Digital Commons Network^™

Entre Dos Mundos: A First-Generation Cuban American's Journey Through Identity And Memory, Alessandra M. Gonzalez

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

ENTRE DOS MUNDOS (translated as “between two worlds”) explores the complexities of growing up as the eldest daughter in a Cuban American immigrant family and the tensions of navigating life between cultures. Set in Miami, the collection blends lyrical and prose poetry to examine cultural identity, diaspora, intergenerational memory, and the emotional landscape of young adulthood. Through personal narrative and historical context, ENTRE DOS MUNDOS traces the speaker’s coming-of-age amid the inherited stories of her family’s escape from Cuba and the lingering effects of displacement. The section “Yo” focuses on the psychological challenges of adolescence and early adulthood, reflecting on …

Gratitude As Social Information: How Leader And Follower Gratitude Expressions Influence First-Level Supervisors’ Work Experiences, Meghan E. Kane

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Gratitude is an important other-oriented, moral emotion known to promote individual well-being, strengthen social relationships, and foster positive workplace outcomes. Yet, organizational research has largely focused on gratitude as an individual trait or internal emotional state, with limited attention to its interpersonal signaling functions. Drawing on Emotion as Social Information (EASI) theory, this dissertation conceptualizes gratitude expressions as social cues that shape how others feel, think, and behave in the workplace. Focusing on first-level supervisors, an underexamined yet critical role in organizations, and integrating insights from leadership and followership research, this work examines how the source of gratitude expressions (leader …

Multibody Acausal Framework For Structural Dynamics Of Offshore Support Structures With Hydroelasticity And Soil-Structure Interaction, Saad Rahman

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Offshore energy systems present significant challenges in support structure design due to their scale and the strong coupling between aerodynamic, hydrodynamic, and structural subsystems. These interactions make traditional sequential modeling approaches inefficient for design exploration. Acausal modeling frameworks address this limitation by enabling direct integration of coupled subsystems without reformulating governing equations, improving computational efficiency while preserving physical fidelity. This supports rapid exploration of large design spaces, accelerates iteration cycles, and shortens the path from concept to deployment.

This thesis develops and validates an acausal multibody elastodynamics model for offshore support structures. The framework includes structural flexibility to capture member-level …

Exploring The Experiences Of Late Age-On-Arrival Multilingual Learners In Postsecondary Education, Robyn D. Ecklund

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Multilingual learners (MLs) are the fastest growing population in the United States public school system (Biondi et al., 2024; Kanno & Cromley, 2013; Perez & Morrison, 2016; Varghese & Fuentes, 2020). Within this population of students, there is a subset of students that arrive in the United States during secondary school. These “late age-on-arrival” students face significant linguistic, cultural and social challenges in their pursuit of postsecondary success after high school (Kanno, 2021; Kanno & Cromley, 2013; Perez & Morrison, 2016). This interpretative phenomenological analysis sought to answer the research question: what are the lived experiences of late age-on-arrival MLs …

Teledentistry: A Path To Minimize Emergency Department Dependency For Dental Issues, Aishwarya Joshi

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Teledentistry has been promoted as a strategy to minimize emergency department (ED) visits for non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDCs). However, it remains unclear whether structural readiness or temporary policy expansion drives sustained reductions in reliance on the ED. This study integrates Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory to examine determinants of Medicaid NTDC ED utilization and Tele-dentistry adoption.

Andersen’s model posits that utilization is shaped by predisposing, enabling, and need factors, whereas DOI theory emphasizes structural attributes that influence adoption, including relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Combining these frameworks allows for a …

Development Of The Simultaneous Alcohol And Cannabis Use Expectancy Questionnaire (Sac-Eq), Shane D. Marohnic

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Background: Simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use (SAC/SAM), defined as using alcohol and cannabis at the same time so that their effects overlap, has been identified as a hazardous form of polysubstance use. Expectancies are a causal mechanism and can be changed with predictable reductions in substance use and associated consequences, yet only one measure has been developed to assess expectancies related to SAC. Due to limitations of the existing measure, this study sought to create a more comprehensive SAC expectancy scale. Method: Three phases of participants (Phase 1, N = 493; Phase 2, n = 4; Phase 3, n …

Two Papers Exploring Cognitive Fit Theory And Data Visualization In Accounting, Kelly Wellman

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This dissertation examines how data visualization design influences judgment and decision making in accounting using cognitive fit theory as a unifying framework. As visualization tools such as dashboards, Excel, Tableau, and Power BI become increasingly prevalent, understanding which design choices improve performance has become critical. The first paper provides a structured literature review of cognitive fit theory from 1991 through 2025, synthesizing research across accounting and related disciplines and tracing its evolution from early graph vs tables comparisons to mor recent work incorporating task complexity, individual differences, and design-specific features. The review identifies key gaps, including limited attention to difference …

Human And Ai Support In Business Simulations: A Quasi-Experimental Mixed Methods Study Of Performance At Scale, Sara Willox

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Large classes change what instruction looks like. In hybrid business courses with high enrollment, it becomes harder to respond to individual students, and performance can suffer as a result. This study looked at what happens when that gap is addressed in different ways during an eight-week business simulation at the University of Central Florida. Six course sections were divided into three study groups. One group worked without support, one received instructor guidance, and one used AI tools that included a course search system and generative responses. Student outcomes were based on weekly profit and loss recorded in Sim Companies. The …

How Did Covid-19 Affect Volunteer And Donor Management For Human Services Agencies? What Are The Lessons For Future Response?, Nina Yon

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for human services agencies, disrupting the interdependent systems of volunteer engagement and donor support essential to nonprofit sustainability. This study integrates insights from literature, theory, and empirical analysis to examine how nonprofit organizations adapted their volunteer and donor management strategies during this prolonged crisis. Drawing on Contingency Theory and Resource Dependence Theory (RDT), the research explores how organizational structures and strategies evolved in response to shifting environmental conditions, health mandates, and resource constraints. Using a multiple-case qualitative design, data was collected from semi-structured interviews with 20 leaders representing five Central Florida human services agencies, …

An Educational Intervention On Mutual Goal Setting For Hospital Nurses: A Mixed-Methods Study, Teresa Jerofke-Owen, Kristi Opper, Joseph Beiler, Maharaj Singh

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background:

Including patients in mutual goal setting is one mechanism to personalize care delivery and improve patient outcomes.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a nurse educational intervention about mutual goal setting on nurse engagement and self-efficacy for goal setting and the nurse/patient experience of goal setting.

Methods:

During this explanatory, sequential mixed-methods study, nurse engagement in goal setting and goal quality was assessed through chart audits 1-month pre-intervention (n = 173) and 1 and 3-months (n = 144, n = 137) post-intervention. Nurse self-efficacy was measured with the Appraisal Inventory Tool. Patient experience …

From The Goodness Of Our Hearts: A Scoping Review Of Qualitative Literature On Altruism As A Reward Mechanism For Nursing, Jacqueline Christianson, Madaline Mccarthy, Bonnie Sommers-Olson, Emily Horner, Norah L. Johnson

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

Altruism, the desire to help others, is a common motivation for choosing a career in nursing. Improved understanding of the role of altruism as a reward or motivation for currently-practicing nurses may inform future interventions to improve effort-reward balance among practicing nurses. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to collect, examine, and present literature on how altruism has been described as a reward mechanism or motivation for engaging in professional nursing.

Methods

This scoping review of literature used the Arksey & O’Malley method, PRISMA-ScR reporting checklist, and Rayyan review management platform. PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL were …

Beyond Numbers: Bridging Statistical Significance And Clinical Relevance In Healthcare Research, Maharaj Singh, Waheeda Khan, Mehreen Fatima

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: This study aims to bridge the gap between statistical significance and clinical relevance using rigorous statistical methodologies applied to simulated healthcare data, thereby enhancing the translational value of research outcomes for patient‑centered care. Methods: A synthetic dataset representing 10,000 patients was generated, and descriptive statistics were applied to compare two treatment groups. Binary outcomes were predicted using both a logistic regression model and a neural network. Two‑tailed tests with a significant level of 0.05 were employed, utilizing SAS version 9.4 and IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 29.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States of America). Results: The simulated dataset …

The Performance Of Machine Learning Algorithms In Predicting Under-Five Anaemia In Tanzania, Henry Ofori Duah, Derrick Nyantakyi Owusu, Godwin G. Duah, Paul Shidende

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Aim

Anaemia in children under five remains a major public health concern, contributing significantly to global child morbidity and mortality. With the rise of machine learning (ML), novel opportunities exist to model and predict anaemia more effectively. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the performance of five ML algorithms in predicting anaemia among under-five children in Tanzania.

Methods

We conducted a secondary data analysis using the 2017 Tanzania Malaria Indicator Survey (TMICS). The dataset (n = 5906) was randomly split into training (70%) and test (30%) sets. Five ML algorithms, Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Logistic Regression, Random Forest (RF), …

Comparing Us Medicare Coverage Options As A Contributing Mechanism To Sticking Or Switching To An Insurance Plan, Lisa M. Grabert, Brian J. Miller, Kathryn L. Wagner

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

In 2025, the US Medicare program is expected to spend over $1.1 trillion taxpayer dollars. A growing trend in the US Medicare program is more beneficiaries electing a private insurer, referred to as Medicare Advantage (MA), to manage their care. Since 2023, a slight majority of Medicare beneficiaries have elected to enroll in MA, yet little is understood about the mechanisms that drive beneficiaries toward their choices.

Methods

Our objective was to examine the association between comparing coverage options and ‘switching’ or ‘sticking’ with Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicare or Medicare Advantage (MA). We conducted a panel study, using data from …

How Parents & Children Talk About Technology Rules, Elisha Seoyoon Bae , '26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Une Crise Démographique ? Les Inquiétudes Autour De La Population En France À La Fin Du Xixe Siècle, Aidan Carroll , '26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

« Look The King Is Naked » : Une Étude De The Naked King (2026) D’Alexei Ratmansky Vue À Travers Le Ballet De Cour Du Roi Soleil, Simone Gingerich-Boberg , '26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Risquer La Résistance: La Réponse Surréaliste À L’Exposition Coloniale Internationale De 1931, Milla Ben-Ezra , '26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Analytics And Irony In Organizational Change: Agency And Emotions In The Mangle Of Practice, Uri Gal, Sean Hansen, Kalle Lyytinen

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Advanced data analytics technology has experienced an explosion of interest as firms seek to increase profits, operational efficiency, and employee engagement through evidence-based management. However, empirical evidence of the impact of this technology on organizational outcomes remains mixed, which assertions of benefits closely matched by concerns about potential adverse outcomes. In this study, we explore the adoption of a popular application of analytics technology – a people analytics system – at Everest, a leadership development consulting firm. By juxtaposing idealized and realized facets of the organizational practices mediated by the system, we highlight the emergence of situational ironies, in which …

A Field Test Of The Role Of Biofluorescence In Territorial Salamanders, Kasey Watterson, Cari-Ann M. Hickerson, Carl Anthony

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Biofluorescence is recognized as an important form of visual communication, yet its function remains largely untested in many terrestrial species. In Eastern Red-Backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus), fluorescence of the postcloacal gland is a sexually dimorphic trait most strongly expressed in males. Because fluorescence can be displayed during territorial contests, we hypothesized that fluorescence in male P. cinereus would be positively related to resource holding potential (RHP) of territorial residents in the field. To test this hypothesis, we examined the relationship between fluorescence and two separate variables: body condition (as a proxy for RHP) and territory quality (the expected payoff from …

Growing A Partnership: Developing Inclusive Educator Preparation Programs, Leigh Ann Prugh, Sara Kersten-Parrish, Deborah Kuchey, Lisa M. Shoaf, Kathleen G. Winterman

2026 Faculty Bibliography

This paper describes a collaborative initiative between Xavier University and John Carroll University to develop an innovative dual licensure program in Primary Education and Special Education. Critical teacher shortages now impacts Ohio, this cross-institutional partnership leverages each university’s strengths: Xavier’s expertise in Special Education and John Carroll’s foundation in Primary Education. The partnership is rooted in the principles of Ignatian spirituality, promoting social justice by responding to the pressing need for inclusive, equity-focused teacher preparation programs. Through coordinated curriculum redesign, joint field placements, and administrative alignment, the institutions developed a sustainable model for inclusive educator preparation. A structured advisory board, …

Legal Turbulence: Addressing Unresolved Questions In Civil Aviation Through Judicial Adjudication, Arthur Shirichena

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

The increasing complexity of international civil aviation has outpaced the mechanisms currently available for the peaceful resolution of disputes. While aviation has long been governed by treaties such as the Chicago Convention of 1944 and managed through institutions like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), many emerging issues remain unresolved by these frameworks. Questions concerning the interaction between aviation and competition law, the legality of air blockades and no-fly zones, and the definitional ambiguities surrounding dual-use technologies such as weaponized aircraft or unmanned aerial systems have created pressing normative and jurisdictional challenges. This Paper argues that the establishment or empowerment …

Void In Space: How Loper Bright And The Major Questions Doctrine Affect The Federal Communications Commission’S Regulatory Authority Of Orbital Debris, Hernan Valles

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

Since the dawn of the space race, countries have been reaching for the stars. Recently, companies have joined the race. The space race and technological advancement of near-Earth orbital satellites have caused a buildup of debris in near-Earth orbit. The exponential increase of orbital debris in Earth’s orbit threatens the environmental system of the planet, the safety of astronauts aboard the International Space Station, the structure of other spacecraft, and modern economies relying on operational satellites to provide rapid communication, navigation, and weather forecasting information.

Yet there is a void among U.S. regulators in setting rules that mitigate orbital debris …

When Planes Fall And People Die: An International And Domestic Overview Of Disaster In The Sky, Clayton Rainey

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

Commercial aviation disasters expose catastrophic breakdowns in engineering, regulatory oversight, corporate governance, and human systems. From the Boeing 737 MAX tragedies involving Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 to the recent domestic crash of American Airlines Flight 5342, modern aviation disasters have become defining legal events that test the boundaries of product liability, federal preemption, sovereign immunity, and transnational treaty law. This Article examines how aviation mass-casualty events evolve into complex litigation involving aircraft manufacturers, airlines, regulatory agencies, and governmental entities, and how those legal frameworks differ in international versus domestic contexts.

Beyond legal doctrine, this Article …

Outer Space Employment Tax And Grounded Enforceability: A Node-Based Approach Under International Space Law, Binbin Guo

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

As commercial space activities move from state-led exploration to market operations, outer space is changing from a mission space into a workspace. As a result, the traditional connecting point for employment taxes, centered on the workplace, begins to lose force. This Article develops the concept of outer space employment taxation and argues that its key issue is not taxation in orbit, but enforceability. International space law does not directly provide the tax base, tax rates, or specific withholding rules. But through state responsibility, authorization and continuing supervision, and registration coupled with jurisdiction and control, it already provides institutional interfaces through …

In The Heavens As It Is On Earth: Embracing Federalism To Supervise And Promote U.S. Non-Governmental Entities’ Non-National Activities In Outer Space, Steven E. Bartz

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

Most of the law governing outer space is public international law, which applies, with limited exceptions, directly to nation-states (states) only. The application of international law to nongovernmental entities’ (NGEs), such as natural persons and companies with distinct legal personage, activities in outer space occurs through a state’s domestic legal implementation of that international law. The United States is a party to several treaties that govern the exploration and use of outer space (the Applicable Treaties), which, through the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, become “the supreme Law of the Land.” The Applicable Treaties were written and went into …

The Low Human Rights Advantage And The Failure Of Globalization: The Challenge Of China Inc., Shaomin Li

Management Faculty Publications

Purpose

We develop a framework of the low human rights advantage – labor repression, state discretionary expropriation and total control – that reduces factor costs and enables coordinated resource mobilization. These mechanisms generate economic advantage only when combined with access to global markets, which provide demand, capital and technology. By leveraging this low human rights advantage, the Chinese state has transformed China into a giant corporation that combines the agility of a firm with the resources of a nation, thereby reshaping global competition. Economic integration without corresponding political integration is a major contributor to the failure of the current wave …

Unlocking Organizational Support Through Psychological Empowerment: Identification And Test Of Transformational Leadership As A Catalyst Of Perceived Organizational Support, Ryan L. Klinger, Nathapon Siangchokyoo, Tipat Sottiwan

Management Faculty Publications

Organizational support theory (OST) explains how employees develop and respond to beliefs about their organization, with perceived organizational support (POS) representing a central construct within this framework. Integrating psychological empowerment theory, we examine an intrinsic motivational pathway through which POS relates to employee in-role performance and identify transformational leadership as a contextual catalyst that may strengthen this process. We test a multilevel moderated mediation model using multisource and multi-time data from 217 employees and 41 supervisors. Results indicate that POS is positively related to in-role performance through the psychological empowerment dimensions of competence and self-determination. Moreover, transformational leadership strengthens the …

Dynamic Interactions Of The Compressible Reacting Flow With A Morphing Wall In A Supersonic Combustor, Mason R. Thornton

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The influence of compressibility on supersonic reacting flows is explored by varying the area expansion ratio in a supersonic cavity combustor using a moving wall. In principle, this design allows on-the-fly adjustment of the combustor aft wall expansion ratio to accommodate variable inlet conditions and fueling rates. The variable back pressure broadens the operability envelope and ensures greater pressure rise recovery compared with a constant geometry combustor. The results demonstrate that modulating area expansion alters the combustor pressure distribution and can influence cavity flame dynamics. At sufficiently high equivalence ratios and compression levels, the back pressure induced by the moving …

Sonic Costumes For Immersive Theme Park Storytelling: Developing Interactive Wearables To Enhance Performer, Audience, And Environment Interaction, Rachel Yee

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Costumes enhance the themed experience through visual storytelling while also allowing performers to interact fluidly with a physical space. These garments are typically passive storytellers in theme parks, even if the performers interact directly with guests. Some garments coordinate with and react to elements of the themed environment, predominantly when worn by performers within live shows, parades, or streetmosphere settings. However, this interactivity is often available only at a distance from guests, causing a separation between audience and performer. For instance, lights on parade costumes, such as those throughout Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park, often synchronize only with parade floats and …