Digital Commons Network^™

Succession Planning: Lessons From A Qualitative Single Case Study Of Ceo Behaviors Within A Small To Medium Enterprise Hospitality Industry Organization, Denise Mazzei

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

For hospitality organizations to innovate in every direction and attract, engage, and retain their most potential internal talent, the CEOs of their organizations must prioritize succession planning within their organization’s strategic plans. In small to medium enterprise hospitality organizations, some CEOs overlook succession planning as a strategic imperative. Within the context of SME hospitality organizations, this qualitative method single case study research project focused on answering three questions to illuminate why some CEOs do not prioritize succession planning among the multiplicity of their responsibilities. The first question explored whether there is a need for CEO succession planning. The second question …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring Teacher-Student Relationships For Students With Moderate To Severe Disabilities, Karen N. Holland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, transcendental, phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of general education and self-contained classroom teachers building relationships with students who have moderate to severe disabilities in rural Maryland. Teachers were selected from elementary school settings in the rural part of Maryland’s eastern shore. The theory that guided this study was Bowlby’s attachment theory. Vygotsky focused on language development and how it affects social interactions between others while Bowlby’s theory explored a child’s attachment to close adults. This study explored teacher-student relationships as it relates to elementary-age students on Maryland’s eastern shore. The methodology for this …

Educated And Unemployed: A Case Study To Understand The Challenges Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Face After Release, Joyce Blackmon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative intrinsic case study was to understand the phenomenon of formerly incarcerated individuals who have received a postsecondary degree while incarcerated, yet were unable to obtain employment that was commensurate to the degree earned. Sixteen participants in the United States were recruited for this study. Formerly incarcerated individuals and prospective employers gave insight and examined why formerly incarcerated individuals have an enormous number of issues obtaining employment after reintegration. The Tadros theory of change provided a theoretical lens for this inquiry and gave understanding of the changes that the formerly incarcerated needed while incarcerated to accomplish …

The Differences In Emotional Intelligence Within Schools That Have Adopted Glasser’S Choice Theory: A Causal-Comparative Analysis, Leaja Hartman Horne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if statistically significant differences exist in the emotional intelligence (EI) of students in classrooms that have adopted Glasser’s choice theory (CT) compared to schools that have not (NCT). CT, the guiding theory, defines social-emotional learning (SEL) practices and seeks to improve relationships, internal locus of control, and motivation while fostering an engaged learning environment. Research clarifies the need for social-emotional health to support academic achievement; however, the specifics of these relationships require further clarification. The participants were a convenience sample of 59 private and public elementary school students from North …

Impact Of Education For Bedside Nurses In A Community Hospital To Increase Intent Or Utilization Of A Career Ladder Advancement Tool, Carrie E. White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This scholarly project is centered on lack of engagement in a new career ladder program. This project includes the creation of career ladder education with an intent to help with understanding, support, and engagement of the nursing caregivers. Education was created to propel the work of the career ladder within a small rural hospital. The program is 12 weeks long and covers eligibility criteria, activity details, technology education, and one-on-one support for understanding of the career ladder program. The hopes for the educational program were to increase nursing satisfaction, with the intent to stay with the organization, and foster participation …

Correcting Sampling Bias With Privacy-Preserving Synthetic Data: Inference Stability Under The Da-Mi Framework, Hannah Jiang

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

With the rapid advancement into the Data Age, synthetic data has emerged as a promising avenue for sharing scientific information while protecting the original data. While existing research has primarily focused on generating synthetic data to accurately replicate the characteristics of observed data, we explore the potential of synthetic data to adjust for unrepresentative sampling. This study explores how sampling bias—specifically unbalanced subsets—impacts statistical inference, and whether synthetic data can help correct such bias. Using a Data Augmentation–Multiple Imputation (DA–MI) framework, we generate synthetic datasets from biased samples and evaluate parameter recovery under different correction strategies. Simulations under a Missing …

Black Scare, Red Scare: The Fbi’S Covert War On Black Radical Activism, Christian E. Maddox

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Black resistance movements have always existed to push the envelope and fight to establish political agency and freedom against the state and surrounding institutions that work to dispose of and disenfranchise Black communities across the U.S. The contentious relationship between the U.S. government and leftist movements is a rich and developed ground of scholarship analyzing how repression emerges and evolves across time as a tool against social movements fighting for change. This scholarship however misses how state agencies work to undermine and racially flatten Black radical movements through crafting official, racialized narratives and images that reshape what these movements represent. …

Contagions Of Doubt: Denialism And The Spread Of Medical Conspiracy Theories, Haley Boom

Anthropology

Denialism and conspiratorial thinking have long shaped public perceptions of science and medicine, but the COVID-19 pandemic exposed how rapidly these forces can evolve and spread in a digital age. This thesis examines the historical roots, psychological foundations, and modern amplification of medical conspiracy theories, with a particular focus on vaccine skepticism and COVID-19-related misinformation. As a literature review, it synthesizes existing interdisciplinary research from psychology, public health, and communication studies to explore how medical conspiracy beliefs emerge from complex interactions between cognitive biases, emotional needs, mistrust in institutions, and evolving media environments. The rise of social media, political polarization, …

Primates Shed Light On Glowing Mammals – Adaptation Or Epiphenomenon?, Juliana Hicks

Anthropology

Fluorescence is the ability of chemicals and materials to give off visible or invisible light after absorbing radiation such as ultraviolet light. Fluorescence has been documented in several mammalian families, yet Primates, as an order, have received limited attention in this regard. Within Primates, the suborder Strepsirrhini has been particularly overlooked. Strepsirrhines are compelling subjects due to their retention of primitive mammalian characteristics, representing a significant knowledge gap with respect to the occurrence of fluorescing pelage within the class Mammalia. To address this gap, we investigated the presence and absence of fluorescence in the pelage of preserved museum strepsirrhine specimens …

Parkinson’S Disease Pathophysiology And Comparative Analysis Of The Efficacy Between Subthalamic Nucleus And Globus Pallidus Interna Deep Brain Stimulation: A Student’S Perspective, Peter C. Solimando Ii

Anthropology

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is becoming an increasingly common neurodegenerative disease across the world, presenting with both debilitating motor and non-motor symptoms that progressively worsen throughout the course of the disease. Prominent motor symptoms include tremors, bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, and postural/gait instabilities, while common non-motor symptoms include fatigue, pain, autonomic dysfunction (i.e., bowel and bladder dysfunction), mood disorders, and dementia. The advent of modern medical management of PD has introduced several different medications, the most popular being levodopa, that have shown success in reducing the severity of motor symptoms, particularly in the early stages of the disease. Throughout disease progression, however, …

Safe Or Not Safe? Perspectives Of Mo Gender-Affirming Care Providers In Response To Anti-Trans Care Legislation, Eric Lei

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Senior Honors Papers

Receiving gender-affirming care is a life-saving intervention for many, yet the current wave of transphobic rhetoric and anti-trans legislation, such as the Missouri (MO) Senate Bill 49 “Save Adolescents From Experimentation” (SAFE) Act, continue to restrict trans individuals from accessing gender-affirming care. Previous literature depicts medical providers as enactors of medical power and authority, producing knowledges of trans subjectivities, constructing and controlling trans bodies, and gatekeeping medical care from trans individuals; however, the changing roles, labor, and acts of resistance trans care providers perform under the recent context of heightened social surveillance and legal restrictions have yet to be documented. …

Partisan Realignment & The Evolution Of Abortion Laws: Case Studies Of Missouri And Florida, Amelia Ayşe Zoe Letson

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Senior Honors Papers

This thesis analyzes the relationship between partisan realignment and abortion policy in Missouri and Florida, demonstrating how the evolution of these laws reflects shifts in political identity, national party strategy, and state-level advocacy.

Puerto Ricans As A Case Study For The Adoption Of Gender Inclusive Language In Spanish, Maya Torres Colom

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Senior Honors Papers

My research question is: why do people decide to use or not use gender inclusive language? How might demographics such as age, gender identity, or sexual orientation influence this reasoning? My interviews revealed varying definitions of what gender inclusive language means to speakers, the importance of sociocultural context in its use, and future possibilities for its development as a tool for community building and allyship.

Dobbs Before Dobbs: Anita Hill, Christine Blasey Ford, And The Public Rehearsal Of Gendered Privacy, Renee H. Metzger

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Senior Honors Papers

This thesis argues that a gendered double standard for privacy emerges during Clarence Thomas’s and Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings — a logic Thomas and Kavanaugh later codify when limiting women’s reproductive rights in the 2022 Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women’ s Health Organization. While some critics have previously explored the way privacy operates in Thomas’s hearings, scholars have written far less about how the public and private spheres get invoked in Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing. Using critical discourse analysis, I examine Thomas’s and Kavanaugh’s construction of privacy during both hearings, and investigate how Thomas’s and Kavanaugh’s obfuscated …

The 1991 California 'Miracle March': Precipitation Myth Or Miracle?, Cody D. Poulsen, Rachel E.S. Clemesha, Ian M. Howard, Alexander Gershunov, Michael D. Dettinger, Zhenhai Zhang, Rosa Luna-Nino, David W. Stahle, Ralph F. Martin

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

The term 'Miracle March' is colloquially used in California to describe an anomalously wet spring that alleviates drought conditions caused by a winter precipitation deficit. This study centers on the influential water year 1991, which is the standard reference point for this phenomenon. The spring precipitation impact on water year totals and the geographic extent of the spring precipitation anomaly during the 1991 'Miracle March' (MM91) is without equal in the observational record. This exceptional precipitation episode was initiated by a week-long sequence of extreme atmospheric rivers that started landfalling on February 27th. To this day, MM91 is routinely referenced …

Analysis Model For Transnational Organized Crime In Latin America And Effective Solutions, Connor Barral

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2020 - Present

This thesis argues that the most effective policy approaches for remedying transnational organized criminal activity require international, state, and local dimensions. I conduct a comparative case study of El Salvador and Mexico that highlights the successes of Nayib Bukele’s severe crackdown and preventative methods in El Salvador and the specific inadequacies of Claudia Sheinbaum and Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s negotiation and cooperation strategies in Mexico. In both cases, the ‘war on drugs’ pushed for by the United States limited effectiveness on the international level and inhibited the formation of effective multilateral agreements. But the progress made on the local and …

Cultural Sustainability In Architecture: A Reinterpretation Of Kensington's Narrative, Madeline Elizabeth Knoll

Architecture Theses

Kensington is often defined by a narrative of crisis and neglect, yet beneath this surface lies a resilient, creative community. This thesis reframes Kensington through cultural sustainability, envisioning the neighborhood as a mosaic of identities shaped by reflection, learning, and growth. The architecture becomes a living palimpsest, where history and resilience converge. Strategies like cross-cultural variation, social design, place attachment, and well-being inform every spatial and programmatic decision. The Kensington Cultural Center is conceived as a mosaic, with each space expressing spirit and identity, and connective paths binding the whole. Materials reference the area’s industrial past, while the carved exterior …

Establishing A Comprehensive Cancer Center: Integrating Holistic Care To Enhance The Well-Being Of Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment, Morgan Rae Nelson

Architecture Theses

Cancer treatment is both physically and emotionally taxing, often intensified by care environments that prioritize clinical efficiency over holistic patient well-being. Thoughtful architectural design has the potential to transform these spaces into therapeutic environments that address the mental, emotional, and physical needs of patients. While holistic care models have gained traction, many facilities lack design elements that promote mental resilience, relaxation, and community connection.

Despite advancements in cancer care, a significant gap remains in how design addresses the mental and emotional well-being of patients. Many facilities continue to prioritize functionality over creating environments that foster holistic healing. This thesis investigates …

Bridging America: Reclaiming Rail For People, Planet, And Progress, Emma Clark

Architecture Theses

Bridging America presents a long-term, phased strategy to reestablish passenger rail as the most viable mode of transportation in the United States within the next 50 years. Through an analysis of historical patterns, environmental urgency, and societal well-being, the thesis proposes a national rail network centered on modular train design and human-centered station architecture. Three phased sites beginning in Nashville and expanding regionally demonstrate how infrastructure can reconnect communities, reduce carbon emissions, and foster regional identity. While challenges remain in fully resolving modular train functionality and long-distance adaptability, the work opens pathways for future research in AI integration, operational logistics, …

Beyond The Game: A Holistic Design Approach To High School Athletic Environments, Haddey Zastrow

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates the critical role of architectural design in supporting the well-being, mental health, and academic performance of high school student-athletes as they navigate the complex intersection of academic and athletic responsibilities. Recognizing the unique challenges faced during the transition between student and athlete roles, the research explores how thoughtfully designed sports recreation and rehabilitation centers can foster holistic development. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating mental health resources, sustainable practices, and user-centered design elements-such as natural lighting, open spaces, and calming colors-to create environments that enhance both physical and psychological well-being. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing …

From Separation To Integration: A New Model For Idd Living, Abigail K. Bueling

Architecture Theses

This project envisions a care community in Fargo, ND, designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) that integrates various levels of care, whether it’s independent supported living or more attentive supported living in an inclusive, neighborhood-like setting. Unlike conventional facilities, this model fosters meaningful connections between residents regardless of their specific care requirements, addressing a critical gap where current care environments lack community inclusion and fail to offer family-centered educational programs on IDD care. By bridging this gap, the project aims to create a supportive and interactive environment that feels like home. The study involved interviews with families …

Finding Civitas Dei Sine Terra, Alex Stalboerger

Architecture Theses

An exploration of humanity’s future away from Earth and among the stars. This thesis tackles some of the fundamental drivers of human civilization and what it means to create significant, sacred, space for humans to truly dwell. Utilizing language as a vehicle, this thesis delves into the realms of fiction where the future is discovered and invented simultaneously. This work heavily focuses on the use of architectural metaphors, through a phenomenological lens, utopian frameworks, discussions on dystopia, and is built on the shoulders of John Hejduk, Octavio Paz, and Martin Heidegger.

From Institution To Inspiration: A Student-Centered Vision For Horace High, Mason Stanius

Architecture Theses

This thesis proposes a High-School design that is centered around biophilic design, optimized daylight strategies, and attention to special arrangements in classrooms. To which, is all intended to revolve round, and support the direct user, the student. Careful attention to school layout and design allows students to thrive in educational environments, by addressing the root cause of distractions, resentment of school, and academic performance outside of curriculum changes. Intimate classrooms where students can focus in a dynamic environment, supplied by plentiful natural light, and subtlety cloaked in biophilic and biomimic design throughout the campus. Through these biophilic forms, thoughtful organization, …

A Story Of Service: Thoughts On Commemorative Architecture And The Anti-Monument, Cody D. Williamson

Architecture Theses

United States service members and their courageous actions have been the subject of countless monuments and memorials. Most of these are dedicated to events of the past. Never has design told a story about current military members and some of the unseen battles they fight on a regular basis. This thesis will seek to understand individual and communal memory faculties as well as learn from contemporary artistic expressions that focus on the recall of the past. The anti-monument will serve as a case study and combine with these insights to create a memorial that is dedicated to soldiers who have …

Bridging The Gap: Restoring The Relationship Between Campus And Greek Life, Dawson Bechtold

Architecture Theses

This thesis explores the development of a new Greek Row at North Dakota State University, with emphasis on fostering stronger relationships between chapters and campus as well. The project will take philosophical readings and precedents that will improve engagement, chapter visibility, academic success, and social interaction. Through historical context, theory, and traditional Greek housing style, this project seeks to bridge the gap between North Dakota State University and the Greek life community. This design proposal aims to revitalize NDSU’s campus, while enhancing the experience of the Greek life community for current and future students.

The Universal Language Of Music In Architecture: Bridging Cultures Through John Cage And String Theory, Bronson Knight

Architecture Theses

Music has been a fundamental part of human culture for tens of thousands of years, shaping and reflecting societal values, language, and stories. Beyond its role as entertainment or ritual, music has historically influenced other art forms, notably architecture. Throughout history, architects have drawn inspiration from musical principles such as harmony and rhythm to create architectural experiences that evoke emotional and multisensory experiences. However, in the modern era, architectural design has often shifted toward pure functionality, usually at the expense of deeper meaning or narrative. This contrast with historic times when music and architecture were intertwined, enhancing each other’s expressive …

Adaptive Reuse At 223 Main: Revitalizing Relics Of Our Industrial Past, Koy Olson

Architecture Theses

This thesis attempts to define success in adaptive reuse architecture. The research investigates existing theories on adaptive reuse. Following the investigation, continued research led to the synthesis of key aspects from each unique theory and implements the aspects into a standardized feasibility evaluation tool. The thesis design project, Adaptive Reuse at 223 Main Ave., serves a dual purpose. First, as a pilot test for the assessment tool. Second, as a holistic design solution that embodies the primary aspects of each adaptive reuse approach theory. The final results share the collection of design deliverables along with the conclusive feasibility assessment score. …

Echoes Of The Land: A Pilgrimage Of Wilderness And Spirit, Andrea Frank

Architecture Theses

This thesis explores how architecture can bridge humanity and the natural world, restoring a connection eroded by technology, overconsumption, and distraction. While cities offer curated encounters with nature, they cannot replace the deep peace found in wilderness. This connection is essential to humanity’s survival. If humanity fails to understand its relationship with the environment and engage with it responsibly, it jeopardizes the ecological balance of the world and humanity’s own existence.

Architecture, once in dialogue with nature, now often serves function, spectacle, or profit. This work reimagines architecture as a mediator that fosters kinship with the earth through a threefold …

Architecture Of The Restorative Fragment: The Value Of Art As A Cultural Communicator In Detroit, Korri Ryan Dragt

Architecture Theses

Art and architecture have always been deeply intertwined with the human condition. These areas of humanity give context to our lives and the experiences we share, providing a deeper understanding of ourselves, our communities, and the world we exist in. This traditional value of these artforms has gradually been lost, resulting in a disconnect between cultural contexts and our social spaces. Influenced by the philosophical framework of the restorative fragment, this thesis studies the reintegration of art and architecture as communicators of stories and reimagines the ways in which we interact with the arts in our urban environments. The architecture …

The Living Library Of Dune, Josey W. Wilson

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates how language – as a natural, poetic force – can serve as a generative tool in architectural design. It argues that architecture must reclaim its mythopoetic roots, and that through the reintegration of narrative and literary language, built space can once again become a vessel for memory, cultural identity, and transformation.

As both a method and muse, Frank Herbert’s Dune becomes the central literary source for my resulting architectural design. This subjective translation takes form in The Living Library of Dune, a project located in Tacoma, Washington.

The final design of this thesis does not simply present …