Digital Commons Network^™

Green Grass And Sassafras: Finding Place In Middle Appalachia, Cody Austin Hester

Masters Theses

This paper is concerned with grounding poems about Middle Appalachia. The region more plainly focused is Southwest Virginia, where I have lived for 25 years. Through the collection of poems, it is apparent how the culture, history, and nature of Appalachia have informed my poems. My goal for the collection is for someone who has never been to Appalachia to see the beauty of the region and its people. For those who are from the region, I desire that they develop a deeper appreciation for our home.

The critical paper posits that the best way for someone to experience this …

Motivating Remote Working Employees, Sandesh Bilgi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how remote employees who have previously worked in-person describe their lived and perceived experience with motivation in remote working environments. Participants completed the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale (WEIMS), which measures degrees of work-related motivation among employees focusing on traits that signify each worker’s intrinsically or extrinsically motivated nature. Through in-depth interviews with 30 participants, this research examined how remote workers are motivated in remote work settings, which factors increase or decrease motivation, and how leaders can influence the motivation levels of their employees. The interviews were conducted online, …

Chaos And The Human Experience: An Intertextual Study Of Job, Qohelet, And Jonah, Andy Tse Chang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hermann Gunkel’s landmark work Schöpfung und Chaos was a pioneering work in biblical studies, largely in part because it highlighted the importance of considering the language, culture, and context of the broader Ancient Near East with regard to Old Testament imagery. While Gunkel’s claims that the Genesis 1 account of creation was borrowing from Ancient Near East myths is now largely rejected, still, the enduring value and legacy of Gunkel’s work is that biblical scholars see the importance of contextual studies in exegeting the Old Testament texts, as well as how to apply the material exegetically to the Old Testament. …

Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of The Constraint Of Law Enforcement Under The De-Policing Movement, Darren A. Kenyon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative and descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of law enforcement officers in relation to how the de-policing movement may have constrained their ability to proactively enforce the law and interact with the citizens they serve in Connecticut. This study employed Fritz Heider’s attribution theory as a theoretical framework. Data was collected through a series of semi-structured interviews conducted online via Zoom with 10 participants who were employed as police officers or sergeants for a municipal law enforcement agency in the State of Connecticut. These participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling …

From Riches To Rags : Deindustrialization And The Fall And Rise Of The Upstate Mill Towns Of South Carolina, Brian Patrick Worrill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The collapse and subsequent deindustrialization of the textile industry in the late 20th century devastated dozens of small communities across the Piedmont. With the loss of their primary economic engine these towns struggled with the outmigration of professional services and small businesses, crippling poverty, high unemployment, and rampant crime. As South Carolina’s economic model evolved to adapt to the globalized economy of the 21st century its government funded reindustrialization efforts have focused on its already well developed urban core, a strategy that often neglects rural areas. Yet, despite having been overlooked the majority of these orphaned mill towns did not …

Resilience And Empowerment: The Impact Of Gullah And Maroon Cultural Preservation On Pan-Africanism And Civil Rights Movements, Shantae' L. Streeter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation investigates the history of the cultural resilience and advocacy of the Gullah people of South Carolina and the Maroons of Jamaica, with a particular emphasis on their function as role models for the empowerment of descendants of the formerly enslaved (DOFE). This investigation examines how enslaved communities preserved cultural identity, resisted systemic injustice and influenced Pan-Africanism and Civil Rights movements in the 20th and 21st centuries. This research emphasizes the experiences of the Gullah people who maintained cultural identity through acculturation, and the enslaved populations from South Carolina’s interior regions and other Southern states, who faced assimilation. Additionally, …

Researching Public Perceptions Within Legal Precedents Related To The Use Of Police Swat Teams In South Carolina, Kristopher S. Ahler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

SWAT deployments, the militarization of police, and the use of force by law enforcement are frequent staples of media attention, harsh public opinion, and judgment from the public. The public, with specific legislative limitations on demographics, such as age and criminal history, comprises those individuals selected to sit on juries, which make decisions about the reasonableness of police conduct in SWAT operations. SWAT teams wear militaristic uniforms, are heavily armed, and respond to hostage rescues, counterterrorism operations, apprehending armed and dangerous fugitives, serving high risk search and arrest warrants, active shooter response, and other high-risk operations. The concept and practice …

Teacher Attrition And Mobility In Public Schools In Rural America: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study, Lisa Marie Dunkelberg

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of teachers who had previously taught at a rural public school in Northern New York State and had left those teaching positions. The problem communicated in this study was the high attrition, turnover, and mobility rates of teachers in rural public schools in the United States. The theory guiding this research is Ehrenberg and Smith’s economic labor market of supply and demand as it relates to the phenomenon of teacher attrition. The central research question of understanding the lived experiences of teachers who have left rural school districts …

Houston Nationalism: The Life And Politics Of United States Senator Sam Houston, Jeremy Ager Pedigo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Sam Houston had a long and distinguished career in public service, gaining the most notoriety as General of the Texas Army and President of the Republic of Texas. However, he served in the United States Senate longer than any other position he held. This dissertation examines the impact of his life events and political ideology on the decisions and actions he undertook as a Senator, culminating in the proposal of a new ideology called “Houston Nationalism.” This belief system was based on three principles; nationalism, engagement, and recognition, which are defined throughout the study. Nationalism represents Houston’s support for the …

“Mommy And Me”: A Phenomenological Study Into The Experiences Of African American Parents In Their Child’S Teletherapy Session, Cleveland E. Robinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of African American parents involved in their child’s teletherapy session. The study seeks to describe how these experiences occurred in the context of transitional change as these parents and children transitioned from in person therapy to telehealth due to COVID-19 or other major life circumstance. The theory guiding this study is Schlossberg’s transitional theory which highlights how change impacts the lives of people through unique individual experiences. Data was collected from semi-structured interviews that were administered to 10 participants. From these interviews four themes were created. These themes …

Emergency Management Single Points Of Failure, Todd Alan Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Disaster management begins and ends at the local level and encompasses every aspect of public administration. Emergency management practices using jurisdictional authority are central to protecting communities during incidents and events. Although contemporary emergency management plans, procedures, and policies are methodically developed over time, a single point of failure may cause preventable issues that result in a measurable loss of time, funding, or opportunity. A single point of failure can be any moment where a process, action, or detail was either overlooked or executed incorrectly and caused emergency management challenges. Fred Fiedler and William Scott’s descriptions of Contingency Theory, a …

A Saddlebag Doctor Of The Mahantongo Valley Of Pennsylvania: The Life And Practice Of Reuben Harris Muth, M.D., 1826-1899, Lawrence K. Knorr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The life and medical practice of Reuben Harris Muth, M.D., a rural saddlebag doctor, is reconstructed from an extant set of physicians’ daybooks, chronicling his professional activity from 1858 until 1898, including patients seen and the fees charged. The daybooks also provided a modicum of hints at other activities in his life, including his farming business and the whereabouts of his wayward son. However, there were no personal letters or diaries available. Thus, other primary sources and local newspaper accounts were utilized to fill out the most likely details and actions of his life, approximating his movements, key decisions, and …

Lgb Sexual Minorities And Parental Disclosure, Robyn D. Brian

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, collective case study is to explore how sexual minorities are making parental disclosure decisions in the United States. The theories guiding this study are Minority Stress Theory with theorist Illan Meyer, as well as Family Systems Theory with Murray Bowen, as they explain the relationship between sexual minority stress experienced by sexual minorities while looking at how that impacts the entire family unit during the disclosure process. Data was collected with semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results found that one’s future plans and next steps in life were the motivating factor for sexual …

Using Trade Books To Thematically Teach Civil Rights Issues, Alyssa Whitford, Timothy Lintner, Caroline Sheffield

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

This semester-long project examined the use of social studies trade books to thematically teach the civic contributions of three individuals who served as change agents in the United States during the late 19^th and early 20^th century. Two were African American men, Robert Smalls and Frederick Douglass, who took civic action to address racial discrimination faced by the Black community following the U.S. Civil War. The other was Ida B. Wells who challenged social inequities and injustices within her community. Throughout this project, sixth-grade students read selected trade books, examined primary sources, completed graphic organizers, and crafted writing …

History’S Unsung Hero: Examining Oscar Dunn And African American History Through A Graphical Novel, Nefertari Yancie

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Social studies curriculum is at the center of heated debates in U. S. politics. Conservative politicians seek to limit what student are taught about the experiences of people of color who have been oppressed or subjected to racist policies and treatment throughout American history. Whitewashing history denies students the chance to examine history in its fullness as they are unable to analyze the voices and experiences of all people whose stories have contributed to the American story. In this article, the author explores how graphic novels may be used to teach African American history. Specifically, the author discusses how activities …

Artifact Investigation As An Access Point To Doing Social Studies, Jacquelyn R. Benchik-Osborne, Susan Mcdonough

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Social studies methods coursework at two Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) emphasizes providing access to rigorous social science education for all. Teacher candidates (TCs) learn to design equitable opportunities for students in the elementary and middle level classrooms to engage in inquiry–to do social studies. One tool social scientists use to “do” their work is artifact investigation. Artifacts, such as historical photographs and primary sources, help students connect with cultural and historical contexts. Using digital artifacts from the Library of Congress (LOC), TCs create opportunities for students to explore social dynamics, identity formation, power structures, and community development through cultural realia. …

Night Of The Big Wind: A Historical Ya Fiction Novella, Grace Watts

Liberty University Research Week

This oral presentation details Night of the Big Wind, an original, historical fiction novella in the young adult (YA) genre. With the narrative framework of a hurricane which impacted Ireland on January 6th, 1839, the novella seeks to explore concepts of security and home as well as isolation and love. This presentation outlines both the historical and psychological research involved in the novella’s creative process, drawing on multiple disciplines to create a piece of God-centered literature that speaks to the holistic needs of modern young women. Night of the Big Wind creates a realistic setting in rural Ireland, featuring a …

Moonstorm In The Mainstream Or On The Margins?: Constellating St. Louis Lesbian Rhetorics From The Archives, Aurora Blanchard

Theses

Combining rhetorical analysis, oral history collection, and archival study, this multi-genre research project explores lesbian feminist organizing in the 1970s. Moonstorm was a St. Louis lesbian feminist magazine that operated in the 1970s and 1980s. The sample in this research project focuses on the issues of Moonstorm published between 1973 and 1977. Issues of Moonstorm are available for viewing in the archives of the State Historical Society of Missouri. Building on V. Jo Hsu’s theory of constellating, the poems and stories found in Moonstorm serve as sites of both contested and unconditional belonging for modern LGBTQ+ activists. Constellating, specifically in …

Utah Women, Discrimination, And Sexism: Experiences And Perceptions, April Townsend, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

During the fall of 2023, Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) researchers conducted a statewide study to establish a baseline for public perceptions related to the awareness, understanding, and attitudes about challenges that Utah women and girls face. In early 2024, UWLP published 20 research summaries¹ that shared the results of this comprehensive study. Then, in the fall of 2024, the survey was administered again around the state of Utah with slight refinements. Between January and April of 2025, we have shared the results of the 2024 data by releasing six white papers, this being the final report in …

Votes In The Balance: A Statistical Analysis Of Voting Behavior In The 2016 Presidential Election, Evan M. Carter

Harding Undergraduate Research Conference

The 2016 Presidential Election was unprecedented in its results. The predicted winner, Hillary Clinton, ended up winning the popular vote, but lost in the Electoral College count to Donald Trump. I examine voting for the winner, Donald Trump, and what factors caused people to vote for him or for another candidate. Although there are several factors that go into how people vote, I analyze demographic, geographic, and ideological predictors for why people voted the way they did. To do this, I will run a regression model on my dataset. Since my dependent variable is dichotomous, meaning there are only two …

Uas Academic Catalog 2025/2026, N/A N/A

UAS Academic Catalogs (2011-present)

No abstract provided.

Issue 464: April 17-May 1, 2025, The Local Voice

The Local Voice

Special Issue: 2025 Double Decker Arts Festival

Exploring The Impact Of Relational And Geographic Search On Firm Innovation, Manish K. Srivastava

Michigan Tech Publications

This paper explores the interplay between geographic and relational search behaviors and their impact on innovation generation within firms. Extending previous research, our study explores the dual influences of geographic proximity and relational dynamics on both the quantity and quality of innovations. We develop a conceptual framework to examine the combined effects of these factors, identifying four distinct types of firm knowledge search behaviors and analyzing their repercussions on innovation outcomes. The study highlights the necessity for managers to adopt a balanced approach in strategic knowledge search. By acknowledging the trade-offs between different search strategies, managers can more effectively navigate …

Cover And Forewords, James W. Gallagher

The Geographical Bulletin

Cover and Forewords

Bicycling: A Review, A Pilot Study And Planning Implications, Brian Dyck

The Geographical Bulletin

Bicycling is a growing activity. It provides both a form of exercise and a means of transportation. Recent estimates indicate there are over 85 million bicycle users in the United States.' Renewed interest in bicycling has occurred in the last ten years.' Some of the major reasons for the growth in bicycling include the revival of social acceptability of adult bicycling, the emphasis on the need for exercise, the greater availability of leisure time, the provision of bike ways and a response to the "energy crisis". The growth of bicycling, however, has caused some crucial concerns. Two of the more …

Volume 12 Complete Issue, James W. Gallagher

The Geographical Bulletin

Volume 12 Complete Issue

Satellite Photos, James W. Gallagher

The Geographical Bulletin

Satellite Photos

Military Geography: A Viable Field, Gary S. Freedom

The Geographical Bulletin

The image geographers of as military militaristic geographers has not been conducive to widespread acceptance and participation by academia. Mr. Graves has decried the narrow parameters of military geography, parameters made even more narrow by his arbitrary definition of the profession .. only those who are trained geographers and a component of the military. There is a distinct difference between membership in the military and those in our profession who study the character of an area in the context of military operations, even though a significant number of military geographers are associated with the military. His limited definition leaves out …

An Epigraphic· Geography Or "Kilroy (Amongst Others) Was Here", George F. Carter

The Geographical Bulletin

Vigorous debate has raged virtually since Columbus' discovery of America over who the American Indians were, where they came from, how they got here, and what the source of their civilization was. Momentarily, consideration was given to their being a separate creation; not the descendants of the people of Genesis. The Pope settled that by stating firmly that the Indians were God's creatures just as surely as the Spanish and Portuguese were, and as such entitled to all the rights, duties, and privileges thereto appertaining as they say as they cap and gown you.

Editor's Comments, James W. Gallagher

The Geographical Bulletin

In a conversation with Dr. Carter, at the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a year ago, he discussed some of the recent findings of investigators of ancient civilizations and particularly their new information regarding worldwide travel of those societies. Because exploration geography is a field that is neglected by most research geographers, and because some students feel that there are few new research areas to become involved in, I asked Dr. Carter if he he could write, for student consumption, an article which would demonstrate the attractiveness of exploration geography as a research career. …