Digital Commons Network^™

Identifying The Best Practices Of Wilderness-Immersion Programs To Support Veterans’ Transition From The Military To College, Catkin Kilcher Burton

Theses and Dissertations

This study identified best practices for designing and implementing wilderness-immersion programs to support student veterans transitioning from military service to college. It used a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Phase 1 of the study involved a Delphi approach wherein an expert panel of program facilitators, university staff, mental health providers, and student veterans rated and refined an initial set of best practices drawn from literature. Veterans Affairs directors provided feedback in a focus group format to refine the framework. This study contributes practical, evidence-based guidelines to enhance the academic, social, and emotional success of student veterans through wilderness-immersion interventions. Findings from …

Impacts Of Artificial Intelligence On The Human Workforce, Dwayne A. Henry

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored how artificial intelligence (AI) implementation was experienced by employees across organizations with varying levels of AI maturity. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with fifteen professionals across twelve organizations, including technology firms, government agencies, and healthcare providers, the research examined perceptions of AI's impact on daily work, role evolution, organizational culture, and employee learning. Thematic analysis revealed seven major themes: trust and transparency in AI, productivity and job security, training and learning support, organizational culture, customer-centric use of AI, ethical and environmental concerns, and evolving roles. While participants recognized AI’s potential to enhance efficiency and innovation, they also …

Analysis Of Dual Roles: Work-Life Balance Experiences Of Female Professors And Mothers In California, Lu Liang

Theses and Dissertations

The study aims to discover and understand the work-life balance experience of mothers who are also professors working in higher education institutions in California. The research reveals the unique challenges, needs, and motivations to manage work and family responsibilities. The literature review indicates that mother professors encounter conflicts of roles and responsibilities from academic work and domestic duties. Moreover, mother professors experience persistent gender disparity and systemic barriers as an underrepresented group in academia, hindering their personal and professional advancements. This qualitative study utilizes quantitative ethnography (QE), an incorporated research methodology to examine mother professors’ work-life balance experience. Additionally, the …

Ai For The Common Good: Exploring Global Nonprofit Framing Of Artificial Intelligence, Kathleen Teresa Scott

Theses and Dissertations

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes nearly every sector, global nonprofits face a distinct challenge: embracing innovation without compromising their core missions. This study investigated how three leading nonprofit organizations--the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Brookings Institution, and the Center for Creative Leadership--publicly framed their AI implementation approaches between 2018 and 2025. These organizations span the fields of humanitarian aid, policy research, and leadership development, offering a cross-sector perspective on how mission-driven institutions navigate technological transformation.Using a mixed-methods document analysis, this research examined both internal implementation narratives and outward-facing thought leadership. Findings revealed that while all three organizations …

Exploratory Study Of Selected Paintings Of Jesus Christ, Sarah O'Brien Laverone

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study employs digital artifacts to explore paintings of Jesus through iconography, semiotic analysis, visual culture/visual studies, ancient Christian history, the importance of digital pedagogy, and digital preservation of the artwork of Jesus, thereby digitally preserving culture and the religious culture of Jesus as a transformational leader. Paintings, frescoes, and other art media such as sculpture or ancient books are the educational tools and the elements of exceptional, invaluable, and immeasurable historical legacy. Cultural heritage preservation is a growing demand; digital technology reduces costs and allows for a broader application of techniques (Stanco et al., 2011). Paintings of Jesus …

Cultural Matching And Treatment Utilization And Outcomes In Asian Americans: A Systematic Review, Ryan Lim

Theses and Dissertations

Research regarding cultural matching in clinician and client dyads as a means of improving care for underserved populations has become less prevalent over the past two decades. This review sought to examine and synthesize the existing literature on the relationship between three forms of cultural matching (i.e., racial matching, ethnic matching, and language matching) and mental health treatment utilization and outcomes for Asian Americans. Following an extensive database search process, we identified a total of 10 peer-reviewed studies as relevant to the review's topic. Overall, results from the studies suggest that ethnic and language matching were associated with an increased …

Belief Systems Amongst Black Women: A Qualitative Study Of Social Supports And Factors That Facilitate Pathways To Leadership Positions Within Professional Sport, Rachel Lofton

Theses and Dissertations

Despite notable advancements made by Black women in both athletic and professional settings, their representation in leadership roles within the sports industry remains disproportionately low. The underrepresentation of Black women in leadership positions within professional sport organizations underscores the need for research to identify the social supports and factors facilitating their career progression. This study addresses the gap in the literature through qualitative interviews with twelve Black women who hold director-level positions or higher in professional sports teams or leagues. Grounded theory was employed to gather, examine, and interpret the data from the interviews. Critical race theory, standpoint theory, intersectionality, …

The Use Of Humor In Mental Healthcare: A Systematic Review, Blake Song

Theses and Dissertations

Humor has been observed, practiced, and documented as an essential feature of society for thousands of years. However, there is still no formalized or widely referenced clinical guidance on how to effectively and appropriately utilize humor in mental healthcare despite ample research over the last 70 years noting the many potential benefits. This lack of guidance may, at least in part, be due to unresolved concerns pertaining to the use of humor in counseling and healthcare settings. For instance, humor is believed by some to be potentially distracting or undermining to the counseling process if used inappropriately. This continued absence …

How Does Organization Growth Affect The Organization’S Culture, Megan Howe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand how organization growth affects the organization’s culture. Culture was generally defined as the behavioral norms and ways of working at an organization. Following interviews with 28 people in an organization that had been growing and was expecting to grow further, the results of the study suggested that organization growth did not have a noticeable impact on culture. Instead, the data suggest that the longer a person is a part of a culture, the more opportunity there is to see evolution or how things like growth, the passing of time, generational differences, and …

Self-Compassion And Leadership Effectiveness At Work, Janette Muñoz

Theses and Dissertations

Leaders are currently facing unprecedented times in the workforce, with rapid technological advancements, complexity with geopolitical implications and economic fluctuations, and employee disengagement. Through these changes, leaders are expected to make business decisions, guide their teams, and deliver business results. To navigate these complexities, the role of business leaders is evolving, making self-compassion and associated practices potentially important for leaders. Complexity and the speed of change may lead to an increase in challenges and mistakes experienced at work, actual or perceived, which may lead to decreased internal capacity, higher stress and potentially burnout. This study explores the relationship between self-compassion …

Community College Faculty Perception Of Guidelines For Promotions, Cynthia Williams-Roberson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Community College Faculty Perception of Guidelines for Promotions is a comprehensive study that examines faculty members' views on the current policies and procedures related to promotions and career advancement at community colleges. This research seeks to evaluate faculty perceptions of the fairness and equity of existing promotional guidelines, exploring whether faculty believe the policies may inadvertently facilitate discriminatory or biased practices. Additionally, the study aims to identify areas where the college may improve its written policies to ensure greater transparency, fairness, and consistency in promotional practices, using the standards set forth by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) as …

Exploring Tpack To Foster Student Engagement: A Self-Study In A Rural School Secondary Mathematics Classroom, Sindhu Aravind

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, the integration of technology into education has transformed teaching practices, enhancing student engagement and providing new opportunities for differentiated learning. However, this shift presents a unique challenge in rural schools, where limited resources and infrastructure can hinder the effective implementation of technology. To investigate these challenges, I conducted a qualitative self-study to explore how technology integration, guided by the TPACK framework, impacts student engagement and learning in a secondary mathematics classroom. This study also examined the teacher’s experience in planning, implementing, and adapting technological tools to address the diverse needs of students, particularly in under-resourced environments. For …

Teacher Perceptions And Student Self-Reports: Examining Aggression, Delinquency, And Contextual Correlates In Education And Non-Educational Settings, Abigail Claire Boozer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the relationship between teacher-perceived delinquency and student self-reported delinquency, utilizing data from the LONGSCAN data set. The research also examines whether the correlates of these behaviors differ across classroom and non-classroom settings, offering insights into the contextual dynamics of delinquency. Grounded in labeling theory, this study explores the influence of teacher perceptions on student behavior, highlighting how labeling may reinforce or mitigate patterns of aggression and delinquency. By leveraging the rich longitudinal data from LONGSCAN, the research identifies key demographic, familial, and environmental factors that contribute to these behaviors. The findings aim to inform educational interventions and …

Essays On Corporate Finance, Keshav Raj Bhattarai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the first essay, we investigate how corporate culture relates to firm performance, focusing specifically on market share growth following an increase in competition in the product market. Using industry-level import tariff cuts in the United States as an exogenous shock, we find that firms with strong cultures tend to experience higher market share growth after a reduction in import tariffs. We also identify two distinct cultural values – the strong-people focus and the strong-technology focus – and find that only firms with a strong-people focus are likely to experience market share growth when faced with intensified competition. In addition, …

Lucumí Language Preservation In Cuban Literature: A Study Of Miami Santeros’ Perceptions, Dayni Deysi Diaz Mederos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Santería is an Afro-Cuban religion that has played a significant role in shaping Cuba’s cultural identity and that of its diaspora. Lucumí, a liturgical language primarily derived from Yoruba, is at the core of its religious practices. This language has been incorporated into the works of Cuban writers such as Lydia Cabrera, Alejo Carpentier, Nicolás Guillén, Miguel Barnet, and Nancy Morejón. While previous scholarship has examined Lucumí from linguistic and literary perspectives (Olmstead, 1953; Castellanos, 1939; Concordia, 2012; Ramos, 2013; Matibag, 2017), little attention has been given to how santeros, practitioners of Santería, perceive the representation of their sacred language …

Structure And Function Of Sulfated Fucans And Fucosylated Chondroitin Sulfates: Therapeutic And Mechanistic Insights, Marwa Farrag

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are heteropolysaccharides widely exploited in the clinic and as molecular models in biomedical research. Marine-derived GAG analogs, particularly sulfated fucans and fucosylated chondroitin sulfates exhibit unique and diverse glycan motifs that are not found in the typical mammalian GAGs. The distinctive structures of the marine sulfated glycans (MSGs) not only expand the structural landscape of GAG-like molecules but also provide valuable platforms to elucidate structure-activity relationships and explore their potential as novel scaffolds for glycan-based therapeutic development. This dissertation presents the isolation, structural characterization, controlled depolymerization, and functional evaluation of several MSGs, highlighting their therapeutic potential, particularly those …

Missing Physics Or New Physics? Understanding Biases In Gravitational Wave Tests Of General Relativity, Purnima Narayan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gravitational wave (GW) observations from binary black hole (BBH) coalescences offer a powerful means of probing general relativity (GR) in its most extreme regime: the strong- field, highly dynamical merger phase. One can compare observed signals to theoretical waveform models to constrain possible deviations from GR. However, the reliability of such comparisons can be compromised by waveform systematics, especially when key physical effects are not incorporated into the models. This dissertation investigates the impact of three such missing physical effects: orbital eccentricity, strong gravitational lensing, and waveform systematics due to precession, higher-order modes, and memory on standard GW tests of …

Educating Students Suffering From Social Emotional Trauma, Terry Peeples

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this applied research was to prepare teachers with proper professional development so that teachers can be equipped with the skills and strategies to educate students who suffer from social-emotional trauma. Students are faced with many challenges outside of school. Sometimes these challenges come from the neighborhoods in which they live, their household and living conditions, the amount of violence that students have witnessed, and many more emotionally scarring situations. I have witnessed students miss out on the opportunity of student learning because of the emotional state they were in at that moment. Many times, students do not …

The History Of The Delta State University Music Department, Steven Gregory Hugley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the history of Delta State University's music department from its inception in 1925 as Delta Teachers College to the closure of the department in May 2024, just shy of the University’s centennial. The study examines the ensembles offered, student and faculty participation, and degree programs throughout the years. It also considers the department's development and the factors leading to its closure, with insights into future plans. The research provides a comprehensive overview of the music department’s evolution and impact over nearly a century.

Differing Russian Translations Of British Pre-Victorian Era Politeness In Literary Texts: A Case Study Of Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice, Olga Ponomareva

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This case study investigates the translation of pre-Victorian-era politeness in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice into Russian. The study addresses translators’ challenges when transferring cultural and social nuances from the original English texts to their Russian counterparts. The primary objective of this research is to analyze how Russian translations handle the concept of politeness, comparing strategies used by two translators, which is achieved through a comparative analysis of selected excerpts from the novel, focusing on the translation of politeness as defined by Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness theory. The study contributes to translation studies, showing the importance of cultural …

"Keep Coming Back!": How Recovering Addicts Use Narcotics Anonymous For Social Rehabilitation., Taylor Leigh Ransom

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the role of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in shaping identity transformation and social reintegration among individuals in recovery. Using an ethnographic approach, including participant observation at NA meetings and semi-structured interviews with members, along with textual analysis of Narcotics Anonymous literature, this research explores how NA fosters social recovery by providing a structured yet flexible space for identity reconstruction. Through shared narratives, rituals, and peer support, members navigate the transition from an “addict” identity to one centered on personal accountability, community, and long-term abstinence from drugs.

By situating NA within broader sociological discussions of addiction recovery, social capital, …

The Relationship Between College Entrance Exam Scores And First-Year Undergraduate Grade Point Averages At A Regional Public University: An Exploratory Analysis, Kaitlyn Sanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the relationship between college entrance exam scores and first-year college grade point averages for first-year students enrolled at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. Using a three-manuscript approach, the dissertation in practice explores the predictive validity of college entrance exam scores in higher education admissions, evaluates the effectiveness of these exams in forecasting academic success, and connects leadership philosophy to data-driven decision-making in admissions policies.

Manuscript One introduces the problem of practice by situating college entrance exams within the broader context of college admissions. While entrance exams such as the ACT and SAT have traditionally been …

A Framework For Trauma-Informed Mediation: A Heart And Mind Approach To Conflict Resolution, Michael Saini, Raheena Lalani Dahya, Shely Polak

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

Unresolved trauma histories can have both short and long-term consequences on children and parents' overall functioning. Using a trauma-informed approach to mediation, we first briefly highlight the impactofadversechildhood experiencesandunresolvedtraumasonadults. We then consider the various vulnerabilities and activations presented within mediation and the fundamental principles of trauma-informed mediation to assist parties in remaining within the "window of tolerance" during the mediation. Trauma-informed mediation is an approach that encourages mediators to be aware of potential trauma activations and to engage in compassionate practices to allow parties to engage within their own individualized "window of tolerance" to resolve disputes. We explore the unique …

Not Enough Of A Good Thing: Unleashing The Full Power Of Mediation Globally, Giuseppe De Palo, Mary B. Trevor

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of The U.S. And Foreign Tipping Culture And How Collective Bargaining Can Eliminate Mandatory Tipping In The U.S., Matthew Zelman

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

Tipping culture in the United States has gotten out of hand, but its roots go very deep. Tipping has been a part of the culture in the United States since the early 1800s, when tips were given to pirates and porters. Today, the share of workers who rely on tips as part of their wages is extraordinary, with sixty percent of service workers stating that they rely on tips for over 30 percent of their income. Many restaurants incorporate mandatory tips on customers’ bills, which has changed tipping from being voluntary.

This Note will propose that “tipped employees” across different …

Breaking The Chain: How An Alternate Dispute Resolution Process Can Be Used In The Criminal Justice System For First-Time Non-Violent Criminal Offenders, Leora Perlstein

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

The criminal justice system is deeply rooted in our history. There are traditional views on how it should be run and conducted. “Founded on the concept that crimes against an individual are crimes against the state, our justice system prosecutes individuals as though they victimized all of society.” Traditionally, when individuals commit a crime, they go through the process of receiving a ticket—or if they commit a particular violent crime they will be immediately arrested—and then they go through the process of appearing in court for an arraignment in which they are “read the charges against [them]” and are either …

Designing A Victims’ Compensation System Amidst California’S Insurance Crisis: The Aftermath Of The 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires, Federica Simonelli

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This Commentary will explore critical aspects necessary for creating victims’ compensation mechanisms capable of handling claims stemming from the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires from a theoretical perspective. Drawing from the successful examples of the 2020 PG&E Fire Victim Trust, the 2023 Maui Wildfires compensation schemes, and other forms of dispute resolution (such as mediation), this Commentary will demonstrate that the challenging fallouts of environmental disasters pose increased challenges and necessitate unique dispute system design to better respond to the need for fair and equitable solutions. These systems increasingly rely on settlement funds tailored to claimants’ specific needs and have proven …

Navigating The Neighborhood: Community, Identity, And Gentrification In Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Kayla Karyl Thomas

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York. This dissertation is a multi-method community study focusing on 21st century gentrification, concurrent socio-political changes, and their relationship to the ways residents understand and negotiate routine interpersonal relationships. The empirical core of the dissertation consists of three distinct yet interrelated papers on the social landscape of the contemporary Crown Heights neighborhood. These papers detail a range of approaches that residents adopt to better understand their own experiences of discrimination, gentrification, and efforts at reconstructing community and responding to change. Complemented by a chapter on the history of a single ‘representative’ Crown Heights apartment building, its …

Leveraging Large-Language Models As Collaborative Reasoning Partners To Enhance Scientific Workflow, Douglas B. Craig

Wayne State University Dissertations

The rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) has transformed artificial intelligence, offering advanced capabilities in text generation, natural language understanding, and multi-modal interactions. However, their use as standalone tools or as perceived repositories of static knowledge has limited their potential in real-world applications, especially in critical domains like healthcare and scientific research, where transparency, explainability, and accountability are paramount. This research addresses these limitations by conceptualizing LLMs as reasoning engines within a hybrid framework that integrates retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and case-based reasoning (CBR) within a note-taking application.

The study introduces a novel system, LmRaC, designed to enhance the reliability, explainability, …

The Role Of Fruiting Bodies In Protecting A Community Of Myxococcus Xanthus Spores From The Environment, Dave Lall

Wayne State University Dissertations

Environmental microorganisms have evolved a variety of strategies to survive fluctuations in environmental conditions, including the production of biofilms and differentiation into spores. Myxococcus xanthus are ubiquitous soil bacteria that produce starvation-induced multicellular fruiting bodies filled with environmentally resistant spores (a specialized biofilm). Isolated spores have been shown to be more resistant than vegetative cells to heat, ultraviolet radiation, and desiccation. The evolutionary advantage of producing spores inside of fruiting bodies is not clear. Here, we examine a hypothesis that the fruiting body provides additional protection from environmental insults. We developed a high-throughput method to compare the recovery (outgrowth) of …