Digital Commons Network^™

A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Lived Experiences Of Leaders At North Carolina Community Colleges When Addressing Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Initiatives On Campus, Trina J. Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study sought to understand mid-level leaders' personal and professional experiences at North Carolina community colleges as they address DEI initiatives. The theory guiding this study is Transformational Leadership theory. The theory refers to leaders who seek to create ideas and new perspectives. Transformational leadership theory aligns with practices held by leaders that are best utilized when addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The phenomenological qualitative research is as follows: (1) What are leaders' experiences in North Carolina community colleges addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives? A purposive sample was conducted with 15 mid-level leaders among the 58 North …

Motivational Or Disheartening?: A Phenomenological Study On Black Doctoral-Level Support At Predominantly White Institutions, Morgan Harbison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the lived experiences of Black students majoring in the mental health field and the perceived influences that challenges have on degree completion at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) in Central Virginia. The theories guiding this study are Tinto’s theory on student departure in higher education and Astin’s theory on student involvement as they relate to White stakeholders supporting Black students at the doctoral level. The following central research question guides the study: What are the lived experiences of Black doctoral students majoring in the mental health field at PWI? A transcendental …

Mitigating The Negative Effects Of Perceived Stress Using Wellness And Resiliency Training Programs On Job Satisfaction In Public Safety Officers In The United States, Benjamin T. Iobst

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The following quasi-experimental, cross-sectional, survey-based quantitative research study investigated the role of wellness and resiliency training programming in mitigating the adverse effects of stress on job satisfaction (JS) in US Public Safety Officers (PSOs). This research measured the dimensions of perceived stress, such as technological stress, critical incidents, organizational stressors, work-life balance, and social-conflict stress. Additionally, this research examined the relationship between these stressors, wellness, and resiliency education and their effect on job satisfaction in PSOs. It was found that perceived stress has a statistically significant negative correlation with job satisfaction (rs = -.466, p < .001). Additionally, organizational stress (rs = -0.556, p < 0.001), work-life balance stress (rs = -0.452, p < 0.001), critical incident stress (rs = -0.306, p < 0.001), and social conflict stress (rs = -0.298, p < 0.001) have a statistically significant negative correlation with job satisfaction, whereas technological stress does not (rs = -0.109, p = 0.129). Finally, it was found that resiliency training does not have a statistically significant relationship with job satisfaction (U (195) = 4647, p = .971) or perceived stress (U (195) = 4434.50, p = .608) based on the conditions that were tested. Police departments can use results from this research to guide and develop policies and training to address stress and job satisfaction in the public safety industry.

Beyond Children’S Vulnerability: Secure Attachment Mediates The Relationship Between Child Anxiety Disorder And Parents’ Psychopathology Risk, Diep Tran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Anxiety is one of children's most common mental health disorders. Many studies emphasize the effect of anxiety on young children, especially social abilities and other impairments across contexts throughout the child’s development. Along with this issue, studies have also shown that secure attachment is a powerful predictor of children’s later social and emotional outcomes. However, there is limited literature about child anxiety disorder and its unintended negative consequences on parents. Evidence for the association between anxiety in young children, secure attachment, and parental stress was not well understood. Thus, this proposed study offered a comprehensive literature review of past and …

Improving The Self-Esteem Scores Of High School Students Through Artificial Intelligence Counseling: A Quantitative, Quasi-Experimental Study, Alexis Breanne Bolen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to determine the difference in self-esteem scores among high school students who participated in artificial intelligence counseling and those who did not when controlling for pretest scores. Student self-esteem is significant because it influences their work effort, class participation, and social interactions; therefore, research on the effect of artificial intelligence counseling is significant in exploring affordable and effective counseling methods to increase student self-esteem. The researcher used a convenience sample of 74 high school students from a private school in northern Maryland. Participants were evenly distributed into one treatment group and one …

Multicultural Education: A Phenomenological Study Of How Elementary Teachers' Classroom Experiences Mirror The Knowledge And Skills Gained In Undergraduate Courses, Emily L. Hepner-Leffel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the study was to conduct a phenomenological analysis of the experiences of elementary school teachers concerning multicultural education in an urban school district in Southern Virginia. The study aimed to explore and describe teachers' perceptions, beliefs, values, and attitudes regarding multicultural education and assess their preparedness to implement multicultural education practices in their classrooms. The research utilized a qualitative research design that involved in-depth interviews and observations with a purposive sample of 10 novice and experienced elementary teachers. The study also gathered information from various documents that were collected to generate data. The data underwent analysis through …

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Emotional Preparedness Of U.S. Transitioning Servicemembers: Differences In Military Officers And Enlisted Personnel, Jasmine L. Hayes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This interpretive phenomenology analysis study examines the specific emotions of 10 U.S. transitioning veterans (5 enlisted personnel and 5 military officers) during the transitioning process. 9 out of the 10 participants stated that they had anxiety about transitioning out of the military. A common theme among military officers and enlisted personnel is that they were all anxious about healthcare after transitioning from the military. In contrast, a common theme among military officers that was not a theme among enlisted personnel was the anxiousness of feeling like they were leaving the military and not completing what they started. A common theme …

Equipping Church Leadership Through Team Ministry: A Dissertation-In-Praxis Model, Judith Aarian Hawkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Using teams in the workplace has become an efficient means to employ workers' creativity, productivity, and effectiveness (Ross et al., 2008). Likewise, ministry through teams offers the Church these same outcomes to meet its charge of the Great Commission (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Matthew 28:16-20). This research was implemented with BOLD Deliverance Ministries Incorporated (BOLD), a non-denomination church in Temple Hills, Maryland. The church’s theme of “Where together we equip the saints to serve all people” indicates an existing ideology of collaboration. This project aimed to build on this collaborative mindset by applying team leadership theory within a team ministry …

Impact Of Disruptive Behavior On Academic Performance, Annie R. Franklin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the impact of disruptive behavior on academic performance among high school students in the southeastern United States, a critical area of research given the well-documented connection between behavioral issues and educational outcomes. Disruptive behaviors, including absenteeism, fighting, and misconduct, are linked to significant student Grade Point Average (GPA) declines. This study aimed to explore how these behaviors influence academic performance while also investigating the moderating roles of factors such as gender, race, grade level, and English learner (EL) status. Utilizing a correlational research design, the study employed linear regression analysis and the Hayes Process Macro Model to …

Investigating The Effects Of Social And Emotional Learning On Career And Technical Education Students' Career Readiness Certification, Helen K. Linkous

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative predictive-correlational study was to determine if social-emotional learning (SEL) impacts career and technical education (CTE) students’ career readiness certification. This study was guided by Albert Bandura’s social learning theory which has been applied to social emotional learning to help individuals develop the skills necessary to navigate social interactions effectively. It is important to understand the correlation between SEL and career readiness since it affects students’ graduation, employability, and the potential for high-skilled, high-waged careers. The 152 participants for the study were drawn from a convenience sample of high school students who completed a CTE program …

Music Factory I & Ii: November 13, 2024, Carl Schimmel, Alex Stephenson, Alex Taylor

School of Music Programs

Kemp Recital Hall

November 13, 2024

Wednesday Evening

6:00 & 8:00 p.m.

Behavioral And Neural Mechanisms Of Face-Specific Attention During Goal-Directed Visual Search, Jie Zhang, Xiaocang Zhu, Huihui Zhou, Shuo Wang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Goal-directed visual attention is a fundamental cognitive process that enables animals to selectively focus on specific regions of the visual field while filtering out irrelevant information. However, given the domain specificity of social behaviors, it remains unclear whether attention to faces versus nonfaces recruits different neurocognitive processes. In this study, we simultaneously recorded activity from temporal and frontal nodes of the attention network while macaques performed a goal-directed visual search task. V4 and inferotemporal (IT) visual category-selective units, selected during cue presentation, discriminated fixations on targets and distractors during the search but were differentially engaged by face and house targets. …

Blockchain & Beyond: The Implications Of Crypto Enforcement & Policy Changes, Cardozo Crypto Law Society, Greg Cipolaro, Lindsay Lin, Sarah Milby, Jane Perov, Danielle Kantor

2024–2025 Flyers

A panel exploring how policy changes and regulatory enforcement are shaping the future of the crypto industry.

2024-11-13 Feminist Theory Class Takes It From The Classroom To The Community, Dylan Berman

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

2024-11-13 Wgss Holds A Salon To Process The Election, Abdullah El-Sherbeeny

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

2024-11-13 Is The Death Penalty Working?, Naja Johnson

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

2024-11-13 Phishing Emails Plague Student Inboxes, Tristan Scott

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

2024-11-13 Little Shop Hops: Twice Sold Tales, Milan Damjanac

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

2024-11-13 “From Belize, With Love”: A Gallery That Interprets Strength Through The Symbol Of Shadows, Hadia Noor Ahmed

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

2024-11-13 Tempering Seahawks Expectations Amidst Fan Overreactions, Morgan Keller

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

2024-11-13 Mosaic And Rotc Honor Veterans With Robert Bennedsen 5k, Daniel Truog

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

2024-11-13 Redhawks Men’S Basketball Falls To Liberty Flames On Homecoming Night, Diego Dumlao

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

2024-11-13 Trump Won: What It Looked Like And What It Could Mean, Henry Leyden, Jake Rushlo

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

The Complex Relationship Between Tuberculosis And Hyperglycemia, Michelle Byers, Elizabeth Guy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hyperglycemia and tuberculosis are dual global pandemics. Each has a propulsive and amplifying effect on the other, and, because of this, we must consider hyperglycemia and tuberculosis together. Hyperglycemia is immunosuppressive and increases the risk of tuberculosis by threefold. It also leads to a more advanced presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis, thus increasing the likelihood of being smear positive and having cavitating lesions, and it impacts the duration and outcomes of treatment, with an increased one year mortality seen in patients with tuberculosis and diabetes. Additionally, any degree of hyperglycemia can have an impact on susceptibility to tuberculosis, and this effect …

Fringe-Field Actuation Of Mems Cantilever Resonators: Capacitance Model For Frequency-Amplitude Response Of Parametric Resonance, Miguel A. Martinez, Dumitru I. Carantu

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The paper investigates the frequency-amplitude response of micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) cantilever beams, which are actuated by the fringe field at parametric resonance. In this design, a micro cantilever beam (flexible electrode) and a ground plate (fixed electrode) are placed in parallel and connected through an AC voltage. The electrostatic force is due to electric field lines within the volume directly between the cantilever and the ground plate. The parallel-plate capacitance is directly related to the overlapping area of the two electrodes. However, to accurately compute the capacitance of the two electrodes, the effects due to the fringing field must be …

Electrostatically Actuated Bio-Mems Circular Membrane Resonator Sensors: Voltage Response Of Primary Resonance, Dumitru I. Caruntu, Marcos Alipi

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper deals with the voltage-amplitude relationship during the primary resonance of electrostatically actuated circular membrane resonator sensors within the context of BIO-MEMS. The motion of these membranes is governed by a partial differential equation, which is nondimensionalized for analysis. This equation incorporates both damping effects and soft electrostatic actuation. The actuation AC frequency is set close to half of the membrane’s first natural frequency, leading to primary resonance. To investigate membrane’s voltage response, two principal methods were employed: the method of multiple scales (MMS) and a reduced order model (ROM) that incorporates two modes of vibration. This research provides …

Long-Read Sequencing Of An Advanced Cancer Cohort Resolves Rearrangements, Unravels Haplotypes, And Reveals Methylation Landscapes, Kieran O'Neill, Erin Pleasance, Jeremy Fan, Vahid Akbari, Glenn Chang, Katherine Dixon, Veronika Csizmok, Signe Maclennan, Vanessa Porter, Andrew Galbraith, Cameron J Grisdale, Luka Culibrk, John H Dupuis, Richard Corbett, James Hopkins, Reanne Bowlby, Pawan Pandoh, Duane E Smailus, Dean Cheng, Tina Wong, Connor Frey, Yaoqing Shen, Eleanor Lewis, Luis F Paulin, Fritz J Sedlazeck, Jessica M T Nelson, Eric Chuah, Karen L Mungall, Richard A Moore, Robin Coope, Andrew J Mungall, Melissa K Mcconechy, Laura M Williamson, Kasmintan A Schrader, Stephen Yip, Marco A Marra, Janessa Laskin, Steven J M Jones

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The Long-Read Personalized OncoGenomics (POG) dataset comprises a cohort of 189 patient tumors and 41 matched normal samples sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies PromethION platform. This dataset from the POG program and the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network includes DNA and RNA short-read sequence data, analytics, and clinical information. We show the potential of long-read sequencing for resolving complex cancer-related structural variants, viral integrations, and extrachromosomal circular DNA. Long-range phasing facilitates the discovery of allelically differentially methylated regions (aDMRs) and allele-specific expression, including recurrent aDMRs in the cancer genes RET and CDKN2A. Germline promoter methylation in MLH1 can …

The Effects Of Intersectional Identity Affirmation On The Relationship Between Racist Or Heterosexist Microaggressions And Mental Health For Lgbtq+ People Of Color, Kevin J. Chi, Joshua G. Parmenter, Renee V. Galliher

Psychology Student Research

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people of colour (POC) live at the intersection of multiple marginalised statuses. While previous literature has linked positive, affirmed identity with better mental health for LGBTQ+ individuals, identity affirmation may be compromised by intersecting systems of oppression. This study 1) investigated how multiple intersecting forms of oppression (i.e. racism within LGBTQ+ communities and heterosexism within ethnoracial communities) relate to anxiety and depression for LGBTQ+ POC, and 2) examined the indirect effects of intersectional microaggressions on mental health through identity cohesion. A subsample of participants who identified as both a member of the LGBTQ+ …

Tumor-Promoted Changes In Pediatric Brain Histology Can Be Distinguished From Normal Parenchyma By Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Ana L Seidinger, Felipe L T Silva, Mayara F Euzébio, Anna C Krieger, João Meidanis, Junier M Gutierrez, Thais M S Bezerra, Luciano Queiroz, Alex A Rosini Silva, Iva L Hoffmann, Camila M M Daiggi, Helder Tedeschi, Marcos N Eberlin, Livia S Eberlin, José A Yunes, Andreia M Porcari, Izilda A Cardinalli

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the second most frequent type of neoplasm in childhood and adolescence, after leukemia. Despite the incorporation of molecular classification and improvement of protocols combining chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, CNS tumors are still the most lethal neoplasm in this age group. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool to map the distribution of molecular species in tissue sections. Among MSI techniques, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI-MSI) has been demonstrated to enable reliable agreement with the pathological evaluation of different adult cancer types, along with an acceptable time scale for intraoperative use.

Methods: In the …

Genetics Of Latin American Diversity Project: Insights Into Population Genetics And Association Studies In Admixed Groups In The Americas, Victor Borda, Douglas P. Loesch, Bing Guo, Roland Laboulaye, Diego Veliz-Otani, Jennifer N. French, Thiago Peixoto Leal, John Blangero, Ravi Duggirala, Joanne E. Curran

School of Medicine Publications

Latin Americans are underrepresented in genetic studies, increasing disparities in personalized genomic medicine. Despite available genetic data from thousands of Latin Americans, accessing and navigating the bureaucratic hurdles for consent or access remains challenging. To address this, we introduce the Genetics of Latin American Diversity (GLAD) Project, compiling genome-wide information from 53,738 Latin Americans across 39 studies representing 46 geographical regions. Through GLAD, we identified heterogeneous ancestry composition and recent gene flow across the Americas. Additionally, we developed GLAD-match, a simulated annealing-based algorithm, to match the genetic background of external samples to our database, sharing summary statistics (i.e., allele and …