Digital Commons Network^™

Developing A Digital Platform For The Christian Leadership School At True Vine Baptist Church, Tonia Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Dissertation-in-Praxis (DiP) project examined the development and implementation of the True Vine Christian Leadership School (TVCLS) at True Vine Baptist Church. Rapid congregational growth revealed a need to connect members to sustained discipleship beyond worship attendance. In response, TVCLS was developed as a digital ministry solution to bridge the gap between initial engagement and long-term spiritual development while advancing the Great Commission. The purpose of the project was to provide biblical and theological instruction, promote outreach and fellowship, and cultivate a congregation with a deeper connection to Christ. The program utilized the Christian education framework established by the Sunday …

Early Educational Benefits In Criminal Justice Learning And Practice: Efficacy Of High School-Level Criminal Justice Programs, Richard Brewer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The value of educational progress and placing optimally educated agents into the criminal justice career field has been carefully examined throughout the history of justice, and the procurement of skills and knowledge applicable to field operations is aligned with several core Peelian tenets. The safe assumption is that every police action is observed or documented, and efforts must be made to build bridges to amend the law enforcement misconducts of yesteryear. One methodology to reduce the number of undesired incidents, expand occupational growth, and obtain optimal confidence levels among personnel in the volatile policing arena is implementing earlier learning development …

An Applied Study In Community College Classical Guitar Education, Jaime Adrián Garcia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the expansion and popularity of classical guitar programs in universities and conservatories worldwide, a lack of attention exists for students considering a music education career deficient in music literacy and guitar technique. In the modern sense, classical guitar pedagogy begins with Andres Segovia and the iconic master classes he conducted throughout the world from the 1950s up until he died in 1987. Guitar education in academia is still a relatively new concept. At the same time, there are various method books from 19th-century guitar masters and modern guitar educators. Despite these developments in guitar education, students in an open-enrollment …

Comparing General Perceptions Of Law Enforcement Suicides To Other Line-Of-Duty Deaths: Pilot Study, Shannon E. Allen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Officer suicide remains an underrecognized occupational hazard despite increasing awareness of mental health risks within law enforcement. This quantitative, cross-sectional pilot study examined public perceptions of officer suicide compared to line-of-duty deaths caused by violence or accidents and assessed whether mental health literacy and suicide stigma influenced these perceptions. Grounded in framing theory, stigma theory, the health belief model, and the interpersonal theory of suicide, the study explored how knowledge and attitudes shape legitimacy judgments. A sample of 169 non–law enforcement adults in the United States completed the Mental Health Literacy Scale, the Stigma of Suicide Scale–Short Form, and the …

Phenomenological Study Of Counselors Working As Community Response Team (Crt) First Responders For Mental Health And How They Cope With Stress And Burnout, Modupe Adekunbi Olaniyan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of counselors working as Community Response Team (CRT) first responders for mental health crises and to describe how they cope with job stress and burnout. The study involved 12 participants who were interviewed via Zoom. Participants were selected using criterion sampling, and the research sites were located in the Metropolitan area of the east-central United States (Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia). The theoretical framework guiding this study was the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC) developed by Lazarus and Folkman (1984). Recent literature on job stress and burnout, …

What Is The Relationship Between Mental Health Court Participation And Recidivism In Georgia's Juvenile Courts?, Damarius Thompson-Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Juvenile Mental Health Courts (JMHCs) intend to address mental health issues that are related to youth delinquency through a therapeutic justice model rather than a punitive justice model. Still, the question of whether JMHCs decrease recidivism among young offenders in Georgia remains understudied due to limited empirical research on these programs. This quantitative, causal-comparative study addresses this gap by examining two key aspects: (1) the impact of JMHC participation on recidivism rates and (2) the predictive role of individual program components. The study included 300 juveniles (150 JMHC and 150 standard court participants) across five Georgia counties. Recidivism was operationally …

Study On The Prevalence Of Police Whistleblower Retaliation In The United States Of America, Brian Andrew Morrison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research indicates that two substantial problems arise as a result of retaliation against law enforcement whistleblowers. The first is that up to 10% of whistleblowers attempt suicide, with more contemplating the action (Shepard, 2021). The second problem is that, in law enforcement, the corruption of the investigative authorities involved in such cases represents a significant issue. In the last 5 years, the need for change in law enforcement has grown; one cause of this has been the rising voices of those who have witnessed corruption. Consequently, the aim of this applied quantitative study is to help unravel the problem of …

Career And Technical Education Teacher Efficacy In Embedding Disciplinary Literacy: A Predictive Correlational Study, Susan Gwin Higley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this predictive correlational nonexperimental study was to determine the relationship between high school career and technical education (CTE) teachers’ years of experience, teachers’ highest level of education, and teachers’ participation in disciplinary literacy professional development, and their relationship to teachers’ efficacy in embedding disciplinary literacy instruction into their content area teaching. The reading requirements for CTE students are very different from the curriculum taught in English Language Arts classes. Also, texts in specific disciplines of CTE vary greatly. As such, CTE teachers must embed disciplinary literacy in their daily teaching to ensure that their students develop the …

Taylor Swift And The Social Construction Of Risk: Harms Realized And Avoided, Jack L. Rozdilsky, Talia Shortt

The Manuscript: Journal of Taylor Swift Studies

An especially difficult ten-day period for Taylor Swift and her fans occurred in late July to early August 2024 as the Eras Tour was wrapping up its European leg.  On July 29, 2024, a Taylor Swift themed yoga and dance workshop taking place in Southport, United Kingdom, was attacked.  A disaster was realized as three children were killed during a criminal mass stabbing attack.  On August 7, 2024, a sequence of three Eras Tour concerts intended to be held in Vienna, Austria, was suddenly cancelled due to the discovery of an anticipated terrorist attack that was in the advanced stages …

College Council Minutes (April 28, 2026), Dmacc

College Council

No abstract provided.

Equity And Diversity Annual Summary 2025/2026, Equity And Diversity Committee

Equity and Diversity Committee

No abstract provided.

Strategies For Integrated Primary Care Clinics To Improve Administrative Costs Due To Medication Nonadherence, Michael A. Watkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication non-adherence is a pervasive issue that drives up administrative costs for integrated primary care clinics. Total administrative costs for medication non-adherence account for one-quarter of U.S. healthcare expenditures. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify cost-reduction strategies that integrated primary care clinic administrators can implement to offset costs associated with medication nonadherence. The theoretical framework for this integrative review was Bertalanffy’s general systems theory. The review question was to identify strategies that primary care clinics could implement to reduce administrative costs associated with patient medication nonadherence. A comprehensive literature search yielded 1,892 potential articles. A quality analysis …

Key Issues For Speed Safety Cameras: Results From A Semi-Structured Interview Of Agencies In The United States, Sophia Semensky, Miguel Figliozzi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Speed safety cameras (SSCs) are a recognized countermeasure for targeting speeding-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities. SSCs have been introduced in various cities and are steadily expanding in use both in the U.S. and internationally. The extensive literature review of domestic and international documents and research papers reveals that the U.S. has been comparatively slow to adopt SSCs, with some other countries implementing these systems more extensively and earlier. Many local agencies are eager to learn SSC best practices and implementation lessons within the U.S. context. In this research, key issues related to SSC implementation are explored through semi-structured interviews with …

Komisi Pengawas Eksternal Pada Polisi, Harkristuti Harkrisnowo

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract

Proposed Treatment Strategies For Aging Residential Complexes: Zayouna Residential Complex In Baghdad As A Case Study., Thanaa Hussein Rudaini, Rana Mazin

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

The rapid development of residential complexes and the renovation of aging areas have become urgent issues in contemporary communities. The complexes built in the 1980s are gradually deteriorating and showing signs of aging, making it challenging to meet residents' needs. This study aims to clarify proactive and curative scenarios for dealing with the aging of residential complexes through treatment strategies and define strategies and mechanisms to be followed according to time frames. This article analyzes the Zayouna Residential Complex in Baghdad as a case study of physical aging, supported by field surveys and interviews. It includes a SWOT matrix and …

Design Requirements For Contextual Integration For Train Stations (Iraqi Stations As A Model), Abdullah Saadoon Salman Almaamoori, Ammar Kareem Dhumad

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

The buildings of the railway stations are one of the important buildings that distinguish the cities and give them their identity and their special character through their association with the memory of the society that contains them. The importance of these centers as commercial and cultural centers, as well as their main function in transporting passengers and goods, To the atrophy of its effectiveness, so it must be protected and developed to contribute effectively in the performance of its diverse activities in an integrated manner and to serve the community at various levels and encourage the use of public transport. …

Incentivizing Bidirectional Ev Charging Stations, Luke Warkall

Health Matrix: The Journal of Law-Medicine

California recently enacted a law that gives the California Energy Commission authority to require that Electric Vehicles (“EVs”) sold in California be capable of bidirectional charging. A bidirectional EV is capable of sending energy stored in the EV battery to a person’s home and to the grid. Bidirectional EVs are a novel step in the right direction in the global fight against climate change. They offer a substantial and mobile power source to communities recovering from natural disasters and can offset the demand for nonrenewable energy consumption by storing solar, wind and other renewable energy, then sending that energy back …

Right To Life, Right To Arms: Conservative States' Antithetical Approaches To Abortion And Gun Laws, Kristen Mehalko

Health Matrix: The Journal of Law-Medicine

Following Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, twelve states enacted total abortion bans while simultaneously maintaining among the weakest gun safety laws in the nation. This Note explores the policy contradiction inherent in this approach: states invoking fetal life protection experience gun death rates substantially exceeding national averages, with firearms becoming the leading cause of death for children in these jurisdictions. The Note reveals how these states employ divergent strategies across two policy domains. Abortion restrictions receive vigorous enforcement through criminal statutes and private liability mechanisms, whereas gun regulations face …

Donald Trump’S Use Of Race-Based Immigration Discourse In His First Presidency: A Revival Of Rhetoric From The Era Of Chinese Exclusion, Maggie Zeiger

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

This paper analyzes race-based rhetoric in Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and subsequent presidency, arguing it represents a return to racialized language not seen in mainstream politics since the era of the Chinese Exclusion Act. With his use of exclusionary discourse, Trump breaks from the precedent set by his modern Republican predecessors, who saw immigration as not only an economic asset but a crucial part of the American tradition. An investigation into Trump’s tweets containing the word “immigration” identifies recurring themes of invasion, criminality, and dehumanization. This vocabulary more closely mirrors themes from the years when politicians were responding to—and creating—hysteria …

Rethinking Psychological Safety In The Work Environment: Nursing Students' Perspectives, Olivia Nyarko Mensah, Elizabeth Boatemaa, Anita Fosua, Egya Gyanzah Eshun, Mary Ani-Amponsah

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: When the right working environment is created, it fosters the right behaviour in employees, A conducive environment is one that allows people to freely express themselves and escalate their concerns without fear of repercussion, victimization or undue consequences, it helps enhance work satisfaction (Ip et al., 2025; Turner et al., 2023). The classroom and the clinical work environment if appropriate and conducive should be such that it allows and not hinder free expression which can go a long way to ensure participation, satisfying individual concerns and group achievement (O’Connor et al., 2022). The central problem of the study was …

The Impact Of Smart Policing Technologies On Law Enforcement Efficiency In Dubai, Salem Alsuwaidi

Theses

This study investigates the perceptions, challenges, and ethical considerations surrounding the implementation of smart policing technologies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As the UAE advances its police reform strategies through embracing AI, surveillance, and a predictive policing model, it is imperative to highlight the perspectives of key stakeholders in the implementation process. This research employed a constructivist approach and qualitative research design, including semi-structured interviews with 15 purposively recruited participants with three roles: police officer, technology professional, and policy or government employee. In a bid to identify the nuanced features of socio-technical practice and the nature of smart policing …

Building Community And Connection One Mahjong Tile At A Time, Sherise Kimura, Genevieve Leung, Nicholas Tay, Wei Yang Menkus

Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Scholarship

By creating spaces for shared play and conversation, we aim to reduce social isolation and encourage meaningful engagement. These interactions not only enhance well-being and foster a sense of belonging, but also promote cultural awareness, support learning, and help build a more inclusive and connected campus community.

Challenging Gun Industry Immunity, Matthew Platkin

William & Mary Law Review Online

Keynote Address of the William & Mary Law Review Volume 67 Symposium.

Harm Reduction Strategies In Addiction Recovery: Effectiveness, Barriers, And The Role Of Social Stigma, Julia J. Amlin

Honors Projects

Substance use disorders (SUDs) present a major global public health crisis. An estimated 46.3 million individuals are affected in the United States, with only a small fraction receiving any form of treatment. While abstinence-based models have historically dominated addiction treatment methods, harm reduction approaches have emerged as evidence-based alternatives that reduce overdose mortality, improve treatment engagement, and decrease the transmission of infectious diseases. Despite strong empirical support harm reduction interventions continue to face significant social, political, and structural resistance. These harm reduction interventions include supervised consumption sites, overdose prevention centers, medication-assisted treatment, naloxone distribution, and drug checking technologies. This resistance …

Media Framing Of The Bawku Conflict In Ghana: An Analysis Of Cultural Biases, Narratives, And Peacebuilding Implications, Falilatu Saaka

Master of Arts in Media and Communication Plan II Graduate Projects

This research examines the media framing of the Bawku conflict in Ghana, focusing on how cultural biases shape the portrayal of ethnic disputes and influence public perception. Utilizing a qualitative discourse analysis grounded in Framing Theory and Afrocentric critique, the study analyzes ten news reports from major Ghanaian media outlets to identify patterns of bias, narrative construction, and ideological positioning. Findings reveal that media coverage predominantly emphasizes security and stability, often at the expense of addressing deeper political, economic, and historical factors. Language, imagery, and sourcing choices tend to reinforce stereotypes, skewing public understanding towards ethnic dichotomies, particularly between the …

Supporting Those Who Serve: The Impact Of Peer Support On Law Enforcement Suicide, Emily N. Warren

Honors College Theses

Individuals working in law enforcement face daily stressors that far exceed those experienced by the general population. This elevated exposure to stress has been associated with increased rates of mental health disorders and suicide among law enforcement officers. In response, peer support programs have gained recent attention, with new state and federal legislation promoting peer support as a strategy to address the mental health crisis within law enforcement. This paper examines the impact of statewide peer support programs on law enforcement suicide rates through statistical analysis. A difference-in-differences analysis is used to compare state-level law enforcement suicide rates before and …

Improving Drought Science Communication And Accessibility, Lindsay Erin Johnson

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Effective drought management depends not only on the accuracy of scientific data, but also on how that information is communicated and understood by diverse audiences. This dissertation examines drought communication through the lens of science communication, with a focus on improving readability, accessibility, understandability, and usability of drought information. Using a manuscript-style format, three studies investigate how drought information is written, delivered, and applied. Chapter 1 provides a brief overview and outline of this dissertation. Chapter 2 evaluates the readability of the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) national narratives over almost 8 years. Results show that these narratives are consistently written …

From Home To Campus: How Familial Criminality Shapes Deviant Behavior In College Students, Morgan Boone

Honors Theses

Previous research has established a link between parental criminality and crimes of offspring. Low socioeconomic status has also been established as a risk factor to criminal behavior. Trends show that most individuals who attend college are of a higher socioeconomic status and are therefore at a potentially lower risk of criminal offending. The goal of the present study is to determine whether familial criminality has an impact on the criminality of college students despite the mediating factor of school involvement. Fifty-seven undergraduate students completed a survey on criminality within their family, their individual histories of deviant behavior, and their level …

Building Community Resilience In The Wabash Valley Region, Abby Chappell, Jacob Harmon, Corbyn Irwin, Aiden Askins

2026 Spring Reports (Terre Haute)

The focus of this project is investigating how to improve community resilience against disasters among citizens of the Wabash Valley from an interdisciplinary perspective. Chandra, et al. (2011) defines community resilience as “the ongoing and developing capacity of the community to account for its vulnerabilities and develop capabilities that aid that community in (1) preventing, withstanding, and mitigating the stress of a health incident; (2) recovering in a way that restores the community to a state of self-sufficiency and at least the same level of health and social functioning after a health incident; and (3) using knowledge from a past …

Automating The State: Public Sector Ai In India And The Challenge Of Rights-Based Regulation, Medha Garg, Shravani Nag Lanka

Indian Journal of Law and Technology

This article examines the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) by Indian Central and State Governments across key public sectors, namely, healthcare, law enforcement, justice, welfare delivery, and urban governance. AI applications in these domains promise enhanced efficiency and service delivery but also introduce risks such as algorithmic and automation biases, inaccuracies, and accountability gaps. The absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework in India exacerbates these issues, leaving citizens vulnerable to opaque decision-making processes. We discuss the current fragmented regulatory landscape in India and compare it with AI governance models in the European Union, United States, and China. Building on this …