Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons^™

The Pope, American Politics, And The Battle For Tolkien’S Soul In The Twenty-First Century, Kelsey A. Fuller-Shafer

Journal of Tolkien Research

This essay considers the contemporary ramifications of the use of Tolkien’s works and personhood in the political and cultural dialogues of the United States. Tolkien’s fiction was recently cited by Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States, in his encyclical letter in May of 2026 reacting to artificial intelligence, in the same era that tech billionaires are selecting names for their AI companies from Tolkien’s legendarium. These actors find themselves not just in a dispute about ethical usage of AI, but also as commentators on and subjects to the growing political divide in the United States, and …

Lgbtqia+ Hate Crimes And State Non-Discrimination Policies: An Analysis, Jillian Jones

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

While LGBTQIA+ rights have been increasing in the United States for decades, many states do not have non-discrimination policies that protect individuals based on their gender identity and sexual orientation. This lack in protection leaves many LGBTQIA+ individuals vulnerable to experiencing discrimination and harassment, which could lead to hate crimes, cultivating an environment of passive tolerance rather than active resistance. Active resistance can be achieved through the passage of non-discrimination policies, as well as addressing minority stress that LGBTQIA+ individuals can be susceptible to when they are actively experiencing or anticipating discrimination and harassment. This research paper addresses whether the …

Pandemics And Partisanship: The Impact Of Political Identity On Public Health Responses, Andy Tuholski

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

This literature review examines the intersection of political partisanship and public health responses during pandemics, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Historically, pandemics such as the Venetian plague (1575-1577) and the Great Plague of London (1665-1666) have elicited responses driven by socioeconomic and health factors. In contrast, the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. was distinctly shaped by pre-existing political affiliations, particularly between conservative and liberal factions. Applying Social Identity Theory (SIT), this review explores how group identity and partisanship influenced pandemic-related behaviors and attitudes. Empirical evidence indicates that Republican-leaning states experienced higher COVID-19 mortality rates, …

The Leadership Identity Presented On Linkedin, Carl L. Tolbert

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

LinkedIn has evolved in a way similar to other social media platforms but is unique in that it focuses on professional networking and careers. Many professionals seek to showcase their leadership skills and philosophies as part of a publicly showcased online persona. This paper aimed to examine the posts specific to leadership and thematically investigate presentation strategies, motivation, and purposes behind the posts. The paper begins with a historical review from the inception of LinkedIn through pivotal milestones in the history of the company. Key concepts from the literature are then reviewed specific to social media use and motivations behind …

The Effect Of Stimulus Payments On College Students: Ex-Ante Perceptions And Reality, Rohan Angadi, Vidhura Sbw Tennekoon

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

In this paper, we use a natural experiment to measure the impact of a transitory positive income shock on college education. On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law. This act made provisions for the third round of Economic Impact Payment for eligible US residents. Each person in an eligible family received up to $1,400. This stimulus payment was an exogenous positive income shock on US college students if they received the payment. Using primary data collected through a survey, we first investigate how US college students were affected by and responded to this income …

Employees Speak Up: Engaging Voices From The Human Services Field, Henry J. Davis, Janna C. Heyman, Linda White-Ryan, Dana Marlowe

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

This qualitative study aims to understand the perceptions and experiences of human services professionals working within urban communities with respect to their work experiences, compensation, and work-life balance. Focus groups were used to collect data from direct service staff and executive leadership from diverse agencies. This study examined the words and stories, generating the following overarching themes: (1) dedication to agency model and communities served; (2) compensation and responsibilities; (3) reality of work-life balance; and (4) desire for professional growth and personal growth. The results show that while employees expressed personal fulfillment with their work, the issues of compensation, workload, …

Nonprofit Accountability: Effects Of Subsector On Online Accountability, Ibrahima F. Yaro, Trent A. Engbers

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Scandals within the nonprofit sector over compensation and management have increased calls for nonprofits to demonstrate accountability. Many organizations have responded by disclosing information online and providing tools that allow web-based interactions with stakeholders. The literature on nonprofits’ online accountability has found that the level of nonprofit online accountability is affected by their size, age, asset, revenue, and location, but hasn’t been examined in terms of how subsector influences online accountability. Through a web-content analysis of fifty-five nonprofits, this research investigated how subsector (arts and culture, education, health, and human services) influences online accountability using a framework of four types …

Ethical Leadership: Descriptive Literature Review Of The Diverse Influence And Development Of Ethics Upon Public Sector And Military Leaders, Followers, And Organizations, Stephen M. King, Steve Firestone, Harold Henkel, Brian Moore

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Literature reviews are a significant tool for examining the breadth and depth of a selected body of literature. Although there are many types of literature reviews, ranging from narrative to meta-analysis, this article uses a descriptive review. Descriptive reviews are extremely useful for examining a body of literature, highlighting key areas of interest, particularly as it addresses a specific research question, or is directed toward a particular purpose. This article utilizes a descriptive review of ethical public leadership, both in civilian and military organizations, particularly focusing on two critical areas of interest: theme identification and issue development. Four key themes …

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxxiii, No. 3, Lent), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Broader Conceptualization And Measurement Scale Of Ethical Leadership (Bels), Fahad Shakeel, Peter Mathieu Kruyen, Sandra Van Thiel

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

This study presents a broader construct of ethical leadership as an alternative to existing understanding of the term. The study divides the existing literature into classical and contemporary thoughts. The study brings forth limitations of the existing classical conceptualization based on several shortcomings. Synthesis and development of existing studies lead to a broader narrative that essentially addresses the limitations posed in this study. This broader viewpoint is based on the categorization of ethical theories by Van Wart (2014). A new definition of ethical leadership is presented and a survey scale of ethical leadership based on this conceptualization is developed. This …

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxxiii, No. 2, Advent/Christmas), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxxiii, No. 1, Michaelmas), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxxii, No. 5, Trinity), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxxii, No. 4, Easter), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxxii, No. 3, Lent), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxxii, No. 2, Advent/Christmas), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxxii, No. 1, Michaelmas), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxxi, No. 5, Trinity), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxxi, No. 4, Easter), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxxi, No. 3, Lent), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

Cybersecurity In The Classroom: Bridging The Gap Between Computer Access And Online Safety, Andrew Malecki

Cyber Security Capstone Research Project Reports

According to ISACA, there will be a global shortage of 2 million cybersecurity professionals worldwide by 2019. Additionally, according to Experian Data Breach Resolution, as much as 80% of all network breaches can be traced to employee negligence. These problems will not solve themselves, and they likewise won’t improve without drastic action. An effort needs to be made to help direct interested and qualified individuals to the field of cybersecurity to move toward closing this gap. Moreover, steps need to be made to better inform the public of general safety measures while online, including the safeguarding of sensitive information.

A …

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxxi, No. 2, Advent/Christmas), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxxi, No. 1, Michaelmas), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxx, No. 5, Trinity), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

Education As Counter Terrorism In Iraq, Thanaa Sulaiman

English (TESOL) Master Theses

There is not much research written about the relationship between education and the rise of terrorism. Some scholars have urged for educative response to end terrorism (Krueger and Maleckova, 2003; Brockhoff et al., 2015; Malazada, 2016; Illiteracy rates drop in Iraq: Government, 2014) In his study, Brockhoff et al., (2015) found that when country specific factors like the economic situation and political representation were unfavorable, education is the reason some individuals become terrorists. Abrifor (2008) concluded that abuse of students in Nigeria lead them to get involved in criminal activities, suicide bombing and terrorism. In light of these studies, it …

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxx, No. 4, Easter), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxx, No. 3, Lent), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Impact Of Csr Policy And Practice On Education Of Orphans And Vulnerable Children In Indonesia, Sri Frazee

International Commerce & Policy Theses

Indonesia was one of the first countries to implement the mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach. This law requires corporations to allocate part of their budget toward funding for CSR programs. When implementing CSR programs, many Indonesian corporations focus on education. This research assesses how this policy has affected education, particularly for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) who are cared for at childcare institutions. These childcare institutions include orphanages (panti) and halfway houses (rumah singgah) that provides a temporary shelter for street children. This research examines the role of the Government of Indonesia (GOI) and corporations in implementing this mandatory …

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxx, No. 2, Advent/Christmas), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.

The Cresset (Vol. Lxxx, No. 1, Michaelmas), Valparaiso University

The Cresset (archived issues)

No abstract provided.