Digital Commons Network^™

Distributed Leadership Applied: The Role Of Professional Learning Communities In The Emergence And Development Of Teacher Leadership, Grace M. Bellamy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to examine the processes through which teacher leadership is fostered and sustained among elementary and middle school educators who participate regularly in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), with a focus upon schools implementing the DuFour and Eaker PLC model with fidelity during the winter and spring of 2026. This study looked for evidence of the presence of teacher leadership in a middle school and an elementary school. The theoretical frameworks of Distributed Leadership and the Teacher Leadership Standards created by the Teacher Leadership Exploratory Consortium were employed in this study, and observations of …

Leading The Change: Staff-Driven Ai Transformation In Smu Libraries’ Collection Team, Siew Khim Lim, Fion Goh

Research Collection Library

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Role Of Transformational Leadership In Supporting Well-Being Among Globally Educated Nurses And Contiguous United States Educated Nurses: A Quantitative, Correlational Study, Megan Shone

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to understand the role of transformational leadership in relation to well-being among globally educated nurses (GENs) and contiguous United States, or mainland, educated nurses (CONUS-educated nurses). As internal and external pressures on healthcare systems intensify and impact the workforce, healthcare administrators and leaders must respond. This response must support elements of nurse well-being for both GENs and CONUS-educated nurses. The theoretical framework guiding this study was Transformational Leadership. This quantitative, correlational research design analyzed archival organizational engagement data from two acute care hospitals in New York State. The study examined professional satisfaction, …

Bridging The Theory-Practice Gap: A Delphi Study Of Faculty Composition In New York State Superintendent Preparation Programs, Michael A. Tromblee

Education Doctoral

The 2021 closure of the Indian Point nuclear power plant eliminated approximately one third of a New York State school district’s revenue, producing a fiscal crisis that exposed a gap between what superintendent preparation programs teach and what the role demands. Grounded in Situated Learning Theory, this study examined whether the faculty composition of superintendent preparation programs, specifically the balance between practitioner faculty and academic faculty, was associated with graduates' perceived readiness, job satisfaction, and career longevity.

The study used a two-round modified Delphi design with an expert panel of 12 sitting New York State superintendents, 10 of whom completed …

Dnp Final Report: Improving Diabetes Self-Efficacy Through Nutrition Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Lakimberely S. Wooten

DNP Final Reports

Diabetes affects 12.7% of residents in Northeast Texas and is the 7th leading cause of death. Internal evidence indicates low health literacy and a heavy disease burden in the service area, underscoring the need for a standardized, low-cost, and feasible approach to nutrition education. This quality improvement project evaluated the feasibility of implementing an instructor-led nutrition education session. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Framework and the ADKAR behavioral change model, adult participants with Type 2 diabetes received instruction on the Plate Method. Participants enrolled in a 4-week, instructor-led diabetes education class completed a 1-hour, nutrition education session using …

Navigating Dual Standards: Secondary Educators Integrating English Language Standards To Achieve English Proficiency, Calleigh Herrell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

English Learners represent one of the fastest-growing student populations in the United States, creating increased demands on secondary educators to support both language development and academic achievement. As accountability expectations continue to emphasize grade-level proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA), educators serving English Learners must navigate the intersection of English language proficiency standards and content-area instructional requirements. While English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century (ELPA-21) standards are intended to support language acquisition and access to academic content, educators often face challenges integrating language development goals with grade-level ELA expectations. As such, secondary educators play a critical role in …

Flipping The Script: An Osint-Driven Framework For Smb Cyber Resilience, James A. Herrick

All Student Scholarship

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are critical economic drivers, yet they remain prime targets for cyber-attacks. Frequently operating under constraints involving financial resources, personnel, technical expertise, and time, SMBs have difficulty recognizing cybersecurity as a business risk warranting the expenditure of resources. Traditional cybersecurity consulting approaches meet with organizational resistance and fail to gain acceptance due to the SMB’s general underestimation of their own risk. This paper introduces a novel structured, repeatable framework designed to introduce a fresh mindset to conventional consulting. It repurposes Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) reconnaissance - a toolset typically used by adversaries - for a constructive, empathetic …

An Expectancy-Based Theory Of The Firm: How Media Tone And Ceo–Media Political Ideological Alignment Shape Corporate Investment, Ondina Sevilla

All Dissertations

This study examines how ideologically differentiated media tone in business and economic news relates to firm investment decisions and how CEO–media ideological alignment conditions this relationship. I advance an expectancy-based extension of the Behavioral Theory of the Firm in which media tone serves as an external informational signal that is interpreted through managerial cognition rather than directly influencing firm behavior. CEO political ideology shapes how media signals are interpreted and incorporated into managerial expectancies regarding future conditions.

To test these arguments, I construct firm-quarter measures of positive and negative media tone from business and economic news articles, disaggregated by outlet …

Strategic Ties That Bind: How Founder Identity Shapes Enduring Imprints Across The Firm And Community, Michelle Gras

All Dissertations

This dissertation examines how founder identity creates long-lasting imprints on organizations and the communities in which they operate by researching a historical case study in the U.S. textile industry.  This research responded to calls in the imprinting literature for greater attention to secondhand imprinting mechanisms, multiple sensitive periods, and durability of founder influence over time (Marquis & Tilcsik, 2013; Marquis & Qiao, 2025) and draws upon the theoretical lenses of founder identity theory (Fauchart & Gruber, 2011) and organizational imprinting theory (Stinchcombe, 1965; Marquis & Tilcsik, 2013).  The findings suggest that founder identity persistence is not solely a consequence of …

Beyond Going Green: A Multilevel Examination Of Sustainability Climate Formation, Meredith Pool

All Dissertations

Going green at the organizational level does not automatically produce a shared sustainability climate among employees. How individual perceptions of organizational sustainability support form, and under what signal conditions they converge, has been theorized but rarely tested experimentally. The present study examined these questions using a 2 × 2 × 2 between-subjects factorial vignette experiment (N = 332) with full-time employed adults, manipulating organizational sustainability signal strength (strong vs. weak), team-level sustainability signal strength (strong vs. weak), and team functional context (operations vs. analytics). Two large main effects emerged. Organizational signal strength produced a large effect on Perceived Organizational Sustainability …

Navigating The Dark Side: Emotional Labor's Impact On Hr Professionals' Wellness, Esmeralda Amelia Rendón

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive study was designed to document and describe how female-identifying human resource (HR) generalist practitioners serving as sole or primary employee relations practitioners in small- to medium-sized organizations across the United States experience and manage emotional labor in their roles, cope with its demands, and how these experiences impact their wellness and perceptions of organizational support. Despite the centrality of emotional labor (EL) in human resource professionals’ (HRPs) roles, little was known about how HRPs in these underresourced environments cope with these demands. Data were collected through semistructured virtual interviews with eight participants and analyzed using Braun and …

Retention During Turbulent Times Of Higher Education: Modeling Intent To Leave Academia For Research University Faculty, Jordan Monroe Ball

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

University faculty operate as the lifeblood of any institution given that their job requires a “double duty” to develop both scholarly research and student minds. Due in large part to these expectations, research shows a long history of poor mental health for faculty, which ultimately results in faculty turnover. One model of faculty work motivation (Padilla et al., 2023) details the way in which the faculty work environment influences their mental health, and subsequently informs their job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and intent to leave academia, which serves as a proxy for turnover. Retention related issues have not been a pressing …

Charting The Martian Future: Long-Term Space Policy Planning Of Nasa’S Human Spaceflight Program, 1957-1988, Angel J. Peralta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From the late 1950s to the early 1990s, NASA’s human spaceflight programs repeatedly encountered political and bureaucratic pressures that prioritized short-term interests over long-term planning. These constraints shaped the development of the Apollo, Space Shuttle, Space Station, and other human spaceflight programs, limiting NASA’s ability to pursue a sustained strategic vision. This thesis traces the evolution of long-term human spaceflight policy through documents and memos produced by advisory committees, research councils, and key individuals during this period. Despite shifting administrations and their respective politics, these sources reveal a consistent goal of human spaceflight ultimately leading beyond Earth to the Moon …

The Tension Of Retention And Retirement: A Narrative Study Of Full-Time Nursing Faculty Within Five Years Of Retirement At Public, Four-Year Institutions In Texas, Shelley Hunt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This narrative inquiry, qualitative study explored the retirement decision-making process of nursing faculty at public, four-year institutions who were within five years of retirement. Through purposive sampling, 11 participants across eight institutions consented to participate and were interviewed via Zoom. Due to the nursing faculty shortage, the researcher hypothesized that nursing faculty nearing retirement may be retiring not only as a natural progression of their career but also because of factors that lead other early and mid-career faculty members to leave academia. Through thematic analysis, four themes emerged: Finding Meaning and Fulfillment in the Nurse Faculty Role, Institutional Factors Shaping …

Systematic Review Of The Institutionalization Of Service Learning In Higher Education, Wilmer Hernan Cruz Gutierrez

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

An increasing number of universities are integrating service-learning (SL) to fulfill their social mission. However, sustainable institutionalization of SL remains a persistent challenge. This study identifies and analyzes the factors, actors, and strategies that drive and inhibit SL institutionalization in higher education. Using the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic literature review analyzed 52 documents from seven academic databases (including WoS, Scopus, and ERIC). The findings were grouped into three sections: cultural (integration into institutional values/missions), process (articulation within teaching, research, and outreach), and structural dimensions (dedicated support entities). The results obtained reveal a reciprocal relationship where cultural alignment enables processual …

Online Mindfulness Training And Work-Related Outcomes: A Randomized Waitlist Controlled Trial, Conner Lee Deichman

Theses and Dissertations

Mindfulness-based interventions improve employee well-being, yet few studies have examined their impact on work-specific outcomes in private-sector samples. Online mindfulness programs offer a promising, accessible alternative to in-person training. This randomized waitlist-controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of Mindfulness for Humans (MfH), a fully online, self-directed 15-session program, on job satisfaction, burnout, work engagement, subjective well-being, and mindfulness skills among private-sector employees. Participants were randomly assigned to a training-first group or a waitlist-first group and completed measures at baseline, 30 days, and 60 days. Results showed significant improvements in job satisfaction, burnout, subjective well-being, and mindfulness following course participation. The training-first …

How Psychological Capital Promotes Student Flourishing: Mediating Effects Of Career Adaptability And Study Engagement, Sana Nisar, Adnan Adil, Sultan Shujja, Samina Rashid

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

In today’s rapidly evolving academic and occupational landscape, understanding the psychological resources that support student well-being is critical. This study investigates the predictive role of academic psychological capital (PsyCap) in fostering flourishing among Pakistani university undergraduates, specifically identifying the mediating mechanisms of career adaptability and study engagement. Grounded in career construction theory and the JD-R model, the research contributes to theory by positioning PsyCap as a key personal resource that facilitates adaptive capacity and meaningful engagement. Data from 350 undergraduates in public-sector universities were analyzed using path analysis. Results revealed that PsyCap significantly predicted flourishing (β = .35, p …

Navigating Ai Landscape In Management Education Through Wu-Wei (無為), Maria Ll Lam

Journal of the North American Management Society

Artificial intelligence (AI) is challenging how knowledge is produced, validated, and taught in higher education. This creates both new opportunities and acute tensions in management education. While management educators aim to foster critical thinking and character development, many students are increasingly relying on AI tools and focusing on developing AI-related skills for the labor market. The required market skills often exceed what current business curricula provide. As higher education seeks to cultivate transferable habits of critical reflection, a central question arises: How can management educators prepare students to engage in ongoing moral reflection about their experience with evolving AI systems …

Digital Government Maturity Dan Kapasitas Fiskal Dalam Penyerapan Anggaran Daerah Di Indonesia, Winda Chelsea Meisari, Siti Fatimah

Jurnal Administrasi Bisnis Terapan

This study examines the determinants of budget absorption within Indonesian provincial governments by assessing the impact of digital government maturity and regional fiscal capacity. Digital maturity is operationalized using the Electronic-Based Government System (SPBE) index, while fiscal capacity is proxied by the Natural Logarithm of Local Genuine Revenue (Ln_PAD). Adopting a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design encompassing 38 provinces in 2024, the data were evaluated through multiple linear regression analysis. The empirical findings demonstrate that neither digital maturity (p-value = 0.966) nor fiscal capacity (p-value = 0.774) exhibits a statistically significant relationship with budget absorption, both partially and simultaneously …

Secondary Special Education Teachers’ Perspectives On Professional Socialization In A Maryland School District, Darice Mattie Holmes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the insufficient professional socialization of novice secondary special education teachers (SSETs), undermining their ability to adapt to school culture in a Maryland school district (MSD, a pseudonym). Grounded in Mayo's theory of human relations, the purpose of this study was to explore novice SSETs' perceptions of professional socialization through peers, professional development, or mentoring to adapt to the school culture at MSD. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with seven novice SSETs. The data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis with Saldaña's coding strategies, yielding four themes: (a) …

The Human Side Of Policy: Rural Teachers And Alberta’S 2024 Mobile Device Ban, Kelly A. Smith

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Technology-restrictive educational policies are increasingly shaping classroom practice, yet limited qualitative research has examined how teachers experience implementing these mandates in rural contexts. This study explored how rural elementary teachers experienced Alberta’s 2024 Ministerial Order banning personal mobile devices during instructional time. Using a phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight rural elementary teachers and analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: policy ambiguity, reduced professional autonomy, emotional labour, and leadership as a mediating force. Findings suggest the policy functioned as more than a classroom technology restriction, shaping trust, instructional flexibility, teacher well-being, and school relationships. The study …

Teachers’ Resistance And Adaptation In Facing The Digitalization Of Education At Vocational High School In Indonesia, Hilma Zuroida, Agus Tinus, Kuncahyono Kuncahyono

Journal of ICSAR

This study explores vocational high school teachers' resistance and adaptation in responding to educational digitalization and examines the factors shaping this process. A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed to investigate teachers' lived experiences at SMK Muhammadiyah 1 Kepanjen, Indonesia. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that teacher resistance is not a rejection of technology but a transitional phase characterized by hesitation, uncertainty, and adjustment. Internal factors such as digital literacy, technological self-efficacy, and generational differences influence teachers' responses, while external factors, including leadership, infrastructure, and professional communities, support adaptation. …

Sociological Inquiry Into Inclusion, Identity, And Educational Practices For Children With Disabilities In A Special Needs Foundation In Indonesia, Nurcholis Sunuyeko, Jasuli Jasuli, Rochsun Rochsun

Journal of ICSAR

This study explores how inclusive policies, identity formation, and adapted teaching practices interact to shape educational experiences for children with disabilities at Bhakti Luhur Foundation Malang, a special-needs foundation in Indonesia that provides residential care and educational services for orphaned children with disabilities. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews with three key informants: a principal, a classroom teacher, and a shadow teacher, supported by observations and document analysis. Data were analyzed using the interactive model of qualitative analysis. The findings indicate that inclusion is understood and enacted differently across institutional roles. While the principal …

Strategies Used By Silicon Valley Technology Leaders To Advance Latinx Employees Into Leadership Roles To Increase Firm Productivity, Elizabeth A. Garcia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The underrepresentation of Latinx professionals in leadership roles remains a challenge for technology leaders. Leaders who lack effective leadership development strategies for Latinx employees may experience reduced innovation, lower productivity, and decreased organizational competitiveness. Grounded in the resource-based view, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective strategies used by Silicon Valley technology leaders to advance Latinx employees into leadership roles to increase firm productivity. Participants were 10 technology leaders with experience implementing strategies to hire, develop, and promote Latinx talent. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, public organizational documents, and industry publications. …

Strategies Managers Used To Mitigate Constraints For Project Success, Teela Washington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Persistent project failures result in significant financial losses and reduced project management efficacy. Project managers who struggle to complete projects to scope, on time, and on budget risk reducing business performance and organizational value. Grounded in change management theory and theory of constraints, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective strategies project managers employ to mitigate constraints and improve project success. Participants were 10 project managers who effectively mitigated constraints. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and publicly available documents. Thematic analysis yielded four key themes: leadership, resource management, stakeholder engagement, and …

Nurse-Led Quality Improvement Asthma Self-Management In Primary Care, Jolene Steinert-Abderhalden

DNP Projects

Background:
Poorly controlled asthma contributes to preventable morbidity, yet many adults lack consistent self-management support. Local Problem: Baseline assessment at a rural Midwestern clinic revealed limited asthma knowledge, inconsistent action-plan use, and low confidence among adults with Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores below 20.

Methods:
This quality improvement project used a pre- and post-intervention design guided by Lean methodology and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework. Interventions: Registered nurses delivered standardized asthma education, inhaler-technique review, and action plan reinforcement with monthly structured follow-up for 16 weeks.

Results:
Among four enrolled participants, three completed follow-up. Mean ACT scores improved from 17.5 at baseline …

The Moderating Role Of Flexible Work Styles On The Relationship Between Relational Identification And Affective Organizational Commitment, Justine Lee

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the moderating role of flexible work styles (in-person, hybrid, and remote) on the relationship between relational identification and affective organizational commitment (AOC). The study utilized an online survey to collect data from 69 respondents. The results demonstrated that although relational identification and AOC were related, this relationship was not moderated by flexible work styles. The three different work styles of in-person, hybrid, and remote work did not show differing affects for a subordinate’s relational identification and the strength of their AOC. The results emphasize that organizations can foster strong relational identification to …

Breaking The Glass Ceiling From The Ground Floor: Bipoc Women Classified Professionals’ Journey In California Community Colleges, Lusyna Kim Narvaez

Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined how women in classified professional positions navigate institutional barriers and access professional development within California community colleges. Using Critical Liberatory Feminist Pedagogy, Critical Race Feminist Theory, and Challenging Leadership Theory as analytical frameworks, the study explored the lived experiences of 18 participants across five Northern California community colleges through individual interviews and focus groups. Findings revealed three central themes: strategic communication as a survival mechanism, institutionalized exhaustion, and professional development as gatekeeping. Participants described employing calculated communication strategies to navigate workplace dynamics while minimizing personal and professional risk. The study illuminated how institutional structures create systemic …

Leadership, Identity, And Black Joy: The Career Trajectories And Experiences Of Black Administrators In The California State University System, Uchechukwu C. Ogamba

Dissertations

This study explores the experiences of Black mid- and upper-level administrators within the California State University (CSU) system, with a focus on career trajectories, institutional barriers, support systems, and mentorship. Black administrators are essential but continue to be underrepresented in higher education leadership and limited research focuses on their professional pathways and sustainability within the higher education systems. Guided by Black Joy Theory and Professional Identity Theory, this study uses survey data (n = 24) and semi-structured interviews (n = 8) to explore how Black administrators navigate leadership and create meaning within institutional environments. Quantitative findings highlight the importance of …

Reskilling And Retraining The Water Technology Workforce: An Agentic Generative Ai Framework For Water Purification, Nano‑Mems, And Curriculum Development, Satyadhar Joshi, Noor Zulfiqar

Harrisburg University Other Works

The rapid digitalization of water infrastructure is bringing artificial intelligence, advanced sensing, and membrane materials science into routine water treatment practice. At the same time, utilities, regulators, and training institutions face a persistent workforce challenge: many operators, engineers, and managers are being asked to adopt data-driven tools without a coherent educational pathway that links AI literacy to real treatment workflows. This article synthesizes recent literature on agentic generative AI, reinforcement learning, smart sensing, nano-enabled membranes, and digital twins for water systems, then translates those developments into a structured reskilling model for the water sector. The proposed framework is organized around …