Digital Commons Network^™

Generations At Work: Examining Differences In The Nonprofit Sector, Cory J. Bergeron

Dissertations

This non-experimental quantitative dissertation examined generational differences among non-management employees in the United States nonprofit sector, where multiple generational cohorts work side by side. The problem addressed is that nonprofit leaders’ limited understanding of how distinct generational experiences shape employees’ work-related attitudes and preferences can contribute to conflict, reduced engagement, and costly turnover in already resource-constrained organizations. Grounded in Mannheim’s generational theory and Becker’s human capital theory, the study conceptualized generational cohorts as groups whose shared formative experiences influence what they value in their work context and how those values translate into human capital that affects organizational outcomes.

Using a …

The Impact Of Coach-Athlete Interactions On Athletic Performance: Exploring How Interpersonal Dynamics Translate Into Athletic Performance., Amanda Pizzol

Theses & ETDs

This study examines how interactions between coach and athlete shape athletic performance, through an ethnographic study involving three members of the New College of Florida beach volleyball team and their respective coaches. As a member of the team, I had direct access to daily practices, conversations, and competitive moments, which allowed me to observe how the athletes react to different coaching styles in real time. This access also enabled me to connect my own experience as an athlete to the data I collected throughout this research. The team's context is central to this research. At the time of this study, …

Enhancing Communication In Amateur Soccer Teams Through A Centralized Management App, Manuel Rodriguez

Theses & ETDs

MatchFit is a full-stack web application designed to help amateur soccer teams manage internal logistics in one centralized system. Many teams currently rely on fragmented communication and planning tools such as group chats, email threads, and paper notes. This creates information silos where important updates are missed, schedules are unclear, and player availability is not reliably tracked. The result is extra administrative work for coaches and inconsistent accountability for players. The objective of this project was to design and implement a user-friendly platform that supports core team operations without requiring advanced technical skill. MatchFit provides secure authentication with role-based access …

Trailside Waste As An Indicator Of Human Impact: A Case Study Of The Lone Star Hiking Trail, Madison Slater

Theses & ETDs

Long-distance hiking trails provide important recreational and ecological benefits but are increasingly affected by recreation-derived waste. This study assessed the distribution and composition of litter along the 96-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) in the Sam Houston National Forest in the state of Texas. Using a complete trail census approach inspired by prior research on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), all encountered waste items were recorded, categorized, and assigned to one-mile transects to evaluate spatial patterns. A total of 327 items were documented, averaging 3.4 items per mile. Waste patterns demonstrated clear clustering near access points like that of trailheads …

Why Has There Been A Drought In The Ipo Market?, Hannah Picott

Theses & ETDs

In recent years, initial public offerings have seen a decline in volume that historically should not have taken place. The economic conditions have indicated a strong initial public offerings market; however, this has not been seen. Research has shown that there has been a rise in alternatives to entering the public market and a lengthened timeline of companies remaining private. In this study, data on the volume of initial public offerings, P/E ratios, and private equity have been used in tandem with charts and a regression to analyze the potential diminishing of IPOs. Finance is forever evolving; what is known …

Manatee Acoustic Detection: Adapting Cnn Models To New Locations, Vivian Cargille

Theses & ETDs

Automated detection of manatee vocalizations across a wide range of habitats, from coastal and estuarine systems to rivers and freshwater springs, is challenged by domain shift, the reduction in model performance when applied to acoustic conditions not represented in training data. We compiled a training dataset of 61,924 annotated clips (19,461 manatee vocalizations, 42,463 background noise) from seven locations spanning West Africa and Florida, including both African (Trichechus senegalensis) and American (Trichechus manatus) manatee vocalizations, and evaluated four Convolutional Neural Network architectures for binary vocalization detection. Leave-location-out cross-validation revealed substantial variation in cross-location generalization, with on-animal tag recordings producing the …

Return Of The Wolf: An Assessment Of The Reintroduction Of The Gray Wolves To Yellowstone National Park, Keagan Roeder

Theses & ETDs

This paper examines the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park by breaking the topic into several sections. It begins with an introduction and a history and timeline section, which provide background on wolf eradication and the events leading up to their reintroduction in 1995–1996. The paper then moves into legal sections, including discussions of the Endangered Species Act, the Environmental Impact Statement, and key court cases, explaining how policy and law made the reintroduction possible and continue to shape wolf management. Ecological impacts are explored in sections focused on animal populations and behavior, waterways, and plant communities, highlighting …

Time Is A Tree: Arboreal Chronotopes & Reciprocal Dendrochronology, Alyssa Bernard

Theses & ETDs

This thesis proposes a framework for reciprocal dendrochronology, a decolonial approach to tree-ring science that shifts the role of the researcher from an extractive observer to a vessel for translating arboreal memory, and explores how trees function as chronotopes: material intersections where time and space are fused into a living record (Bakhtin 1981). By applying the structuralist frameworks of Claude Lévi-Strauss (1955) and Joseph Campbell (1949), it is argued that trees have long functioned as universal symbols of continuity and the axis of existence. This baseline is then brought into conversation with the chronotopic theory of Mikhail Bakhtin (1981) and …

From The Field To The Sidelines: Student-Athletes’ Transitions Into Coaching, Lais Leonardo Martins

Theses & ETDs

This study explores the transition from student-athlete to coach and examines how athletic experiences shape individuals’ motivations, leadership philosophies, and identity development. Drawing on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with current and former student-athletes, as well as the researcher’s own experience, this research analyzes how individuals navigate the shift from competitive sport to leadership roles. The findings highlight the central role of athletic identity in shaping the transition process, as many participants experienced challenges redefining their sense of purpose after leaving competition. Coaching emerged as a key pathway that allows former athletes to maintain their connection to sport while transforming …

Everyday Objects, Disrupted: Five Chairs As Form And Sculpture, Lily Cerle

Theses & ETDs

We sit in chairs every day without thinking twice about it. My thesis asks what happens when this changes. By transforming 14-gauge sheet metal into folded, origami-inspired forms, my project reimagines the chair as something more than a place to sit, exploring how a chair can function as both functional furniture and sculptural artwork that challenges the way we experience our own bodies in space. The collection consists of five chairs, each built through bending, folding, rolling, and welding. Inspired by the work of Ron Arad and Vivian Beer, the series plays with the idea that a hard, industrial material …

Reproductive Characteristics Of The Chain Pipefish, Syngnathus Louisianae, David Kelley

Theses & ETDs

Syngnathids: pipefish, seahorses, and seadragons in the family Syngnathidae, are an evolutionarily unique, yet often understudied group of species typically found in shallow seagrass habitats, defined by their collection of extremely specialized adaptations, which include but are not limited to: male pregnancy, elongated and rigid bodies with bony plates, small fins not well suited for swimming, and fused jaws that form long and thin snouts. This study examines the species Syngnathus louisianae, a large pipefish native to coastal waters, namely seagrass and sargassum habitats, in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast. This species was chosen for this study over …

Scrolling Fatigue: How Continuous Short-Form Video Consumption Affects User Attention And Satisfaction, Maribeliy Ramos Jimenez

Communications and Digital Media Theses

This thesis focuses on the negative effects that derive from continuous short-from video consumption. It specifically examines the relationship between user scrolling fatigue, attention, and satisfaction with constant usage of short-form video platforms. It mainly focuses on the use of digital platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram. This research builds on previously examined empirical investigations that analyzed the effects of scrolling through short-form video digital platforms influences users’ memory, stress, and procrastination. The research analyzes the possible connection with the use of survey-based quantitative methods. The study aims to determine how users process the continuous exposure to short-form …

Back To The Bayfront, Dania Hefley

Theses & ETDs

I’m trying to make sense of the different versions of myself that existed inside New College over the last four years. How I existed while studying. Which classrooms made me feel like a person. Which professors taught me how to read. Which ones taught me how to think. Which ones made me want to rise to the level of the room. Which ones made me feel like I was disappearing. I don’t want to turn these four years into a lesson, but I need a way in that lets me see the throughline. Recently, my literature professor, Miller, was talking …

Optimizing Fleet Use And Revunue Management Of Car Rentals: A Case Study Of Enterprise Mobility, Cannon Hinkle

Theses & ETDs

This thesis provides a comprehensive analysis of fleet utilization, pricing strategies, customer demand, and the relationship of these aspects with operational efficiency. The analysis is performed via the case of Enterprise Mobility and is based on personal experience gained during an internship program at Enterprise Mobility's airport rental facility. Firstly, this paper addresses the issue of how rental companies maximize revenue via effective distribution of their assets, use of dynamic pricing strategies, and proper forecasting of customer demand. It is important to note that unlike most businesses, companies in the car rental industry do not have the luxury of storing …

Are Brothers Of Italy And National Rally Really Fascist? An Analysis Of Fascism In Europe And Case Study Of Two Modern European Political Parties., Alexander Konuch

Theses & ETDs

This thesis is a qualitative case study of the parties Rassemblement National in France and Fratelli d’Italia in Italy. They have been called fascist by both political opponents and some proponents in the media, this thesis attempts to verify this claim. To do so, the thesis reviews the past 80 years of literature on fascism to create a taxonomy of the concept, since there is not a single academic consensus about what exactly “fascism” is. Using this literature, this taxonomy of fascism is comprised of 12 characteristics, where a characteristic match of 10/12 points would provide substantial evidence to call …

Understanding Tlr3 Immune Response Activation In Cryptosporidium Parvum And Cryspovirus Pathogenesis, Surayya Hudayberganova

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Cryptosporidiosis is a serious gastrointestinal illness caused by a protozoan parasite known as Cryptosporidium. It is particularly dangerous for malnourished children and those with compromised immune systems. My research focuses on the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) response to the Cryptosporidium parvum infection, specifically in the presence of the parasite’s viral mutualist named cryspovirus (CSpV1). Results using research methodologies like ELISA and RT-qPCR have indicated that TLR3 expression increases during the infection process of Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum). Furthermore, one intriguing observation concluded during this study suggests that administering the TLR3-specific inhibitor CU-CPT4a to infected cells drastically decreased this activation. This …

Not Set In Stone; Medusa As A Monster, Victim, And Symbol Of Protection, Caroline Dziekan

Theses & ETDs

This thesis will examine the ancient Greek monster Medusa in order to outline the three key elements of her identity as a monster, victim, and symbol of protection. It will do so through examinations and analysis of her written mythology and artistic representations, tracking the progression of her identity throughout these works and then analyzing her identity within them. Each chapter will focus on one of the three principal aspects of her identity in order to dissect each piece on its own before examining how these aspects interact with each other. In doing so, this thesis will explore the roles …

Emily Dickinson And Poetic Presentation, Eirinn Flanagan

Theses & ETDs

No abstract provided.

Callie Goes To College, Callie Flemming

Theses & ETDs

This document discusses the musical process, influence, and construction of the alternative rock album callie goes to college, released in 2026. It was self- produced over four years on New College of Florida’s campus by Callie Flemming, who is also the author of this thesis. It starts with a discussion of the album’s broad influences and its general sonic profile, then moves onto specific analysis of consistent and repeated ideas in harmonic and melodic composition, the presence of several different types of counterpoint, the appearances of improvisatory solo sections, the emotional implications of the lyrics and the impact that composition …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Bis(Pyrazolate) Metal-Organic Frameworks For Carbon Dioxide Adsorption And Sequestration, Emily Granville

Theses & ETDs

There has been an increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels for energy, vehicle transportation, industrial factories, and deforestation. This is harmful to the environment as it is the primary factor of climate change and ocean acidification. To help solve this issue, scientists have been using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to adsorb and sequester the CO2 due to the highly porous crystalline structures and open metal sites of the MOFs. Hard metal cations act as hard Lewis acids that would coordinate in the open metal site, which attracts the lone pair on …

Effects Of Early Life Karenia Brevis Exposure On Bottlenose Dolphin Calves In Sarasota Bay, Florida, Elizabeth Fry

Theses & ETDs

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) have increased in frequency, intensity and geographic distribution in the past several decades. Florida is an epicenter for an HAB, commonly referred to as red tide, caused by the algal dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, which produces the neurotoxin brevetoxin. Acute exposure to brevetoxin causes respiratory distress and has been associated with large scale marine mammal mortalities and fish kills. However, potential chronic effects of exposure, including via maternal transfer, have not been well characterized. Fetal and juvenile mammals may be particularly susceptible to the neurobiological effects of excitotoxins due to their developmental stage. Many resident coastal bottlenose …

Canvascram Automating The Generation Of Learning Materials Using Retrieval Augmented Generation (Rag), Paige Grimes

Theses & ETDs

An increasing number of students across the globe have been utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in their studies. These tools can be beneficial when assisting students in understanding different topics; however, hallucinations that provide incorrect explanations by these models may negatively impact the learning process. CanvasCram is proposed to create an alternative approach to generating learning materials by integrating the use of retrieval augmented generation (RAG) into the generation process for both students and teachers. RAG relies on a knowledge base, rather than solely relying on public training data that base models use to generate their output. Additionally, a Canvas …

Rhetorical Models Of Conspiracy Theories How Two Political Commentary Youtubers Build Narrative Authority, Riley Bucklin

Theses & ETDs

The purpose of this study is to explore the rhetoric that independent political commentators on YouTube used to develop conspiracy theories in the immediate aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s murder. On September 10th, 2025, Charlie Kirk — a prominent conservative political commentator and activist — was assassinated at a Turning Point USA event on Utah Valley University campus. Following the shooting, various conspiracy theories developed online as the narrative from the federal investigation was still developing. This study is necessitated by the rapid pace at which digital subcultures have displaced traditional media outlets and reshaped what is considered trustworthy reporting. To …

Inbreeding Effects On Fitness-Related Traits: Evidence From Two Populations Of The Least Killifish (Heterandria Formosa), Abigail Hansen

Theses & ETDs

Inbreeding, the mating of closely related individuals, can affect the fitness and overall health of natural populations by reducing genetic diversity and exposing deleterious recessive alleles. To better understand the effects of inbreeding, a controlled lab experiment was conducted using the Least Killifish species, Heterandria Formosa. Many species have evolved behavioral and demographic mechanisms to avoid inbreeding; however, these mechanisms can be constrained in small or structured populations. This species was purposely chosen for this experiment as the fish appear in two diverse populations; a population with high density from the Wacissa River (WR) located in South-Central Jefferson county, Florida …

Honduras’ Stagnant Development: An Institutional And Solow Growth Analysis From 1990-2022, Alejandra Martinez

Theses & ETDs

For the past 33 years, Honduras has been persistently one of the poorest Latin American countries, classified as a lower-middle income country with high crime rates and political corruption. Honduras, like other Latin American countries, is known for being rich in natural resources, but despite over 60 years of foreign aid has yet to develop itself domestically and internationally, as Western standard deems it. Previous research on Honduras’ poverty and economic development are typically centered around a specific region and the rural sector, but there is a gap in the literature that analyzes the economic disparity of the country as …

Sunless, Gabriel Olah

Theses & ETDs

My thesis is simple. It is a novella which I have been working on in one form or another for the better part of a year and a half. Over my lengthy times working on this work, it has changed shape drastically, just as any proper story should. Characters were added and dropped, locations were visited and left behind, ideas and plotlines developed or removed, all eventually being boiled down into this current version. This is a version I hold no belief in being perfect, for perfect is the enemy of done, but I am of the belief that it …

Corporate Leverage And Private Investment: Short-Run Constraints And Long-Run Financing In The U.S., Brandon Sisneros

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines the relationship between corporate leverage and private investment in the United States using quarterly macroeconomic data from 1971Q2 to 2025Q2. The framework employed consisted of an Engle-Granger cointegration framework and an error correction model (ECM), the analysis finds evidence of a consistent long-run equilibrium between corporate leverage and real gross private domestic investment as a share of GDP. The long-run estimates return a positive and statistically significant relationship. Conversely, the short-run ECM output shows that increases in leverage reduce investment, while both contemporaneous and lagged coefficients confirm a negative persistent effect. In addition, the error correction term …

Inverse Problems On Networks With Self-Loops And Related Problems In Electrical Impedance Tomography, Hope Steen

Theses & ETDs

The central topic of this thesis is the inverse problem for random walks on graphs, i.e. finding the transition probabilities of some Markov chain restricted to a rooted tree graph with known topology and a set of joint distributions of first hitting time and hitting place. It has already been shown by de la Peña et al. in the case where self-transitions are prohibited that the transition probabilities of such a Markov chain can be determined given these joint distributions on two ’boundary layers.’ This thesis proves that the problem can be solved for Markov chains allowing self-transitions, via an …

Industry Analysis In The Event Clothing Retail: Market And Price Strategies, Challenges And Implications, Sports Promotions Group Case Study, Pablo Herrera Jara

Theses & ETDs

The event clothing retail sector occupies a unique space within the broader apparel industry, offering customized products tied to specific occasions such as sports events, concerts, or festivals. This segment of the market benefits from emotional engagement and time‑limited availability, but it also presents challenges due to production cycles or fluctuating inventory. In this thesis, the Industry Strategy is applied to a case study: Sports Promotion Group, a company specializing in event‑specific apparel for sports events. By analyzing the various situations and interactions that shape the firm’s choices, the study extracts insights relevant to businesses operating in the event-clothing retail …

I’Ll Have A Who Christmas Without You: A Case Study On The One-Person Show Through Who’S Holiday, Caitlyn Turner

Theses & ETDs

This thesis discusses the experience and history of the one-person show, or monodrama, through a performance of Who’s Holiday by Matthew Lombardo. Who’s Holiday was first performed in November 2017 at the Westside Theatre Off-Broadway. This thesis is in three parts: History & Theory, Analysis of the Play, and a Reflection of the performance. My professor Tim O’Donnell directed my performance of the play, which was performed in December 2025.