Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Medicaid Policy Limitations On Access To Eating Disorder Treatment: Uncovering The Consequences Of A System Built To Fail, Meghan Frost

DSW Capstone Projects

Individuals who rely on Medicaid face major barriers when trying to access eating disorder (ED) treatment, reflecting broader patterns of structural disadvantage in publicly funded health care. Research shows delayed diagnosis, limited access to ED specialists, and frequent denials for recommended services. These gaps occur because Medicaid policies do not match the needs of evidence based ED care, resulting in delayed or incomplete care for many individuals with eating disorders.

This issue is highly relevant to social work practice because the policies shaping these barriers are complex and difficult for clients and ED providers to navigate. Social workers across clinics, …

The Breaking Point: Examining Teacher Burnout And Methods To Build Resilience In A Time Of Unprecedented Challenges, Maribel Rudecindo-Mendez

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain insight into the experiences of K–12 teachers in the Hudson Valley region of New York as it relates to teacher burnout. The Job Demands-Resources model was used as a framework to understand organizational causes of burnout, how burnout impacts instruction and relationships with students, and how teachers cope with stress. Twenty full-time teachers who were involved with K–12 students in various instructional capacities were interviewed in a semi-structured format. Thematic analysis revealed that the main contributors to burnout were instability in the system, being overburdened with work, and issues related …

Organizational Executives’ Perspectives On Cultural Humility And Diversity, Lynette Piggee-Pinero

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action-oriented dissertation was to understand how executives perceive their own cultural humility and how their perceptions impact diversity promotion in the workplace. This study used action research to examine the perspectives of executives on their own cultural humility and how cultural humility promotes diversity. This study included data collected from interviews with eight executives. Findings from the study revealed that executives perceived their own cultural humility as evident in a commitment to learning about others, their ability to suspend their own biases, and their commitment to ongoing learning. The findings were also that executives expressed connections …

Empowering Equity: Latinas In Leadership – Navigating Work-Life Balance In The Post-Pandemic Era, Teresa Excinia

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the lived experiences of Latina leaders as they navigated how cultural expectations influenced work–life balance in the post-pandemic era. The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped workplace dynamics, blurring boundaries between professional responsibilities and personal life. For Latinas, these challenges were compounded by cultural expectations that shaped their roles both at home and in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to understand how Latina leaders managed the dual pressures of balancing career demands with cultural and familial obligations. Using Testimonio as the methodological framework, this study captured the voices and narratives of Latina leaders across industries, offering an …

Exploring The Knowledge Gap: Mental Health Crisis Identification Training For 911 Call Takers, Kayla L. Ralston, Emma Adcook, Gary Cuddeback, Rebecca Smith, Amy Adkins

UROP Posters

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are more likely to come into contact with law enforcement and the justice system. Livingston (2016) found that 25% of people with mental illness have been arrested at least once in their lives.  Law enforcement officers often become the primary intervention in handling a mental health crisis, and most mental health-related training curricula (e.g., Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)) have focused on this group. However, the burden to initially ascertain if an emergency is mental health-related has fallen to 911 call takers and dispatchers, the first first responder. The performance outcomes outlined by the Virginia …

"That's Just Not Who I Am": Rejection Of The Good Mother Ideology And Other Tools Used By Homeschool Moms To Navigate Motherhood, Gina S. Reynolds

Iowa Journal of Communication

Studying mothers often focuses on the mother-child dynamic rather than the mother as a person. Mother types, such as working mothers, often are singled out for study. One mother that is rarely considered is the homeschool mother. In homeschooling, the mother typically takes the active role in educating the children, and she receives little attention as a person (Lois, 2016). This study examines how these mother/teachers navigate their motherhood. Nine online discussions with 26 homeschooling mothers revealed strong connections to self-efficacy and agency. Agency and self-efficacy contributed to the mother’s ability to navigate and manage the tension between her needs …

Environmental Sustainability Performance And Efficiency In Thailand’S Rajabhat Universities : A Cross-Regional Analysis Of The Impact Rankings, Konstantinos Balis

Applied Environmental Research

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are expected to increasingly communicate their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the rise of alternative sustainability rankings serving as prominent reporting instruments for institutional transparency. In Thailand, Rajabhat Universities, a network of government HEIs historically associated with their mission of teacher training and local development, have been actively participating in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, presenting a unique case study to explore cross-regional sustainability efforts in relation to global benchmarks. To evaluate trends, regional disparities, and engagement performance across the sustainability pillars, this study uses a descriptive quantitative design …

Excellence In Onboarding: A Case Study Of Campus Leader Support For Early-Career Teachers, Kelsey Bowles, Peter E. Williams, Alicia Piechowiak

Faculty Publications

Purpose: It is critical in industries experiencing labor shortages and high attrition rates, as is the case for early-career teachers (ECTs) in Texas, to understand effective early-career supports and how they contribute to career persistence and effectiveness. This study examines the context-specific onboarding experiences of ECTs and the leadership practices they found valuable.

Design/Methodology: This qualitative, collective case study used a positive deviance approach to examine teacher onboarding experiences. Located in a high-needs, urban public-school campus with atypically low teacher turnover and high student academic achievement. We interviewed eight mid-career teachers about their early-career experiences of supervisor and organizational …

Surviving Leadership Change Within A Collegiate Athletic Department, Anna Flores

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

Turnover rates in college athletics occur for a multitude of reasons, often leading to changes in leadership (Pack & Won, 2017). Poor working conditions, low salaries, and overall employee burnout are just a few of the reasons why people leave their roles in college athletics, according to Pack and Won (2017). This phenomenon affected me deeply in the fall of 2025, but not in the way one might think. My long-time boss and mentor, Taylor Jefferson, stepped away from his role as Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Brand Enhancement at Bowling Green State University, leaving me blindsided. Since then, …

Toward A Transformative Church: The Role Of Elders In Church Growth In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Brian Kwalela Mungandi

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study addressed the need for a transformational leadership strategy that engages elders in membership retention and church growth for a Seventh-day Adventist Church. This mixed-method study aimed to identify factors contributing to declining membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, with the goal of informing strategies for improved member retention and potential church growth. A survey involving 30 active members was administered to gather insights into the target church’s profile. Additionally, interviews were conducted with 18 elders across four churches to evaluate leadership perspectives concerning membership retention and church growth. These data sources offered a snapshot of the target church's …

The Role Of Department Chairs In Supporting Student Learning Outcomes, Tommy C. Molden Jr

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine high school department chairs’ perceptions of their role in relation to teacher leadership in achieving student learning outcomes.  The study adds significant implications for department chair training in the context of teacher leadership and the achievement of student learning outcomes.  Further, the study extends the literature on the importance of department chairs’ perceptions of their proficiency for adapting to and institutionalizing the role as teacher leader to increase student achievement.  Additionally, the study identified training strategies and resources that enhance department chair competence in teacher leadership for student achievement of learning …

Artificial Intelligence In Higher Education: How Educators’ Perception, Readiness, And Well-Being Shape Performance, Fatimah Pohan, Dicky Aprillo Siregar, Muhammad Bangun Siregar

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming higher education, but its effectiveness depends on how educators perceive, adopt, and psychologically respond to the technology. This study examines the effects of educators’ perception of AI and AI adoption on self-reported educators’ performance through AI readiness and psychological well-being. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model, Readiness for Change Theory, and the Job Demands–Resources framework, the study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from 121 educators at private higher education institutions in North Sumatra, Indonesia, using purposive sampling of active educators. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. …

Application Paths Of Semantic Modeling In Financial Fraud Detection And Risk Identification, Victor P. Gauthier, Daniel S. Wu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Financial fraud and risk pose significant threats to economic stability and individual well-being. Traditional detection methods often struggle to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated fraudulent schemes. Semantic modeling, which focuses on understanding the meaning and relationships within data, offers a promising avenue for enhancing fraud detection and risk identification. This review paper explores the application paths of semantic modeling in this domain. We begin with a historical overview of fraud detection techniques, highlighting the limitations of traditional approaches. Subsequently, we delve into core themes, including knowledge graph-based fraud detection and semantic rule-based inference for risk assessment. We then compare and …

Combating Pressure Injuries In Critical Care: A Dnp Project On Nursing Education And Prevention Strategies In The Icu, Tijuana M. Johnson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are preventable complications that significantly increase patient morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and healthcare costs, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). At a rural 146-bed hospital, the ICU pressure injury rate of 1.17 per 1,000 discharges exceeded the national benchmark of 0.58 per 1.000 discharges, identifying a critical gap in prevention practices. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to improve ICU nurses' knowledge of pressure injury prevention and reduce unit-based educational intervention grounded in Patricia Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory and implemented using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement framework.

A pre-and post-intervention design was …

Narrating Institutional Becoming: Faith, Leadership, And Identity Reconstruction During A College-To-University Transition, Viviene H. Dyer

Dissertations

Problem

The contributions of faith-based higher education institutions to the tertiary landscape in small island developing states are insufficiently addressed in the scholarly literature. Consequently, there is limited understanding of how these institutions navigate organizational transitions and respond to capacity gaps that the public sector is unable to fill within dynamic cultural and regulatory environments. This gap is especially evident for Seventh-day Adventist institutions, whose efforts to preserve mission and identity during periods of institutional change remain underexamined and poorly documented.

Purpose

The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to examine how university administrators influenced the development and ongoing …

Increasing Patient Feedback Survey Completions Through Patient-Centered Nursing Communication: A Quality Improvement Project, Lindsey E. Pawlowski

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Patient feedback is essential to providing the best possible nursing care. Positive patient experiences can impact overall patient satisfaction, loyalty, and trust.

Local Problem: On a pediatric unit at a New England hospital, an assessment of the microsystem revealed that there was a low number of monthly patient feedback survey completions, which limited insight into patient experiences.

Aim Statement: The primary aim of this project was to increase the number of monthly National Research Corporation (NRC) surveys to ten by June 30, 2026.

Methods: This quality improvement project was guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model. The first stage of …

Implications Of Quantum Computing For Enterprise Cybersecurity And Data Integrity, Manikantha Varaprasad Inakollu

Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Publications

Quantum computing represents a paradigm shift in computational capabilities that poses both unprecedented threats and opportunities for enterprise cybersecurity. This research examines the implications of quantum computing advancement on current cryptographic systems, data protection mechanisms, and organizational security frameworks. Through analysis of quantum computing developments from 2019-2024 and surveys of 280 cybersecurity professionals across various industries, this study identifies critical vulnerabilities in existing encryption standards and explores emerging quantum-resistant solutions. The findings reveal that approximately 78% of enterprises remain unprepared for quantum threats, with current RSA and ECC encryption systems facing potential compromise within the next 10-15 years. The research …

Data Utilization In Facilities’ Performance Management Decision- Making At U.S. Four-Year Public Institutions: A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Study, Tanaporn Supanichrattana

Theses and Dissertations

The growing complexity of higher education finance, aging infrastructure, and rising accountability expectations has intensified demands on facilities organizations to manage institutional assets strategically. As colleges and universities face sustained fiscal constraints and expanding operational pressures, the ability of facilities leaders to use data to inform performance management has become increasingly critical. Despite this importance, limited empirical research has examined how facilities leaders integrate data into decision-making within public higher education contexts.

The quantitative study employed a cross-sectional, exploratory survey design to investigate data utilization practices among facilities leaders at U.S. public four-year institutions. Guided by the Data–Information–Knowledge–Wisdom hierarchy and …

Ten Signatories, A Hundred Communities: Pluralization Without Consolidation In Slovenian Protestantism, Katja Brkič Golob

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines why contemporary Slovenian Protestantism exhibits a dual structure: a low‑variance Lutheran core (the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession - ECAC) and a high‑variance neo‑Protestant field (mainly Pentecostal, Charismatic, Evangelical, and some Baptist communities). Using the public Register of Churches and Other Religious Communities as an administrative tracer of organizational volatility (first registrations, renamings, deletions), and situating findings in census/survey context, the study shows that post‑1991 legal liberalization enabled rapid formalization without automatic consolidation. A four‑lens framework—historico‑legal, sociological (church–sect–mysticism; religious‑economy), ecclesiological (order vs. movement), and psychological (charisma and its routinization; risks of authoritarian patterns)—explains why tensions in …

Governors State University College Of Business Annual Report - 2025-2026, College Of Business

Annual Reports

A report of the accomplishments of College of Business faculty, staff, students, and alumni in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Project Management For Blockchain: Strategic Guidance And Lessons From Practice., Cherie Noteboom, Aravindh Sekar, Deb Tech

Research & Publications

Blockchain technology (BCT) offers powerful solutions to long-standing enterprise challenges such as inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and low stakeholder trust. By enabling secure transaction tracking and real-time data sharing, BCT can improve operational accuracy, streamline workflows, and build confidence across organizational ecosystems. However, the implementation of BCT significantly transforms conventional project management strategies and practices. We propose practical recommendations for each stage of the process group of the project life cycle- Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing to meet the demands of decentralization, interoperability, and continuous ecosystem coordination inherent in the implementation of BCT projects. Grounded in practitioner …

Fragmented Conceptions Of Agency In Ai-Enabled Systems: A Bibliometric Analysis Of Is Research., Cherie Noteboom, Vahini Atluri, Stephen Surles

Research & Publications

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems become increasingly embedded in organizational decision-making and work practices, Information Systems (IS) research has devoted growing attention to questions of agency: who or what acts, decides, and bears responsibility in AI-enabled contexts. However, existing scholarship examines agency across multiple parallel research streams, raising questions about how coherently the construct is theorized as AI technologies evolve. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of 741 AI- and agency-related articles published between 1977 and 2025 in the AIS Senior Scholars' Basket of Journals to examine how IS research conceptualizes agency and how these conceptualizations have evolved over time. …

Optimizing Behavioral Health Services For Older Adults Through Structured, Evidence-Based Group Therapy, Elizabeth A. Adwa

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Anxiety and depression are common among older adults and are often exacerbated by social isolation, grief, chronic health conditions, and limited access to mental health services (Blazer, 2020; Ong et al., 2016). To address these challenges, this project implemented a structured six‑week group therapy program designed to improve mental health outcomes and strengthen social connectedness among low‑income older adults. The program was delivered within a retirement community managed by a local faith‑based social service organization. Using a manualized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) group format, guided discussions, therapeutic activities, and peer support, the intervention aimed to reduce symptoms of anxiety and …

Examining How Engagement Strategies Of Principals Influence Teacher Retention In Urban Title I Schools, Bridgette Allen

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

As the teacher shortage continues to rise, it is critical for educational leaders to focus on teacher retention. Principals play a significant role in teacher retention, teacher engagement, and job satisfaction; therefore, they must implement effective engagement strategies to improve teacher retention. The purpose of this basic qualitative study is to explore how engagement strategies employed by principals at urban Title I schools contribute to teachers’ decisions to remain at these schools. The research question for this study examines teachers’ perspectives on how the engagement strategies used by their school principals influence their decision to remain in an urban Title …

The Journey To Generative Conflict: An Action Research Study In A Community Action Agency, Maya Townsend

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Countries around the world face unprecedented levels of polarization and discontent, creating conditions that encourage organizational conflict as employees replicate patterns present within the environment. Organizational conflict can be a source of anxiety, a distraction from work, and an impediment to innovation, sound decision making, and quality outcomes. However, conflict need not be destructive. With that background, this dissertation is guided by the following primary research question: How can an organization develop a generative conflict culture that strengthens relationships and contributes to positive outcomes? The single-case study follows one community action agency as it seeks to develop and implement more …

Exploring The Dynamics Of Strategic Plan Implementation: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Process And Metrics Of Success Through The Lens Of Nonprofit Leadership, Nicole L. Melendez

Theses and Dissertations

Nonprofit organizations invest significant time and financial resources into developing strategic plans that paint a vision for the organization’s future. However, research suggests that approximately 60–90% of strategic plans are not successfully implemented. As nonprofit organizations face increasing demands, understanding the factors that contribute to successful strategic plan implementation is essential.

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to understand the lived experiences and perceptions of nonprofit executives and board leadership regarding best practices for successful strategic plan implementation, providing insights that can assist with identifying and understanding the efficacy and impact of strategic plan initiatives within the …

Kindergarten Through Third-Grade Teachers’ Experiences With State-Level Literacy Coaching Support: A Phenomenological Qualitative Research Study, Nicole Hunter

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative applied dissertation was designed to provide insight into the experiences of kindergarten through third-grade general education teachers when supported by state-level literacy coaches. State-level literacy coaches are assigned to specific elementary schools and offer embedded professional development and professional learning opportunities to enhance literacy instruction and promote professional growth among elementary teachers. Although many kindergarten through third-grade general education teachers in literacy support schools see state-level coaching support as beneficial, some teachers deem this support as punitive and are reluctant to collaborate with coaches.

Teachers' experiences with literacy coaches have been viewed as a component in the …

El Liderazgo Estratégico En La Gestión De Cambio Para La Innovación En Una Universidad Privada De Puerto Rico, Luis Javier Bosques Rodríguez

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada buscó determinar la importancia del liderazgo estratégico en la gestión de cambio para la innovación, según la percepción de los administradores académicos (rectores, decanos y directores) en una universidad privada de Puerto Rico. Se planteó que, en el contexto de una educación superior que enfrenta retos como desastres naturales, pandemias y exigencias tecnológicas, los líderes deben tener una visión estratégica clara para guiar a sus instituciones hacia la innovación y la competitividad.

El investigador propuso examinar cómo estos líderes comprenden y aplican conceptos clave de liderazgo estratégico en la gestión de cambio e innovación. A través de …

Fairness: Examining Support And Resources Available To Respondents In Title Ix Cases, Emanuel Jerome Oliver

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored how higher education institutions develop Title IX procedures to ensure respondents receive fair treatment from the outset of the adjudication process. It also examined how colleges and universities provide resources and support to respondents throughout the Title IX process. The study used semi structured interviews with Title IX Coordinators at various higher education institutions to understand how they have developed practices to support respondents.

Findings revealed that higher education institutions have developed various methods to support respondents in the Title IX process. The goal of the Title IX process is to ensure that respondents receive the …

Feeling Seen By Being Heard: A Constructivist Critical Incident Study Of The Listening Experiences Of Ciswomen Of Color For The Development Of An Inclusive Listening Praxis For Leaders, Christina Zhong-Wen Chang

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study examines how listening shapes inclusive workplaces by exploring the listening experiences of 23 professional cisgender women of color working in predominantly white institutional spaces. Although listening is a fundamental part of communication, it is frequently undervalued and overlooked in leadership literature. Using the constructivist critical incident technique (CCIT) methodology, the research analyzed 88 significant moments when participants felt distinctly heard or unheard by leaders. Findings reveal that listening operated as a relational practice signaling respect, affirmation of voice, and anchoring leadership in accountability, while enabling leaders to engage perspectives beyond their own. Four listening types emerged: Listening Withheld, …