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  • 1. Howenstine, Julie Recruitment Strategies Aiming to Attract Females into Undergraduate Engineering Programs: Examining Their Role and Use

    Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, 2013, Higher Education

    By 2009, the percentage of women who graduated with general undergraduate degrees had increased to almost 58% of all students who completed 4-year degree programs (National Center for Education Statistics, 2009a). These percentages, however, have not been reflected in the enrollment rates of females into undergraduate engineering programs. In 2009, the percentage of females enrolled in undergraduate engineering degrees was only 13% (National Center for Education Statistics, 2009b). Education is a lifelong decision and individuals are becoming more psychologically involved in their college choice (Maringe & Gibbs, 2009). Recruitment activities are only one factor in the college choice decision but are an important one. Recruitment strategies to attract under-represented groups to the field of engineering had in general lacked success. Recruitment is a way to represent and promote a college or a university truthfully to those who are seeking information about it (National Association for College Admission Counseling, 2009). Recruiting consists of initiatives and materials which serve to persuade prospective students to enroll in schools and specific degree programs. Understanding the specific types of recruitment strategies created for women and the way recruitment impacts enrollment trends of women will help institutions become more effective at attracting female students into engineering programs. While research on recruitment has identified some recruitment strategies effective in attracting women to engineering, such as mentoring to prospective students (Ocif & Marshall-Goodell, 1996; Wilkins et al., 2006), marketing learning and living communities (Jaschik, 2010; Kuh et al., 2006; Stinson, 1990; Trenor, 2007; Washington Center website, 2011), as well as offering female-focused financial aid programs (Astin 1997; Cech et al., 2008) to prospective students, we still do not fully understand the whole array of recruitment strategies geared towards women. This study (open full item for complete abstract)

    Committee: Snejana Slantcheva-Durst Ph.D. (Advisor); Anthony Koh Ph.D. (Committee Member); Marek Kolar Ph.D. (Committee Member); Vickie Kuntz Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Civil Engineering; Education; Electrical Engineering; Engineering; Gender Studies; Higher Education; Industrial Engineering; Marketing; Mass Communications; Mechanical Engineering; Personal Relationships; Womens Studies
  • 2. Willey, Kristina An Examination of Promotional Marketing Strategies and Value Factors that Influenced Adult Learners' Enrollment in Community Colleges

    Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, 2023, Higher Education

    This quantitative study explored the intricate landscape of marketing strategies influencing adult learners' satisfaction with their decisions to enroll in community colleges. Using survey research design, this study illuminated significant insights into the multifaceted world of higher education marketing, particularly in the context of community colleges. By employing a robust methodology and comprehensive analysis, this study provided valuable implications for both theoretical advancements and practical applications within the field of higher education marketing. The study utilized the 7P marketing mix theoretical framework and a wide array of demographic and promotional marketing variables to understand the complex landscape of adult learner enrollment. The research questions delved into various aspects, including the role of promotional marketing strategies, value factors, ways of gathering information, and their correlation with adult learners' satisfaction with their enrollment decisions. The study made several significant findings. Firstly, the study highlighted the pivotal role of electronic communication methods such as email and text messages, alongside word-of-mouth recommendations, in influencing adult learners. These findings underline the importance of targeted, digital marketing strategies for community colleges. Additionally, the research shed light on the significance of interpersonal experiences, emphasizing the value of one-on-one meetings and in-person events in adult learners' decision-making processes. The study also unveiled gender-based disparities in satisfaction levels, with female adult learners exhibiting notably higher satisfaction rates than their male counterparts. This gender-specific variation emphasized the need for tailored, gender-focused marketing approaches to enhance satisfaction levels effectively. The research identified a combination of six key predictors that significantly influenced adult learners' enrollment decisions in (open full item for complete abstract)

    Committee: Snejana Slantcheva-Durst (Committee Chair); Vicky Wood (Committee Member); Michael Mallin (Committee Member); Ron Opp (Committee Member) Subjects: Adult Education; Higher Education; Higher Education Administration; Marketing
  • 3. Johnson, Keith African American Perceptions of the Accounting Profession: Assessing the Lack of Representation from the Perspective of Two-Year College Students

    Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Franklin University, 2021, Business Administration

    The accounting profession is one of the most under-represented industries in hiring, retaining, and promoting minorities (Ross et al., 2014). The lack of representation of African Americans in the accounting profession has been reported for decades (Harris et al., 2020). Using a quantitative approach, this research study's data reflected how the African American population affiliated with and identified to the field of accounting. This research study investigated participant perspectives on influences that hinder African Americans from entering the accounting profession. This research analyzed African American student opinions and attitudes towards student success, retention, wrap-around services (i.e., mentoring, tutoring, counseling, transportation, and other non-instructional services), and degree completion at Columbus State Community College, Columbus, Ohio. Existing literature indicated that accounting is not an active choice for many African Americans due to college readiness, peer expectations (Harris et al., 2020), family values/influences, and a general lack of understanding of the accounting field (Green et al., 2017). This research answered why African Americans are under-represented in the accounting profession by gaining insight from the perspective of current African American students pursuing an accounting associate degree and entering the accounting profession. Results indicated that a student's gender is associated with their persistence and progression towards a degree in accounting. Student interaction with faculty and with peers were also associated with a students' persistence and progression. Family influence and interactions, and student family backgrounds and upbringings proved to influence students striving to earn an associate degree in accounting. Lastly, African Americans' geographical background characteristics were associated with student success, sense of retention, and degree completion.

    Committee: Sherry Abernathy Ph.D. (Committee Chair); John A. Nadalin Ph.D. (Committee Member); Kenneth Knox Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Accounting; African Americans; Business Administration; Business Education; Finance; Higher Education; Higher Education Administration
  • 4. Guzman, Gregory Intertemporal Choice and Enrollment: Exploring the Influence of Latency on Enrollment Yield within the Recruitment Funnel

    Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, 2014, Higher Education

    The higher education marketplace in the United States has changed. Competition has increased, and modes of instructional delivery have changed to meet demand, yet enrollment at post-secondary institutions in the United States has been declining. Students have not persisted through the pre-matriculation funneling stages of the enrollment process with the same consistency as they have in the past. The purposes of this dissertation were (a) to assess the period of latency between application and enrollment and (b) to determine whether students would be more likely to persist through the recruitment funnel if institutions altered their enrollment calendars. The researcher reviewed data from a single-proprietary institution comprised of multiple campuses located throughout the eastern and southern portions of the United States to determine the influence of latency, within the recruitment funnel, upon yield. Upon the exploration of nearly 4 years worth of data and more than 32,000 student files, the researcher was able to determine that increasing the number of start dates did not practically influence students'/consumers' purchasing behavior at Career College. Furthermore, shortening the latency period did little to nothing to impact the percentage of students persisting through the recruitment funnel. However, the findings did reveal significant behavioral differences between traditional and non-traditional students. In summation, the findings revealed that students are essentially consumers who will act upon their desire to purchase products (e.g., a college degree) in a time frame consistent with their own immediate needs and opportunity costs, regardless of institutional efforts to influence them to do otherwise. In other words, latency is an institutionally controllable factor that does not appear to alter the course of enrollment yield among traditional students.

    Committee: Penny Poplin Gosetti Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Ronald Opp Ph.D. (Committee Member); William Getter D.P.A. (Committee Member); David Black Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Economics; Higher Education; Higher Education Administration
  • 5. Fritz, Amanda Efficacy of Targeted Recruitment Strategies on Students' Knowledge of and Interest in School Psychology

    Specialist in Education (Ed.S.), University of Dayton, 2014, School Psychology

    The purpose of the present study was to examine the efficacy of a recruitment presentation conducted during School Psychology Awareness Week on increasing undergraduate students' knowledge of and interest in the field of school psychology. A program evaluation design was utilized to determine if targeted strategies were an effective means of recruitment for the School Psychology program at the University of Dayton. Eight Ohio universities were selected and agreed to participate in the study, yielding a total of 192 participants. Participants were given a pre-School Psychology Awareness Inventory (SPAI) to assess their knowledge of and interest in the field of school psychology, among other areas. Participants were then shown a PowerPoint presentation on school psychology and provided with informational brochures on the University of Dayton's program, along with the contact information of the researcher, her thesis partner, and the University of Dayton's program coordinator, Dr. Susan Davies. Immediately following these targeted recruitment strategies, participants were administered the post-SPAI to re-assess their knowledge of and interest in the field of school psychology. Results demonstrated that both knowledge and interest increased significantly between pre-SPAI and post-SPAI, indicating the targeted recruitment strategies were effective in increasing awareness of and interest in the field of school psychology. Implications for future recruitment of students in school psychology are discussed.

    Committee: Susan Davies Ed.D. (Advisor); Elana Bernstein Ph.D. (Committee Member); Bobbie Fiori (Committee Member) Subjects: Education; Educational Psychology; Psychology
  • 6. Kallis, Jahn An ecological approach to management of an important reservoir fishery

    Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2013, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology

    The research described herein was an attempt to determine the mechanisms underlying variation in success of saugeye (female Sander vitreus X male S. canadensis) stocked into Ohio reservoirs. In addition, we sought to identify the mechanisms that can be affected by management practices and provide a model framework for experimental assessments of fish stocking alternatives. We accomplished our goals using laboratory experiments and field assessments conducted at the individual and population levels. In a manipulative field study, we evaluated two fish management alternatives, stocking saugeye fry (approximately 6 mm total length (TL)) and stocking saugeye fingerlings (approximately 30 mm TL). We based our evaluation on a comprehensive analysis that included biological responses (i.e. saugeye growth and survival), economic criteria (i.e., saugeye production costs), and multiple fishery objectives. We also correlated saugeye growth and survival with environmental variables to help inform future stocking decisions. Although predation and the timing and abundance of larval gizzard shad prey have been implicated in the success of stocked saugeye cohorts, results from our field manipulative study did not strictly follow predictions from previous research. Thus, we combined saugeye historical data with data from our research to test earlier assumptions about saugeye predation mortality and the influence of gizzard shad on stocked saugeye cohorts. In separate study, we sought to link growth rate while fish were in the hatchery with survival in the reservoirs hypothesizing that knowing which traits were associated with high survival would give insights into the major sources of mortality. Finally, to determine if the first winter of life is an important recruitment bottleneck, we used laboratory and field studies to quantify first-winter effects, including indirect effects on growth and survival of stocked saugeye cohorts. The work described here addresses the limit (open full item for complete abstract)

    Committee: Elizabeth Marschall (Advisor); Stuart Ludsin (Committee Member); Roy Stein (Committee Member) Subjects: Aquatic Sciences
  • 7. Thomas, Erin Between the Lines: What Predominantly White Institutions Say in their Recruitment Literature to Attract Minority Students

    Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2009, ED Policy and Leadership

    There is a significant lack of current research concerning marketing as a function of minority recruitment. As the applicant pool for colleges and universities becomes more diverse, institutions of higher education need to evaluate the messages that are being disseminated to ethnic minority students. The purpose of this study was to critically analyze the marketing messages that predominantly White institutions use to recruit minority students. The primary question guiding the research was, “How do predominantly White institutions position themselves to prospective ethnic minority students in recruitment literature?” Recruitment literature from institutions in the Big Ten network were chosen as the sample for this study and analysis of the received materials showed that predominantly White institutions position themselves not as the most diverse institutions, but as institutions who 1) recognize diversity 2) attempt to make the minority student experience comfortable by facilitating connections, provided students are intentional about seeking resources and 3) are supportive of minority students' personal growth in consideration of cultural backgrounds.

    Committee: Tatiana Suspitsyna PhD (Advisor); Leonard Baird PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Education; Marketing
  • 8. Sorg, Carolyn Radical Hospitality & The Campus Visit: A Case Study In Increasing Prospective Student Engagement

    Master of Fine Arts, Miami University, 2024, Art

    This study addresses a critical issue facing John Carroll University (JCU): the potential shortcomings in its on-site campus visit experience, which may not effectively foster engagement among traditional-aged prospective students. The research seeks to identify specific elements within the visit experience that, if changed, could boost students' post-visit engagement scores and increase their likelihood of enrolling. Grounded in experience, service, and interior design principles and framed by the concept of radical hospitality, this study explores how an intentionally crafted visit experience can distinguish JCU from competitors. The research also examines the role of technology, people, personalization, and impactful first impressions. Using a mixed methods approach, the study produced findings that led to a real-world project of redesigning the JCU campus visit service design blueprint. When portions of the new blueprint were implemented, post-visit prospective student engagement scores were measured and compared to a baseline, controlling for student cohort, time of year, and other factors. The study found that by improving the campus visit service design through tailored, immersive, and distinctive experiences, post-visit engagement scores did, in fact, increase. JCU can leverage these insights to foster deeper connections with prospective students, driving enrollment growth and long-term institutional success.

    Committee: Dennis Cheatham (Advisor); Rachel Beech (Committee Member); Zack Tucker (Committee Member) Subjects: Higher Education; Higher Education Administration
  • 9. Fedor, Samantha Synchronous recruitment of walleye in the Great Lakes and the infuluence [sic] of climate on recruitment /

    Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2008, Graduate School

    Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects:
  • 10. Urquidez, Samantha Pollinators and Perceptions: A Socio-ecological Examination of Pollinator Recruitment Methods Utilized in Urban Agriculture and Their Impacts on Pollinator Communities in Southwest Ohio

    Master of Science (M.S.), University of Dayton, 2024, Biology

    Pollinators are essential to agriculture and with the increase in urban farming, there is great concern regarding insect pollinators and their pollination services in urban spaces. While there has been extensive literature looking at bee abundance and biodiversity in urban environments, there has been little research studying the efficacy of currently utilized pollinator recruitment practices in urban agricultural systems. In Dayton, Ohio, and the surrounding area, 18 urban and peri-urban agricultural sites were sampled for insect pollinator activity. Timed observations over three sampling seasons; spring, summer, and late summer, totaling over 54 hours of floral visits were conducted to assess insect pollinator activity with insects tallied by Order and easily identified bee genus. Pan traps (3 sets per site) for each of the sampling seasons were used to further assess pollinator activity at each of the 18 agricultural sites. Hand netting was utilized to assess bee species richness for bees unable to be identified during observations. In addition to traditional methods of looking at pollinator activity, an important component of this research was a sociological study that looks at the farmers and how their efforts may affect the pollinator activity observed on their agricultural plots. To examine this relationship, I conducted a 13-question electronic survey and one-on-one oral interviews with each farmer in addition to biological sampling. My results suggest that in urban and peri-urban environments the most effective pollinator recruitment practices involve implementing at least four different methods that provide stable resources such as food, water, and shelter; these activities increase pollinator activity and species richness, but only in the late summer months (Figure 21; Pollinator Recruitment Methods Utilized: df=39,4, F= 2.78, p=0.039). Providing diverse floral resources increases insect pollinator visits (Figure 19; Native Flowers: df=45, F=3.73, p=0. (open full item for complete abstract)

    Committee: Chelse Prather (Advisor); Ryan McEwan (Committee Member); Mariela Gantchoff (Committee Member); Anya Galli Robertson (Committee Member) Subjects: Agriculture; Biology; Conservation; Ecology; Entomology; Urban Planning
  • 11. Smalley, Cortney The War On Recruiters: A Qualitative Exploration of Identifying Stress Factors in Talent Acquisition

    Doctor of Organization Development & Change (D.O.D.C.), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Organization Development

    The field of talent acquisition, often referred to as “recruitment,” is pivotal in shaping the success of any organization that identifies, hires, and onboards talent. In today's ever-changing employment landscape, selecting the right employer to work for is crucial for job seekers. Talent acquisition professionals or recruiters, play a significant role in connecting job seekers with meaningful career opportunities despite a competitive job market. Recruiters are tasked with attracting, hiring, and onboarding talent and are often the very first individual a job seeker is introduced at any given company. Despite research on recruiters' characteristics and their impact in the selection process, there is limited literature that investigates the stress factors associated with this occupation. The competition to recruit top talent, while navigating employment landscape changes such as the Covid-19 Pandemic, The Great Resignation, and unexpected layoffs, may impact the stress levels of recruiters. Although there are stressors that are known for working in the human resources field, little is known about the specific sources and stress elements within the recruiting profession. In this qualitative research, I conducted a series of interviews with recruiters to determine the factors that contribute to job-related stress and ultimately how they cope with it. The research was guided by a thematic-analysis approach to highlight the experiences working within the recruitment field and discover themes and patterns that emerge from the semi-structured interviews. By identifying stress factors in the recruiter role, this research provided insight into the recruiter occupation and provide resources and recommendations to help enhance the recruitment practices, promote recruiter well-bring and improve the effectiveness of the talent acquisition process.

    Committee: Michael Zickar Ph.D (Committee Chair); Carol Heckman Ph.D (Other); Margaret Brooks Ph.D (Committee Member); Jeanelle Sears Ph.D (Committee Chair) Subjects: Business Administration; Business Education; Management
  • 12. Blalock Jr, Eugene Teachers' Perception of How A 4-Day School Week Impacts Employee Attendance, Recruitment and Retention, and Wellness/Work-Life Balance

    Doctor of Education, Miami University, 2024, Educational Leadership

    As a superintendent of a small urban school district in the Midwest with just over 1,300 students, I have struggled to hire and retain teachers post-pandemic (i.e., COVID-19). In my district, teachers have communicated how stressed they are and how the stress affects their mental and physical wellness. Nationally, teachers are leaving the profession due to burnout and a paucity of college students completing teacher preparation programs is making hiring qualified teachers difficult. The purpose of this action research-based report was to examine teachers' perceptions of switching from a 5-day school week to a 4-day school week. This study used surveys and structured interviews to address the following questions: Do you believe a Blended “4-day school week” Learning Schedule will improve employee attendance, teacher recruitment and retention, and wellness/work-life balance? The study's results indicated that teacher perceptions improved after switching from a 5-day school week to a 4-day school week. This study ends with the implications for educational leaders and Boards of Education considering a 4-day school week and recommendations for further research.

    Committee: Dr. Joel Malin (Committee Chair); Dr. Brady Nash (Committee Member); Dr. Guy Parmigian (Committee Member) Subjects: Education
  • 13. Hirvo, Alexis Effect of Interviewer Goal on Preference for Different Kinds of Interview Questions

    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Psychology/Industrial-Organizational

    This study examines how likely interviewers are to choose each of three question types (i.e., traditional, behavioral, brainteaser) based on their goal for the interview (i.e., assess competence of the applicant, assess applicant's fit, asses the applicant's tolerance for stress, recruit the applicant to the organization). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions in an online experiment where they imagined they were creating an interview question bank based on an assigned interviewing goal (i.e., assessing competence, assessing fit, assessing stress tolerance, recruiting to the organization). Participants also created a 10-item interview based on their assigned goal using the same provided questions. Results were only partially consistent with hypotheses. Behavioral questions were chosen significantly more frequently by those assigned either a goal for assessing competence or for assessing stress tolerance. Traditional questions were chosen significantly more frequently by those assigned either a goal for recruiting to the organization or for assessing fit. Brainteaser questions were chosen significantly more frequently by those assigned the goal for assessing stress tolerance.

    Committee: Scott Highhouse Ph.D. (Advisor); Chris Willis Ph.D. (Committee Member); Margaret Brooks Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jari Willing Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology
  • 14. Burchett, Courtney A Fifty-Year Examination and Analysis of Influences on Higher Education Student Enrollment in the United States

    Master of Arts, Wittenberg University, 2024, Education

    I conducted qualitative research utilizing a descriptive method while also conducting an historical comparison analysis. The purpose of this research was to uncover parallels and understand the economic, population and political similarities between the 1970s/80s and the United States today, while also discovering how the current economic, population and political realities impact the recruitment and enrollment of students to higher education today. I collected data through semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews and document content analysis of a small, institution in central Ohio's higher education enrollment trends from the past decade. I interviewed a total of 13 participants, with five identifying as females and eight identifying as males, and of the 13, 12 identified as Caucasian and one as African-American. From my research I discovered that there are numerous commonalities between the 1970s/80s and the United States today and that there is a lot of uncertainty that exists for the future of higher education. I also found that the economic, political and demographic events and conditions of society directly contribute the enrollment and recruitment of students to higher education.

    Committee: Brian Yontz (Advisor); Maribeth Stevens (Committee Member); Amy McGuffey (Committee Member) Subjects: American History; Higher Education; Higher Education Administration; History; Sociology
  • 15. Mathes, Samuel The Effects of Elevated Water Conductivity on Larval Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) Survival, Development, Locomotor Performance, and Physiology

    Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2024, Biological Sciences (Arts and Sciences)

    Eastern Hellbenders (Crytobranchus a. alleganiensis) have suffered enigmatic, range- wide declines over the past decades. Persisting populations are skewed towards larger, older adults, suggesting that reduced recruitment is responsible for these declines, with degraded water quality, specifically elevated conductivity, implicated as a main contributor. Successful fertilization and the resilience of eggs under high conductivity conditions suggest deleterious effects during larval development. We experimentally assessed the effects of chronic exposure to elevated conductivity (1000 μS/cm) on wild Eastern Hellbender larvae hatched in a lab, as well as the effects of switching from low conductivity (100 μS/cm) to high, and vice versa, on Eastern Hellbenders during early larval development. We assessed mortality over 72 days post-hatching, with half of the larvae switched from their original conductivity treatments to the other over five days beginning at 33 days post-hatching. Chronic exposure to elevated conductivity resulted in significant mortality. Additionally, switching larvae from low conductivity to high resulted in increased mortality, while switching larvae from high conductivity to low increased survival. We also assessed larval morphology and swimming performance and found significant negative effects of chronic exposure to elevated conductivity on both body mass and multiple measures of morphology (length and width). We observed similar effects in animals switched from low conductivity to high, while switching animals from high conductivity to low resulted in only marginally increased mass and morphological measures, demonstrating their inability to compensate for initially depressed growth rates even after being returned to more optimal conditions. Despite altered size and morphology, elevated conductivity did not impact locomotor performance, though switching conductivities, regardless of direction, did result in increased burst distance. We measured who (open full item for complete abstract)

    Committee: Shawn Kuchta (Advisor); Viorel Popescu (Committee Member); Kelly Johnson (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Conservation; Ecology; Endocrinology; Freshwater Ecology; Molecular Biology; Morphology; Organismal Biology; Wildlife Conservation
  • 16. Amankwah, Mercy Bayesian Analysis of Muscle Recruitment Patterns in Locomotion

    Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2024, Applied Mathematics

    This doctoral dissertation is concerned with solving the inverse problem of human movement in terms of muscle forces and activation. While feasible to measure some of these forces directly in the human body through invasive procedures, the inverse problem of musculoskeletal modeling can estimate these forces and activation non-invasively, thus presenting a safer and more practical alternative once estimates are thoroughly validated. In this thesis, we set up the muscle recruitment problem as a Bayesian inverse problem, and we estimate muscle forces and activations while concurrently quantifying the associated uncertainties. The abundance of muscles relative to available degrees of freedom grants the human musculoskeletal system redundancy, enabling diverse muscle activation patterns during motor tasks. This redundancy is crucial for the system's functionality across various conditions, including pathological states. A fundamental challenge in biomechanics involves understanding how the complex interaction between the central nervous system and musculoskeletal system, characterized by redundancy, governs normal activation patterns and their evolution in abnormal conditions, such as neurodegenerative diseases and aging. This dissertation presents a mathematical framework to address this challenge through Bayesian probabilistic modeling of the musculoskeletal system. Using Lagrangian dynamics, observed movements are transformed into time series of equlibria that constitute the basis of the likelihood model. Various prior models, aligned with biologically inspired assumptions regarding muscle dynamics and control, are introduced and tested. The corresponding posterior distributions of muscle activations are explored using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling techniques. The different priors are evaluated by comparing the model predictions with actual observations. This thesis also proposes a model for sparse muscle recruitment that could be of use in (open full item for complete abstract)

    Committee: Erkki Somersalo (Committee Chair); Daniela Calvetti (Committee Member); Jenny Brynjarsdottir (Committee Member); Kathryn Daltorio (Committee Member) Subjects: Applied Mathematics; Biomechanics; Biomedical Engineering; Biomedical Research; Mathematics; Sports Medicine; Statistics
  • 17. Smith, Terrance A Qualitative Phenomenological Study on Leadership Behaviors That Can Support Minority Advancement

    Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Franklin University, 2024, Business Administration

    The research explored the underrepresentation of minorities (racial/ethnic minorities) in leadership roles in the workplace. With the recent surge of diversity programs, minority representation has grown in lower-level roles; however, minorities are sparse in higher-status roles. The study utilized literature and a phenomenological qualitative design to collect participant data. Leaders and organizations must understand the behaviors that can help BIPOC people advance into leadership roles. The purpose of this study was to discover why there is a low representation of minorities in leadership roles and how current leaders can help them advance in their organization. The study utilized a qualitative methodology phenomenological design to collect data from 11 minorities (racial/ethnic minorities). LinkedIn community was used to find the sample for interviewing. Semi-structured questions were used to gather data from participants' experiences in the workforce. Atlas. It was implemented to help establish themes and codes from the interviews. Participants described their challenges when looking to advance and how they overcame them. In addition, they also share leadership behaviors that can assist minorities with career growth. Understanding the obstacles that minorities face and the behaviors to help them succeed can help organizations strategize and grow in markets they don't have representation. Additionally, it builds strength regarding the recruitment and retention of minorities and contributes to innovation.

    Committee: Kathy Richie (Committee Chair); Sarah Jouganatos (Committee Member); Tonia Young-Babb (Committee Member) Subjects: Business Administration; Ethnic Studies; Social Research
  • 18. Horton, Heath Pathways to the Classroom for African American Males

    Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), University of Findlay, 2023, Education

    Only two percent of teachers in the United States are African American males (Wallace & Gagen, 2019). If this trend continues, the vast majority of students in America will never encounter an African American male teacher (Burns Thomas, 2020). The purpose of this research study was to explore the motivations and obstacles that African American males encounter as they enter the teaching profession. This qualitative study consisted of interviewing eight African American male educators regarding their motivations and obstacles on their journey to the classroom. Participants were asked open ended questions to afford them an opportunity to share their lived experiences. A narrative analysis was conducted of participants' interviews. The major findings of this study revealed that African American males are motivated to become teachers by family, by wanting to become role models, as an extension of coaching, and through the influence of teachers throughout their educational experience. Participants shared that lacking a support system, not pursuing rigorous college preparatory coursework, and isolation and exclusion were major obstacles they had to overcome. This study suggest that stakeholders have to be intentional in the recruitment and support of potential African American male teachers. Stakeholders can use the information gained from this study to create policies, provide academic and financial supports, and mentoring opportunities that are tailored to the recruitment of African American male teachers.

    Committee: Diana Garlough (Committee Chair) Subjects: African Americans; Education; Education History; Education Policy; Educational Leadership; Minority and Ethnic Groups; Multicultural Education; School Administration; Teacher Education; Teaching
  • 19. Fahoum, Savanna-Rae Distinct Modulatory Actions Enable Network Neuron Recruitment and Regulation

    Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2023, Biology

    Neuronal networks that produce oscillations underlie rhythmic motor behaviors (e.g., walking, chewing, and breathing), and complex behaviors (e.g., memory formation, decision making, and sensory processing). Oscillatory networks are subject to neuromodulation, promoting network flexibility, and ultimately enabling individuals to adapt to changes in their environment. Network flexibility includes reconfiguration, such as neuronal switching, in which neurons can change participation from one network into another, or into two distinct networks simultaneously, in response to neuromodulation. While modulation of synapses is an identified mechanism for both recruitment and coordination of a switching neuron in a second network, it is unknown whether alternative mechanisms can be used. In this dissertation, I asked whether modulation of intrinsic membrane properties can serve as a mechanism for recruitment, while modulation of synapses enables coordination of switching neuron activity in a second network. To test this, I used the small, well-characterized feeding-related networks (pyloric [food filtering], ~1 Hz; gastric mill [food chewing], ~0.1 Hz) and identified modulatory inputs of the isolated stomatogastric nervous system of the crab, Cancer borealis. The modulatory projection neuron MCN5 releases the neuropeptide Gly1-SIFamide, which increases pyloric frequency, activates the gastric mill rhythm, and switches the pyloric-only LPG neuron into dual pyloric plus gastric mill-timed bursting. Using bath application of the Gly1-SIFamide peptide, plus photoinactivation to eliminate activity of select neurons, I mimicked MCN5-elicited pyloric and gastric mill network activity. Then, using current clamp electrophysiology techniques, I examined whether the LPG neuron switch into the gastric mill network occurs due to Gly1-SIFamide modulation of LPG intrinsic membrane properties, and whether LPG gastric mill-timed bursting is regulated by pyloric and gastric mill network n (open full item for complete abstract)

    Committee: Dawn Blitz (Advisor); Kathleen Killian (Committee Member); Anna Radke (Committee Member); Joseph Ransdell (Committee Member); Paul James (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Neurosciences
  • 20. Wagner, Alexa MANAGEMENT OF A SECONDARY, TEMPERATE FOREST IMPACTS POPULATION AND COMMUNITY DYNAMICS IN UNDERSTORY WOODY PLANTS

    Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2023, Biology

    I explored the impacts of forest management on understory dynamics in a second-growth forest. Through a manipulation of forest management, I examined the potential effects of: 1) overstory thinning, 2) overstory thinning coupled with nonnative shrub removal and 3) control (no management). My findings suggest that forest management is an important driver of key factors structuring forest understories including productivity, dispersal, recruitment and mortality. Notably, impacts were most pronounced when nonnative shrubs were controlled in addition to overstory thinning, rather than in forests managed with overstory thinning alone. That said, results were often species-specific. These dynamics ultimately led to increased richness as a result of management, as well as shifts in species composition within the forest understory, both across space and time. My work reveals important shifts in demographic processes that will likely prove key to shaping how forests respond to management actions.

    Committee: Katharine Stuble (Advisor) Subjects: Ecology