Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2023, Environment and Natural Resources

Mountain ecosystems and communities are undergoing profound changes driven by a complex interplay of environmental, economic, and sociocultural factors, including climate change, natural hazards, land use change, and rapid infrastructure development. These interconnected changes have far-reaching impacts on local livelihoods, the supporting ecosystems, and the overall sustainability of mountain social-ecological systems. While community resilience has been promoted as a collective capacity to navigate change and advance development, empirical studies on its effectiveness within mountain communities remain limited. To bridge this knowledge gap, this dissertation embarks on an ethnographic and citizen science study in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region, employing a mixed-methods approach comprising interviews, interventions, and ethnography. This dissertation presents an exploration of community resilience within the context of complex mountain social-ecological systems. By illuminating the significance of social capital and participatory knowledge engagement, the study unveils pathways towards community resilience. A novel conceptual diagram aids in untangling the essence of community resilience as a collective capacity, while subsequent case studies dissect the interactions among critical capacities such as social capital, knowledge, and learning. The dissertation underscores the necessity for context-specific approaches and capacity dynamics, as well as the ethical and political dimensions inherent in community resilience initiatives. This work not only enriches the understanding of community resilience from conceptualization to practical application but also provides actionable insights for effective development interventions. Moreover, the empirical study, conducted in a mountain community and employing digital mapping techniques, offers a small-scale perspective on how to facilitate effective learning and knowledge sharing. To finish, this dissertation research (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2020, Environment and Natural Resources

Policy makers, farm family advocates, and researchers have overall focused on resolving issues connected to the farm operation such as access to land or farm transition. The consideration of household level issues, such as difficulties paying for health insurance or saving for retirement, has however been inadequate despite the evidence that these difficulties can negatively impact the development and viability of the farm operation. To work towards a greater understanding of the factors that shape and support family farms, I explore the links between farm household social needs, social policy, and farm persistence in three stand-alone, yet, connected research articles. The farm persistence literature, a body of work with a long tradition of studying how family farms adapt to on-going changes, provides the theoretical foundation of this dissertation. My methodological approach is based on a mix of qualitative and quantitative data and a comparative approach. In the first article, I broadly consider the role of social policy in the farm sector and propose a research framework to integrate social policy into the international family farm research agenda. Then, I focus on health policy, a large component of social policy in Western industrialized countries, and health needs, a major social need, for U.S. farm households as an empirical case. In particular, I assess U.S. farm households' access to health insurance and health care along the life course in the second article and I assess their medical economic vulnerability in the third article. Taken together, my findings point to difficulties accessing and paying for health insurance and health care and a general sense of vulnerability. Farm households of all ages juggle trade-offs between household consumption, savings, and on-farm investments but it is the younger households that are the most vulnerable despite being in better health. Meanwhile, the eligibility for old-age universal coverage (i.e. Medicare) does no (open full item for complete abstract)

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2018, Leadership and Change

The purpose of this study was to develop a resilient network ambidexterity scale. While numerous research efforts have considered the dimensions of social capital, resilience, and adaptive capacity to evaluate organizations and communities, few have explored social network indicators within organizations that can be used to mobilize ambidextrous strategies during times of disruption. The emphasis here was to understand the tendencies and behaviors that networks possess to sustain or achieve success along the parallel strategies of optimization and exploration. This study progressed in three specific phases toward filling this void in organizational development literature, using a mixed-methods approach. Phase 1 was the development of the item pool and analysis of the scale to establish face and content validity. Phase 2 included administering an online survey to 344 participants. Data collected were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, followed by a partial confirmatory factor analysis These revealed a two-factor solution central to identifying resilient network ambidexterity: Optimizing Organizational Boundaries and Exploring Novelty. Phase 3 involved getting feedback on the revised scale from organizational leaders and practitioners working in innovative fields to refine the final RNA instrument. This research made connections between resilience and ambidexterity in organizations through ongoing inquiry on ways that fusing distinct paradigms impacts organizational outcomes. The development of this scale can serve as a useful tool for organizations to assess their level of resilience and mobilize the features of optimization and exploration. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA: Antioch University Repository and Archive, http://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu/

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2013, Business Administration

The ability to anticipate and respond to supply chain disruption has emerged as a vital organizational capability in an operational environment characterized by increasing levels of turbulence, uncertainty, and complexity. Collaborative relationships between internal functional areas as well as with external customers and suppliers have been proposed as a key capability for enhancing enterprise resilience. This research answers the call for empirical investigation of the effects of supply chain collaboration on the resilience of the enterprise. The study draws on social capital theory as a lens through which the concepts of supply chain collaboration and enterprise resilience are examined. As suggested by social capital theorists, supply chain managers derive value from the network of collaborative ties they maintain with other internal and external supply chain members. Within the context of resilience and disruption risk management, the study investigates whether certain structural and relational attributes of a manager's network of collaborative ties lead to improved performance outcomes in turbulent operational environments. Network data were collected through a social network analysis protocol. The data collection effort is set within the context of the demand-supply planning function of the Defense Logistics Agency, a multi-billion dollar logistics provider for military customers worldwide. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypothesized association between key attributes of collaborative networks and performance outcomes in the face of supply chain disruption. The results indicate certain structural and relational attributes of collaborative networks are more suitable predictors of performance during periods of disruption. Specifically, the findings suggest that managers who maintain a high proportion of external versus internal collaborative ties and who interact frequently with key contacts are more likely to perform better in turbulent env (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2024, Higher Education (Education)

The changes in medical education have not kept pace with societal expectations and the rapidly evolving business model for healthcare delivery. Meanwhile, the socialization process in medical education has remained relatively unchanged. This has resulted in physicians with a high level of technical competence but lacking a comprehensive understanding of the ethical pitfalls of being a physician. It is crucial for medical school leaders to develop proactive strategies that are coherent, coordinated, and explicit in training physicians capable of navigating conflicting values and managing transient stressors. The findings in this study challenge the fundamental premise that it is enough for medical school leaders to simply view professionalism as an array of behaviors expected of others who offer services according to a social contract. Nor is it sufficient to promote teaching professionalism guided by directives of prescribed and prohibited activities or by guidance from aspirational goals. Moreover, the means of assessing any behaviors deemed problematic or unprofessional are varied and imprecise, and they do not account for those behaviors that are hidden or unobservable. This study examined two relevant theoretical frameworks within moral psychology and social learning theory. Specifically, they include professional identity formation and communities of practice. These frameworks present different facets for viewing the fostering of professionalism in medical education through the lens of moral psychology and social learning theory. They provide greater detail, build upon, and occasionally challenge established theories based on cognitive theory and moral development. They may also serve as a beacon to higher education leaders by influencing support efforts to form the students' professional identity and identify communities of practice in the professional journey of medical students.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2024, Civil Engineering

Wood is the primary material used in residential construction in the United States. Further, new “mass timber” wood products are enabling construction of taller wood structures and are rapidly gaining market share in new construction. Because wood sequesters carbon as it grows, timber construction is an important tool in achieving a zero-carbon construction industry. However, timber structures are uniquely vulnerable to biological attack from fungus and insects. The increasing frequency and severity of hurricanes and floods due to climate change provides the optimal conditions for wood decay in structures by driving moisture inside buildings. Low-income and minoritized populations are the most likely to experience long-term effects from these hazards due to their location in hazard-prone regions and/or proximity to the floodplain. Consequently, these residents may disproportionately experience biological attack of their homes, creating long-term health disparities and potentially affecting the strength of the structure. To address these issues, it is critical to develop tools that quantify the effects of biodeterioration within timber structures. This research presents a first-of-its kind effort to quantify wood degradation effects on timber structures through experimental and numerical approaches. First, the changes in wood composition, physical properties, and stiffness were measured experimentally throughout fungal attack via thermogravimetric analysis, physical observations, and ultrasonic pulse velocity. This study investigated Southern Yellow Pine, the most common species of lumber used in the Southeast United States, under attack from Meruliporia incrassata, a common brown rot fungus. The study found stiffness losses of over 30% and density losses over 10% during a 12-week decay period. Such significant stiffness losses indicate that a building component with decayed wood could experience much greater deflections and damage than an undecayed component unde (open full item for complete abstract)

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Ohio University, 2023, Environmental Studies

This thesis seeks to understand Appalachian farmers' and non-profit professionals' perceptions of the state of the food system and their place within to identify ways to move forward with food justice work and highlight some of the initiatives already happening in the region. Through a series of in-depth interviews with five regional foodway experts and analyses of relevant organizations' mission statements, I provide insight into the work being done in Appalachia to navigate post-coal economies and pressures against the success of local food systems, the way this work shapes identities and perceptions of and relationships with land and food, and where folks see opportunities for additional work and progress. My findings emphasize a need for greater societal awareness of injustices within the food system and more opportunities for communities to mobilize and regain agency over their livelihoods and food sovereignty.

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Franklin University, 2022, Business Administration

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged student success and the ability of colleges to deliver the education students need for the workplace. The purpose of this qualitative dissertation case study was to investigate how the organizational resiliency of a Midwest community college impacted student success during the COVID-19 pandemic by examining the contributions of static and dynamic resiliency characteristics and dimensions. Exploration and analysis of the resilient characteristics and dimensions of student success focus on the key factors of instructional modality, instructor-student engagement, and socioeconomic influences. Conclusions are based on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with the college's senior leaders triangulated with information from public documents and a student survey. The researcher concludes that the college's static resiliency components of solid planning and infrastructural preparation for probable events, a longstanding collaborative commitment to achieving key elements of student success, and effective internal communication processes produced the robust capacity for flexibility and innovation that distinguishes dynamic resiliency. Innovations that accelerated decision processes, faculty and staff encouraged to experiment based on regular feedback, and energetic action on non-academic stresses had positive effects on student success during the COVID-19 pandemic. One result was that for the fiscal year 2021-2022, the college awarded the highest number of degrees in its history to all students and to African American males, with 99 percent of students rating the quality of their education as good to excellent.

Specialist in Education (Ed.S.), University of Dayton, 2022, School Psychology

Resilience addresses the socio-ecological framework of individual, family, school and community influences, which impacts an individual's development through protective and risk factors. Social-emotional learning is an important educational standard that promotes knowledge and skills for developing identities, managing emotions and establishing healthy relationships. The two concepts have not been directly associated in research. The present study examined the correlational relationship between self-reported SEL and resilience in (n = 113) high school seniors in three high schools in a midwestern state. SEL was measured using the Panorama SEL survey, while resilience was measured using the Child and Youth Resilience Measure. Results indicated that significant relationships exist between resilience and overall SEL levels, and between resilience and the individual SEL concepts, including emotion regulation, engagement, growth mindset, sense of belonging and supportive relationships. Implications for high school educators, college student services and employers searching for effective and appropriate SEL programs are discussed.

Doctor of Education, Ashland University, 2021, College of Education

This study explored the extent to which a student advisory program in a large public high school fostered adolescent resilience. To address the void in scholarly literature, this study explored how adults and students experienced and perceived a student advisory program designed to foster adolescent resilience. Resilience is vital in the context of adolescent suicide and suicidal ideation combined with a worldwide pandemic. Resilience is a necessary skill as students navigate adolescent life coping with stress and dealing with daily challenges. This investigation lasted for one school year and included interviews and carefully reviewed documents. Ten students and seven adults who had participated in the advisory program for two years were interviewed in this qualitative case study, using a structured protocol that drew out nuanced versions of adult and student perceptions relating to this topic. The findings revealed five themes: (a) the role of caring adults in creating connections, (b) the development of connectedness to a positive school climate, (c) the meaning of groups, (d) the influence of student advisory on academics and resilience, and (e) the impressions of student advisory. The findings are significant in understanding the potential challenges to engaging in this work. The structure of the advisory program was designed to offset risk factors while focusing on protective factors to foster resiliency. An advisory program that incorporates teachers as mentor advisors cultivating strong, caring relationships between students as a primary focus may contribute to adolescent's protective factors. This study sought to answer the following research questions: (1) how did the participants experience the student advisory program? (a) what were their perceptions of advisory during the 2018/2019 initial year of implementation and the subsequent year in 2019/2020; (b) what did it mean to the participants when advisory was suspended during the spring of 2020 because o (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2020, Integrated Bioscience

The Laurentian Great Lakes system holds approximately 20% of the world's available surface freshwater while being an immense economic engine for the region. Lake Erie, one of the five North American Great Lakes is classified as highly stressed and deteriorating. Flooding and erosion issues stemming from record-high water levels, as well as excessive nutrients causing harmful algal blooms which compounds the problems. This work investigates novel ways to approach, solve, and manage some of Lake Erie's most pressing problems. First, a historical political ecology approach was used to trace the history of land use practices that transformed the Great Black Swamp into the industrialized agricultural system that the Maumee River Watershed (MRW) is today. The analysis chronicles transformations in structure and function of the MRW implicating diverse drivers such as agricultural practices, legacy nutrient reservoirs, altered landscape hydrology, and energy policy while making policy recommendations at various scales. Second, a low-cost, open-source DIY spectrophotometer was developed in order to obtain crowd-sourced data to understand nutrient loading trends throughout the watershed, particularly the MRW. Tests of this device indicate that the typically expensive hardware is not the limitation. Rather, reagent performance is the leading cause of uncertainty. Third, a social-ecological risk and vulnerability model to flooding and erosion was created for the Ohio Lake Erie shoreline by adapting established maritime coastal indices to the limnological system. The result is both a foundation for Ohio's Department of Natural Resources, Office of Coastal Management to identify scientifically-informed, place-based priority management areas for erosion and flooding, as well as a methodological roadmap to adapt the Coastal and Place Vulnerability Indices to the other Great Lakes' states and provincial shorelines.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2020, Industrial and Systems Engineering (Engineering and Technology)

A supply chain is a network of suppliers, production, or manufacturing facilities, retailers, and transportation channels which are structured to acquire supplies, produce new products, and distribute the finished products to retailers and customers. Closed Loop Supply Chain (CLSC) networks incorporate the flow of the returned, used, or recycled products from the customers through the retailers to the manufacturing, recycling, or refurbishing facilities to support managing the full lifecycle of the products. Social Network Analysis (SNA) has been developed to identify and analyze the patterns in social networks. SNA is used as a theoretical framework for better understanding of social networks by characterizing the structure of a network in terms of nodes and links. SNA is applied to various types of networks including telecommunication networks, protein interaction networks, animal disease epidemics, and customer interaction and analysis. Although SNA is a powerful method to study networks in many areas, it has not been comprehensively applied to supply chain networks. Likewise, there is no application and interpretation of SNA metrics in CLSCs. In this study, SNA metrics are introduced and interpreted for components in CLSC networks and forward and reverse logistic activities. Correspondingly, a decision making tool is developed based on selected SNA metrics for comparing alternative network designs in terms of network reliability and balance of the flows.

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2020, Anthropology

This research investigates political and economic issues of inequality and unemployment in Uganda, as manifested in one informal settlement in Kabalagala, and the effect of these issues on HIV. Uganda is one important site to study the intersections of inequality, formal sector unemployment, urbanization, and HIV/AIDS. Contemporary inequality and formal sector unemployment are driven by colonial policies that shaped urban stratification, and postcolonial policies that privileged economic growth over job creation. A central goal was to understand men's risk of HIV in the context of these and other structural and social drivers of risk. This research used an explanatory sequential mixed methods study design, including a pilot study (2016), survey pre-test (2017), and 12 months of fieldwork that began with survey data collection (N = 292) and ended with in-depth interviews (n = 54, a subset of the survey sample). Survey data were analyzed using multiple linear regression, and interview data and field notes were analyzed through thematic analysis. Quantitative data described the patterning of risky sexual behavior (e.g. HIV risk), while qualitative data expanded on these relationships and helped to clarify areas of contention. Men in this study have lower rates of HIV testing, compared to national averages. Men also frequently report defaulting on ART, once they do receive a positive diagnosis and begin treatment. Inequality and unemployment impact their daily lives through experiences of uncertainty that must be managed. Economic instability is important, and when men cannot access resources, they are likely to engage in a variety of strategies to improve their economic status. Men also face myriad vulnerabilities driven by the political-economic context, from housing instability to incarceration. This work contributes to the anthropological literature on the political economy of health, HIV, vulnerability, and social resilience. Men's experiences of HIV and (open full item for complete abstract)

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2019, Antioch New England: Environmental Studies

Since the beginning of agriculture, seeds have been cultivated, saved, and exchanged by farmers each year to ensure the success of future crops adapted to local environments. Yet, over ninety percent of our diverse vegetable and fruit crop varieties have been lost due to the industrialization and commercialization of seeds. Industrial agriculture has caused a great homogenization of crop varieties, but locally adapted seeds and their seed savers do still exist on the fringe, and across the world. There is a small but growing body of research on agri-food networks in Western and developing countries where advocates are working to continue and/or redevelop a stock of locally adapted seed in order to better serve humanity's needs in light of the effects of climate change and corporate interests. Using Actor-Network Theory (ANT), this dissertation explores the seed as it exists within different agri-food networks. First, I explain ANT through a review of agri-food studies literature that utilizes this unique "theoro-methodology." Next, I investigate how the seed exists within traditional, modern alternative, and industrial agricultural networks in order to discover the effects that emerge from actor interactions with the seed in these networks. I then put this knowledge to use in an on-site research project where I conduct an ANT investigation of the Ridge & Hollow Seed Alliance network, located in southeastern Ohio. Important network effects that I discover include saved seed, profit, survival, and what I call "resilience knowledge" - knowledge that is gained at the margins of our food system, outside of the hegemonic industrial agriculture complex. Social-ecological resilience knowledge is being created through local food networks (and especially those that include seed saving and exchange). People, plants, and things - actors in these networks - are creating important resilience memories that might assist the local food movement in establishing itself as a viable alt (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Social Work, The Ohio State University, 2019, Social Work

There is a lack of research on the resilience experiences of non-binary survivors (NBS) of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault. The primary aim of this study is to highlight the resilience experiences of NBS from their own knowledge, experiences and perceptions related to exploring identities, experiences with trauma, coping mechanisms and social support. NBS (N = 5) participated in an in-depth semi-structured interview. Data was analyzed using Atlas.ti, a qualitative data analysis software. The findings highlight the resilience experiences of NBS and the need for affirming spaces as non-binary people and as survivors. Implications for social workers, agencies, support services, policy change and future research are discussed. An affirming space focusing on resilience is highly recommended to bridge the gap between service systems and NBS and to help NBS find new ways of healing.

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 2019, Psychology

Social support from a military unit has been found to moderate the relationship of trauma exposure with symptoms of PTSD and depression (Armistead-Jehle, Johnston, Wade, & Ecklund, 2011; Brailey, Vasterling, Proctor, Constans, & Friedman, 2007). The present study examined whether among cross-cultural missionaries, support from a work team would likewise moderate the relationship of lifetime traumatic load with PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, and functional impairment. Participants in this study were exposed to a high number of traumatic experiences: 76.8% were exposed to one or more traumatic event compared to 51.2% of women and 60.7% of men in American, and 29% exposed to three or more traumatic events compared to 19.2% of men and 11.4% of women in American (Kessler, 2000). Traumatic load had a positive correlation with the severity of PTSD and depression symptoms, and team support had a negative correlation with the severity of symptoms and functional impairment. However, multiple regression indicated that team support did not significantly moderate the relationship of traumatic load with PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, or functional impairment. Among participants exposed to three or more traumatic events, low levels of social support accurately predicted scores indicative of probable PTSD or major depressive disorder, with functional impairment. Participants indicated how their team promoted posttraumatic growth following trauma exposure: 42.6% indicated that their team promoted growth in better understanding spiritual matters, and 40.7% indicated that their team promoted growth in knowing that they can handle difficulties. Recommendations for future research are to examine training, practices, and interventions which effectively increase social support among missionaries and humanitarian aid workers living in areas at high risk of trauma exposure.

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2018, Leadership and Change

The purpose of this study was to develop a resilience-thinking leadership mindset construct and scale. Although literature exists on developing resilience and relational leadership theories, very little research and literature address a resilience-thinking mindset as a leadership strategy. This study represents an initial step in filling this gap. This research project was the initial phase toward the development of a resilience-thinking leadership mindset (RTLM) scale. I used a mixed-methods approach which was divided into three stages. Stage 1 involved the development of the scale items and assessment of both face and content validity to revise the original scale. Stage 2 comprised conducting a pilot study and employing statistical analysis to assess the construct validity, which included an exploratory factor analysis and a partial confirmatory factor analysis (PCFA). The factor analysis revealed a two-factor solution with inter-item Cronbach's Alphas of .936 for Factor 1 and .906 for Factor 2. The PCFA revealed a CFI of .964. Stage 3 entailed giving the refined RTLM scale to leaders in field of resilience management to further interpret and refine the scale's factors and items. This scale will be useful to practitioners, researchers, and organizations that are interested in advancing resilience-thinking, mindful organizing, and adaptive governance. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA: Antioch University Repository and Archive, http://aura.antioch.edu/and Ohiolink ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu/

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2016, City and Regional Planning

In the aftermath of the Great Recession, welcoming initiatives aimed specifically at attracting first generation immigrant entrepreneurs for their economic benefits are launching in shrinking cities of the Rust Belt in the Midwestern United States. However, with their narrow focus on economic benefits, these initiatives may be overlooking the spatial or community development impacts of immigrant entrepreneurship which have a strong effect on the reinvention and indeed resilience that cities are seeking to achieve by attracting immigrant entrepreneurs. The main objective of this research is to examine first generation immigrant entrepreneurship within the context of immigrant welcoming policies and plans. The five initiatives under investigation - Agenda 360 (Cincinnati), Welcome Dayton, Global Detroit, Immigrant Welcome Center of Indianapolis, and St. Louis Mosaic Project - are the longest standing consistent members of the Welcoming Economies Global Network and its predecessor organization known as the Global Great Lakes Initiative. These initiatives have the most established programming and longest track records of all member initiatives. This dissertation begins with a review of the academic literature related to the non-spatial and spatial impacts of immigrant entrepreneurship. It then presents Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) analyses of each of the initiatives, a social justice framework analysis of the Welcome Dayton Plan, and an examination of eight existing indices of urban resilience. Findings include common strengths and opportunities such as peer-to-peer programs, ethnic chambers of commerce, and existing immigrant communities, as well as common weaknesses and threats such as small staff sizes, limited sources of funding, and a lack of evaluation metrics. The success of welcoming initiatives will be mitigated by external threats such as federal immigration policy, negative sentiment toward immigrants, and competing welcoming i (open full item for complete abstract)

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2016, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Regional Development Planning

Policy makers and academicians often view slums as disorderly, substandard, corrupt, makeshift, impoverished, crime-ridden eyesores and so forth. However, conceptualizing slums as resilient enclaves challenges this common perception of slum dwellers as passive disaster victims and instead, shifts focus onto their ingenuity and adaptability to overcome external circumstances. Resilience comprises three dimensions: coping, adaptive, and transformative capacities. The first two dimensions, coping and adaptive capacities, refer to the slum dwellers' ability to bounce back to their original state in the aftermath of a disaster, often relying on their informal social networks. Transformative capacity, in contrast, refers to the slum dwellers' ability to improve or upgrade the physical (e.g., water, sewer or roads) and social (e.g., education, empowerment or job skills) infrastructure of their community in the aftermath of a disaster. This dissertation explores the transformative capacity of the Pedda Jalaripeta (from here on referred as PJ) slum in Visakhapatnam, India through empirical ethnographic research. This study analyzes how the residents of PJ collaborated with both the government and non-governmental organizations over the past six decades to improve the physical and social infrastructure of the slum overcoming many external circumstances Resilience, primarily the transformative capacity of the PJ residents, is presented in this dissertation through three perspectives: temporal, spatial and social. The temporal perspective narrates the disasters that the PJ faced over the past three decades. The spatial perspective demonstrates `Why' the PJ residents fight for their community as their turf. The social perspective attempts to understand the `How' in resilience - how did the PJ residents with minimal education and monetary resources survive multiple disasters? While many studies considered urban slums as vulnerable (Davis 2006, World Bank, 2016; UN Habitat, 2010 (open full item for complete abstract)

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2015, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

In this phenomenological study, thematic analysis was used to gain a better understanding of the lived experience of six Iranian-Americans who left Iran for safety and a better life. The researcher assessed the participants' journey phase by phase, to get a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. Overall, emigrating from Iran had both negative and positive outcomes. Six main domains emerged while trying to understand the lived experiences of the participants on the journey, including its emotional impact and how they coped. Data analysis yielded 6 domains and 16 themes: 1. Incentive to leave: (a) Political and civil unrest, (b) Minimal opportunities to obtain resources, (c) Religious discrimination; 2. Initial emotional respond: (a) Excitement, (b) Stress, (c) Numbness / confusion; 3. The journey: (a) Coping with physical and environmental discomfort, (b) Coping with food and water deprivation, (c) Witnessing or experiencing threat to one's life or safety, (4) Experiencing loss: (a) Loss from Material detachment, (b) Loss from Emotional detachment, 5. Receiving support: (a) Family and friends' support, (b) Strangers' support, (c) Organizations' support, and 6. Outcome: (a) Emotional impact of the journey, (b) Life satisfaction. Although the respondents lamented the loss of community life in Iran, and experienced misery on the journey, they were uplifted by the support they received, which eased their pain and kept them hopeful and strong in the face of adversity. Participants used a combination of Cognitive Approach and Avoidant Coping in different stages of their journey. Of the six participants, five were grateful for their migration to the United Sates and satisfied about their current lifestyle. Implications for clinical practice and future research are included in this study. The electronic version of this dissertation is available free at OhioLink ETD Center, www.ohiolink.edu/etd.