Education Commons^™

Nanoscale Morphological Perturbations Of Lipid Membranes Induced By Membrane Active Peptides, Yasith Sandeepa Indigahawela Gamage

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Membrane-active peptides (MAPs) are a diverse group of biologically relevant molecules that induce nanoscale modulations during their interactions with cell membranes. Understanding the precise mechanism by which these MAPs perturb or modulate the cell membranes is a cornerstone of membrane biophysics, as it facilitates rational design of useful therapeutics. That is, if we have the knowledge to determine what the peptide can do, how selective it is, or how toxic it might be, we can optimize them and design new peptide therapeutics such as for antimicrobial, anticancer, or drug-delivery applications. In general, MAPs can be categorized into two classes based …

Evaluating The Role Of Individual Differences: Impact On Fruit And Vegetable Intake Outcomes In Nourish-T+ Caregivers Of Pediatric Cancer Survivors, Sandra Soca Lozano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric cancer survivors are at increased risk for obesity and related long-term health complications, highlighting the need for interventions promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors during survivorship. The present study examined caregivers’ fruit and vegetable intake in the full NOURISH-T+ intervention and evaluated whether their dietary outcomes changed from baseline to the 3-month post-assessment and differed by selected caregiver sociodemographic characteristics. The study also examined whether these characteristics accounted for variance in 3-month fruit and vegetable outcomes. Participants included 68 caregivers in the full NOURISH-T+ condition who completed both baseline and 3-month post-assessments. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed using the Healthy …

Testimonios From Latine Educational Leaders Supporting Youth Development Programs, Luis E. Feliciano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The United States has been experiencing a demographic change for the last twenty years representing a rise in both Latiné students and families. Despite this demographic change, Latiné folk remain widely underrepresented in school leadership, and furthermore underrepresented in specific Youth Development Programs (YDPs), with the relationship between educational leaders and YDPs being widely unexplored in academia. This study sought to bridge the gap between YDPs and educational leadership, specifically for Latiné folk by asking how Latiné educational leaders used their cultural heritage to encourage YDP development. To accomplish this a testimonio methodology was implemented via a two staged interview …

Aligning Perspectives: Exploring Parent-Youth Agreement On Well-Being And The Impact Of Positive Psychology On Communication & Relationship Habits, Daijah N. Hines

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As research calls for best practices in assessment of psychological constructs from multiple informants, more information is needed for secondary reports of subjective experiences such as perceptions of life satisfaction. Adolescence is a vital period for intervention and assessment supports to promote well-being, yet there is a gap in the research on how to interpret multi-informant data for mental health constructs such as subjective well-being especially within this population. Research has shown support for and validated the use of parents/caregivers as secondary informants (Dew & Huebner, 1994; Hines et al., 2023; Shoshani & Slone, 2017) yet there is still vague …

Portable Trace Gas Analysis With Multipass Cavity Raman Scattering, Charuka Muktha Arachchige

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The continual increase in the production and utilization of chemicals across a growing range of industrial, environmental, and medical applications necessitates accurate and efficient measurement of molecular composition. Trace gas detection is particularly critical in industrialized settings, where the identification of colorless and odorless gases is essential for ensuring operational safety and regulatory compliance. Recent advances in optical instrumentation have positioned spontaneous Raman scattering as a promising analytical technique for trace gas analysis, with multipass cavity enhancement providing a cost-effective pathway to high detection sensitivity. However, existing implementations remain confined to laboratory-scale optical table setups, limiting their applicability in field …

Success In Student Leadership: An Appreciative Inquiry Approach To A Student Leader Program, Ana M. Tayeb

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the strengths and successes of a Student Leader Program within a Physician Assistant (PA) program at a large southeastern university, using an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) framework to understand how the program positions students for success. The program, established to support leadership development, academic engagement, and professional growth, includes elected student roles such as class president, vice president, wellness champion, volunteer liaison, and class liaisons. Through semi‑structured interviews with faculty, administrators, current Student Leaders, non‑leader students, and a Student Leader alumnus, the study examined lived experiences and perceptions of the program’s impact. Guided by the AI 4‑D cycle, …

Hospitality As A Languageless Movement: Mapping The Interconnectedness Of Inclusion, Disability, And Hospitality, Alycia M. Bobak

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation thinks with post-qualitative inquiry to explore how inclusion, disability, and hospitality move through spaces in higher education and how their meanings shift between policy, practice, and personal ethics and dispositions. Using Derrida’s notion of hospitality and Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of the Body without Organs, this study presents the consideration of how university spaces welcome students with disabilities and how feelings of belonging, receiving, and acceptance are produced within those spaces. Rather than viewing inclusion and disability as fixed concepts, this research considers how language and personal ethics continuously reshape their meaning through interactions and affect.

This study …

Philanthropic Grantmakers’ Roles In Transforming Higher Education: A Narrative Inquiry, Elizabeth Jean Larkin Davis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Philanthropic foundations have become influential actors in higher education reform, often supporting initiatives to improve student success, advance equity, and promote systemic change. Yet limited research has examined how philanthropic grantmakers understand and navigate their roles in shaping long-term change across the higher education field. This narrative inquiry explored the personal and professional experiences of eight philanthropic grantmakers working across different foundations, roles, and organizational contexts in the United States. Guided by organizational change theory, Strategic Action Fields theory, and sustainability planning in dynamic systems, the study examined how grantmakers made sense of their responsibilities, influence, and contributions to systemic …

Preparing Preservice Teachers: Developing Skills For Working With Students With Disabilities In The Social Studies Classroom, Melissa Waugh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study was aimed towards investigating the extant research, best practices, and teacher preparation standards related to working with students with disabilities in the social studies classroom. The study was guided using three research questions: Are students with disabilities’ learning needs reflected in the National Council for Social Studies National Standards for the Preparation of Social Studies Teachers?; How do preservice social studies teacher programs prepare their candidates for teaching students with disabilities as evidenced by Social Science Education methods course syllabi?; and, What might a college-level course aimed towards social studies teaching methods centering around students with disabilities’ learning …

Self-Determination Skills In Inclusive Education In Riyadh City; Perceptions Of Intellectual Disabilities Teachers, Samirah Alzahrani

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Literature indicates that self-determination is critical for success in all aspects forstudents with intellectual disabilities. Nonetheless, gaps remain in research on self-determination in the KSA special education context, and the implementation of practices for teaching self- determination skills is notably constrained. As a result, this qualitative study explored the perspectives of special education teachers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the concept of "self-determination" among students with ID in inclusive education, and examined their perceptions of the significance of incorporating these skills into instruction for students with ID. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using …

Transformative Leadership In Community Schools: Building Equitable Cultures And Sustainable Community Partnerships For Student Success, Latiecea Janie Hailey-Brown

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This qualitative autoethnographic inquiry explored how transformative and relational leadership were enacted and evolved during the creation, development, and sustainability of a community partnership school, and how these leadership experiences shaped my understanding of leadership and influenced my development and identity as a leader. Grounded in a constructivist paradigm and framed within a scholarly practitioner orientation, I critically examined my leadership experiences as assistant principal and principal of Havenwood: A Community Partnership School, the first community school in Rosewood County, Florida. Through reflective analysis of leadership practices, relationships, and decision-making processes, I illuminated how my leadership contributed to student …

Can Hope Be Changed In 30 Minutes? The Development, Refinement, And Pilot Evaluation Of A Hope-Based Single-Session Intervention, Aileen Kangavary

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Although mental health problems are on the rise among youth, nearly 80% do not access treatment. Schools serve as key settings to address adolescent mental health and wellness needs given the substantial barriers that limit access to community-based mental health services. Despite this potential, schools often face implementation challenges. Therefore, scalable and accessible approaches are needed to meet the growing demand for adolescent mental health support. Single-Session Interventions (SSIs) represent a promising, cost-effective, and digital avenue for providing timely mental health support to youth. Increasingly, research conceptualizes mental health through a two-dimensional framework that includes the presence of well-being …

Under Pressure: Effects Of The Hot Docs Behavioral Parent Training Program On Caregiver Blood Pressure, Bria N. Ferera

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Chronic stress is heightened for caregivers of children with heightened disruptive behaviors. With chronic stress supported as a major factor leading to maladaptive parenting and caregiving practices, exploring new ways to collect data on parenting stress remains a critical research priority (van der Lubbe et al., 2024). Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) programs are linked to improved parent-child relationships and reduced problem behavior (Armstrong, 2006; Agazzi, 2021; Patrusky, 2025). However, few studies have used physiological biomarkers in conjunction with self-reported measures to explore connections in this area. Similarly, other physiological considerations are rarely considered upon evaluation of the impacts of BPT …

Exploring Culturally Responsive Leadership Practices Among Female Leaders In Title I Schools: Strategies For Enhancing Student Success, Tara K. Indar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The academic achievement gap between White students and diverse student populations remains a persistent and prominent disparity in schools across the United States. While this issue affects schools nationwide, it is particularly significant in Title I schools, where many students from diverse, lower-socioeconomic-status backgrounds are served. Although a substantial body of literature examines this gap and highlights the positive impact of culturally responsive leadership, there remains a limited understanding of which specific practices are most effective in improving students’ academic outcomes. This study explores the perceptions of female school leaders in Title I schools regarding the strategies they believe contribute …

Exploring Menstrual Cycle Experiences And Well-Being In Young Women With Type 1 Diabetes, Yolanda Rotzinger Ballesteros

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Young women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) navigate complex physical, emotional, and social challenges, being at a higher risk for mental health concerns (e.g., depression), as well as physical (e.g., fatigue) and cognitive (e.g., focus) symptoms related to the management of their chronic health condition (Dantzer et al., 2003; Northam et al., 2005). About one-third of young women with T1D experience some form of menstrual dysfunction (Griffin et al., 1994; Schweiger et al., 2011), which is associated with lower quality of life across several domains, including the educational setting (Knox et al., 2015). Nevertheless, there is a gap in the …

Students In Motion: How Educators Enact Movement In Elementary Mathematics, Katherine E. Nash

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study used an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design to examine how elementary mathematics teachers report using physical activity in their instructional practice. The purpose of the study was to develop, provide evidence of validity, and implement a questionnaire to document the types of movement teachers use and when these practices occur in relation to mathematics instruction. In Phase 1, qualitative interviews were conducted with eight elementary mathematics teachers to identify common movement types and inform instrument development. The eight movement types that were identified are non-academic fine-motor, non-academic gross-motor, non-academic music-elicited, non-academic environmental, academic fine-motor, academic gross-motor, academic music-elicited, and …

Measures Of Linguistic Complexity And Vocabulary Diversity As Indicators Of Oral Language Production Growth Of 4th Grade Spanish-Speaking Els, Carla T. Zayas-Santiago

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As fourth-grade students transition from learning to read to reading to learn, their ability to use language for academic purposes becomes increasingly important, particularly for Spanish-speaking English Learners (ELs). However, students often have limited opportunities to produce extended oral language during instruction. Students’ oral language production reflects both structural aspects of language use, captured through measures of linguistic complexity, and lexical aspects of language use, captured through measures of vocabulary diversity. Although prior studies have examined transcript-derived measures of oral language production, limited research has examined how these measures predict English proficiency, capture growth over time, and respond to different …

The Architecture Of Chemical Understanding: How Representation Selection, Ordering, And Feature Salience Shape Students' Conceptions In Chemistry, Isaiah Nelsen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Chemical representations play a central role in how students learn and reason aboutchemistry. While representations are routinely used in chemistry classrooms, students often struggle to extract relevant information, connect representations to underlying chemical principles, and apply this information to problem-solving. This dissertation investigates the role of representations in supporting students’ conceptual understanding and reasoning across general and organic chemistry through three qualitative studies.

The first study in this work explores how variation in chemical representation influences how students understand foundational chemistry principles. This study sought to characterize how second semester general chemistry students approach dipole–dipole interaction tasks with four distinct …

The Heterogeneous Response Of Astrocytes In Different Brain Regions Under Metabolic Stress, Pawan Kumar Thapaliya

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Astrocytes play a central role in maintaining ionic homeostasis, neurotransmitter clearance, and brain en-ergy metabolism. Their excitability, reflected in activity-evoked intracellular sodium (Na+, [Na+]i) and calcium (Ca2+,[Ca+]i) dynamics, is increasingly recognized as a critical determinant of neuronal function and vulnerability, particularly under metabolic stress. Despite their importance, the mechanisms underlying astrocytic ionic signaling and its regional heterogeneity remain incompletely understood. In this thesis, I developed detailed computational and biophysical models to investigate astrocytic Na+ and Ca2+ dynamics, their bioenergetic consequences, and the roles of key ion transporters under physiological and metabolically stressed conditions, validating the models against experi- mental data. …

Considerations For Cherenkov Radiation Imaging In External Beam Radiotherapy For Diverse Populations In A High Throughput Cancer Clinic, Diego A. Hernandez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cherenkov radiation imaging is a burgeoning field of optical imaging that has become a promising, non-invasive, technique that allows the visualization of radiation delivery during external beam radiotherapy. This form of imaging has opened the door to real-time and retrospective treatment verification and sparked a plethora of research aimed at improving the utility. This dissertation investigates possible clinical implementations and limitations of Cherenkov radiation imaging within a high-throughput cancer clinic serving a diverse patient population. The central motivation is the need to advance Cherenkov radiation imaging as a reliable tool for clinical use by improving its quantitative accuracy and applicability …

Unveiling The Intersection Of Institutional Racial Identity And Student Loan Debt: An Analysis Of The State University System Of Florida’S Higher Education Institutions, Valerie Marie Moore

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Federal student loan patterns in Florida’s State University System (SUS) from 2013/14 to 2022/23 reflect differences in institutional revenue capacity rather than individual borrowing behavior. Using data from all 12 SUS institutions, this study examined how institutional wealth and revenue composition shape student loan outcomes through both race neutral and race considerate analyses informed by Ray’s (2019) theory of racialized organizations. Overall, the SUS operates as a racialized organizational field in which inequities in funding flows, access to capital, and institutional logics sustain long term disparities in wealth and debt. Results show that borrowing levels closely track how institutions assemble …

District Leadership Influence On The Sustainability Of Dual Language Bilingual Education Programs, Jessica Hessler

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Dual language bilingual education programs operate within policy environments that often constrain their long term viability, despite their deep historical roots in the United States. This qualitative study examined how district/central office leadership systems supported the sustainability of these programs. While prior research has emphasized school site collaboration between principals and teachers, limited attention has been given to the district/central office level leadership systems and strategies that shaped program coherence, implementation, and endurance. Guided by a framework integrating social justice leadership with principles of sustainable leadership, the study examined the research question: How do district or central office leadership systems …

Examining Perceptions Of Minority Underrepresentation Among The United States Special Forces General Officers (O7-O10), Vincent X. Telfare

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While the broader Department of Defense (DoD) has implemented important initiatives to advance equitable representation, the United States Army Special Forces (SF) has historically had a different distribution of diversity among General Officers (O7 to O10). This study explored the perceptions underlying this disparity through a qualitative narrative inquiry, using semi-structured interviews with selected retired SF officers of O6 and higher ranks. By examining participants' career experiences and perspectives on the Army's promotion system, this study seeks to illuminate the structural and cultural underpinnings that affect minority promotions to General and senior leadership positions in the Special Forces. Of course, …

Challenging The Deliberative Consensus: Participatory Strategies, Transparency And Citizen Trust Across Municipal Contexts, Fadel Al-Marsoumi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the relationships between participatory governance strategies and multidimensional citizen trust in municipal contexts. Although local governments have implemented deliberative forums, digital platforms and hybrid participation approaches to restore declining public confidence, inconsistencies between theoretical predictions and empirical outcomes have raised questions about participatory governance effectiveness. Motivated by this gap between deliberative democracy theory's optimistic predictions and limited empirical support, the study investigates the psychological, political and contextual mechanisms that shape trust formation through civic engagement. Drawing on an integrated framework combining organizational trust theory and deliberative democracy frameworks, the research conceptualizes trust as a multidimensional construct involving …

Critical Discourse Analysis Of Turnaround Leadership Competencies Using A Transformative Leadership Framework, Kevin D. Mcdonald

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

School turnaround leadership has become a leading strategy to address school underperformance emphasizing rapid and dramatic improvement in a school within the bottom five percent of schools as measured by gains in both mathematics and English Language Arts. However, prevailing turnaround leadership discourse largely centers technical and managerial competencies, often marginalizing leadership practices oriented toward equity, advocacy, and social transformation. This narrowing of leadership is particularly consequential for Black male principals, who are disproportionately assigned to low-performing and turnaround schools and whose leadership practice frequently reflects core elements of transformative leadership.

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore current …

Mentoring Mentalities Made Manifest: Toward A Better Understanding Of Secondary Teacher Mentor Professional Learning, Practice, And Self-Efficacy, Maggie L. Wilson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Teacher shortages are becoming increasingly problematic nationwide. Teacher mentoring has been found to be an effective method of curbing teacher attrition, but little attention has been addressed to ensuring that teacher mentors are receiving the most relevant professional learning experiences to bolster their self-efficacy and mentoring practice. This qualitative study, drawing on research traditions such as grounded theory and case study, seeks to illuminate the mentor self-efficacy and practice of secondary teacher mentors and to understand the role their professional learning plays in how and how well they enact their mentor roles. Through qualitative interviews, including artifact-based interviews, this study …

“Why Does My White Coat Feel So Tight?”: A Program Evaluation Of Well-Being Support For Physician Assistant Students, Danielle Castro

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a program evaluation of the Wellness Initiatives (WI) Program in the University of South Florida’s Physician Assistant (PA) Program, an accelerated 24-month graduate curriculum. The problem of practice is that PA students reported burnout, feeling overwhelmed, and difficulty navigating support within a year-round structure that did not consistently align with centralized university services. Guided by Theory of Change as the theoretical framework and Improvement Science as the conceptual framework, the evaluation examined how iterative wellness supports shaped students’ perceptions of well-being across six implementation cycles (May 2023–March 2025). A convergent parallel mixed methods design integrated survey data …

Teachers' Perspectives On The Inclusion Of Children With Autism In Preschool And Kindergarten Programs Within Inclusive Classrooms In Saudi Arabia, Budur Alsalamah

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has witnessed a significant increase in the number of students with autism being integrated into mainstream classrooms. This is thanks to laws and regulations enacted to provide appropriate education for students with special needs, particularly those with autism, in less restrictive environments. This is a positive step towards providing equal educational opportunities for students with special needs. However, teachers' views on integrating children with autism into mainstream education remain varied. Studies have shown that teachers with positive attitudes towards inclusion are more likely to provide inclusive education in the classroom (Dev & Hayes, 2015). This …

Making Sense Of The Body: Cognitive Science, Disability, And Embodiment, Cheyne L. Joslin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to analyze different methodological approaches in the philosophy of cognitive science, with the goal of determining their usefulness for explaining and understanding bodily awareness and skill-acquisition over time. The examples of skill-acquisition are limited to motor control, impaired by various kinds of disability—but then acquired over time, via technological or rehabilitative means. These phenomena of motor learning are then viewed through the lens of two competing theoretical approaches in cognitive science: neuromechanical cognitive science, and radical enactivist cognitive science.

The strengths of the neuromechanical framework are found in its historical pedigree, and in the …

“Makes Me Wanna Holler”: Psychological Safety In Program Development Under Anti-Dei Legislation, Derrick B. Johnson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This evocative autoethnographic study explores the professional and emotional experiences of a Black male higher education administrator who developed a college success program for Black male students at a mostly White institution in Northeast Florida. The research took place as new state laws against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) were introduced, showing how these changes disrupt DEI efforts. By using narrative inquiry, the study emphasizes how laws, campus culture, and racial expectations directly affect the emotional intelligence and professional identity needed to support Black male student success.

By focusing on the author's personal experiences, this evocative autoethnography shows the emotional, …