (directly, analogically, or by association) of a certain kind of character. It is primarily attributed to human beings perceived as autonomous to an enviable degree: indifferent to emotions that the perceiver experiences as oppressive. This grounding of cool in the attribution of an intrinsic quality to a person is revealed by the way the attribution may be checked by a perception of effort, vulnerability, or insensibility in their behavior. Objects other than human beings appear cool either by analogy or association with this primary attribution. In finding someone …