Digital Commons Network^™

Walking With The Wounded: Chaplains As Agents Of Christ’S Healing Ministry, Fred Okechukwu Anucha

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Doctor of Ministry action research project evaluated the effectiveness of an eight-week Christ-centered training intervention designed to strengthen hospital chaplains’ confidence and clarify sacramental boundaries in end-of-life care at AdventHealth Celebration. Hospital chaplains frequently encounter situations in which patients and families request sacramental or spiritually significant practices during moments of crisis, yet chaplains often lack structured training that addresses how to respond with both pastoral sensitivity and theological clarity within a multifaith healthcare environment.

The project implemented an eight-week training program that integrated theological reflection, case-based discussion, and practical ministry applications intended to strengthen chaplains’ confidence in providing spiritual …

“Looking For Group”: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis Of The Uses And Gratifications Behind World Of Warcraft Player Communication, Joshua Michael Hutt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the uses and gratifications of in-game communication in World of Warcraft (WoW). The problem is that scholars do not precisely know how uses and gratifications motivate players to use certain channels of communication within WoW. The rationale for the research was to determine whether certain motivations are being fulfilled during in-game communication, influencing players to select certain channels over others. The data collection method for this research used semi-structured interviews conducted online via Microsoft Teams. A screening application was sent to Reddit pages and Discord groups associated with World of Warcraft …

The Influence Of Love During Childhood On Young Adult Relationships And Psychological Wellbeing In Rural Appalachia, Kerry Ann Saul Wheeler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined the relationships among childhood love, relationship love attitudes, and psychological wellbeing among young adults with childhood experiences in rural Appalachia. Childhood love was operationalized through adult attachment styles, specifically avoidant and anxious attachment, using the Experiences in Close Relationships–Short Form (ECR-S). Love attitudes were measured using the Love Attitudes Scale–Short Form (LAS-S), and psychological wellbeing was assessed using Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well-Being–18 (PWB). The sample consisted of 88 participants between the ages of 21 and 35. Pearson’s correlation analyses revealed significant negative relationships between attachment insecurity and psychological wellbeing, indicating that higher levels of …

The Local Church And The Great Commission: Implications Of Serving On A Short-Term International Mission Trip, Charlie Richard Futch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mission teams from churches of all sizes across the United States participate in international mission trips throughout the year. Taking the gospel of Christ to the lost is the heartbeat of those participating on international mission trips. As more and more churches become involved in the Great Commission through these trips, short-term missionaries have an opportunity to not only impact people from other cultures around the world but influence their own lives as well. Potential areas of impact for short-term missionaries include future spiritual growth, especially in the areas of core Christian disciplines. The purpose of this quantitative research study …

Empowering Lay Leaders For Relational Discipleship At Christian Stronghold Church, Philadelphia, Pa, Keith Paul Bethel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project examines how empowering lay leaders for relational discipleship can revitalize member engagement and spiritual formation at Christian Stronghold Church, an evangelical, multi-generational congregation in West Philadelphia experiencing declining participation and stagnating discipleship models. The ministry context includes significant demographic diversity, leadership transitions, shifts in discipleship structures, and the lingering effects of the COVID 19 pandemic, all of which have weakened historical patterns of evangelism, Bible study involvement, and leader development. The purpose of this study is to design, implement, and evaluate a relational, leader led discipleship intervention that strengthens lay leaders’ capacity to disciple members, deepens member …

Perceptions Of The Effects Of Launch Control Center Environmental Exposures And Alert Schedules Among Missile Operations Officers: A Mixed Methods Phenomenological Study, Dawnie Rae Ramie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This mixed methods hermeneutic phenomenological study focused on an investigation of the perceptions of missile operations alert duty and the effects on health and sleep hygiene among Air Force missile operations officers. Questionnaires, interviews, and surveys were all used to gather data on subjects’ experiences and perspectives, including methods to mitigate the effects of poor sleep. Driving questions of research included how missile alert schedules affect sleep habits, as well as how missileers perceived alert duties may impact their health. Data was collected through a web-based Qualtrics Likert questionnaire (N=139), open-ended interviews with purposively selected subjects (N=17), and web-based Qualtrics …

Host Communities' Perceptions Of Multinational Oil Companies' Corporate Social Responsibility (Csr) Communication In The Niger Delta, Nigeria, James E. Onosu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the lived experiences and perceptions of oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria regarding the corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication and messages of multinational oil companies (MOCs) operating in the region. This became imperative in the face of unabated conflicts between the giant oil companies and their host community counterparts, despite the companies' claims of numerous CSR projects, and to fill a gap in the literature on the dearth of CSR communication in the region. The central research question that the study sought to answer was: What is the perception of host communities regarding the …

The Lived Experiences Of African American Clergywomen In In New York City, Rosa Queen-Allen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In this century, there has been a notable escalation in the tally of African American women purporting the imperative in their lives to serve within the Black Church in clergy oversight positions. Despite overt inequities in clergy leadership regarding the percentage of males versus females, there is a dearth in the ministerial leadership literature concerning African American females. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American females in senior ministry in New York City. For this study, African-American clergywomen will be generally defined as African-American women who lead a church or are called/ordained …

Exploring The Journey Of African American Parents Supporting Their Children In Special Education Within Georgia Public Schools: A Phenomenological Study, Keith Allister Tobias

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite legislative efforts such as the Handicapped Children Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the No Child Left Behind Act, and the Every Student Succeeds Act, African American parents of children in special education continue to encounter systemic barriers that affect engagement with schools. This transcendental phenomenological study focused on the lived experiences contributing to parent engagement among African American parents of children with learning disabilities in Georgia public schools. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory provided the theoretical foundation for examining how environmental systems influenced parent-school interactions. Ten parents were recruited through criterion and snowball sampling. Data collection included individual …

Leadership Development Training In Governmental Organizations: A Qualitative Examination Of Managerial Perceptions And Employee Engagement, George Marcus Barber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study is designed to examine how leadership development training influences management competency in the public sector. Most organizations are intentionally interested in the subject of leadership development, investing considerable time, resources, and effort. Although existing literature on leadership development training programs is extensive, the current research is distinguished by focusing directly on managers and more specifically aimed at exploring how such a program influences decision-making processes, employee engagement levels, and overall job satisfaction in public sector organizations. Based on the theory of public sector leadership (Van Wart, 2003), this study aims to uncover some core competencies that contribute …

From Rituals To Resilience: Individuals’ Lived Experience Of Self-Reflective Relationship Therapy (Srrt), Ehsan Adib Shabahang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative Husserlian descriptive phenomenological study addressed a gap in first-person accounts of brief self-guided preventive relationship interventions. One such intervention, Self-Reflective Relationship Therapy (SRRT), is a 6-week self-guided workbook combining structured reflection with brief connection practices. The purpose of the study was to describe individuals' first-person lived experiences 6 to 18 months after completing SRRT. Six participants completed asynchronous written reflections, and the data were analyzed using Husserlian descriptive phenomenology with Colaizzi's seven-step method. Participants described SRRT as a workable path toward reconnection after periods of emotional distance or strain. Carryover centered less on continued adherence to the workbook …

Parental Understanding Of The Influence Of Ecological Systems On The Educational Experiences Of The Dependent Children Of Enlisted And Officer Families Stationed In Japan: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Nortia M. Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore how enlisted and officer parents stationed in Japan understand and described how different ecological systems influence the educational experience and academic performance of their dependent children. The theory that guided this study is Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as it provided a comprehensive framework for understanding the inter-influential relationship between the children and the different ecological systems in their environment. The central research question provided a conduit for further exploration by asking how do enlisted and officer parents understand and describe how different ecological factors from Bronfenbrenner’s systems theory shape the …

Barn To Brain: Relationship Between Farm Animal Interaction And Well-Being In Rural Adults, Tiffany N. Hendershot

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the relationship between naturally occurring farm animal interactions and overall well-being among rural adults living in the central Appalachian region, specifically western Maryland, south-central Pennsylvania, and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. A cross-sectional, correlational design was used to compare adults with at least five hours of naturally occurring farm animal contact per week to those with less than one hour of contact per week. Overall well-being was measured with the PERMA-Profiler, and heart rate variability (HRV) was measured using wearable devices as a physiological indicator of autonomic health. Grounded in polyvagal theory, the biophilia hypothesis, and …

Inadequate Access To Healthcare In Low-Income Hispanic Communities In Brooklyn, Joanna Marie Garcia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative research was to understand healthcare disparities using the Solar and Irwin conceptual framework and to shed light on healthcare disparities as the reason low-income Hispanic patients, male and female, from the ages of 20-90 in Brooklyn, New York, received inadequate access to healthcare. Healthcare disparities represented a critical issue in providing adequate patient care for adult Hispanic patients within the United States healthcare system. Research into healthcare disparities has been conducted; however, detailed information about the causes of the disparities was lacking, especially concerning inadequate access to healthcare in low-income Hispanic communities. This qualitative research …

Understanding Husbands Who Live With A Spouse Who Abuses Substances: A Phenomenological Study, Starla Rachelle Huckeba

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of Christian non-addicted husbands who are married to a substance-abusing wife in Texas. A thorough review of existing literature indicated that previous research has focused on female non-addicted family members. From this, a gap was identified, and the central research question was developed: How did the Christian non-addicted husband describe the personal effect of living with a substance-abusing wife? Family systems theory, attachment theory, and attachment to God theory guided this study. The sample included 12 husbands whose wives abuse substances. The data collection consisted of the completion …

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy For The Treatment Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Critical Review Of Evidence-Based Treatment Methods, Caroline A. Page

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and debilitating condition affecting approximately 3% of the U.S. population. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the current psychotherapeutic gold standard for treating OCD. Although highly effective, ERP can elicit much distress, has a limited focus on comorbidities, and has notable drop-out and refusal rates. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a third-wave behavioral therapy that may address some of these limitations as it (a) fosters a more accepting stance towards feared stimuli (obsessions) and (b) targets core mechanisms of OCD as well as transdiagnostic mechanisms seen in many other mental health disorders, such …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Young Single Mothers Enrolled In A Four-Year Public University In The Piedmont Triad Region Of Nc: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Ashley I. May

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of young single mothers between the ages of 18-24 enrolled in a four-year university in the Piedmont Triad Region of North Carolina focusing on challenges encountered while navigating university resources and support services. The theory guiding this study was Norman Garmezy’s theory of resilience as it relates to the resiliency of young single mothers enrolled in a four-year public university in the Piedmont Triad Region of North Carolina. A hermeneutical phenomenology research design, combined with snowball and convenience sampling, facilitated an in-depth exploration of challenges faced by …

A Causal-Comparative Analysis Of General Self-Efficacy And Social Media Use Among College Students With Differing Political Affiliations, Jennifer Lee Wool

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative research was to determine whether there was a statistically significant difference in general self-efficacy and integration of social media use among college students who were Democrats compared to those who were Republicans. This is a relevant research topic because college students are a priority in the educational system, with attention to their general well-being, academic performance, and the effects of social media on their lives. There is a lack of research on this topic regarding political affiliation. The sample consisted of 165 college students from various colleges and universities. Participants were recruited from an …

Reducing Burnout And Compassion Fatigue: Chaplain-Led Peer Support Group Among Clinical Staff At Choices Healthcare, Matthew Lehman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this Doctor of Ministry action research project was to help reduce burnout and compassion fatigue among the clinical staff at Choices Healthcare. Burnout and compassion fatigue are becoming a healthcare crisis, and hospice agencies are no different. The study was open to any member of the clinical staff, which included chaplains, social workers, nurses, home health aides, and the team leaders of each team in the organization. The study aimed to reduce burnout and compassion fatigue through a series of chaplain-facilitated group education and processing sessions. Humans are relational beings, and getting together to share experiences in …

A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study On The Queen Bee Phenomenon In Women Higher Education Administrators In Public Colleges, Joy L. Medford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover the lived experiences of women leaders in higher education administration who have experienced the queen bee phenomenon. The theory guiding this study was Tajfel’s social identity theory as it relates to women leaders in public higher education administration. The central research question aimed to explore the lived experiences of women in higher education leadership roles who have experienced the queen bee phenomenon. This hermeneutical phenomenological study included 10 participants who were administrators in public higher education institutions in the United States. Data was collected through semi-structured, individual interviews, journal entries, and …

Vulnerability Through Story Deepening Male Relationships, Paul Samuel Hahn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Men need a vulnerable community. This action research project examines the development of a vulnerable community within the local church context at Maranatha Bible Chapel in Horseheads, NY. The men of Maranatha Bible Chapel feel the persistent challenges in Western culture that erect barriers to vulnerable masculine relationships within the community. Even though the men of Maranatha Bible Chapel report high participation in the church, they chronicle feelings of isolation and a desire for closer relationships between the men in the congregation. This action research project seeks to address the problem of vulnerable male relationships at Maranatha Bible Chapel by …

A Phenomenological Study Examining The Challenges Mothers Face With Reentry Into The Workforce After Giving Birth, Carrie Bell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of new mothers with postpartum depression (PPD) who reentered the workforce in Arkansas. The study aimed to discover the psychological, organizational, and social difficulties these mothers experienced during the transition from maternity leave to regular employment. Using feminist theory, attachment theory, and social constructivism as guiding frameworks, the study investigated the effects of gendered workplace structures, interrupted maternal-infant bonding, and sociocultural expectations in shaping how mothers perceived themselves and their work. A purposive sampling strategy was applied to select participants who had returned to work within one year …

A Review Of Robotic Vnotes Surgery: Current Applications, Advantages, And Future Directions, Daniel Y Lovell, Qiannan Yang, Xiaoming Guan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Over the past 500 years, the convergence of three distinct paths - vaginal surgery, laparoscopy, and robotic technologies - has enabled the development of robot-assisted vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (RA-vNOTES). The ongoing evolution of vaginal surgery has led to contemporary procedures such as hysterectomy, myomectomy, sacrocolpopexy, adnexal interventions, and oncologic operations, applicable to a wide range of diagnoses and pathologies. This approach offers patients significant benefits, including superior cosmetic outcomes, less pain, lower infection rates, and faster recovery of baseline quality of life. Surgeons benefit from improved ergonomics, better visualization, the ability to use multiple instruments, and enhanced …

Movement-Stabilized Three-Dimensional Optical Recordings Of Membrane Potential Changes And Calcium Dynamics In Hippocampal Ca1 Dendrites, Kevin C Gonzalez, Satoshi Terada, Asako Noguchi, George N Zakka, Cliodhna O'Toole, Giuliana Bilbao, Luke Reynolds, Anna Jász, Borbála Kertész, Zoltán Szadai, Alissa Shen, François St-Pierre, Franck Polleux, Attila Losonczy, Balázs Rózsa

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Local dendritic computations are thought to critically influence neuronal signaling and plasticity yet remain largely unexplored in vivo due to challenges in stably imaging small structures at ultrafast timescales. We developed a 3D real-time motion correction platform for movement-stabilized, ultrafast two-photon voltage imaging. By co-labeling CA1 pyramidal neurons with voltage and calcium indicators, we simultaneously measured somato-dendritic and electro-calcium coupling at multiple dendritic sites. We characterized isolated dendritic spikes and distance-dependent backpropagation of naturally occurring and photostimulation-evoked bursts and single spikes. We found that bursts backpropagated more reliably than single spikes, validated that somato-dendritic coupling decreases with distance from soma, …

Phkg2 Confers Resistance Of Escc To Cisplatin And Enhances Cxcl8-Dependent Immunosuppression To Exacerbate Tumorigenesis, Jiayan Wu, Chengrui Zhong, Haosheng Zheng, Fei Qin, Xianyu Qin, Yuzhen Zheng, Junguo Chen, Gengfeng Wang, Bozhu Jian, Zui Liu, Xingping Yang, Chao Cheng, Guolin Li, Hongying Liao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cisplatin (DDP)-based chemotherapy serves as a foundational cornerstone in the clinical management of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, intrinsic or acquired resistance to DDP persists as a significant clinical challenge, severely undermining therapeutic efficacy and contributing to unfavorable patient prognoses. Through functional screening with a CRISPR/Cas9 knockout library, transcriptomic profiling of cisplatin-resistant cell lines and clinical specimens, and in vitro/in vivo validation assays, we identified PHKG2 as a key mediator of cisplatin resistance in ESCC. Mechanistically, PHKG2-mediated cisplatin resistance is driven by the phosphorylation of IGF2BP3 at residues T225 and T306. This post-translational modification enhances IGF2BP3 phase separation, thereby …

Exploring Nonresident African American Fathers’ Experiences Of Fatherhood, Jennifer Juanita Occil

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore nonresident African American fathers’ experiences of fatherhood. Although research has examined the influence of father involvement on children’s social, educational, and psychological outcomes, limited qualitative research has focused on the lived experiences of nonresident African American fathers, particularly those with higher levels of education and from the fathers’ perspectives. Family systems theory guided this study, focusing on differentiation of self, interdependency, and boundary setting. The central research question was, how do nonresident African American fathers describe their experiences of fatherhood? For this study, six nonresident African American fathers who had …

Reporting For Double Duty: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Graduate Student-Parents Rearing Young Children In Online Graduate Programs In The United States, Bridgette Oludolapo Ojo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of graduate student-parents rearing young children aged five and under while enrolled in online graduate programs in the United States. The theory guiding this study was Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, as it supports an examination of how graduate student-parents’ lived experiences are shaped by interactions across family, academic, institutional, and societal systems. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of graduate student-parents rearing young children while pursuing online graduate programs? Utilizing this transcendental phenomenological design, the study employed qualitative methods to examine the lived …

Restoring Breath: A Culturally Grounded Response To The Leadership Gap In Keaukaha, Jacquelyn T. Gomes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In Hawaiʻi, where economic strain and rising suicide rates continue to impact young adults, the challenges facing emerging leaders extend beyond ministry models to issues of identity, belonging, and survival. This praxis project addressed the leadership gap among young adults (ages 20–40) in the Keaukaha community of Hawaiʻi Island. While Hale Pule Ke Ola Hou demonstrated strong engagement from elders and children, the absence of young adult leaders revealed deeper challenges in generational continuity, cultural connection, and ministry relevance. Grounded in biblical discipleship and Hawaiian cultural values, this project proposed a contextualized, organic model of leadership development integrating relational presence, …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of African American Adults Who Self-Identify As Christians Serving As Caregivers For Their Parents Or Family In The Southeastern United States, Margaret J. Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, transcendental-phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American adult children who self-identify as Christians and serve as caregivers for their parents or family members in the southeastern United States. Despite the prevalence of caregiving within African American families, research typically does not capture the unique cultural and spiritual contexts that shape these experiences. The theories guiding this study are Bowen's family systems theory (Bowen, 1978) and the Afrocentric Perspective. These theories examine family dynamics and cultural expectations. This study sought to understand how faith, cultural values, and familial dynamics shape caregivers' experiences, …

Exploring The Impact Of Cultural Beliefs On Death Anxiety: A Qualitative Study To Inform Healthcare Education And Practices, Sharon Sonnilal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A hermeneutic phenomenological approach framed this qualitative study, examining how cultural beliefs, spiritual traditions, and relational contexts shape death anxiety and meaning-making among adults from diverse backgrounds. Terror Management Theory and Culturally Sensitive Grief Treatment guided the conceptualization of death anxiety as a culturally mediated and relational phenomenon rather than an isolated psychological response. A purposive sample of 13 adults aged 18 and older represented diverse cultural, racial, gender, and spiritual identities. Recruitment occurred via Instagram, and participants completed an open-ended demographic and narrative survey. Participants who provided rich survey narratives received invitations to complete semi-structured Zoom interviews to deepen …