Digital Commons Network^™

Enhancing Social Emotional Learning Interventions For Black Adolescent Girls Through Staff Training, Shundrell Mcmullan

Theses and Dissertations

Black girls often face systemic inequities rooted in discriminatory practices and policies in the educational system contributing to adverse social-emotional outcomes unless mitigated by intentional protective supports. Many schools have adopted social emotional learning (SEL) programs; however, their effectiveness for culturally diverse students are often challenged. The present study examined the impact of Sisters of Nia, a race-conscious and gender-responsive intervention designed to enhance protective factors and social-emotional well-being among six adolescent Black girls. Student outcomes, including academically engaged behaviors and positive peer interactions, were primarily evaluated using a single-subject A/B design. Students’ self-esteem and racial identity were also measured …

A Policy Analysis Of State-Mandated Literacy Reform In Tulsa Public Schools, Paul Eicher

Theses and Dissertations

Oklahoma has implemented state-mandated literacy reforms grounded in the Science of Reading (SoR) to address persistent reading achievement challenges. Despite increased accountability measures and adoption of approved intervention programs, secondary literacy outcomes in Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) remain low, raising questions about policy design and implementation. The purpose of this project is to analyze the state-mandated framework for secondary reading intervention in TPS and develop evidence-based recommendations to strengthen literacy outcomes. The study is guided by the Adapted Policy Analysis Triangle, which examines policy through the domains of content, context, process, and actors. The research explores effective intervention practices, implementation …

The Impact Of Z-Plane Stitching On The Toughness Of Resin Infused Composite Structures, Stephan Sendelbach

Theses and Dissertations

While Stitched Resin Infusion (SRI) has been successfully implemented in aerospace, the understanding of the benefits of z-plane reinforcement in resin-infused carbon fiber structures remains in its infancy. This study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved the fabrication, testing, and failure analysis of both z-plane reinforced and unreinforced standardized skin–stringer assemblies. Comparison of the experimental results and examination of the failure progression informed a second phase of testing. In Phase 2, testing was repeated with the addition of localized z-plane reinforcement to delay the initial yield and supported the postdoctoral research of Dr. Taehee Lee. Results from both …

School Administrators’ Lived Experiences In Educational Settings Supporting Students With Exposure To Violence, Craig Karnell Chapman

Theses and Dissertations

Violence in schools and communities presents persistent challenges for K–12 students, educators, and school leaders, particularly in high-poverty contexts where exposure to violence disrupts teaching, learning, and school climate. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (1979). Ecological systems theory, this phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of school administrators in supporting students exposed to violence in their schools and communities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with five purposively selected school administrators working in high-poverty districts and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed four central themes: (a) instructional instability resulting from persistent exposure to violence, (b) the spillover of community …

Latent Profile Analysis Of Trauma Appraisal: Associations With Psychological Problems And Substance Use Moderated By Emotion Dysregulation In College Students With Trauma History, Tram Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations

Empirical research suggests that trauma-related appraisals have significant mental health implications. A prior meta-analysis reported that maladaptive trauma-related cognitions play a central role in the development and maintenance of poor coping strategies (i.e., substance use) and posttraumatic stress disorder. However, less is known about the relationships among maladaptive trauma cognitions, emotion dysregulation, and risk for substance use. The current study sought to provide a comprehensive examination of the relationships among trauma appraisals, emotion dysregulation, psychological problems, and substance use. A systematic review highlighted the lack of a person-centered approach to trauma appraisal research, as well as a lack of research …

Effects Of Fire And Mesocarnivore Exclusion On Small Mammal Population Dynamics And Behavior In A Fire-Maintained Longleaf Pine (Pinus Palustris) Savanna, Varsha Samba Shastry

Theses and Dissertations

Disturbances shape communities through population responses and species interactions. However, the effects of these inter-related factors on primary consumers and their predators are relatively understudied. Therefore, I used a long-term experimental dataset to assess direct and indirect effects of prescribed fire and mesocarnivore removal on community interactions within small mammal populations. Earlier research revealed no major changes in small mammal abundances following mesocarnivore exclusion, but cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) had increased home-range sizes and greater body mass in the exclosures. My research specifically focused on examining behavior and population dynamics of cotton rats and cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus) as a …

Strategic Information System Leadership And Information System Function Performance In Universities In Kenya: A Pls-Sem Analysis, Joseph K. Muchina, James M. Njihia Prof., Agnes N. Wausi Prof.

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Information systems as enablers have evolved from an efficiency and effectiveness focus to enterprise-wide performance, placing strong demands on information system leadership. Emerging leadership models call for collaborative practices. Information systems leadership in higher education is a challenging task. Universities' top management team members and their information system executive counterparts lack a common and shared vision and understanding of information systems capabilities and roles. As the highest-ranking officers in organizations, they make strategic IS decisions. Yet, noting that existing approaches are ineffective, there is a growing concern about the kind of leadership needed to guide the institutions. Four sets of …

Sustainability Challenges And Opportunities In A University Police Fleet: A Case Study Of Idling, Emissions, And Electrification Potential, Van Slusser

School of Political Science, Public Affairs, Legal and Security Studies Faculty Publications

This case study examines fleet sustainability challenges within the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Police Department, a multicampus public safety agency operating aging gasoline vehicles central to daily patrol and administrative functions. Rising maintenance costs, increased vehicle downtime, and extensive idling created both operational strain and avoidable environmental impacts. Aging internal-combustion vehicles contributed to elevated emissions and fuel consumption, particularly under high-heat conditions and equipment demands typical of campus policing. Telematics monitoring indicated that approximately 48% of total engine-on time consisted of idling, highlighting a substantial source of avoidable fuel use and emissions. The study employed a qualitative case …

Clinical Practice Guideline For Fall Prevention And Reduction, Wendy Zitzloff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls are a significant concern for residents in long-term care facilities who are 65 years old or older, which places them at a higher risk of injury. The risk of falling is unique to each patient and cumulative with advanced age and complex comorbidities. A Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility in Minnesota had 6.6% of long-stay residents experience a fall resulting in a major injury, higher than the Minnesota average of 4.1%. This Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) outlines foundational components for preventing and reducing falls among geriatric patients in long-term care facilities. The purpose of the CPG is to outline the …

Underrepresented Students’ Perceptions Of Precollege Programs And Challenges Of Transitioning To Postsecondary Education, Dana Truesdale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that underrepresented students (low-income and first generation college students) face challenges associated with the transition from secondary education to postsecondary education. Grounded in Schlossberg’s transition theory, the purpose of this study was to explore underrepresented students’ perceptions of support provided by precollege programs and remaining challenges when transitioning to higher education. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews with 11 underrepresented students who participated in a precollege program were conducted. Braun and Clarke’s six-phase data analysis was used. After deductive and inductive analysis, the following themes emerged: Students indicated that the …

Exploring The Definition Of Democracy And Rule Of Law From Afghan Women’S Perspective, Lynda Boswell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although the United States funded programs from 2001 to 2021 to promote democracy, the rule of law, and opportunities for Afghan women, existing reports and evaluations focused primarily on expenditures, implementation, outputs, and accountability rather than Afghan women’s perspectives, particularly after the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. This study addressed that gap by exploring how Afghan women experienced and understood democracy and the rule of law before and after the U.S. withdrawal and how U.S.-supported programs influenced their perceptions and experiences. Guided by theoretical frameworks of democracy and the rule of law as applied in Afghanistan and other …

Patient-Reported Outcomes Of Effectiveness Of Esketamine For Treatment-Resistant Depression, Erica L. Marino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) affects approximately 30% of individuals with major depressive disorder who do not respond to conventional antidepressant therapies. TRD symptoms severely impact a patient’s quality of life (QoL) and impose a considerable burden on healthcare systems. The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate the impact of esketamine in decreasing depressive symptoms and improving QoL factors in patients diagnosed with TRD. The research aimed to determine whether there were statistically significant improvements in depressive symptoms, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and changes in QoL, as measured by the Quality of Life in Depression Scale, over …

Staff Education To Improve Hypertension Management Knowledge, Angelor Eliscard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project, I addressed inconsistent staff knowledge of evidence-based strategies for preventing and controlling hypertension among African American women in an outpatient primary care setting. The practice-focused question was: In an outpatient clinical setting, what was the impact of an evidence-based staff education program on healthcare providers' knowledge of hypertension prevention and control strategies for African American women, as measured by pretest and posttest scores? The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate a structured staff education program to improve providers' knowledge of evidence-based strategies for preventing and controlling hypertension …

Strategies To Reduce Staff Shortages In A Freestanding Dialysis Clinic In Rural Georgia, Shayla Daniell Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Vacancy rates are a current problem in a freestanding outpatient dialysis clinic in rural communities. From an administrative perspective, vacancy rates increase costs associated with recruitment, onboarding, training, overtime and compromise the quality and safety of patient care. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify evidence-based strategies to decrease vacancy rates in rural Georgia dialysis clinics. Donabedian’s framework of structure, process, and outcome was used for this integrative review. The integrative review question explored evidence-based strategies that can decrease vacancy rates in dialysis clinics in rural Georgia. Out of 50 articles reviewed using the John Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice …

Managerial Strategies For Increasing The Engagement And Retention Of Retail Employees, Dorothy Kelly Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of employee engagement strategies to increase worker retention is a concern for managers in the retail industry. This problem is important because without such strategies, organizations may experience turnover, which undermines operational stability, customer experience, and profitability. Grounded in employee engagement theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective employee engagement strategies that retail managers use to increase employee retention. Participants were six retail managers in the southern United States, each with at least 3 years of experience managing employees. Data sources consisted of semistructured interviews, public documents, and related studies. Thematic …

Development Of A Clinical Practice Guideline For Hpv Vaccination In Low-Income Adolescents Using The Agree Ii Framework, Jariatu Fatu Bundu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is an effective strategy for preventing HPV-related cancers; however, vaccination initiation and series completion remain suboptimal among adolescents, particularly those from low-income and underserved populations. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project addressed an evidence-to-practice gap involving the absence of a standardized clinical practice guideline (CPG) for HPV vaccination in a family practice setting serving predominantly low-income adolescents. The purpose of the project was to develop and validate an evidence-based CPG to standardize provider recommendations and support improvement in HPV vaccination initiation and series completion. Evidence was appraised and synthesized using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model, …

System Leadership For Sdg-Aligned Research Security In Ireland, Seán Lacey

Publications

What is new?

Research security has rapidly emerged as a priority in research governance across Europe and internationally. However, discussions frequently frame research security primarily in terms of national security or geopolitical risk, with limited attention to how security measures intersect with sustainable development objectives. This paper addresses this gap by exploring the relationship between research security and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using the emerging Irish research security framework as an illustrative context. It argues that research security and sustainable development are not inherently in conflict; however, aligning them requires coordinated system leadership to ensure that security measures protect …

Promoting The Bipartisan Dimension Of Political Leadership: A Study Of The Impact Of A Normative Intervention With Newly Elected Members Of Congress, Jaime M. Ruvalcaba

Dissertations

The U.S. political system is more polarized now than at any time in the past century, as evidenced by the rise of political incivility, legislative gridlock, and hyperpolarization. To date, most studies and efforts have focused on institutional strategies to explain, transform, and mitigate the challenges posed to the political environment. By contrast, little attention has been paid to the normative or values-based behaviors of leaders to either explain or influence political leadership in ways that positively impact the political environment. Fortunately, some organizational programs, like Harvard’s Bipartisan Program for Newly Elected Members of Congress, have taken a different tack, …

Analysis Of R2 Data Services Within The Lids Dataset, Chad Kahl, Joshua Newport

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

Introduction: This is a discussion of data services at R2 libraries in the United States. Environmental scan data was collected from summer 2021 through 2023.

Objectives: Our paper focuses on comparisons within four Carnegie Classification categories due to the limited literature about data services at R2 institutions. This analysis was done on a subset of the more comprehensive Library Data Services (LiDS) dataset (Kahl, Skaggs, and Newport 2025). Our research question was broad and general—what does the data service landscape of R2 institutions look like?

Methods: Data gathering was done by utilizing website analysis, after which we …

Shadow Learning And Knowledge Redistribution: How Workers Appropriate Generative Ai Outside Formal Organisational Systems, Eduardo Carlos Dittmar, Martin Sposato

All Works

Organisations are ceding visibility over how their employees develop knowledge. As generative AI tools become widely accessible, workers are steadily building capabilities and co-producing knowledge through informal AI engagements that operate entirely outside sanctioned training systems. This paper theorises shadow learning, the informal and autonomous appropriation of AI by workers for knowledge expansion beyond managerial design, as a process that fundamentally reconfigures how knowledge authority is distributed in organisations. Integrating critical management learning with sociomaterial and post-human perspectives, and drawing on current debates in AI ethics and human–AI interaction, the paper conceptualises shadow learning through a recursive model of constraint, …

Midweek Memo, Georgia Southern University

Midweek Memo

• Applaud 
• Remember 
• Share 
• Experience 
• Around the Nest

Resistance And Adaptation In Banyumas Traditional Gending: Musical Negotiation Between Cultural Preservation And Commercial Performance In Lengger And Ebeg, Darno Darno, Binarung Mahatmajangga

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This study investigates the musical dynamics of Banyumas-style traditional gending within the contestation of Lengger and Ebeg performances amid the demands of modern entertainment. Using a qualitative method combining ethnomusicological and cultural-sociology perspectives, the study examines changes in musical structure and the socio-cultural forces driving them, and asks specifically: what defines Banyumas gending musicality at the level of instrumental garap (working practice); what concrete forms of adaptation and resistance are observable in contemporary performance; and how these dynamics can be read through Merriam's concept of stability and change and Bourdieu's theory of capital and field. Data were collected through in-depth …

Flexibility In Javanese Folk Performing Arts: Adaptation, Creation, And Innovation, Kiswanto Kiswanto, Paimin Paimin, Wahyu Prihatin

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This study aims to uncover and explain the concept and model of flexibility as a mechanism for the sustainability of folk performing arts amidst conditions of social and cultural change. The study was conducted using an ethnographic approach, based on participatory and collaborative activities within the Turonggo Seto Boyolali group, and supported by data collection techniques including observation, interviews, documentation, and literature review. The results of this study indicate that flexibility is a principle and approach applied through the process of adaptation, creation, and innovation. This process is carried out to preserve and develop traditional performing arts, ensuring they continue …

Estimating Leaf Physiological Traits In Eastern Cottonwood And Its Hybrids By Integrating Uav Hyperspectral Images With Statistical And Machine Learning Approaches, Bipin Paudel

Theses and Dissertations

Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and its hybrids are high-yield, fast-growing short-rotation woody crops with strong potential in bioenergy and industrial applications. Given their genetic diversity, these species require non-invasive assessment of photosynthetic, leaf biochemical, and water-use efficiency traits. These traits reflect plant physiological status, carbon cycling, productivity, as well as nutrient cycling, and hyperspectral remote sensing provides high-resolution spectral information essential for high-throughput phenotyping. Therefore, this study develops a robust framework to predict physiological traits using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-acquired canopy-level hyperspectral reflectance (~400 nm - 1000 nm, with 2.2 nm band spacing) by integrating linear and non-linear machine learning …

Engineering Identity And Persistence In Community College Students, Joseph Anthony Minutolo

Theses and Dissertations

As our society becomes more technologically advanced, the need for engineers grows. Academia is tasked with preparing future engineers to meet this increasing need. However, as graduation rates continue to hover around 50%, researchers have begun to investigate what aspects of the student experience have a positive effect on the retention of engineering students. One researched topic is the relationship between engineering identity and persistence. Engineering Identity is rooted in the theoretical framework of Identity Theory, whereas Persistence is grounded in Expectancy-Value Theory. Previous research has shown a positive correlation between engineering identity and persistence among traditional university engineering students; …

A Vital Step Toward Improving Student Success: A Comparative Examination Of Attendance Policies Across Urban, Rural, And Suburban School Districts In Mississippi, Marino Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic absenteeism is a growing challenge for schools nationwide, with Mississippi districts experiencing significantly higher rates after the pandemic. This capstone examined how selected rural, suburban, and urban school districts in Mississippi develop and implement attendance policies and how well these policies align with the Mississippi Compulsory Attendance Law, Mississippi Code Annotated § 37-13-91, and state board regulations. The study aimed to assess the extent to which district attendance policies reflect Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Systems Theory, considering the multiple layers that influence student attendance. Directed by this theoretical framework, the study addressed three research questions: (1) How do selected districts design …

Examining The Effects Of Oral Melatonin Supplementation On Bull Reproductive Physiology, Megan M. Patterson

Theses and Dissertations

Bull subfertility is a prevalent issue with significant consequences for cattle production. Unfortunately, few management interventions exist to alleviate bull subfertility and improve bull reproductive efficiency. Melatonin, a key regulator of circadian rhythms and seasonal reproduction, improves reproduction in non-seasonally breeding mammals, yet the benefits of oral supplementation in the bull remain underexplored. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the extent to which melatonin supplementation could serve as a management intervention to improve bull reproductive efficiency. Yearling Angus bulls (n = 21) were utilized to examine the effects of 90 days of oral melatonin supplementation on sperm quality, blood plasma …

Initial Evaluation Of Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange-Mass Spectrometry For Filtering Isobaric Candidate Structures Of Metabolites, Olufemi Farotimi

Theses and Dissertations

Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics is a common analytical tool used to identify metabolites. Identifying specific metabolite structures associated with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) features remain analytically challenging. Complete hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) is hypothesized to be complementary to retention time and fragmentation patterns for narrowing down the number of potential candidate structures for a given precursor m/z. In this work, the hypothetical number of exchangeable protons was assigned to an array of subsets of the Human Metabolome Database (HMDB), based on known exchange behavior obtained from literature. Six model compounds (for which experimental data were also collected, four additional model …

Microcystin-Lr And Anatoxin-A Effect On Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) Immune Cell Function And Susceptibility To Microbial Pathogens (Aeromonas Hydrophila And Edwardsiella Piscicida), Treva Billyard

Theses and Dissertations

Harmful algal blooms are increasing in frequency worldwide, resulting in greater exposure of aquatic organisms to cyanobacterial toxins that threaten fish health and freshwater ecosystems. Although microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and anatoxin-a are well known for their hepatotoxic and neurotoxic effects, respectively, their broader impacts on immune function, cellular metabolism, and host-pathogen interactions remain poorly understood. The objective of this dissertation was to investigate the immunotoxic, metabolic, and molecular effects of MC-LR and anatoxin-a in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) while evaluating the influence of MC-LR on the growth of important bacterial fish pathogens. Channel catfish were exposed to MC-LR or anatoxin-a, and …

Explicit Writing Instruction Across Content Areas: A Professional Development, Bethany B. Richardson

Masters Projects

Research shows that writing instruction has diminished in the elementary classroom due to high stakes testing in reading and math.  Writing is a driving force for literacy achievement and should be prioritized.  In order to improve writing instruction, teachers need professional development in explicit instructional strategies for writing in other content areas.  According to cognitive processing theory, students are using multiple cognitive and metacognitive processes to complete a singular writing task.  Using scaffolds like write alouds, mentor texts, and graphic organizers can help teachers support students in their writing. Scaffolding theory suggests that students need high levels of support in …