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Sacred Geography And The Restoration Of Divine Presence: The Garden Of Eden, Egypt, The Wilderness, And The Promised Land In The Theology Of The Torah, Gary Ryan Perry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation argues that the Torah presents redemption through a progressive spatial framework in which sacred geography reveals the restoration of God’s dwelling among His people. The narrative movement from the Garden of Eden to Egypt, the Wilderness, and finally the Promised Land forms a theological arc that structures the Torah’s presentation of covenant, priesthood, and divine presence. The Garden of Eden establishes humanity’s original royal priestly vocation within sacred space. Egypt functions as an anti-garden, where abundance and provision exist apart from a covenant relationship with God. The Wilderness represents a redemptive restart, in which Israel is formed through …

Navigating The Thin Blue Line And Single Parenthood: An In-Depth Exploration Of Police Officers’ Experiences In Highlands County, Florida, Stress Reduction, And Work-Life Balance, Courtney Lashae Hamilton Toney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The present study examined how the demographic of single parent police officers reduced and coped with stress, whether coping mechanisms utilized were effective or not, changed overtime, and whether the coping mechanisms were influenced by personal factors and leadership within their departments. This study took place in Highlands County, Florida with a sample size of 13 participants. The participants responses were captured through in-depth semi-structured interviews within this qualitative descriptive study. Majority of participants described how their coping mechanisms changed over time to better their lives or the lives of their family. The changes were affected mostly by their children …

Exploring Mathematics Faculty Perceptions Of Instructional Design In Ai-Integrated Tools: A Phenomenological Study, Taylor Victoria Moreau

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of higher education mathematics faculty implementing artificial intelligence tools in their classrooms. The theory that guided this study was Piaget’s cognitive learning theory, which emphasizes that learners absorb knowledge by building upon previous understandings and experiences. The central research question guiding this study is: What are the lived experiences of mathematics faculty in higher education who utilize AI tools to support instructional design in their classrooms? Purposeful sampling was used to recruit full-time or visiting mathematics faculty members from four-year colleges and universities in the eastern United …

Ongoing Exile In 1 Peter, William J. Bynum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In his first epistle, Peter employs the biblical theme of ongoing exile as a controlling metaphor to depict his readers’ circumstances. By doing so, he situates those readers as participants in the overarching biblical storyline of God’s restoring through Jesus Christ what man has lost through sin. The shape of that grand narrative is anticipated in what has called “the Deuteronomic scheme of sin–exile–restoration.” Using the idea of an ongoing exile followed by restoration, the writer of 1 Peter accomplishes two vitally important objectives. First, he shows his mostly Gentile readers’ experiences to be participation in exile like that of …

A Culturally Informed Response To Grief And Loss (Cirgl): A Single Case Study Of Anti-Racist And Culturally Responsive Program Development And Evaluation, Leticia Villarreal Sosa, Mostafa Adel Hanafy, Rodney Hopson, Susanna Bohun

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

This paper provides a case study analysis of the Culturally Informed Responses to Grief and Loss (CIRGL) Professional Development Program, which equips school-based social workers and other professionals with skills and critical consciousness to support minoritized students in navigating grief and loss. By detailing the CIRGL program’s development, implementation, and culturally responsive evaluation (CRE), the paper outlines the process for developing anti-racist and culturally responsive approaches in social work. The case study draws on the evaluation data including quantitative surveys of participants at the start and near the end of the program, qualitative interviews with a sample of participants near …

Geopolitical Trade Dynamics: Assessing Global Supply Chain Risks Within International Business Environments, Thomas E. Carver Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With global economics and worldwide markets changing at a rapid pace the need to review how this effects global supply operations, risk management, and operational controls is a tactical and strategic component of organizational management. These types of international business arrangements require diversification to the supply chain networks, partnerships, and value chains in all businesses that are doing trade abroad. Geopolitics brings uncertainty to any supply chain organization and having awareness of policy, compliance, and technology strategy are key contributors during the study exploration. Having highly skilled human resource talent to support operational throughput is included in this study to …

A Phenomenological Research On The Understanding Of Morality At Birth From A Believer's Standpoint, Michelle I. Hubble

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

At birth, is a person born evil, good, or neutral? This phenomenological study aims to explore the perspective of the morality of a child at birth for adult believers in the Missionary Church. At this stage in the research, the perspective of the morality of a child at birth will be generally defined as evil, good, or neutral. The theory guiding this study was research done by Harvard, which concluded that humanity's first instinct is not to act selfishly but to cooperate in their behavior with others (Tucker, 2013). This research proposed that this alternative perspective is invalid when Piaget’s …

Transnational Beings: Corner Store Entrepreneurship Of Mena Immigrants Of The Third Wave, Gabriel Al-Shaer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the role of entrepreneurship as an institution of transition for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) migrants in the United States from 1965 to the present. Drawing on oral histories, legal analysis, census data, and scholarship on racialization and migration, it argues that small cash-based businesses—particularly corner stores, gas stations, and bodegas—have functioned as critical sites through which third-wave MENA migrants navigate economic precarity, racial marginalization, and community formation. By situating contemporary entrepreneurial practices in relation to earlier forms of pack peddling among first-wave Syrian-Americans, this study demonstrates continuity in migrant strategies of survival while accounting for …

A Case Study Examining Why Students Succeed When Exposed To Peer Tutors, Van E. Carpenter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to identify the impact of online peer tutoring on students’ perceptions of their success for students who participated in online peer tutoring at Summit Faith University (a pseudonym used for this research). This research was grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, which provided a comprehensive framework for examining the factors influencing the effectiveness of peer tutoring among students. This study answered three research questions: How do online students use peer tutoring at Summit Faith University, how does online peer tutoring at Summit Faith University shape students’ perceptions of their success at Summit Faith …

Utilizing A Small Group In Bible Studies To Bring About The Reconciliation Of All The Groups Of An Ethnic Community Church In Brooklyn, New York, Anthony Ukasoanya E Uwakwe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many local churches in America today have problems in their ministries. The problems may stem from the untimely action or inaction by the church leaders, including ordained pastors and laity. Other problems are simple misunderstandings, such as a congregant not being reimbursed for funds used for a church event. This thesis research project will present biblical teachings on reconciliation, provide a framework for resolving financial misunderstandings in the church, and foster unity among its groups. It is important to know God’s reasons for being reconciled in the fellowship of the church. The triangular methodology employed uses specific scripture passages that …

Abusive Supervision In The Telecommunications Retail Sector: Effects On Job Satisfaction, Performance, And Employee Turnover, Zenitzia Siu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

I addressed the problem of abusive supervision, which adversely affects job satisfaction and employee engagement, resulting in reduced organizational performance and increased turnover intentions in telecommunications retail. Guided by social exchange theory (SET), this qualitative single-case study explored how leaders interpret their awareness of their leadership behaviors, and how these interpretations align with or misalign with employees’ perceptions. The data collection involved 21 leader interviews and 25 open-ended survey responses, analyzed using SET’s deductive coding and NVivo's inductive theme development, with methodological triangulation across both data sources. Four core themes emerged deductively: (a) reciprocity, (b) trust and commitment, (c) cost …

Retention Of Rural/Small-Town Band Directors In Georgia, Timothy M. Warren

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to analyze the retention and tenure of band directors in rural and small-town contexts in Georgia. Research indicates that directors in these areas often face challenges not commonly present in urban settings. This study sought to determine whether there is a trend of short tenures among rural and small-town band directors in Georgia. Data was collected through an online survey targeting current and former directors with rural or small-town experience. The survey included Likert Scale items addressing director qualifications, backgrounds, and common challenges, as well as open-ended questions that allowed participants to describe their …

Impact Of Hierarchical Organizational Structures On Gen-Z Turnover Intention, Mason W. Doty

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project sought to address the influence hierarchical organizational structures have on Gen-Z turnover intention. Technological advancements coupled with Gen-Z entering the workforce with their unique perspectives and expectations have sparked a new phenomenon of “job-hopping.” This research focused on U.S. servicemembers and Department of War civilian employees that are employed at a military installation in Texas to evaluate turnover intention as a direct result of their hierarchical organizational structure. This research featured two survey instruments: the 6-item Turnover Intention Scale (TIS) and 25-item Expanded Multidimensional Turnover Intention Scale (EMTIS) to identify potential correlations in turnover intention across the …

Intergenerational Apologetics: A Strategy For Careful Confidence, Thomas C. Farley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a subtle confusion between the objectives of evangelism and apologetics, leaving Open Door Baptist Church (ODBC) seniors unknowingly ill-equipped and intimidated to defend their Christian values. The purpose of this Doctor of Ministry research was to address that intimidation by training seniors in a dedicated faith-values curriculum to become confident apologetic communicators. The intervention leveraged the process of intergenerational values-sharing while training stakeholders to develop their own faith narratives by seamlessly integrating biblical values with relevant apologetic particulars into personal stories to be shared with their grandchildren. In this environment, participants could develop a personal faith narrative that …

The Lived Experiences Of Community College Faculty Working With Students With Cross-Categorical Disabilities: A Phenomenological Study, Michelle Rosalie Amenta

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the preparedness towards disability for faculty members at community colleges. The theory guiding this study was Oliver’s social model of disability, as the theory explained the relationship between environmental, institutional, and attitudinal barriers and disabilities. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of community college faculty who instruct students that self-disclose their cross-categorical disabilities? The research sample included thirteen faculty members from community colleges in varied disciplines across the United States. Data collection consisted of individual interviews and focus groups, with analysis using Moustakas’ modified Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen Method …

The Media's Influence On The Public's Perception Of Police Use Of Force, Kristopher D. Lauro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Police use of force has long been a concern within law enforcement, but in recent decades, it has faced increasing scrutiny from the general public and across all sectors of society, sparking widespread debate on the practice. The rise of body-worn cameras (BWCs) and the prevalence of cell phone recordings of police incidents have amplified attention on the issue. Media representations of police use of force are influential in bringing together or shaping public opinion and often encapsulate ideological biases; the pervasive publicity associated with such incidents provides a unique opportunity for detailed examination of the underlying relationship between media …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Exploring Inclusion Of Latinos In Higher Education In Bilingual Programs, Carmem Charette

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of promoting the inclusion of Latino/a students through bilingual programs at higher education institutions in the United States. To include Latinos in higher education administrators redesigned courses originally taught in English into Spanish and Portuguese at several colleges and universities nationwide. This qualitative research was designed as a hermeneutic phenomenological study, and three data collection methods were used: journal prompts, individual interviews, and focus group interviews. Data were collected from educational leaders, including administrators, deans, faculty coordinators, advisers, and professors, who shared their perspectives and experiences as …

Transforming Sexual And Reproductive Health And Rights For Adolescent Girls In West And Central Africa, Mame Soukeye Mbaye, Sarah Engebretsen, Maty Dia, Karen Austrian

Adolescents and Young People

This brief summarizes the evidence on adolescent girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in West and Central Africa (WCA), particularly evidence from the GIRL Center’s priority countries. It explores social norms and structural barriers to adolescent girls’ SRHR, pregnancy, harmful practices, unmet need for contraception, service gaps, SRHR in conflict settings, and legal and policy barriers. The brief informs strategies and promising entry points that have the potential to transform SRHR outcomes for girls in the region.

Accelerating Adolescent Girls’ Education In West And Central Africa, Mame Soukeye Mbaye, Sarah Engebretsen, Maty Dia, Karen Austrian

Adolescents and Young People

This brief summarizes the evidence on gender inequality in education in West and Central Africa (WCA), particularly the GIRL Center’s priority countries. It explores attendance, progression, transition to secondary, and re-entry. This brief informs strategies that address persistent inequalities and promote transformative outcomes for adolescent girls in the region.

Aspek Sosial Dan Hukum Tingkah Laku Orang Mabuk Alkohol, Soerjono Soekanto

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract

Symbolic Consumption As Self-Preservation: Psychological Vulnerabilities And Identity Repair In Low-Income Luxury Consumers, Aaliyah W. Wilkerson

Atlantic Marketing Association Student Proceedings

This extended abstract presents a conceptual study exploring why low-income consumers engage in luxury fashion consumption despite financial limitations. The research reframes these purchases as emotionally driven acts of identity repair, introducing the constructs of perceived social identity lock-in and moral self-validation to explain how consumers cope with exclusion and affirm self-worth through symbolic consumption. A conceptual model is proposed and a sequential mixed-methods design is outlined for future empirical testing. This work contributes to Transformative Consumer Research by centering emotional coping in aspirational consumption and offers practical insights for inclusive, dignity-based branding strategies.

Behavioral Biases As Drivers Of Complexity In Stock Markets: An Agent-Based Modeling Approach, David Joseph Dr, Alwin Joseph, Blesson James, Kajal Dass

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

By modeling financial systems as Complex Adaptive Systems, this study investigates how behavioral biases influence emergent complexity in stock markets. The study integrates heterogeneous agents, such as rational traders, herding agents, overconfident traders, and anchoring/disposition-driven investors, within a Limit Order Book framework calibrated to both U.S. and Indian market conditions using an Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) approach implemented through the high-fidelity ABIDES simulation environment. Price dynamics, volatility patterns, and liquidity structures were analyzed by Monte Carlo simulation experiments with different behavioral compositions. The results show that behavioral biases cause nonlinear price reactions, produce heavy-tailed return distributions that distort order-book complexity, and …

Phenomenology And Science In Contemporary European Thought, Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka, Joseph M. Bochenski

Hannah Arendt Marginalia - All

[New York] Farrar, Straus and Cudahy [1962]

Call #: B829.5 .T9

Contains underlining & marginal lining

PDF information: 26 pages - 9 MB

Ud In The News March 28-April 3, University Of Dayton

News Releases

The Wall Street Journal, Axios, l'Opinion in France, BirdNote and several regional and local outlets featured UD faculty expertise, the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop, Flyer Pitch, how UD is educating students in AI, and students seeking Catholicism.

Cowpox And Counterpublics: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Anti-Covid Vaccine Conspiracy Theories On Social Media, Cole Melton '26

Honor Scholar Theses

In order to better understand why people construct and perpetuate anti-COVID vaccine conspiracy theories, I perform a rhetorical analysis of some conspiracy theories widespread on social media during the height of the COVID vaccination effort. I begin with a literature review, highlighting the history and efficacy of vaccine technology, gathering characteristics and definitions of conspiracy theories, and reviewing the history of the anti-vaccine movement. Ultimately, I argue that anti-COVID vaccine conspiracy theorists understand vaccination as an attack on personal rights by the U.S. government, prompting the conspiracy theorists to establish an ideological institution rival to the U.S. government that would …

The Intricate Dance Of Emotions And Psychophysiology: Unveiling The Secrets Of Microexpressions, Jaiteg Singh, Deepika Sharma, Babar Shah, Sukhjit Singh Sehra, Farman Ali, Irfan Hussain

All Works

Background: Emotion recognition plays a pivotal role in behavioral analysis, mental health assessment, and human-computer interaction. Micro-expressions, which are brief and involuntary facial movements, offer valuable insights into concealed emotions. However, validating micro-expressions remains a challenge due to their subtlety and short duration. This study aims to enhance the validation and classification of micro-expressions by integrating electromyogram (EMG) signals with facial action units (AUs). Methods: EMG data was collected using the EMG Muscle Sensor Module V3.0, interfaced with an Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller. To ensure signal clarity, various data filtration techniques were applied to eliminate noise, motion artifacts, and baseline …

Fast-Food Consumption And Metabolic Syndrome Risk In African Children And Adolescents, Norkinsha Willis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood obesity and excessive fast-food intake represent a significant public health concern among African American children. Grounded in the social-ecological model, this quantitative, cross-sectional study examined whether frequency of fast-food or pizza meal consumption and reliance on low-cost food was associated with total cholesterol (mg/dL) and waist circumference among African American children and adolescents aged 6–15 years while controlling for key sociodemographic factors (age, gender, parental education status, and annual household income). Secondary data from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed (N=184). Descriptive statistics, nonparametric analyses, and a multiple linear regression model were used to analyze …

Plastics, Microplastics, And The Gut Microbiome: Restoring Scientific Communication To Fight For Public Health, Benjamin Sanders '26

Honor Scholar Theses

Over the course of eight years from 2016 to 2024, a study by Nature Medicine found that the concentration of plastics in the brain increased by 50%. Even samples from patients with a documented dementia diagnosis showed a greater accumulation of microplastics (Nihart, 2025). In one of the most protected regions of our body, microplastics have made themselves known. In one of the most exposed regions of the human body, the story is no different. With the emergence of gut microbiome science and understanding, researchers are just beginning to discover the unique interplay between the microbiota of our gastrointestinal tract …

Analysis Of Stance Position On The Accuracy Of Forehand And Backhand Strokes In Beginner Table Tennis Players, Azzahra Julia Putri Anjani, Mochamad Yamin Saputra, Geraldi Novian

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: This study was motivated by the low accuracy of forehand and backhand strokes among beginner table tennis players, which is due to unstable stance positions and poor balance during ball striking. Objective: This study aims to analyze the relationship between stance position and the accuracy of forehand and backhand strokes among beginner table tennis players. Methods: This study used a descriptive correlational design with 7 beginner table tennis athletes. The research instruments were forehand and backhand accuracy tests using the multiball method and stance position analysis through video recordings, analyzed using the Kinovea application. Data analysis was performed using …

Understanding Disinformation, Propaganda And Media Literacy In Moldova, Adriana Bzovii

Research Papers

This research paper describes the landscape of disinformation, propaganda and media literacy in Moldova from the perspectives of journalists, higher education and civil society representatives, as well as the general population. In this context, the literature review refers to concepts of media literacy, disinformation, and propaganda, relationship between them, as well as the potential Russian contribution to manipulating public opinion in post-Soviet countries, focusing explicitly on the Moldovan case. To study the specific features of disinformation and propaganda, this paper addresses the following research question: How disinformation, propaganda and media literacy are currently perceived and connected in Moldova? By adopting …