Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons^™

The Role Of Mentoring In Combating Racism And Sexism In Higher Education As A Blueprint For Other Historical Institutions In The United States, Michelle R. Gherardi

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Racism and sexism create a bottleneck to advancement for women in higher education.

This qualitative study and dissertation investigate the role of mentoring in combating racism and sexism in higher education in the United States as a blueprint for other historical institutions. Twenty-six women of color in four categories (presidents/provosts/chancellors, deans of law and medical schools, vice presidents of diversity, equity, and inclusion/student affairs, and graduate students) of higher education were interviewed to explore their experiences with racism, sexism, and mentor relationships. Findings demonstrate all but one participant (96%) disclosed racial victimization in higher education, all participants (100%) disclosed sexist …

Infant Health Equity In Oklahoma: A Mixed-Methods Exploration Of Personal, Organizational, Environmental, And Policy Factors Contributing To Black Infant Mortality, Ayesha M. Lampkins

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Black women experience higher rates of adverse birth outcomes, including infant mortality. There is a gap in the literature on multilevel strategies to achieve infant health equity and engage Black women. This study is unique in that no others have looked at the views of Oklahoma Black women to inform and address infant health equity strategies and utilize these views to provide context to existing infant mortality data. The study research questions are: 1) What views on infant health equity and infant mortality are held by Black women in Oklahoma? 2) What differences exist between Black and White mothers in …

Developing A Collaborative Governance Framework For Hazard Mitigation Project Management: A Grounded Theory Approach Using Social Network Analysis, Kara R. Buckmaster

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

As time passes and risk increases, the need for effective hazard mitigation is becoming more critical for communities to build resilience against future disasters. This study utilized a grounded theory approach to identify the actors involved in a network for hazard mitigation project development and implementation at the local level, what challenges these networks face, and what factors help them succeed. Local hazard mitigation program managers across the United States were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews to share their experiences. Qualitative analysis of participant responses and social network analysis were conducted to build visual models of the local networks …

Black Single Men Facing Repeated Eviction Threats And Housing Instability In East New York, Brooklyn: Is There A Significant Correlation Between Repeated Eviction Threats, Housing Instability, And Black Single Men?, Gregory Colimon

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

An eviction threat phenomenon is currently unfolding in East New York, located in Brooklyn, NY, and is drawing attention to specific individuals who have been marginalized and overlooked within society: Black single men aged between 24 and 55. This particular demographic group is currently facing significant challenges associated with repeated eviction threats, and housing instability within East New York, which is renowned for being one of the regions with high population density and urbanization. While eviction is commonly understood as a consequence of the failure of tenants to meet their financial obligations or fulfill their responsibilities, this simplistic understanding overlooks …

Invisible Infrastructure: Beyond The Burden Of The Dual Roles And Systematic Realities Of Black Women Professionals As Caregivers, Lolita J. Griffin

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Black women in the professional sector frequently serve as caregivers to close relatives or family members while balancing the demands of their careers. Research shows the hurdles and the stress Black women in the workforce encounter. (Office of Behavioral Health Equity, 2020). Similarly, the expectation to take on the caregiver role adds another layer of complication to their existence (Williams et al., 2021). This combination of conflicting caregiver and professional responsibilities can cause harm to overall well-being and mental health. The enactment of reforms in public policy that address the specific mental health and job satisfaction needs of Black professional …

Quality Over Quantity: Doula Perspectives On Equity, Access, And Quality Of Care In Black Maternal Health Outcomes, Terry-Ann E. Lynch

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Black maternal mortality in the United States is a public health crisis. There are a plethora of reasons as to why maternal and fetal deaths disproportionately impact Black women. From a public health perspective, health disparities are an area of concern in marginalized communities, with Black maternal mortality being a risk factor. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black (subsequently, Black) women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic White (subsequently, White) women (26.6)” Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2021” …

Gods Guns: Why Firearms And Firearm Culture Remain Sacred To Rural Americans, Thomas Westrick

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

With ample evidence demonstrating a link between low levels of gun regulation and high levels of firearm fatalities, it seems intuitive that Americans would want to increase the level of firearm regulation to bring down the level of violence. However, the target population, white males living in rural areas of the State of Indiana and practicing the Christian Evangelical Protestant tradition, display high levels of resistance to new firearm regulation. This study sought to explore that resistance through the lens of the rural gun culture with an interpretivist qualitative design using reflexive thematic analysis to answer the research question: How …

The Impact Of Age-Friendly Policy On New York State: How Executive Order-190 And Executive Order-23 Shape Community Development For All Ages, Trista Bercarich

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

The demographic shift toward an aging population has created an urgent need for policies that promote inclusive, livable communities for all ages. This quantitative study examined New York State’s implementation of Age-Friendly policy through Executive Order 190 (2018) and Executive Order 23 (2022), which collectively advance the integration of health, accessibility and community participation across state and local systems. Guided by environmental gerontology and psychology, aging in place and successful aging frameworks, this research utilized an adapted version of the AARP Livable Communities Survey to assess residents’ perceptions of livability with the eight AARP domains. The cross-sectional online survey (n …

Land Use Policy Impact On Health Equity In Rural America Counties, Shayla Holmes

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This dissertation investigates the relationship between land use policies and health equity in rural American counties. Utilizing a qualitative case study approach, the research scrutinizes eight counties across four states, examining publicly available data such as census details, land use policy documents, community health reports, and planning documents. The study is guided by two main research questions: 1) Are there land use policies in rural America that align with the creation of health equitable communities? and 2) Do health equitable communities within rural America feature equity in housing stock? The results from the thematic coding and content analysis of ninety-six …

A Little Bird Told Me: The Lived Experiences Of Officers Who Participated In Deep Undercover Programs, Oakley Fungaroli

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This study used interpretative phenomenological analysis to gather and analyze semi-structured interviews of seven participants who took part in deep undercover programs between the 1970s and 1990s. In the early 1980s, under pressure from civil rights advocates, law enforcement implemented policies restricting the use of undercover police officers in non-violent intelligence investigations. The new guidelines resulted in robust selection and training requirements for deep undercover assignments which became focused on those who advocated criminal acts in furtherance of social or political objectives. The lived experiences revealed that while intelligence guidelines intended to protect civil rights applied to all personnel, training …

Community Resurrection: Qualitative Research Exploring Methods In Revitalizing Historic Districts Without Gentrification, Gayle Yvonne Green

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This qualitative study examines redevelopment and historic preservation in the Lincoln Street Historic District of Gary, Indiana. Established in 1906 by the United States Steel Corporation, Gary grew as a major industrial center before experiencing decades of disinvestment, abandonment, and renewed interest from commercial investors. Despite the district’s architectural and cultural significance, its historic structures and surrounding neighborhoods continue to face deterioration and redevelopment pressures.

Using a case study approach, this research explores the perspectives of seven residents and two business owners with longstanding ties to the district. Through interviews, participants identified resources needed to revitalize blighted and abandoned properties, …

Navigators As A Means Of Overcoming Administrative Burdens: A Quantitative Study Of State-Administered Federal Assistance Programs, Jonathan Sternesky

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Administrative burdens are the psychological, compliance, and learning costs experienced by individuals interacting with public entities that may shape and reshape their relationship to citizenship and/or access to benefits and rights. It has long been hypothesized that third-party entities, designated as navigators, could be leveraged to mitigate the impact of administrative burden costs on citizens. For effective delivery of service, easing administrative burden costs in application processes may increase applicant likelihood of successfully navigating the bureaucratic process towards a desired end.

This research used data from recently implemented assistance programs in two separate state-level jurisdictions to conduct logistical regression analyses …

Quality Check: How Good Is Your Emergency Management Program?, Kesley Richardson

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

As the evolution of Emergency Management continues, and the integration of public administration combines more of the shared services model to protect our communities and populations from disasters, we must first assess ourselves. Emergency Management agencies must do more than build capabilities but do so strategically with evidence-based practices and incorporate innovative structural adaptations such as models, strategies, skills, information, assessment, leadership approaches, and more into everyday operation and strategic planning. In coordination with the only Emergency Management accreditation program on the planet, a standardized quantitative assessment will increase a comprehensive understanding of capabilities while strategically supporting programmatic objectives.

This …

Term Limits: An Argument For The Senate, Deanna Ferry

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

In this research study an argument is made to impose term limits on Senators serving in the United States Congress. It looks to explore historical data to prove effectiveness of self-imposed limits, real time data of sitting Senators to offer a modern perspective, and examples from other imposed term limits for sitting elected officials to demonstrate their benefit to constituents. The data utilized in this study is applied through organizational theory and quantified based on results and responses from both primary and secondary sources. Historical sources are applied as well through the literature review focusing on three primary themes emerging …

The Powerful Actors Of The Criminal Justice System: Understanding Prosecutorial Discretion From The Viewpoint Of Prosecutors. A Public Administrator's Perspective, Ja'von Long

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Prosecutors are one of the most powerful actors in the American criminal justice system, yet there is a lack of qualitative research related to the topic. There is also a lack of policy reform that has affected prosecutors in the way that it has other actors of the system such as police officers and judges. The research seeks to increase understanding of how prosecutors view the discretion and power prosecutors hold and seeks to provide more information on the institutional and organizational pressures that can affect prosecutors and their decision-making process. The study further explores how cognitive biases along with …

A Case Study Of Cross-Sector Collaboration In Community Schools In Central Pennsylvania, Jesscia Knapp

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

As societal problems become increasingly complex, organizations are more frequently embracing collaborative problem-solving methods to address issues that a single organization could not successfully solve alone. One such wicked problem is the state of education in the United States, particularly in low-income communities and school districts. The community school model is a method of education reform that requires cross-sector partnerships in order to be successful. This study examined the factors that led to successful cross-sector partnerships between Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania (CISPA) and two partner school districts in the implementation of the community school model in Pennsylvania. The results …

The Lived Experience: Collective Realities Of Black Maternal Healthcare, Rhonda Parham

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Maternal health has become an increasingly important public health issue in the United States due to the country elevated levels of maternal mortality rates. As the patient experience which entails a wide variety of interactions between patients and the healthcare system becomes more associated with patient outcomes, it is important to explore how the patient experience is affecting maternal health outcomes. This study consists of in-depth interviews to investigate their experience receiving maternal healthcare in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The study aims to figure out what are black women experiences while receiving maternal healthcare in southeastern Pennsylvania and are those experiences negative. …

Factors Contributing To The Success Of Rising Latino Leadership In Central California, A Qualitative Inquiry, Yammilette Rodriguez

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This research study is a qualitative inquiry into Latino public servants in Central California. Drawing from the knowledge of 60 Central Valley Latinos, the study provides details of their inside accounts of their public service paths and political journeys. The public servants shared personal stories of successes and barriers from their experiences and lessons learned through in-depth interviews and focus groups. The findings translated into recommendations for potential Latino leaders to seek public life as volunteers or to run for political office. The themes of political ambition and social networks and capital arose with subthemes of policies, gender politics, leadership …

The Benefits Of Evidence Based Practices In Public Administration: Does Therapeutic Listening Training Increase Emotional Intelligence To Affect Change Management Outcomes In Public And Private Sector Organizations, John Sillup

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Abstract

This doctoral dissertation considers change management as it relates directly to evidence-based practices in public administration. The problem under study was the lack of scholarly research on the effect of an administrative leader’s emotional intelligence (EI) has on follower self-efficacy during change management. This study provided findings on the effect of therapeutic listening training as a means to increase emotional intelligence to potentially affect change management outcomes in public and private sector organizations. Change management is a systematic and structured process of developing and implementing strategies and interventions for organizations transitioning from current state to a desired state. The …

Study Abroad And Liminality: Examining U.S. American Collegiate Undergraduate Student Engagement In Risky Behaviors Betwixt And Between Borders, Jill L. Creighton

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

One of the most niche sub-arenas of public administration, higher education administration, involves preparing future leaders and scholars for global perspectives. This original research examined whether collegiate, traditionally-aged, undergraduate student risky behavioral choices rose during the study abroad experience as compared to when in the home collegiate environment. After investigating the literature an opportunity to connect the phenomena of domestic risky behavior, collegiate study abroad, and tourism materialized. The anthropological concept of liminality served as the theoretical perspective that anchored the construction of this research. This study was conducted using a post-positivist epistemology, a non-experimental design, and an original survey …

Rural Veterans Of Texas And Their Accessibility To Mental Health Care Services, Jeremy Buchanan

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

After their service commitment has concluded, United States servicemembers are evaluated to what medical ailments and afflictions, both mental and physical, are attributed to their military service. The Department of Veterans Affairs is the government agency that is specifically tasked with the treatment and care of that exam and continuously works on this overwhelming endeavor as military members transfer out from their respective branch of service. One area that is outside of the VA’s control is where veterans will reside upon their separation from the military. When it comes to rural areas, the access to resources, primarily for this study, …

Using Input From Landlords Participating In The Dothan Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher Program (Hcvp) To Streamline Operations And Increase Retention, Michael C. Threatt

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) is a public-private partnership between a landlord, voucher holder, and a Public Housing Authority (PHA). However, this public-private partnership appears to be a two-sided partnership instead of a three-way partnership as the HCVP was designed. Over 110,000 landlords have withdrawn from the HCVP since 2009, which has negatively affected housing choices for voucher holders. This phenomenon of landlords leaving the HCVP is a catastrophe problem for the rental housing crisis that is a part of the larger affordable housing crisis. The perception of institutional bureaucracy for landlords is their reality, and the unintended consequence …