Digital Commons Network^™

Leadership With Kindness: A Human-First Approach To Belonging, Denise Mcdowell Dr.

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

Abstract

Leadership with Kindness: A Human-First Approach to Belonging explores the significance of belonging and mattering as essential elements of effective leadership. This reflection paper presents a human-first framework grounded in five interconnected pillars: clarity through compassion, courage in care, connections over control, consistency with integrity, and accountability through kindness. Together, these pillars form a foundation for cultivating belonging and purpose in organizational and educational settings. Drawing from leadership experience, psychological safety, student development theory, and neuroscience, this manuscript suggests that environments built on kindness benefit both individuals and organizations by cultivating trust, inspiring innovation, and sustaining resilience.

Key Words …

Establishing And Maintaining Equitable Leadership Practices In Nursing Education: A Way Forward, Joshua Michael Kies, Kari Mau

Biennial Convention (CONV)

There is currently a lack of diverse leadership in nursing education. This reflects multi-faceted systemic challenges that require innovative and comprehensive interventions. Current academic environments may perpetuate structures that marginalize faculty from underrepresented groups, creating significant barriers to equitable advancement and representation (Christensen, 2023).

The presentation will investigate the foundational principles of leadership development, focusing on transformative approaches that address inequities using recent research. Analyzing current demographic situations, institutional barriers, and perceived professional expectations, the discussion will uncover critical intervention points for long-term, meaningful change (Brown-DeVeaux & Glassman, 2023).

The critical importance of intentional, systemic interventions that move beyond “standardized” …

Establishing Nursing Excellence: A Quality Improvement Approach To Nursing Administration Evaluation Using Frontline Feedback, Meredith Sykora

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

In the increasingly complex environment of nursing education, leadership quality and responsiveness significantly influence workplace culture, faculty satisfaction, professional development, and student outcomes. Despite these realities, many academic nursing programs, including the Division of Nursing at a community college in Arkansas, lack formal structures for bidirectional leadership evaluation. This gap limits frontline faculty’s ability to provide formative feedback to program leaders, weakening shared governance and transparency. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate leadership effectiveness following the implementation of a structured bidirectional feedback process between nursing faculty and program leaders. Guided by Kouzes and Posner’s Leadership Practices …

Transforming Nurse Leaders: The Power Of Flexible Schedules In Healthcare, Emily Calabro, Rodica Pop

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: This pilot feasibility study investigated the impact of flexible work schedules on the mental, psychological, and physical health of healthcare workers within a large hospital system, aiming to identify innovative leadership strategies for workforce planning and development.

Background: Traditional work schedules often negatively impact productivity, well-being, and job satisfaction, contributing to challenges in recruiting and retaining nurses. This study explored the feasibility and benefits of flexible work schedules as a leadership initiative to improve workforce well-being and retention.

Methods: A quasi-experimental, mixed-methods, time-series design was implemented across a 12-hospital system with the partnership of 4-Day Global. Eligible leadership teams …

Leadership Development Programs For Elected Officials: Measuring The Impact Of Extension On County Leadership Capacity, Nathan Palardy, Matthew Sowcik

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Although Extension-led leadership development programs for elected officials are widespread, few evaluations assess their effectiveness. This study uses 2 years of survey data to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate several programs for Florida county commissioners, focusing on reaction, knowledge transfer, and behavior change. Results indicate high satisfaction with the program content and quality and substantial improvement in leadership competencies. Commissioners reported frequent application of the skills taught and cited networking opportunities as a key benefit. Findings suggest that Extension-led programs can strengthen local governments by enhancing the leadership capabilities of elected officials and offering insights to guide the design of similar …

What Will It Take To Keep You? A Phenomenological Investigation Of Teacher Career Decisions In Title I Elementary Schools., Tonya Nicole Holt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the factors influencing teachers’ decisions to remain in or leave Title I elementary schools in Kentucky. Grounded in Herzberg’s Motivation–Hygiene Theory, the study examined the interplay of intrinsic motivators and extrinsic conditions that shape teacher satisfaction, commitment, and attrition. Twelve current Title I teachers participated in semi-structured interviews designed to capture their lived experiences and perceptions of work in high poverty contexts. Analysis revealed a balance of pull factors—such as purpose, relationships, and supportive leadership—and push factors—including workload, resource limitations, and inadequate administrative support. Leadership quality emerged as the central variable mediating these forces. Teachers …

Georgia Teachers’ And Leaders’ Perceptions Of Teacher Evaluations, Jessica Okelley

Dissertations

This research is a quantitative, non-experimental study that analyzes teachers’ and leaders’ perceptions of teacher evaluations in Georgia. The goals were to identify similarities and differences in teachers’ and leaders’ perceptions and to determine what factors may contribute to any identified differences. The study was conducted in a high-performing, suburban school district using two similar surveys and Likert scale questions to assess levels of agreement with various statements about the teacher evaluation process. This work was rooted in Self-Determination Theory and Postpositivism.

The study found that teachers and leaders have several common perceptions, like a general disbelief in evaluations’ capacity …

A Roadmap For Equipping Saints For The Work Of Ministry At Sugar Land Church Of Christ, Lewis Anthony Parker Iv

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to create a roadmap for a process that invites and equips saints at Sugar Land Church of Christ to work in ministry. As part of the research process, a design team was empaneled and met for eight sessions, during which participants offered valuable insight into Sugar Land’s ministry context. This data informed the final roadmap. Ephesians 4, which discusses the importance of every member getting involved in ministry, serves as the foundation of this project. The work of every member is for the edification of the entire group, and the calling and gift of …

Public Perceptions Of Leadership Effectiveness In Ethiopia Over The Last Decade, Fikadu Reta Alemayehu

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

Ethiopia is one of the largest countries in Africa, with a fast-growing economy, rich history, diverse agroecology, more than 70 languages, and a population exceeding 130 million. However, the country continues to face serious internal conflict, high malnutrition, and economic hardship, while the study of leadership effectiveness remains limited and lacks consistent longitudinal research. To help fill this gap, this study examined how public perceptions of leadership effectiveness and development outcomes changed in Ethiopia between 2013 and 2023, using Afrobarometer survey data. The analysis explored how citizens’ views about governance, wellbeing, and access to services evolved during a decade of …

Amplifying Mother Leaders’ Voices: A Feminist Inquiry Into Gender Inequity In Higher Education Leadership, Katherine Bard

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

Women now comprise more than half of mid- and upper-level administrators in higher education, yet they remain underrepresented in the most senior leadership roles. For mothers in leadership, this underrepresentation is compounded by gendered structures, expectations, and norms that shape their personal and professional lives in distinct ways. While scholarship has examined working motherhood broadly and gender inequity in higher education separately, little research has focused on how mother leaders experience and interpret gender inequity in higher education leadership. This study sought to address that gap by exploring the lived experiences of ten mother leaders working at research-intensive (R1) universities …

Sustaining The Future Workforce With What Matters Most To Nurses, Deirdre O'Flaherty

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: Meaningful recognition confirms the value of nurses’,environments that acknowledge this influence a healthy workplace. Applying quadruple aim framework, optimizing healthcare system outcomes places wellbeing in the forefront and supports fostering resilience, hardiness, interprofessional collaboration and engagement, augmenting the work setting.

Objectives: Discussing strategies, interprofessional collaboration, engagement, fortified resilience, empowered staff and have brought value and meaning to nurses. This study compares peer-reviewed literature on the impact of leadership styles, organization culture and support among nurse managers.

Methods: We previously studied and analyzed clinical nurses’ and nurses in leadership positions perceptions of resilience, empowerment and pre-pandemic engagement. Results …

Csumb Music Club Handbook, Ryan N. Cobar

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

In this handbook, Ryan Cobar will discuss the points of planning and execution of an event on CSUMB campus as well as how to run the CSUMB Music Club.

Lessons Learned In Educating, Developing, And Nurturing Nurse Leadership Skills For Challenges Ahead, Nancy M. Valentine

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Every Nurse is a Leader. This declarative statement is promulgated by professional nursing organizations that acknowledge the potential for nurses to be widely recognized as effective change agents.^1,2,3,4 It can be inspirational and daunting, whether for aspirants embarking on a career or seasoned nurses unaccustomed to perceiving themselves as leaders.

Organizations play a key role; some empowering, others perhaps disinterested in nurse-driven initiatives. Given these shifting realities, we must collaborate to make proactive nurse leadership a component of practice for every nurse.
Based on research, are leaders born or made, every nurse has the potential to be a leader. …

The Coping Of Special Education Directors In The Western United States, Emily Mrazek Jones

Dissertations

The special education director in a school district has a wide-reaching role. Directors rely on extensive knowledge of educational law, instruction, child development, employee supervision, school finance, and more to positively impact the education of students with disabilities. Due to the extensive nature of the role, the practice of special education administration has been found to be stressful, and many practitioners experience burnout. Thus far, research has explored the nature of the role, the reasons for special education director stress, and directors’ preferences on surveys of positive coping strategies, but has not stepped back to ask the directors how they …

The New Professional: The Legacy Of Women In Dentistry, And Your Place In It, Amrita Patel Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Women now constitute over half of dental graduates, transforming the profession’s culture and leadership. While women hold a majority of seats on the MDA Board of Trustees, wage disparities, underrepresentation in certain specialties, and work-life balance pressures remain challenges. The author emphasizes that the legacy of women in dentistry is an active, evolving force. New professionals have the opportunity and responsibility to advance this legacy by engaging in mentorship, advocating for fair workplace policies, pursuing ownership, and serving as role models. This ensures the profession is defined by opportunities rather than barriers.

Harnessing The Communities Of Resilience And Excellence Framework To Advance Population Health: The Healthy West Kendall Experience, Cristina Brito, Simone Cheong, Stephanie Norling, Michelle Mejia, Sandra R. Mclean, Carlos E. Hernandez, Lourdes Boue, Zuanel Diaz, Javier Hernandez-Lichtl

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Introduction: Fragmented community efforts often dilute health‐improvement initiatives. The Communities of Resilience and Excellence (C.O.R.E) Guide offers a Baldrige-based systems approach that aligns cross‐sector partners around shared metrics and continuous improvement cycles for collective impact. West Kendall, an unincorporated area of Miami-Dade County with over 340,000 residents, adopted the framework in response to rising chronic disease burden and socioeconomic disparities.

Methods: West Kendall Baptist Hospital served as the backbone organization that aligned multi-sector partners, implemented evidence-based interventions, and tracked community-level outcomes. We conducted a cross-sectional evaluation of the Healthy West Kendall initiative's impact across various regions in Miami-Dade County and …

Virtual Coaching: Ushering In A New Era In School Improvement, Tygere Alisha West Charles

All Dissertations

This research study examined virtual coaching as a vehicle for principal professional development. The study focused on coaching a principal in a rural, low-performing, high-poverty South Carolina school district to improve support for teachers and students. This study explored virtual coaching and is rooted in improvement science as measured by plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles (Bryk et al., 2017). It explored how virtual coaching supported a rural principal’s professional development needs.

Principals must be transformational leaders who balance their support needs and accountability while meeting the needs of the diverse stakeholders they serve. Ongoing professional development is an essential component in helping …

A Qualitative Descriptive Study On The Importance Of Principal Leadership On Title I Middle School Teachers’ Decisions To Remain Teaching In The School, Lebrandan Keshaun Jenkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive study examined the perspectives of novice middle school teachers with 0–5 years of experience who taught core academic subjects in Texas Title I school districts. I sought to understand how principal leadership or the building administrator to whom these teachers report influenced their decisions to remain in the teaching profession. Grounded in Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, I described how leadership functions as both a motivator and a hygiene factor in shaping job satisfaction and retention. Data collection involved semistructured interviews and an optional Likert scale survey to capture both narrative insights and measurable perceptions. The findings illuminated the …

Developing American Indian/Alaska Native Children As Leaders In The Climate Movement, Joseph Burns, Alessandra Angelino, Danielle Heims-Waldron, Allison Empey, Jason Deen

Journal of Youth Development

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) voices are critical in the climate movement, as numerous social drivers have rendered these communities particularly vulnerable to the consequences of environmental change. In recent years, specific events, including the Dakota Access Pipeline, have galvanized AI/AN youth, who have been increasingly involved as leaders in the climate movement both in the United States and internationally. This yields a significant opportunity to promote leadership development for Indigenous youth, both through local, national, and international organizing and through curricular development to spark interests in environmental science. This review aims to discuss the role of AI/AN youth leadership in …

Recipe For Success: Mixing A Savory Partnership With Hr In Cooking Up A Nurse Leader Succession Plan, Lourdes Moore, Jacqueline Brock, Maureen Padilla

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Succession planning is vital to transformational leadership which advocates for ongoing leadership development.¹ In 2016, Nursing strategically cooked up a savory nurse succession plan program with a secret sauce-Human Resources (HR). The plan’s purpose was to establish a cohort of leaders with skills and knowledge continuity, manage risk of retirements, and offer overall leader development.² Strengthened in 2022, the Nursing-HR partnership added key ingredients: a defined plan with leadership competencies, alignment to organizational culture and priorities, and multi-layered development.^3,4 The plan consists of five courses (phases).

1. Assess: Target critical roles with high-level oversight: chief nursing officer …

Exploring Variations In Emotional Intelligence And Burnout Among Nursing Students, Carrie Ann Bailey, Lynn Beeler, James Lewis

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The purpose of this research is to further validate a clinician language centric self-assessment of emotional intelligence and burnout to determine if there is a difference in the subscales that measure Emotional Intelligence between the accelerated baccalaureate student nurses (ABSN) and the traditional baccalaureate student nurses (BSN). Junior level traditional BSN students and first semester ABSN students were recruited and surveyed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Scale of Emotional Functioning in Medicine. Demographic data was also compared between the two groups. Data was analyzed using Independent-Samples Mann-Whitney U Test. Results: The two groups of students were significantly different …

Sigma Peer Chapter Collaboration: Promoting Global Partnerships, Cheryl A. Sheils, Elizabeth Rosser, Leslie Gelling, Liz Westcott, Nancy Thompson, Cheryl Sabola

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: International partnerships empower nurses with the capacity to address global health challenges. In August 2022, Phi Mu chapter in Bournemouth, England, UK, and Beta Zeta at-Large chapter in western Massachusetts, US, launched an informal peer chapter collaboration.

Purpose: The purpose is to promote a global partnership among chapter leaders and students and increase membership in Sigma as the preeminent international professional nursing organization positioned to promote global health equity.

Goals: Aligned with Sigma’s 2023-2025 Biennial Call to Action, Represent, the goals of this peer chapter collaboration are to reflect on our shared experiences, respect our diversity and distinct …

Translating Leadership Competencies Acquired During Military Service To Civilian Settings, Katie A. Chargualaf, Brenda Elliott, Barbara Patterson

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Leadership competencies articulate the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviors associated with successful leaders^1-2,5. In the military, all service members are expected to lead; therefore the military commits resources to intentional leadership development⁴. With training, military nurse officers (MNOs) develop a repertoire of skills necessary to successfully lead diverse teams.

A qualitative descriptive study of the leadership experiences of MNOs (N = 21)³ focused on leadership behaviors acquired during military service and leadership lessons that translated to leading in civilian settings. The MNOs emphasized the importance of articulating a vision, setting goals, communication, emotional intelligence, …

The Nurse As An Inspiring Leader Of Health: A Framework Rooted In Neurochemical Drivers Of Influence, Sandra D. Shapiro, Rachel Mcmahan Thomas

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The healthcare landscape is constantly evolving, demanding nurses navigate increasingly complex and challenging situations. Modern nursing goes beyond providing care and motivation—it now requires inspiration and mentoring to drive meaningful, systemic change promoting health at every level. Inspiration is an essential intrinsic motivator, positioning nurses as leaders uniquely equipped to foster resilience and excellence.

Transformational leadership principles, deeply rooted in nursing philosophy, place human caring at the core. By embodying these principles, nurses can inspire change within themselves, their peers, and their organizations. As guardians of public health, nurses are inherently positioned to lead socio-ecological transformations, advance health promotion, and …

Team-Based Learning: Peer Perspectives About Navigating Nursing School, Maria V. Hughes

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: The PANNS project was developed to help senior BSN students develop the skills they need for collaborative healthcare. PANNS focuses on team-based healthcare initiatives that reflect the diversity of today’s global healthcare environment. PANNS incorporates team-based learning (TBL) strategies to enhance leadership, teamwork, communication, and reflection skills, to prepare students for practical, team-based challenges in healthcare.

Method: As part of a 3-credit BSN Nursing Leadership and Management course, the PANNS project integrates conflict management strategies and interpersonal communication dynamics into the nursing curriculum. Unlike traditional lecture-based approaches, PANNS combines TBL and mentorship to create an engaging and practical way …

Exploring The Experience Of Nurses Practicing During The Great Resignation, Jolene Kittle

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: The number of workers resigning from their jobs in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic reached rates so high, the time period has been called the “Great Resignation”. There is minimal formal research on this phenomenon in workers generally. Similarly, much of the literature available specific to nursing during this time period are editorials and surveys. Studies that were conducted prior to the “Great Resignation”, focused on the reasons nurses were leaving the profession. This study seeks to understand what motivates nurses to work. The Motivation to Work theory posits factors including salary, working conditions, and policies– many of …

Reflect And Respond On The Importance Of Caring And Shared Decision Making In Leadership Development, Ann Langan, Christine Fardellone

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose Statement: There is a gap in the literature related to leadership behaviors with a caring component unique to the nursing profession. Nurses require leaders who support caring, honesty, exemplary professional practice, new knowledge, and approach situations with moral and ethical transparency.

Background Information: Nurse leaders who model the attributes of the authentic nurse leader support a healthy work-life balance and enhance nurse engagement. One of the most important focuses of leadership in healthcare today is shared decision-making. The Authentic Nurse Leadership theoretical framework is based on Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring. Significance Learning more about the self-perception of …

Generational Differences Among Nurse Leaders And The Development Of Nurse Leader Role Competence, Hephzibah Sophie Edwin, Cassandra Lawrence

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Nurse leaders practice under extreme stressors and poor organizational support decreases their job satisfaction, increasing their intention to quit^1,5. As nurse leaders’ role continues to expand, it is crucial to enhance their role competence through comprehensive training and ongoing support for their successful transition ^2,4.

Purpose: Nurse leaders differ in their competence based on experience and generational diversity. This study is about the development of a leadership academy to promote nurse leader development, and retention through ongoing training, while also targeting generational differences in building nurse leader-role competence.

Methods: This project was instituted with the mission …

The American Dermatological Association And The Story Of American Dermatology, Thomas N. Helm, Lawrence C. Parish, Amy S. Paller, David M. Pariser

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Follower Conscientiousness On Leader-Member Exchange Quality: Exploring The Moderating Role Of Work Environment, H. A. Eliason

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Effective leadership is a vital component of an organization’s viability and competitive edge in today’s complex and dynamic environments. Leadership is not a one-directional act but instead a reciprocal process that shapes both individual experiences and organizational outcomes. Despite recognition of this reciprocal nature, a gap remains in understanding how specific contextual factors, such as individual personality traits or work environment, affect the quality of leader-member exchanges. At the same time, workplace relationships are undergoing momentous change and transformation as organizations shift between traditional, hybrid, and remote models in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the influence …