Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Predicting Marching Band Ratings In Nebraska: A Quantitative Analysis Of Socioeconomic Status And Geographic Variables, Michael T. Genslinger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although the high school marching band has been a tradition in the United States for nearly a century, it is becoming increasingly rare in many rural areas. Despite economic barriers, some rural schools have overcome the challenges of their location and built successful instrumental music programs. Research on rural music education is vital because most new music educators in Nebraska will begin their careers teaching in rural schools. A quantitative study examined marching band performance in Nebraska, a highly rural state. The study reviewed NSBA State Marching Contest overall ratings from 2015 to 2024, along with a socioeconomic profile of …

Church Revitalization In A Southwest United States Retirement Community Church: A Case Study, Donald L. Fraser

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Eighty percent of churches in the United States are either plateaued or declining. Across all denominations, as many as 7700 churches permanently close their doors each year. Pastors of once-vibrant churches transition to survival mode rather than continuing to build their churches. However, there are bright spots where a declining church reverses the downward trend and begins a renewed cycle of growth. This case study examined church growth and revitalization of Southwest Community Church (the name has been changed to protect the identity of the participants), a revitalized church in a dedicated retirement community. For this research, revitalization has been …

Beyond The Stage: Rural Music Educators' Perceptions Of Educational Travel, Andrew Ford Rewerts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the recognized value of educational travel for student musicians, research on performance-based trips for middle and high school ensembles, particularly in rural communities, remains limited. This gap in the literature hinders understanding of how travel experiences can benefit students in these unique contexts, where financial constraints, geographic isolation, and smaller ensemble sizes can limit access to performance-based travel opportunities. Rural student musicians may consequently miss out on potential benefits, including enhanced motivation, ensemble cohesion, and social development. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine rural middle and high school music ensemble directors' perceptions of how performance-based …

The Practical Application Of The Greatest Commandments In Mark 12:28–34: A Holistic Framework For Spiritual Formation, Mark R. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian spiritual formation is a field abundant in materials, resources, and programs to help people become fully devoted followers of God. Yet a disconnect appears to exist between the biblical concept of discipleship, which encompasses both a process and an event, and the lived reality of Christians in the United States today. A new model that lays the foundation for a new spiritual formation framework grounded in the practical application of the Greatest Commandments may be of benefit. This dissertation develops a model that includes orthodoxy and orthopraxy to apply the Greatest Commandments in an easy-to-understand framework in a practical, …

Jesus Leads Worship: A Theological Investigation Of The Role Of Jesus Christ In Worship, Vernon M. Whaley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There are many books, published articles and formal studies by well-known evangelical theologians and authors that make the case of how Jesus is sufficiently prepared to serve the role as our own personal high priest. But, few studies provide theological and practical evidence that Jesus is passionate in accepting His responsibility to lead us in worship. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate how Jesus Christ is central to our worship and, as Sovereign, He is superior to all of the Old Testament forms of worship. This research seeks to provide a theological, historical and philosophical study of Jesus …

Mobilizing The Church For Whole-Person Transformation In Addiction And Mental Health Recovery, Jacqueline A. Gillespie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals experiencing chronic addiction or mental health conditions are often separated from the broader church community and placed into isolated treatment programs, creating a disconnect between recovery efforts and long-term spiritual formation (Amos, 2023). Many churches that emphasize deliverance struggle to provide sustained discipleship, while congregations grounded in spiritual growth frequently lack the skills and structures needed to serve highly vulnerable populations. This mixed–methods study will explore how the local church can be mobilized to offer whole-person transformation for individuals affected by addiction and mental health challenges. Guided by the biblical vision of ongoing spiritual renewal—“being transformed into the same …

Songwriting Learning Experiences In Music Education: A Bifurcated Study, Thomas Amoriello Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Historically, the field of music education has been grounded in the band, chorus, and orchestra model, with an abundance of professional development opportunities for educators. Despite the eventual expansion to introduce alternatives, including the Orff approach, guitar ensembles, mariachi, and the ukulele; further exploration of songwriting learning experiences is warranted due to a lack of professional development opportunities for music educators. Traditionally, songwriting is learned or taught piecemeal; thus, the need for music educators to possess additional skills is paramount. This qualitative narrative study will examine the perspectives of music educators who participate in interviews about teaching songwriting or their …

Redefining Bryan: Populism, Reform, And The Fight For The Common Man, Tracey Perilloux Drake

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation looks at the political career of William Jennings Bryan and argues that he was more than just a supporter of free silver during the 1896 election. While many historians focus mainly on his “Cross of Gold” speech and his views on silver, this study shows that Bryan had a much broader set of ideas. He supported reform in many areas, including the economy, government power, and moral issues, and believed the federal government should do more to help ordinary people. Using both historical studies and primary sources, this dissertation places Bryan in the context of the major economic …

Understanding The Perceptions Of Racial Socialization As A Protective Factor Influencing Resiliency Adaptation Among Black Males Who Matriculated To College In Northeastern Florida When They Were Aged 18 – 24 And Who Had A History Of Criminogenic Risk Factors Or Criminal Justice System Contact, C. Darnell Stroble

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to explore the perceptions of racial socialization (“RS”) as a protective factor that leads to resiliency adaptations among Black males who matriculated to college in Northeastern Florida when they were aged 18 – 24 and who had a history of criminogenic risk factors or criminal justice system contact. Grounded in Unnever and Gabbidon’s (2011) Theory of African American Offending (“TAAO”), the study used a qualitative phenomenological case study research design to explore participants’ understanding of RS messages from their parents and their resiliency adaptations in response to those messages. Two research questions guided the study: (1) How …

A Virtual Coach Model For Christian Leaders: Addressing Burnout And Other Mental Health Challenges, Hillary Arlene Hinds

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The demands placed on pastoral leaders have increased immensely, and according to Eser (2025), this has caused emotional exhaustion, declining mental health, and feelings of isolation that threaten their well-being and ministry. Data on pastoral leadership burnout and the extent to which a coaching approach is used to assist them in addressing mental health challenges in Canada are limited. This research reported on the use of Whitmore’s (1980) GROW model contextualized within a biblical worldview to mitigate burnout with a group of pastoral leaders (N = 5) in Saskatchewan, Canada. Findings from this research, though from a small population, were …

A Next Generation Ministry Milestone Model For Strategic Discipleship At Warren Grovetown, Brandy L. Behne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Dissertation-in-Praxis addressed the need to shift from a siloed ministry model to a cohesive milestone model for the Next Generation ministry at Warren Grovetown in order to build a more parent-equipping driven ministry with a strategic discipleship plan. The rationale for this project stemmed from the exodus of young adults leaving the church following high school graduation and the deficit of parents understanding how to be spiritual leaders in their homes as their children matured from infants through young adulthood. The current siloed model highlighted the need for ministry cohesiveness as children developed through preschool, children, and student ministry, …

Valuing Music Education: A Comparative Study Of Elementary Programs In Canada And The United States, Johanna Katelyn Hatt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Music education is widely recognized as an important component of a well-rounded education and is frequently associated with numerous educational, social, and developmental benefits. Despite this perceived value, support for music education remains inconsistent across elementary school contexts. Differences in funding, instructional time, and administrative priorities raise questions about how the value of music education is understood and enacted within schools. The purpose of this qualitative comparative study was to examine how music education is valued within elementary schools in Canada and the United States. Guided by Comparative Education Theory, interviews were conducted with elementary music educators to better understand …

Trinity And Moderate Communitarianism: The Shape Of Social Engagement Within The Godhead, Harry Allotey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explores the doctrine of the Trinity through the lens of Social Trinitarianism in dialogue with African communitarian anthropology, particularly the Ghanaian construct of moderate communitarianism as articulated by Kwame Gyekye. The central thesis is that the concept of moderate communitarianism in African cosmology provides an appropriate conceptual framework for understanding the intra-Trinitarian relationship, one that complements Western insights and avoids some concerns associated with modalism and tritheism. By engaging African categories of personhood, community, and relational ontology, the study demonstrates that the life of the Triune God resonates deeply with African communitarian insights, while also offering theological correction …

Exploring The Relationship Between Divine Grace And Guilt/Shame Among Christians With Same-Sex Attraction, Christopher Tyler Carroll

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the experiences of guilt, shame, and divine grace as they relate to Christians with same-sex attraction (SSA). Although divine grace, defined as unmerited favor and love given by God, has been linked to favorable psychological outcomes in general samples, it is unclear whether experiencing divine grace protects Christians with same-sex attraction from guilt and shame. The Perceptions and Experiences of Grace Scale (PEGS), Factor 1 and The Guilt and Shame Experience Scale (GSES) were used to assess whether an association exists between these variables. Findings from multiple regression models indicated that experiencing divine grace does not significantly …

Bridging The Generational Gap: Enhancing Unity And Engagement In The Church, Lesley H. Booker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The contemporary church is increasingly characterized by the presence of multiple generations worshiping and serving together, each bringing distinct values, communication styles, expectations, and approaches to faith. While this diversity presents significant opportunities for spiritual growth and community development, it can also create challenges that hinder unity, participation, and effective ministry. This study examines the generational gap within the church and explores strategies for enhancing unity and engagement among members from different age groups. Using a qualitative research approach, the study investigates the perceptions, experiences, and interactions of church members across generations. Data were collected through interviews, focus groups, and …

Earning The Green Light: How Organized Baseball Survived During World War Ii, Amanda Lauren Curto

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines how professional baseball survived and contributed to the United States war efforts during the Second World War. It argues baseball’s survival was dependent on its relationship with the federal government during the war. Previous scholarships studied baseball’s symbolism, cultural, economic, and social impacts during wartime. The scholarship has not explored how these methodologies sustained baseball while under wartime conditions. Drawing on primary sources including federal government records, correspondences, and national and local newspapers, this dissertation reconstructs the relationship between professional baseball and the federal government. Providing crucial support for Organized Baseball’s continuation came from President Franklin D. …

Lament Shift: Utilizing Biblical Lament As A Reframing Process To Help Church Members Of First Baptist Church Of Lumberton, Mississippi, Cope With Emotional Distress, Paul Wiseheart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this DMIN action research project was to address the problem that church members at First Baptist Church of Lumberton, Mississippi (FBCL) were unprepared to use biblical lament as a meaning-making coping practice to manage emotional distress. The thesis statement was that if FBCL church members participated in Lament Shift, they would report greater preparedness to manage emotional distress. Lament Shift is a curriculum-based program designed to equip FBCL church members to use biblical lament as a meaning-making coping practice in the context of a four-week peer support group. The study used a pre-experimental mixed methods design and …

The Role Of The Prophetic Commissioning Formula In Matthew’S Gospel, Marcus N. Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Scholars have long examined Matthew’s Gospel for its fulfillment quotations and theological emphases but have often overlooked its structural dependence on the Old Testament (OT) prophetic commissioning formula. This formula—divine encounter, mission mandate, prophetic objection, divine reassurance, and a sign of validation—serves as a critical framework throughout Matthew’s narrative, linking Christology, discipleship, and mission. This study addresses the gap by demonstrating how Matthew integrates these commissioning motifs to present Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of Israel’s prophetic tradition and to emphasize the continuity between Israel’s covenantal promises and the mission inaugurated by Jesus.

While the Limited Commission (Matt 10:5–42) and …

Exploring The Practice Of Mindfulness In Ministry Among Kansas Assemblies Of God Clergy, Angela K. Sartain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Interest in integrating mindfulness into Christian counseling and pastoral practice increased; however, very little research has documented its experience among Assemblies of God clergy. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of Kansas Assemblies of God clergy who have engaged mindfulness within a ministry context. Based on acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, viewed through a Christian lens; the research examined understanding, adaptation, and practice regarding worship, leadership, and pastoral care. Data from in-depth interviews with Kansas Assemblies of God clergy were analyzed thematically and patterns of meaning and practice were discovered. The results revealed how Kansas Assemblies …

U.S. Navy Seal Operational Understanding From 1945 To 1989: A Case Study, Cade Morgan Kemp Pickford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation will examine the evolution of U.S. Navy SEAL doctrine, mission scope, and overall strategic role from their formal establishment in 1962 through the Cold War interventions in Grenada (1983) and Panama (1989). It will argue that the SEALs transformed from a more experimental counterinsurgency force into a much stronger and more strategically significant instrument of U.S. military policy, shaped by the combat experience, institutional challenges, and ever-evolving geopolitical demands. Drawing upon several primary sources, including archival records, official military histories, several oral interviews, and doctrinal publications, this study employs a qualitative, thematic methodology to analyze patterns in operational …

Doctor Of Ministry Final Portfolio: Developing A Dynamic Educational Curriculum For Truthwins.Com Supporting Its Global Prospective On Individual's Spiritual Formation, Randall Thomas Keith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This portfolio presents the development of a dynamic educational curriculum for Truthwins.com designed to support its global mission of fostering individual spiritual formation across cultural, social and theological boundaries. The project integrates biblical principles, intercultural competency and contemporary educational practices to cultivate rounded spiritual growth among learners worldwide. Drawing on theological reflection, qualitative research and practical ministry applications, the study outlines a framework that embraces inclusivity, promotes critical engagement with spiritual formation, and equips participants to embody authentic discipleship in a dynamic context. The resulting curriculum aims to inspire transformative learning experiences that unify spiritual development with Truthwins.com commitment to …

Collisions Of Law: Judge William Howard Taft At The Intersection Of Labor, Capital, And Government, 1887-1900, Michael Richard Crill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

William Howard Taft’s early judicial career has been dismissed by historians and biographers for nearly a century as merely an unimportant preliminary phase before his later political and Supreme Court career. This dissertation challenges that interpretation through a detailed examination of forty-six labor and antitrust-related opinions written by Taft while serving on the Superior Court of Cincinnati and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. During his eleven years on these courts, Taft wrote a disproportionate share of labor and antitrust-related opinions and engaged deeply with legal problems arising from the socioeconomic upheavals of the Second Industrial …

Where Containment Was Born: Greece And The First Battlefield Of The Cold War, Christos Vourtsas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the origins, implementation, and consequences of United States intervention in Greece during the Greek Civil War (1946-1949), situating the conflict within the broader development of early Cold War strategy. It argues that American involvement in Greece represented the first fully realized application of containment policy and established precedents that shaped subsequent United States foreign interventions throughout the Cold War. The study begins by tracing the political and military fragmentation of Greece during the Axis occupation (1941-1944) and the subsequent breakdown of political reconciliation following the Varkiza Agreement in 1945. It demonstrates how the resurgence of political violence …

Empowering Elementary Music Students To Compose And Perform With Ipad, Matthew Martin Massengale

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

iPad is a popular device commonly used an educational tool, yet little information is available about how iPad can be used to supplement gaps in music education in elementary classes. It is widely accepted that music education increases student achievement across multiple curriculums: therefore, any techniques and tools available to deliver music lessons that may close gaps in access to quality music education are important to study and understand. Through qualitative research techniques, this study will examine and analyze the efficacy of using iPad in music lessons. Students will access music history and theory through apps installed on iPad. Students …

Besieged Emotions: Female Writers, Vicksburg, And The Domestic Sphere During The Civil War, Theresa Schaecher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, is most often interpreted in terms of military strategy, leadership, and battlefield outcomes. While these perspectives provide important insights into the campaign, they have often placed less emphasis on the experiences of civilians who endured the forty-seven-day siege within the city. This dissertation examines the civilian experience through women's writings, arguing that their diaries and memoirs serve as analytical accounts of survival, emotional endurance, and social transformation under siege. Drawing on the writings of Mary Loughborough and other female civilians, this study employs content and narrative analyses to identify patterns of fear, grief, hope, and …

Elementary Music Educators And The Mcclosky Technique, Shannon Day

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite years of private vocal instruction and coursework on the singing voice, many music educators have not continued their vocal study beyond their former institutional requirements, nor have they received training in the proper use and care of the speaking voice, which has led to the development of vocal disorders and complaints of poor vocal health. This study examines the varying levels of vocal health among elementary music educators as they undergo vocal health exercises using the McClosky Technique. The McClosky Technique offers a distinctive approach to vocal health that emphasizes the release of muscular tension within the voice. The …

Ecclesiastes’ Framework For The New Testament Doctrine Of Personal Eschatological Judgment, Brent D. Denney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the relationship between the assertions of divine judgment in the book of Ecclesiastes and the New Testament passages that depict the final judgment of humans. Chapter One introduces the topic and thesis by foregrounding modern scholarship's neglect of the conceptual relationship between Ecclesiastes’ assertions of divine judgment and the New Testament’s mature doctrine of personal eschatological judgment, which underpins this study. Chapter Two examines Qohelet’s deployment of the term הֶבֶל (heḇel) as a tensive symbol for the conditions stemming from the fall and its effects on humanity's pursuit of anything of lasting value (יִתְרוֹן, yiṯrôn). For Qohelet, …

Implementation Of The Clinician’S Guide To Spiritual Recovery From Fetal Loss, Donald K. Eckhardt Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Obstetricians and midwives care for a surprising number of patients experiencing perinatal loss each year, yet they lack formal training in grief support. Lack of training heightens their stress, anxiety, and burnout, especially when chaplain support is unavailable. Miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death profoundly affect families, and healthcare providers share in their pain as they deliver the deceased baby and offer comfort, counseling, and hope. This project’s creator hypothesized that enhancing providers’ knowledge of grief support and biblical Scripture as well as highlighting how God’s grace and love can ease guilt, grief, anxiety, and depression would reduce provider burnout while …

Missional Hermeneutics And The Lukan Version Of The Great Commission (Luke 24:44-49): The Dual Hermeneutical Key, Israel Martin Lemos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the relationship between Christological fulfillment and the mission of God within the framework of biblical interpretation, with special emphasis on Luke 24:44-49. In recent decades, missional hermeneutics has moved from the margins of theological discussion to a more visible place within biblical studies, although the field remains conceptually diverse and methodologically underdefined. On one hand, a growing body of scholarship has argued that Scripture must be read within the horizons of the missio Dei, understood as God's redemptive purpose for creation and the nations. On the other hand, mainstream biblical scholarship has often continued to privilege either …

Freedom In The Press: Black Print Culture And Antislavery Activism In The United States, 1772-1857, Bernard T. Baze

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nineteenth century African American journalists employed the press as a political, legal, and moral instrument to challenge the legitimacy of the institution of American slavery and advocate for universal emancipation. Through an analysis of the Black press, including Freedom’s Journal, Colored American, North Star, Frederick Douglass’ Paper, Provincial Freeman, and the Christian Recorder, the study highlights the agency of Black abolitionists in shaping antislavery public discourse. It contends that these writers advanced a multifaceted antislavery strategy rooted in moral suasion, constitutional argumentation, legal denunciations, and religious advocacy. Through these efforts, they revealed the contradictions between slaveholding and the nation’s professed …