Digital Commons Network^™

Empathetic Administration: Leveraging Phenomenological Insights To Enhance Student Mental Health Support In Higher Education, Arlissia Lenton Bradley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how students at universities in Texas navigated online mental health resources and coping supports while managing mental health challenges. The central research question that guided this study was: What were the lived experiences of students in higher education who were managing mental health issues? Utilizing Bandura's (1986) social cognitive theory as the theoretical framework, the study examined how cognitive appraisals and self-effective beliefs, environmental supports and constraints, and behavioral coping strategies interacted as students interpreted and responded to mental health stressors in academic contexts. Data was collected in a virtual setting …

Determining Effective Community Policing Programs Within Law Enforcement Agencies, Paul L. Alexander

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study was to identify effective community policing programs in law enforcement and among political leaders by designing a structural equation model that incorporates specific variables to address the issue. It employed a proposed conceptual model to illustrate the analysis process and a structural equation conceptual model (SECM) to perform the analysis using specific variables. The reason this research was necessary was to determine whether it is possible to overcome the lack of a universally accepted definition of community policing. The data collection methods in this study included interviews, document reviews, surveys, and analyses of federal …

Age Of First Smartphone Ownership With Social Media Access And Its Impact On Mental Health Outcomes, Derrick W. Swandol

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between the age of smartphone ownership with social media access (ASO) and self-esteem and depression symptoms, as well as to determine if the results could be moderated by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as an individual transitions from adolescence to adulthood. The study was conducted with n=54 (72% female), of whom 83% first owned a smartphone with social media access ≥ 12 years-of-age. This study was unable to obtain the minimum sample size for a statistically significant study and is considered underpowered due to needing a minimum sample size of …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Emotional Intelligence And Perception Of Hazing Severity Or Harm Among College Men Involved In Collegiate Sports And Men's Fraternities, Kyle S. Mccoil

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine the relationship between extracurricular involvement (student-athlete, fraternity member, both, or neither), emotional intelligence, and perceptions of hazing severity or harm among college men attending a small private liberal arts college. This study is important because there is a need for more effective and innovative forms of hazing prevention; therefore, this study fills a gap in the literature by examining the relationship between emotional intelligence and perceptions of hazing severity or harm for men based on their involvement in organizations that are more likely to engage in hazing behaviors. The sample …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Public High School Female Principals: A Phenomenological Study On Their Career Paths, Yuxin Carcamo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of public high school (PHS) female principals across 12 PHSs in southern California. The lived experiences were generally defined as educational leadership career paths. The theory guiding this study was social cognitive theory. This theory guided the study by providing a framework to explore how intrapersonal, workplace, and job factors influence PHS female principals’ career paths. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of PHS female principals on their leadership career paths? Data were collected through interviews, focus group interviews, and observations of 12 …

Smartphone Addiction And Issues Associated With It, Clifford C F Massie Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The focus of this research is the possible addiction to smartphones and the effects on mental, physical, and social health. Smartphones are one of the most commonly used devices in the world today with billions of people in the world having them. People of all ages have formed a connection to and dependence on these devices and use them multiple times daily. People obsess over these devices daily by checking them or just touching their pocket to ensure they are still there. This could be considered a form of addiction. This study aimed to look at the connection to these …

Becoming An Ambassador Of Jesus Christ: A Strategy To Recruit, Enlist, And Develop Volunteers At Restoration Church, John Christopher Blackwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this Doctor of Ministry thesis project is to develop a biblical strategy to recruit, enlist, and develop volunteers at Restoration Church by reframing service through the scriptural identity of believers as ambassadors of Jesus Christ. Within the ministry context of a rapidly growing, culturally diverse congregation, Restoration Church faces a persistent shortage of volunteers stemming from congregational mergers, spiritual apathy, negative associations with volunteering, and the absence of a sustainable philosophy of service. Therefore, this project focuses on a comprehensive, reproducible approach that connects gospel transformation to participation in ministry. A biblical curriculum called Discover Restoration was …

The Efficacy Of Youth Leaders' Outreach Approach Impacting Gen Z: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Hannah Hattie Mcbean

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of youth leaders’ outreach strategies for engaging Generation Z (Gen Z) in attending church, as well as the lived experiences of Gen Z as recipients of these outreach strategies. The study investigated the factors that impact youth leaders’ decisions to employ specific strategies to sustain church attendance among Gen Z and how Gen Z perceived the efficacy of these strategies. A phenomenological approach allowed for a comprehensive examination of participants' subjective experiences in real-world settings. The research utilized purposive sampling to recruit youth leaders and Gen Z participants from nondenominational churches in …

Second Maccabees As A Thematic Bridge To Early Christian Thought, Elizabeth D. Woods

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research on Second Maccabees has increased over the past century, especially since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Much of this scholarship has been confined to discussion of historical, literary, or thematic topics within the confines of the work or in relation to the Old Testament. Little scholarship, comparably, exists regarding the themes of Second Maccabees in relationship to early Christian beliefs expressed in the New Testament.

This body of research seeks to address this gap by tracing the evolution of major themes from Second Maccabees through the first century CE and examining the presence of those themes within …

A Predictive Correlational Study Of The Accuracy Of Facial Action Units And Heart Rate Variability To Predict Sustained Attention In Kindergarten, First-, And Second-Grade Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Carrie Michelle Harmer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to determine to what extent facial action units brow raise, lip press, lip suck, and mouth open and heart rate variability predict sustained attention and how accurately heart rate variability predicts the same facial action units in children ages 5 to 7 in kindergarten, first, and second grade with autism in a northeast Florida public school district. Results add to the existing body of research on how accurately facial expression analysis and heart rate variability predict sustained attention in a larger, younger sample of children with autism. They also clarify the …

A Phenomenological Study Of Cultural Tightness Impacting Lived Experiences Of Female Leaders In United Methodist Churches, Genevieve M. Hamer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Gender equality captures the news highlights. Women push to assume roles similar in pay, power, and significance in all types of organizations as their male peers. It is hard to ignore this when it comes to the matter of biblical calling and the roles of women in church leadership. Researchers have devoted hours to the topic of calling. This study examined calling as it relates to the biblical call towards a vocation. While there are different theological positions regarding the roles of women in the church, scholars agree there is such a thing as a biblical calling. Even in egalitarian …

Navigating Privilege And Power: The Lived Experiences Of Ivy League Administrators In Promoting Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion. A Hermeneutics Phenomenological Study, Alize Roberson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of university administrators in Ivy League institutions as they promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. For the purpose of this research, promoting diversity, equity and inclusion is generally defined as the practice of facilitating inclusivity for students of color. This study is guided by the conceptual framework of culturally responsive pedagogy, which informs the research design, data collection, and analysis. These elements are essential and deserve recognition and understanding in their educational experience. The implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies at Ivy League institutions is explored through …

Causes Of Unreliable Major Defense Acquisition Program(Mdap) Baselines, Alfred Gordon Hutchins Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), approximately equal numbers of Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) are successful and unsuccessful when measured against Acquisition Program Baselines (APBs) established at the Milestone B decision point. While the systems engineering-based Defense Acquisition System (DAS) assumes that sufficient knowledge is available to support making significant resource commitments at the Milestone B decision point, the substantial incidence of cost and schedule overruns suggests otherwise. This research employs an explanatory mixed-methods design to investigate why DAS processes that develop knowledge to support Milestone decisions do not develop adequate information to support reliable program baselines (knowledge …

Becoming Better Teachers Through Community: A Transcendental Phenomenological Dissertation Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Adjunct Faculty In A Cohort-Based Faculty Learning Community, Gerard Wayne Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how adjuncts’ participation in a cohort-styled faculty learning community designed specifically for them shaped their teaching and connectedness with their institution. The theory that guided this study was situated learning theory, which explained the relationship between participation in learning communities and teaching practice. Additionally, this theory provided a foundation for understanding how the social dynamics of a learning community affected connectedness. The central research question examined in this study was, ‘What are adjunct faculty’s experiences participating in a cohort-based faculty learning community?’ To explore this topic and question, a transcendental …

Students Drive Instruction: Play-Based Learning For School Readiness, Sheri L. Showalter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the perspectives of integrating play with standards for promoting executive functions in kindergarten in two different schools in Japan. For this research, the integration of play with standards is defined as directed goals and expectations from governing schools/districts while still allowing child-centered, hands-on, collaborative play in kindergarten. The theory guiding this study is sociocultural theory. The central research question is: How do teachers implement developmentally appropriate activities that support executive functions for school readiness in two different kindergarten programs in Japan? This multiple case study explored the challenges and successes …

Black Women Special Educators And Burnout: A Phenomenological Study, Whitney Patrice Collins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand Black women special educators’ experiences with burnout while working in Georgia, public, K-12 schools. The first theory guiding this study was Black Feminist Thought, as it provides an understanding of Black women’s unique experiences in the workplace due to the intersectionality of their race and gender. The second theory guiding this study was Maslach’s multidimensional theory of burnout, as it provides a framework for understanding burnout in the workplace. The central research question explored how Black women special educators describe their experiences with burnout in Georgia public K-12 schools. This …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Exploring Teacher Retention Through The Lens Of The Four Capital Theory, Mary Ruth Callaway Hertweck

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand teacher retention from the experience of teachers in a school with high retention rates for two or more consecutive years. Furthermore, this study described teacher retention in a school with high retention, and how the high retention rate has influenced teachers decision to remain in that school. The theory guiding this study is the four capital theory as it includes the social, human, structural and positive psychological capitals and provided insight on how these relate to teacher retention. The central research question for this study is: what are the experiences …

Pastors’ Children’S Stress In Evangelical Church In Java, Indonesia: A Phenomenological Study, Daniel Trihandarkha

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the pastors’ children's experience with stress in the evangelical church on the island of Java, Indonesia. The theory guiding this study is the self-determination theory developed by Richard Ryan and Edward Deci, as it explains the existence and absence of psychological needs of organisms to grow and thrive. The theory describes the struggle of the pastors’ children in environments where the relationship with the caregivers is fundamental in determining the growth of the pastors’ children and their well-being. The theory where relatedness, autonomy, and competencies, will examine the lived life of …

The Harmonic Confluence: A Worship Synthesis Model For One God And One Worship Examining The Impact Of Leadership Styles And Music Selection On Congregational Unity In Evangelical Churches Of The Bible Belt, Joshua Dwayne Randle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite significant scholarship on church growth strategies and worship practices, the nuanced impact of worship leadership styles on church dynamics within the Bible Belt remains underexplored. This study examines how worship leadership styles ranging from traditional liturgical approaches to contemporary band-led services shape congregational engagement, retention, and growth within evangelical churches across this historically significant region. Tracing the Bible Belt’s revivalist heritage, denominational distinctives, and worship traditions, the research situates contemporary practices within their broader historical and theological framework. Utilizing a historical qualitative research design, the study integrates archival research, denominational reports, church bulletins, worship setlists, and livestream archives. It …

How Rural Veterans Enrolled In Veteran’S Treatment Courts Describe Their Experiences With Having Their Health Care Needs Adequately Met By The Court, Armando B. Dela Rosa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigates the experiences of rural veterans enrolled in Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) with a focus on their access to healthcare services. The purpose of this research is to understand how these veterans' healthcare needs are being met and the barriers they face, contributing to the academic discourse on veteran healthcare accessibility. The central research questions address the adequacy of healthcare provision for rural veterans and how they navigate court-ordered care. The study employs a qualitative research design, utilizing in-depth interviews with a sample of 15 veterans from various rural locations in Nevada. Data was collected through structured Zoom …

Demographic Factors And Approaches Used Impacting Emotional Regulation And Social Emotional Development Of Elementary Students In Ontario, Tatiana Tait

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A child’s education is crucial in their life and development given that it aids in the skill and knowledge development necessary for lifelong success. Schools play one of the biggest roles in their life, teaching them numerous academic skills, as well as many important life and social skills. Given the importance of schools, and the many schooling options available, evaluating how different types of schools contribute to a child’s social-emotional development and emotional regulation has potential applications within the educational realm in terms of curriculum and how teachers foster these skills in students. The present study sought to gather qualitative …

Americanism In The Soviet Union: How Albert Kahn Industrialized The Soviet Union, Daniel Leclair

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The aim of this dissertation is to examine Albert Kahn’s influence on the Soviet Union during Joseph Stalin’s first five-year plan, how the Soviet Union influenced Albert Kahn and obstacles that Albert Kahn, Inc. faced from American news reporting. This research focuses on the significance of American news reporting on Albert Kahn’s first contract with the Soviet Union until after Albert Kahn’s death and Germany’s attack on Stalingrad in 1942. The opposition that Albert Kahn faced early on with his dealings with the Soviet Union, because of the red scare that the US faced between 1917 and 1920 and then …

Wrestling With The Cold War, Robert M. Barnum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines how professional wrestling functioned as a cultural arena through which Americans interpreted, dramatized, and emotionally processed the Cold War from the 1950s to the early 1990s. By analyzing wrestling storylines, character archetypes, promotional narratives, and fan responses, the study demonstrates that wrestling not only reflected prevailing geopolitical tensions but also actively shaped public perceptions of the ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. Throughout the Cold War, promotions deployed foreign “heel” characters—initially German and Japanese, later Soviet and Iranian—to embody national anxieties and reinforce patriotic sentiment. Soviet characters, including Nikolai Volkoff, Ivan Koloff, and …

Uc Agenda 2026-04-29, Northern Illinois University

University Council Archives

No abstract provided.

Uc Minutes 2026-04-29, Northern Illinois University

University Council Archives

No abstract provided.

Uc Transcript 2026-04-29, Northern Illinois University

University Council Archives

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Game: A Four-Phase Financial Development Program For Student-Athletes, Joanna Cirrincione

Masters Projects

Student-athletes face unique challenges including, but not limited to, significant time demands, limited financial socialization, and emerging name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities that influence their financial knowledge and behaviors. Although financial education exists, it is often inconsistent and not tailored to the needs of the population which the education intends to serve. This project is grounded in Nancy Schlossberg’s (1984) transition theory and Nevitt Sanford’s (1962) theory of challenge and support, framing financial literacy development as a process requiring intentional challenge and support as student-athletes transition into life after collegiate athletics. A four-phased, structured development program is proposed to …

Addressing Food Insecurity Through Partnering With The Community Teaching Kitchen On Lifestyle Medicine Hypertension Class, Emily Miyasako, Jill Christensen

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background: Food insecurity is defined as limited or unreliable access to adequate and nutritious food. In Oregon, approximately 1 in 8 residents experience food insecurity, with rates disproportionately affecting low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and households with children or elderly individuals. Food insecurity remains a significant threat to our patients’ health and is associated with obesity, malnutrition, and poor mental health. As a primary care provider, I have seen the effects of food insecurity on my patients, but I am thankful for the presence of our Community Teaching Kitchen. The Community Teaching Kitchen (CTK) at Providence Milwaukie provides nutritional …

Centering Access: Reimagining Basic Writing Through Critical Disability Frameworks, Jason Burton Mccormick

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Despite decades of scholarship arguing otherwise, developmental writing spaces are still often treated as places of deficit in higher education. This deficit positioning emerges in the ways the courses are discussed (as barriers and burdens to graduation), the way learners are imagined (being “unprepared” for college work), and the way placement is understood as punishment. Developmental educators continue to fight this stigma, but rely on stories of students “overcoming” rather than acknowledging that the stigma is a product of the institution and its discriminatory norms, not the offering itself.

My work reimagines the developmental writing classroom as an essential liminal …

Problems With Small Drinking Water Systems In Developing And Developed Countries: How Do They Compare?, Kurt Kesteloot

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation compares the factors that drive the long-term functionality of small drinking water systems (serving fewer than 10,000 people) in developing and developed country contexts, with a focus on groundwater supplies. Using regression analysis in SAS and complementary fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) for developing countries, the study integrates two datasets: 23 Engineers Without Borders project surveys (90+ variables across 14 countries) and a multi-year National Park Service inspection dataset (approximately 1,561 systems; 7,460 recorded deficiencies, enriched with U.S. Census ZIP-code aggregates). In developing countries, statistically significant predictors of success include government cash contributions (odds ratio [OR] ≈ 67.6), …