Leadership Studies Commons^™

This Is Not A Cage Match, Joseph C. Shepard

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

During the 2016 presidential election season, Senator Ted Cruz’s use of social media to promote his campaign and build up a grassroots following was masterful. This case study explores Cruz’s digital outreach efforts in the shadow of GOP rival Donald Trump’s commanding use of traditional earned media. This case study views the Cruz campaign’s digital outreach strategy through the lens of the Agenda Setting theory of communication, which seeks to explain the mass media’s ability to influence what the important issues are to the public, and through the reverse agenda setting effect, meaning if the airtime is unavailable through traditional …

Upward Communication In Organizations: The Connection To Company Culture And Employee Engagement, Janet K. Clancy-Feliciano

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

In today’s American society, effective upward and downward communication between supervisors and subordinates is lacking now more than ever before. The importance of effective downward communication from organizational leaders receives ongoing attention, but more attention needs to be given to the importance of open reception to upward communication. It is critical that leaders in organizations build trust and encourage upward communication from employees in order to maintain organizational wellbeing and to avoid employee dissatisfaction. To help close the gap in this area of communication, this study focused on and collected data utilizing on-line surveys and employee interviews in order to …

The Uses And Gratifications Of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients’ Use Of A Facebook Group, Kathleen Jardim Schutt Tillman

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Social media continues to change the way that people communicate and engage with each other. As part of this change, the adoption of social network sites (SNSs) such as Facebook facilitates communication amongst people in various ways, including through its ability to allow for the creation of interest-specific groups. Through this capability and the resulting democratization of information sharing via digital media technologies, there are also significant changes to health communication and how patients seek information and emotional support especially when facing chronic disease conditions such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Therefore, for this thesis, a study was conducted to examine …

Improving The Patient Experience By Implementing Patient-Centered Care In A Community Hospital, Richard A. Billingsley Dnp, Mha, Rn

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Health care is a complex business currently undergoing extensive reform. These changes require new methods of care deliver and ways in which health care organizations are operating. At the forefront of this change effort is the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which is transforming health care from a volume-based, fee-for-service process to the delivery of services that have value, improve quality outcomes, increase satisfaction, elicit greater efficiency, demonstrate improved safety outcomes, show cost-effectiveness, promote better access to services, and result in high reliability between providers and organizations. The goal of providing a more positive health care experience is …

Ua3/9/7 Navitas Separation, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff regarding international students.

Ua3/9/7 Message, Wku President's Office - Ransdell, Wku Philosophy & Religion

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff regarding anti-Muslim sentiments. Includes messages from Eric Bain-Selbo and Lhousseine Guerwane.

Ua3/9/7 Commencement Weekend & Holidays, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff regarding commencement.

Tan Cheng Bock [Singapore, Member Of Parliament], Cheng Bock Tan

Digital Narratives of Asia

Former veteran People's Action Party Member of Parliament, presidential candidate Dr Tan Cheng Bock speaks his mind with DNA on his struggles during his school days, National Service, and what had motivated him to enter politics. He reveals his take on Foreign Talent, the Feedback Unit, and shares on the kind of society he hopes Singapore will become.

Ua3/9/7 Leadership In Student Affairs, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff regarding Student Affairs.

Ua3/9/7 Recent Events, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff regarding death of student and the Charlie Hebdo Attack in Paris.

Meeting The Needs Of A Culturally And Racially Diverse Student Body Online, Gretchen Elizabeth Hormel

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The citizens of the United States contribute a rich blend that includes (but is not limited to) cultural heritage, race, gender, sexuality, and socio-economic backgrounds. Therefore, it is integral that online curriculum meets the challenge of effectively communicating with a diverse student body, as well as effectively facilitates a democratic learning environment. An online academic environment that is respectful and responsive to diverse backgrounds and perspectives is oftentimes referred to as a democratic online learning environment. Research indicates that seven components make up a democratic online learning environment and include: 1 - Culturally competent staff (Thorpe, 2002, p. 115, Ramsay, …

Ua3/9/7 Enrollment Information, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff.

The Journey: Communication Styles In Coaching At The Division 1 Level, Lindsay Christine Sherbert

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The following study explores different approaches to leadership and various coaching styles of both assistant and head coaches at Gonzaga University. Using interpersonal communication and the cognitive dissonance theory as theoretical basis, this study asked Gonzaga coaches to discuss their communication styles with their athletes and to describe how critics voices and the pressure of winning has impacted the way they coach today. Data are taken from interviews from six coaches and five current athletes. Gonzaga athletes were interviewed to measure and gauge the effectiveness of each coaching staff’s communication level and coaching styles, both on and off the court/ …

Mahathir Bin Mohamad [Malaysia, Prime Minister], Mahathir Bin Mohamad

Digital Narratives of Asia

Malaysia's longest-serving Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, who was a practising medical doctor, believes in confronting problems in order to overcome them. He enjoys job satisfaction first as a doctor, later as a politician. He shares with DNA about managing the Financial Crisis, party betrayal, and the origin of ASEAN and its challenges. He also reveals his take on a good leader, and his outspoken daughter.

Ua3/9/7 Fall 2015 Semester Message, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff.

Ua3/9/7 Howard Bailey Retirement, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff regarding Howard Bailey's retirement.

Ua3/9/7 Smoking Policy, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff regarding smoking. See also Designated Smoking Area Locations WKU Main Campus map.

Rural Civic Action Project Poster, Heartland Center For Leadership Development

Heartland Center for Leadership Development Materials

The final project for the Rural Civic Action Project is to create a poster that includes the Community Capital Mapping activity (CCMA; Keith & Kinsey, 2013). The Community Capital Maps provide an opportunity to evaluate the impact of the projects from the participants’ perspective. Fellows should include 2 maps on their poster: the map that was created through facilitating the CCMA, the map created by the fellows evaluating the impact of their service project (the work the fellows are doing in the schools). Also included on the poster is a narrative describing the maps.

The Influence Of Organizational Messages On The Persistence Of Reticent Behaviors, Kathleen Veroninca Mcnaul

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Communication reticence has the potential to negatively impact an individual’s ability to succeed in organizational life (McCroskey & Richmond, 1979, Richmond, 2009). A probable reason for this impact stems from what research has identified as a cultural preference for extroverted temperament traits over introverted traits (Allik & McCrae, 2004, Cain, 2012, McCroskey, Richmond & McCroskey, 2009). This study reviewed the biological and environmental origins of reticence, linking reticence to the introverted temperament. From a symbolic interactionist perspective, it explored the relationship between organizational messages concerning preferred temperament traits and the persistence of reticent behaviors. A quantitative approach, employing a two-part …

Information Diffusion, Facebook Clusters, And The Simplicial Model Of Social Aggregation: A Computational Simulation Of Simplicial Diffusers For Community Health Interventions, Kerk Kee, Lisa Sparks, Daniele C. Struppa, Mirco A. Manucci, Alberto Damiano

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

By integrating the simplicial model of social aggregation with existing research on opinion leadership and diffusion networks, this article introduces the constructs of simplicial diffusers (mathematically defined as nodes embedded in simplexes; a simplex is a socially bonded cluster) and simplicial diffusing sets (mathematically defined as minimal covers of a simplicial complex; a simplicial complex is a social aggregation in which socially bonded clusters are embedded) to propose a strategic approach for information diffusion of cancer screenings as a health intervention on Facebook for community cancer prevention and control. This approach is novel in its incorporation of interpersonally bonded clusters, …

Ethical Crisis Communication On Social Media: Combining Situational Crisis Communication Theory, Stakeholder Theory, And Kant's Categorical Imperatives, Kayla Christine Murphy

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This guide was created to serve as a tool for crisis communications to assist in crafting ethical responses to crises using social media as the primary communications channel. The guide combines Stakeholder Theory (Freeman, 1984)—a management theory that focuses on the importance of different groups of people, not just shareholders—with Situational Crisis Communication (Coombs, 2007). The guide also adheres to two of Kant’s Categorical Imperatives as the ethical basis and marker. To create the guide, the author relied on archival, or documentary, research to provide the background information and theory to inform the creation of the guide. The guide is …

Language As Leadership, Shirley Freed

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"Human beings have a fundamental connection to “home.” Christian leaders all have the underlying goal of leading the way home. We speak of heaven as home; we use phrases like, “home is where the heart is,” and “home Sweet home.” When circumstances are difficult, when we are worn and discouraged, we lean on life’s tired dreams and murmur, “i just want to go home.” home means many things to each of us, but i think that language is one of the vehicles that takes us home. For example, i always jump when i hear a Canadian accent, and i say …

Ua3/9/7 Announcement, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff regarding the WKU Provost.

Reinventing The Role Of Children And Youth In Post-Conflict Peacebuilding, Amirah M. Alias

Capstone Collection

This paper underlines the roles of children and youth in post-conflict peacebuilding and the reinvention of their roles from participants of peacebuilding to active facilitators of post-conflict peacebuilding. The reinvention is based on the re-interpretation of the traditional roles of children and youth in post-conflict peacebuilding and the analysis of children and youth peacebuilding programs. The re-interpretation will suggest that children and youth take on a more active role, if not, a leadership role in peacebuilding programs conducted for children and youth. This paper will look at the historical and contextual information about Nigeria's inter-religious conflict and a youth peacebuilding …

Online Gender Discussions: Student Experiences In Discussions Of Gender Diversity, Rory Andrew Mckenzie

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examined graduate level students’ experiences of (mainly gender) diversity in the online classroom. The philosophical framework for this study came from John Rawls’ work utilizing the veil of ignorance as a strategy to create more objective determinations free from situational and circumstantial biases. Both critical pedagogy and the theory that individuals construct social and cultural meaning through communication provided the theoretical foundations for the thesis. The study analyzed experiences of the students via their contributions to the online discussion boards.. The study also utilized interviews of current and former students to discuss their experiences with diversity in their …

Mentoring African-American Women Through Inclusive Male Executive Suite, Tamika Bowser Wright

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Women in corporate environments often operate under the glass ceiling, but the term ‘glass ceiling’ is limited in its perspective. It does not account for African-American women in corporate environments who operate under a stronger barrier – the concrete wall. In order to maneuver around the barrier, an action-oriented approach must be taken and mentoring is the structured tool that can help African-American women around this barrier. Through the use of the feminist standpoint theory, and methodical interviews to gain further insight about the position of African-American women in today’s work structure, a formal mentoring will be developed and implemented …

Partisan Media And Polarized Politics: A Meta-Analysis Of The Relationship Between Partisan Selective Exposure And Political Polarization, Kaitlin Marie Thornal

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The increasing levels of political polarization in America have communication scholars, political scientists, and media pundits alike examining the causes of this trend, many of whom look to blame the proliferation of partisan media for this societal ill. An abundance of research exists on the effects of selective exposure to partisan media and the rise of political polarization in America today, thus, this thesis explores how partisan selective exposure and political polarization are related through a modified qualitative meta-analysis of existing research on these two topics. The social identity (Tajfel & Turner, 1986) and social comparison (Festinger, 1954) theories provide …

Ua77/1 Wku Spirit, Wku Alumni Relations

WKU Administration Documents

WKU's alumni magazine. Contents:

• Ransdell, Gary. Letter from the President
• Before & After: College Bulletins
• Marc Archambault Named Vice President of Development & Alumni Relations
• 4 WKU Students Recognized by Goldwater Program
• Julia Roberts Receives National Award for Impact on Gifted Education
• WKU Newest Member of Kentucky Proud Farm to Campus Program
• Muhlenberg County Educator Inducted into Teacher Hall of Fame – Mary Armstrong
• Brent Bjorkman Appointed Director of Kentucky Museum
• WKU’s Campus Awarded Level I Arboretum Accreditation
• Honors College at WKU Spotlighted in National Guide
• WKU Wins Hearst Photojournalism Title for 22^nd Time in 26 Years
• WKU Among …

J. Y. Pillay [Singapore, Civil Service], Joseph Yuvaraj Pillay

Digital Narratives of Asia

In this DNA interview, Chancellor of Singapore Management University and former top Singapore civil servant, J.Y. Pillay, tells of qualities of good leaders, and the leadership styles of his former bosses Hon Sui Sen and Goh Keng Swee. Known for being a leader who listens and focuses well, he reveals his process of making controversial decisions in the past.

Ua3/9/7 2014-15 Fiscal Year-End Message, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff.