Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2022, Clinical Translational Science

The translation of medical therapies from basic and preclinical research to efficacious human interventions is challenging. The majority of candidate therapies fail in early-stage human trials, after showing promise in preclinical work. The primary aim of the research presented herein is to explore the potential role that poor statistical practice in preclinical animal trials might play in contributing to translational failure. First, a comprehensive appraisal of current statistical practice in one area of preclinical neuroscience research was carried out. A close review of the current related literature is presented, and the appraisal includes a tutorial to explain how certain statistical mistakes might result in overly optimistic results, as well as practical recommendations for improvement. A majority of articles included in this appraisal failed to account for sources of non-independence in the data (74-93%) and/or did not analytically account for mid-treatment animal attrition (78%). Ordinal variables were often treated as continuous (37%), outliers were predominantly not mentioned (83%), and plots often concealed the distribution of the data (51%). Next, a sample including both successful and failed human trials for neurologic targets was identified, and rates of statistical mistakes in the associated preceding rodent trials were compared. Failed human trials were found to have higher rates of select sources of potential statistical bias in preceding rodent trials, compared to successful trials. This research provides evidence that a contributing factor to translational failure is statistical misapplication in preclinical animal research in the neurosciences. It provides the groundwork for future research that will provide practical solutions to translational researchers and funders, facilitating preclinical experimental validity to increase the translational success rate.

Committee: Mary Dolansky PhD RN FAAN (Committee Chair); Kenneth Baker PhD (Committee Member); Nancy Obuchowski PhD (Committee Member); Jill Barnholtz-Sloan PhD (Advisor) Subjects: Animal Sciences; Biostatistics; Neurosciences; Statistics

Doctor of Education , University of Dayton, 2022, Educational Leadership

Evidence-based practice (EBP) requires professionals to be guided by the best available evidence. When a child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), caregivers are faced with the task of choosing the best treatment for their child. Caregivers turn to a number of different sources to find information about available treatments not all of them leading to EBP. This research examines caregivers (n = 58) treatment decision-making processes and preferences for collecting information following the diagnosis of ASD for their child. Analysis of the results revealed that caregivers experience concurrent emotional and practical processes when navigating through treatment options. This study concludes with action research plan to improve the disseminating EBP and create a support system for caregivers.

Committee: Meredith Wronowski (Committee Chair) Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Behaviorial Sciences; Educational Leadership; Special Education

Doctor of Education , University of Dayton, 2022, Educational Leadership

Previous research has shown that high rates of burnout in human service industries can lead to undesirable outcomes for both behavioral health companies and their clientele (Morse et al., 2012; Thomas et al., 2014). The current study investigates the potential sources of employee burnout among behavioral health professionals in the community-based program at ABS Transitions (ABST), a mid-sized community mental health company in Cincinnati, OH. Utilizing an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, quantitative data were collected using an established burnout survey, The Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS; Maslach & Jackson, 2019). In the second phase of the study, qualitative data were collected through structured interviews with participants in order to discover the company-specific symptoms of burnout at ABST. The final section provides a Logic Model for burnout reduction program at ABST, including the stakeholders, resources, and organizational interventions based on Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) principles. The results of the study and the discussion of the findings, recommendations for extensions and future avenues for research, are provided.

Committee: James Olive (Committee Chair); Thaddeus Nestheide (Committee Member); Holly Rittenhouse-Cea (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Psychology; Organizational Behavior

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2021, Communication Studies (Communication)

This dissertation is interested in affect, or the aspects of social life that make a difference because of the ways we feel them. The happenings of a group working in public health are interpreted using affect theory to trace how disruptions to typical organizing processes happen. Because of its role in shaping social scenes, understanding affect's operation is a potential route towards change, even in situations that seem to be solidly set in one particular form. Instances of the group reworking understandings of their role in addressing health equity and disparities are presented to highlight affect's operations--a force that can lead to positive, negative, or ambiguous change. Feminism informs this research both theoretically and in its commitments to considering the practical implications of learning from this group. Feminist formations of affect are foregrounded by thinking about how bodies are involved in sensing the world as well as the role of love and support in the collectivities of our organizing efforts. The affective movements of the group are traced by sensing the trajectories of the way things are heading, identifying patterns, and accounting for power's role. Implications for communication and organizing in public health theory and practice are offered, calling for public health to engage affective analysis by developing capacities for self, group, and structural reflection on the sociocultural underpinnings of population health.

Committee: Laura Black (Advisor); Myrna Sheldon (Committee Member); Brittany Peterson (Committee Member); Lynn Harter (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Gender Studies; Health; Organization Theory; Public Health; Systems Science; Womens Studies

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2015, Leadership and Change

This study addresses the research question “How Do I Inspire Personal and Social Change Through My Theater Practice?” I implement the theory and practice of H.E.A.T., a fusion theater system, combining use of theater arts as healing practice, educational asset, activist tool, and an art form. I research different ways that theater can affect change, focusing specifically on the use of history in performance. I dramatically interpret a period of history where performance and poetry contributed to change. I utilize qualitative methods including performance ethnography, auto ethnography, arts-based research, and historical research. I describe the fieldwork in conflict zones in the Middle East, which led to the scripting of a full-length play, and the presentation of the play, which included discussion groups and audience participation through post-show events. The dissertation is a bricolage, combining scholarly chapters, performative writing, and scripted theater. The work explores ways of employing theater as a change agent by using history as an inspiration. In the city of Cordoba, Spain, in the 10th and 11th century Muslims and Jews lived in a state of relative peace. Looking at medieval Cordoba I explore the Judeo-Arabic poetry of the time, asking: Can what happened in Cordoba be a model for performance and peacebuilding? Based on historical research, the Judeo-Arabic poetry of ancient Al-Andalusia, and the theory of performative peacebuilding, the dramatically scripted section of the dissertation will take place in two realms: Present-day conflict zones in the Middle East; and medieval Cordoba where two ancient characters convey a story of coexistence through poetic expression. In three decades of working as a theater artist, I have come to believe that my work must be dedicated to facilitating change. The sacred and ancient art of theater needs to be meaningful to 21st-century life so that we can use it to awaken, heal, educate and repair the world. This disser (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Carolyn Kenny Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Elizabeth Holloway Ph.D. (Committee Member); D. Soyini Madison Ph.D. (Committee Member); Dara Culhane Ph.D. (Committee Member); Magdelena Kazubowski-Houston Ph.D. (Other) Subjects: Aesthetics; Islamic Studies; Judaic Studies; Medieval History; Medieval Literature; Middle Eastern History; Middle Eastern Literature; Middle Eastern Studies; Performing Arts; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Theater; Theater Studies

MA, University of Cincinnati, 2014, Arts and Sciences: Anthropology

This study explores relationships between a 17th century ethnohistorical text, traditional botanical knowledge (TBK), and contemporary educational resource development within the contexts of Native American ethnoecological language reclamation and cultural revitalization. Community-based participatory research (CBPR), as well as a diversity of applied and engaged anthropological, ethnobotanical, and linguistic approaches were implemented throughout the course of the research program. The research approach is grounded in the idea that a community should have both control of its own resources and the ability to provide input on the research needs of their own community. Data collection and analysis focused on exploring the traditional myaamiaki (Miami community) food system, historical and contemporary community-based ethnoecological relationships, and botanical use categories as guided by the linguistic and ethnoecological needs of the community. This study focuses particular attention on traditional food plants. The specific research goals of the study were (1) to use a 17th century ethnohistorical text to reclaim myaamiaki ethnoecological terms and phrases; (2) to apply ethnographic methods to assess modern myaamiaki traditional botanical knowledge (TBK); and (3) to combine ethnohistorical research findings with the ethnographic study to contribute to myaamiaki ethnobotanical educational resource development and the revitalization of Miami Ecological Knowledge (MEK). To further validate the agency and voices of a small sample of Miami community members, an inventory of contemporary TBK was collected and a needs-assessment was conducted to gauge the community's interest and insights on educational resource development on the topics of garden cultivation and the harvest and use of wild food plants. The myaamiaki are an ecologically-based cultural group whose language had previously moved through a state of dormancy between 1963 through 1995. Initiatives associ (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Susan Allen Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Clement Jeffrey Jacobson Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Cultural Anthropology

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2005, Environmental Sciences

This was a community-driven practicum project assisting the Miami Tribe in achieving the spatial reconstruction of their traditional pre-removal landscape using geographic information systems. This project applies the Miami conception of their pre-removal landscape to multiple digital map layers. The results are considered a preliminary phase in the mapping of the Miami landscape that will result in greater understanding of Miami ethnohistory. Project deliverables empower the Tribe with spatially accurate digital map layers of their historic landscape and its biophysical features. The organization of these digital map layers allows the Tribe to examine how the historic Miami Tribe operated within the geographic space of their historic homelands. The Miami are now passing the project on to continue to identify the historic Miami cultural landscape from their perspective. The map database is provided to the Tribe for continuation of the project at their discretion using large capacity DVD-R media.

Committee: Adolph Greenberg (Advisor) Subjects: