Master of Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 2024, Physics

Data storage is the practice of preserving data for long-term retention, such that it can be accessed and utilized at a later time. This field is experiencing rapid growth due to a surge in big data analytics, cloud computing, and internet of things. Innovations, such as advanced optical technologies, are being introduced to this space to mitigate the environmental effects and economic costs of preserving this data.

Doctor of Professional Studies (D.P.S.) in Instructional Design Leadership, Franklin University, 2024, International Institute for Innovative Instruction

The objective of this action research was to evaluate the effectiveness of a six-month financial education intervention for Appalachian artists by measuring and observing changes in financial knowledge, financial self-efficacy, and financial behaviors and by assessing participants' perception of the program. By all measures, the financial education intervention was a success with survey results demonstrating positive and statistically significant gains in financial knowledge and financial behaviors, plus gains, although not statistically significant ones, in financial self-efficacy. Participants increased financial knowledge in revenue diversification strategies and tax literacy from 31.2% to 71.3%. Nine participants (81.8%) earned more in their creative businesses following the financial education intervention, and ten participants (90.9%) had up-to-date record-keeping systems by the end of the program, an increase from four participants (36.3%) at the outset. Five new creative businesses and five new sales tax licenses were registered with West Virginia. Participants also emphasized the importance of the community they built with each other, and shared they were proud of their accomplishments during the six-month program. This research has practical implications for curricular design for educators, industry leaders, and community partners, plus implications for economic development policies to support similar financial education interventions for creative business owners.

PHD, Kent State University, 2024, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of History

This dissertation explores African market women's activities by analyzing and emphasizing the significance of their personal networks and connections, emotions, and spatial mobilities in sustaining their businesses and the informal economy in general. I argue that the social, economic, and political systems created by market women rest on their immediate ties to the household, their relationships, and wider networks of kin, friends, or other social connections as well as their performance and experience with emotions. I evaluate how these intricate connections impact women's success or failures in the market. I argue that competition and contestations over urban market spaces that are intensified by the Zimbabwean economic crisis led to different discourses by Zimbabwean citizens to claim spaces. Market women, for example, have used their life histories to make claims to the market and perceive ownership differently than other groups within the city. By primarily using life histories to recollect and explore women's experiences within the city and rural areas, I emphasize women's agency and perceptions of Zimbabwe's history. Starting in the 1960s when women nostalgically recollect their participation in markets, to the present, I follow women's markers of history and explore why they remember the past in that way. I expand debates on women's entrepreneurship and urban informality to emphasize why market women in Zimbabwe help us comprehend how women have reshaped urban spaces, economies, and political systems. In sum, I argue that in the different phases of Zimbabwe's economic volatility, market women have meritoriously supported the informal economy while bringing happiness to the residents.

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2024, Management

In contemporary knowledge-intensive workplaces, accurately forecasting individual performance remains a significant challenge due to the limitations inherent in traditional human resource management (HRM) practices. Traditional hiring processes, which predominantly rely on resume screening, reference checks, and both structured and unstructured interviews, aim to evaluate an applicant's suitability based on past experiences, educational background, and perceived cultural fit. However, the subjective nature of these methods often leads to questions about their effectiveness in predicting future job performance. This dissertation investigates the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and regression models to enhance the predictive accuracy of individual performance in knowledge-intensive workplaces. It delves into the synergy between predictive models, cognitive science, and human resource management (HRM) practices, aiming to refine and improve hiring and performance evaluation processes. The overarching research question I address is: How can integrating cognitive science and various prediction methods improve the precision of forecasting individual performance within organizations, and what are the implications of such technologies for making better hiring decisions?” In addressing the research question, I follow a mixed-methods research design that incorporates both qualitative and quantitative strands. In particular, the study evaluates the effectiveness of AI-driven and regression models in predicting individual performance by leveraging knowledge workers' deep-level cognitive and contextual traits. I also detail the construction of the AI Model, which tests the accuracy and model fit of multiple algorithms to compare human, regression, and AI model predictions with real individual performance data. The research is structured around four studies. The first qualitative study surveys using 30 semi-structured interviews with existing AI methodologie (open full item for complete abstract)

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Ohio University, 2024, Business Administration

Small towns play a critical role in shaping the economic and social fabric of many regions worldwide. Small-town entrepreneurial activity can drive innovation, economic growth, and job creation, but it also faces unique challenges and opportunities (Malecki, 2018). This thesis investigates the unique challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs face in small-town entrepreneurial ecosystems (STEEs), focusing on two case studies in Ironton and Athens, Ohio. The thesis examines the critical role of anchor institutions, community support and social capital, policy and resource provision, and innovation and diversification in shaping these ecosystems (Feld, 2012; Roundy, 2017; Stam, 2015). Through a comparative analysis, the study finds that strong community bonds, success stories, and community-building activities contribute to a supportive environment for entrepreneurship. Limited customer bases, lack of local job opportunities, and limited community support hinder growth. The presence of anchor institutions, such as universities, is a vital factor in fostering innovation and higher-paying jobs (Etzkowitz, 2008; Stangler & Bell-Masterson, 2015). The findings have implications for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders seeking to promote entrepreneurial activity in small towns and other non-urban contexts.

Bachelor of Arts, Walsh University, 2023, Honors

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the current market and essential knowledge for successful entrepreneurship, specifically in the indoor plant industry. A survey was designed to collect empirical data from college students at Walsh University. This population was chosen since they are the next generation of indoor plant consumers. The research questions were as follows: 1). What are student's preferences for social media marketing platforms? 2). Is there a relationship between student social media preferences and indoor plant purchasing habits? 3). Do added features such as customization or an all-inclusive kit, influence decisions to purchase indoor plant gardens? My survey had a total of 81 eligible students that responded to the survey. Results found Instagram was the most used social media platform however Snapchat was a close five percentage points behind. Additionally, there was a strong relationship between student social media preferences and indoor plant purchasing habits. Furthermore, there appears to be higher than expected impact on all-inclusive plant kits and how they influence the purchasing decision. The thesis further explores the results of those data. The goal of this research was to rely on the extent literature to create an effective marketing plan for an entrepreneur in the indoor plant industry reaching the university target market with indoor plant products. However, the main marketing strategies created in the following marketing plan can be applied broadly to any business close to the indoor plant industry.

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2023, Leadership and Change

The following autoethnographic dissertation examines my personal experiences of trauma, abuse, and violence. Drawing on journals, memories, and artifacts from my life, I use self-reflection to illustrate the impacts of trauma on my childhood and adulthood. My traumatic experiences of sexual abuse, childhood violence, and emotional abuse are situated within broader sociocultural contexts of masculinity, Hispanic culture, and social norms. This study illuminates possibilities for healing and transformation for myself and others with shared traumatic backgrounds. It calls for trauma-informed education, masculinity, and resiliency. Evocatively sharing my traumatic life events provides an accessible window into often silenced experiences, bearing witness to injustice while offering empathy, connection, and hope. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu/) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu/).

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2023, Leadership and Change

The ambitious United Nations-adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require the concentrated effort of governments, the business sector, and other key stakeholders, including women and youth, for its success. Effective leadership will be essential for different sectors to integrate these development goals into strategic plans and operational activities in the service of realizing this agenda by 2030. Unfortunately for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the COVID-19 pandemic caused the worst economic outcomes in 30 years. For this group of countries, the pandemic has negatively influenced efforts to eradicate poverty and improve social outcomes. This setback makes achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 a more distant prospect for LDCs, which include 20% of the world's youth. Although governments need to take the lead, additional stakeholders, such as non-profit organizations, including youth-focused organizations, are vital to achieving the SDGs. Therefore, this research study focused on the work of a youth organization operating in Haiti, and its alignment with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Using action research, this dissertation aimed to provide support for the prioritization of youth outcomes in the developmental goals of countries. The findings of this action research study underscored existing opportunities to improve youth outcomes in Haiti. The study participants agreed that previous volunteer opportunities, available to active and engaged members of the organization HAITI5, allowed the youths to get training regarded as work experience. Hence, the study participants designed an intervention to expand volunteer opportunities, and to provide more youths with professional experiences that could be leveraged in the recruitment process for employment. Also, the study participants considered the youth-focused organization invaluable to the professional and personal development of members and agreed that HAITI5's comm (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Franklin University, 2023, Business Administration

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of full-time remote work, driven by the need for flexibility and the challenges posed by the global health crisis. While remote work offers benefits like reduced commuting stress and increased flexibility, it also presents unique challenges that organizations must address to foster a motivated and engaged remote workforce. Organizational justice, which encompasses perceptions of fairness and equity, plays a critical role in employee motivation and commitment. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between full-time remote work, organizational justice, and turnover intention. Using a quantitative research approach, survey tools were used to assess the elements of organizational justice (distributive, procedural, and interactional) and analyze their impact on turnover intention. The findings showed that all elements of organizational justice had a significant relationship with turnover intention in full-time remote workers, with procedural justice having the strongest relationship. This suggests that remote workers' perceptions of fair procedures and processes within their organizations influence their intention to leave. The findings of this study have implications for organizations aiming to create a positive remote work culture and mitigate turnover risks by emphasizing procedural justice through transparent processes, employee participation, and fair performance evaluations. It contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the importance of organizational justice in remote work environments and emphasizing the need for organizations to adapt their practices to meet the specific needs of remote workers.

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Franklin University, 2023, Business Administration

The relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the reading disorder commonly referred to as dyslexia are often studied separately in connection to entrepreneurship. ADHD and dyslexia are often comorbid conditions, but their combined effect has not been studied within entrepreneurship. This quantitative study is one of the first attempts to measure the combined impact of ADHD and dyslexia on entrepreneurial intention (EI). It is hypothesized ADHD and other conditions, such as dyslexia, might facilitate a greater likelihood of EI. Graduate level students in the United States enrolled in at least one class in an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), are surveyed. Three quantitative instruments used in prior studies are combined in a novel fashion. These three instruments are: (1). 5-point Likert 6-item Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-6; Kessler et al., 2005); (2) 20 items from the 7-point Likert Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire (EIQ; Linan & Chen, 2009); and (3). 5-point Likert 6-item Adult Reading History Questionnaire Brief (ARHQ-Brief; Feng et al., 2022). This research answers a call for further studies into ADHD and comorbid conditions within the field of entrepreneurship (Logan, 2009; Wiklund et al., 2018a). This study finds statistically significant results in the levels of EI between those with comorbid ADHD and dyslexia and those with ADHD Only and No Condition. However, no statistical significance was detected in those with comorbid ADHD and dyslexia compared to those with Dyslexia Only. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that it is the comorbid condition of dyslexia that strengthens the EI in post-secondary students in an AACSB-accredited business program. While this study fills a gap in the current research by identifying comorbidity through a novel research design, further research in different population samples may provide insight into how entrepreneurial intent is acquired (open full item for complete abstract)

Honors Theses, Ohio Dominican University, 2023, Honors Theses

Business is a vital part of American society, and the decisions made by businesses affect more than just the economy. Conscious Capitalism (CC) recognizes this important role, and it challenges businesses to operate in a responsible manner. That being said, CC understands the need to make a profit in order to succeed in a competitive market. This practice claims that by following four tenets of conscious business—conscious leadership, conscious culture, stakeholder orientation, and higher purpose—businesses attract customers and will experience increased profits over time. This study found that, while the gross profit margins of companies who practice CC were similar to those of their non-conscious counterparts on a year-to-year basis, CC companies did experience a greater increase in their gross profit margins over time.

Master of Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 2023, Biology

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a pediatric brain cancer that is diagnosed in 300 children annually in the United States and has a patient survival time of only 2% five years after diagnosis. There is no chemotherapy for this cancer. The start-up company Triterpenoid Therapeutics has synthesized a new triterpenoid drug named 2-cyano-3,12- dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oic acid, or CDDO-2P-Im (2P), that shows promise in eliminating cancerous cells at nanomolar concentrations. Assays such as cell proliferation, viability, RNA-sequencing, and in vivo experiments were performed, and CDDO-2P-Im was found to reduce DIPG in all instances. Further, this drug was analyzed in adult brain cancer glioblastoma and was also found to reduce tumor burden. If the company can show that the drug performs better than the treatments for both brain cancers or that it enhances the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy, it stands to corner a significant portion of the high-grade glioma market.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2023, Instructional Technology (Education)

This study sought to provide an examination of the instructional design strategies used in an entrepreneurship clinic (EC) and determine their influence on the post-graduation outcomes of its alumni. The conceptual lens for the study comprised Merrill's (2002) first principles of instruction and Lent et al.'s (1994) social cognitive career theory (SCCT). Merrill's first principles provided a standardized set of instructional principles to examine the instructional strategies used within clinic and the SCCT examined the influence of these strategies on building the necessary competencies for participants to pursue entrepreneurship after graduation. The case for this study was the EC organized by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). This case is bounded geographically on the KNUST campus in Ghana. This case is situated contextually in the larger issue of graduate unemployment and how entrepreneurship education and training can be used to address it. Data sources for the study were interviews and documents (Patton, 2015). The data was analyzed a priori through the lenses of Merrill's (2002) first principles of instruction and Lent et al.'s (1994) SCCT constructs--self-efficacy beliefs, outcome expectations, and personal goals. Also, the data was analyzed inductively to discover emergent patterns, categories, and themes to arrive at the findings (Patton, 2015). There were three key takeaways from the study. The first is the importance of an entrepreneurship ecosystem to fill the gaps in entrepreneurship knowledge. The second is the temporal nature of entrepreneurship education and the importance of life-long learning. The third is the personality of the participant is important in pursuing entrepreneurship. The study has implication for scholarship in that it extends research by identifying the possibility of building self-efficacy through observation of role-models or mentors. An implication for practice is to provide a (open full item for complete abstract)

Bachelor of Arts, Walsh University, 2022, Honors

Collegiate entrepreneurship programs in the United States have evolved since their inception in 1927 both in content and adoption. This thesis examines the formal undergraduate entrepreneurship education in the United States, discerning who enrolls in these programs and how these programs address gendered norms in the field. Previous research has been conducted on women entrepreneurs and the growth of the field, but not as it relates to higher education. This study is a qualitative analysis of past studies on entrepreneurship education and women in entrepreneurship and a quantitative analysis of an existing data set acquired from the National Center for Education Statistics. Findings indicated that there is only a limited understanding of the growth of entrepreneurship in higher education and its relationship to gender. Furthermore, very little research has been done to understand the impact entrepreneurial programs in higher education on career entrepreneurs. Through this research, a need for new data to explain foundational shifts in entrepreneurial education and its relationship to gender have been identified.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2022, Arts Administration, Education and Policy

From 2010 to 2019, China's film industry experienced the fastest growth in history. Along with its rapid growth, numerous opportunities and problems emerged in the industry, which are addressed by a series of film policies issued by China's government. This dissertation aims to study the dynamic relationship between the development of China's film industry and the evolution of China's film policy. By bridging the theory of Punctuated Equilibrium Theory and the concepts of competitiveness and cultural entrepreneurship, this dissertation focuses on exploring the policy process and policy system of the film in China, which are demonstrated by evidence of policy changes and industry changes. Supported by secondary data collected from multiple sources and first-hand data collected through semi-structured interviews with twenty film professionals, this case study enables an in-depth analysis of China's film policy process at the national level, the competition and mutual interests between large film enterprises and small and medium-sized film enterprises at the industry level, and the firm strategy and feedback at the organizational level. The findings from the multi-level analysis indicate a dynamic relationship between the policy change and industry change of film in China, where the subsystem plays an intermediate role bridging the government and the film industry. Large film enterprises and small and medium-sized film enterprises share mutual interests, while they participate in the film policy process to different degrees. China's film policy enables film enterprises to perform entrepreneurial practices for innovation and financial sustainability, and its focus shifts in different conditions. Policy implications for film professionals and film policymakers are discussed, and recommendations are proposed for the sustainable growth of China's film industry.

Doctor of Management, Case Western Reserve University, 2022, Weatherhead School of Management

Direct-to-consumer (D2C) entrepreneurial activity is disrupting both traditional retailers and manufacturers by directly linking consumers with products and services, disintermediating elements of the traditional value chain. We conducted a mixed methods, three-phase study to better understand how supply chain strategy choices influence D2C firms' competitive advantage. In phase one we conducted in-depth interviews with leaders of small to medium sized D2C businesses. One key finding: only a subset of D2C companies are willing to invest in differentiated supply chain capabilities. Many viewed supply chain as a utility function. This informed phase two, a quantitative analysis (scenario-based experiment) of the degree to which logistics quality drives customer satisfaction, finding a strong positive effect. This motivated phase three, a quantitative modeling exercise determining the relationship between distribution network size (number of DCs) and proximity to customers, an indicator of lead time performance. This analysis suggests that most D2C firms, with just one or two DCs are significantly disadvantaged, with deleterious consequences for customer service.

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2022, Biology

Tens of millions of American adults and nearly one billion people globally have a disability, with mobility limitations being the most commonly reported type. Most traditional mobility aids are rigid and lose functionality on surfaces that are non-uniform or cluttered with obstacles. Since only about 1% of the total land area in the U.S. is paved or otherwise urbanized, and even less globally, this leaves close to 99% of the terrestrial world inaccessible and unsafe for most people with mobility limitations to navigate. Despite the considerable risk of injury when using ineffective mobility aids, research surrounding their mechanical functionality is little to none. This work contributes targeted biomechanical research on realistic metrics of functionality between features of traditional aids and features inspired by the evolutionary success of biological models. We found that our all-terrain cane end inspired by the biomechanics of animal feet increases stability when compared to a traditional cane, and our study integrating elongate, polypedal locomotor strategies offers insight into more energy efficient and comfortable ways to propel and suspend an all-terrain chair. I also performed market research and customer discovery through my startup, Natraverse, LLC, to ensure our efforts aligned with solving user-relevant challenges. Ultimately, by leveraging techniques from both bio-inspired design and inclusive design, this work serves as a demonstration of the potential of what I call “bio-inspired inclusive design” to innovate in the direction of a more equitable future.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2022, Business Administration

Despite significant interest in immigrant entrepreneurship, we still know relatively little about how ventures created by immigrant entrepreneurs differ from non-immigrant entrepreneurs. Prior research has tended to focus on immigrant entrepreneurs and derived insights without necessarily comparing them with non-immigrants. or use samples of the two that are not adequately matched. Because non-immigrant entrepreneurs are much larger in number and differently distributed across industries than immigrant entrepreneurs, we have underdeveloped notions about how the two types of entrepreneurs vary in their characteristics and achieve important venture outcomes. The purpose of this dissertation is to help address these problems in the literature, by going deeper into the theoretical mechanisms by which immigrant entrepreneurs choose to start entrepreneurial ventures and achieve innovative outcomes. In this dissertation, I examine several different issues relating to immigrant entrepreneurship. I consider how immigrant and non-immigrant entrepreneurs differ in terms of the innovativeness of the ventures they create, and why these differences exist. To do so, I highlight the role of liability of foreignness experienced by entrepreneurial firms. Liability of foreignness is a concept drawn from the international business literature that highlights how lack of knowledge, resources and legitimacy reduce the success of foreign firms in operating in a local environment. I suggest that immigrant entrepreneurs overcome liability of foreignness through greater reliance on knowledge drawn from their home environments, greater absorptive capacity in recombining new knowledge from the host country, and reliance on cultural norms that help them to overcome knowledge deficiencies. By investigating how immigrant entrepreneurs differ in their knowledge management and learning strategies compared to non-immigrant entrepreneurs, this dissertation advances our understanding of a new but (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 2022, Physics

The increasing adoption of renewable sources of electricity (i.e. wind and solar farms) is being driven by the demand for carbon neutral electricity production. Although zero carbon is emitted during electricity production, these renewable energy sources suffer from intermittency, which is a mismatch between the supply and demand of electricity of the grid. Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, produce their peak electricity at off-demand periods of the day. This strains the electrical grid as it risks over-generation in some locations as well as a need for quick ramping of the electrical load which is hard on electricity producing infrastructure. As a partial solution to intermittency, pumped storage hydropower (PSH) is the dominant form of grid-scale energy storage. PSH accounts for 95% of the U.S. grid-scale storage capacity, which amounts to 22.9 GW of capacity [1]. The EIA also estimates with all possible sites, the U.S. can double their PSH capacity [1]. However, much more than that is not feasible being constrained by the availability of locations suitable for PSH. As a result, other gridscale energy storage options are in development. The main options include batteries, thermal energy storage, compressed air energy storage (CAES) and flywheels. However, these storage options are plagued by high cost per kWh prices, location specificity (ex. PSH, CAES) and/or low energy density. With these concerns in mind, Cratus LLC is developing a molten salt thermal energy storage option known as ThermaBlox, which is location-independent, low-cost, and high-capacity (with the capability to scale). ThermaBlox will play a significant role in intermittency reduction while enabling increased adoption rates of renewable energy.

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2022, Organizational Behavior

The improvement of digital technology and human drive to connect and communicate have made social media an ever-present part of social life and, increasingly, organizational life. By reshaping the ways people interact, organize, take collective action, create and learn, social media both challenges our current understanding of individual and organizational phenomena and lends importance to the exploration of how these phenomena occur through digital-mediation. Despite this, few studies have explored the role of social media in processes of organization creation and emergent identity formation. Of research conducted on social media, more generally, Twitter and Facebook have attracted the most attention, with few studies conducted within the context of Instagram, a visually-rich social networking platform with over a billion users. Responding to increasing calls for the study of social media's implications for organization studies and for more-specific study of the Instagram platform, this dissertation addresses the role that Instagram plays in affording new ways of organizing, the generative nature of user interactions, and responses to social media visual content in collective identity construction. To accomplish these goals, I have elected to organize my dissertation into three papers. An introductory chapter and literature review set the stage for this work, providing both the theoretical framework for this research and justification of its import to organization studies. The first paper employs qualitative content analysis to understand how users of the social networking platform Instagram enact communication affordances in practice and draws on the social and collective concept of entrepreneuring to explain their implications for organization creation. The second paper draws on narrative thematic and visual analysis to examine how user engagement within the visually-rich context of Instagram fosters the development of collective identity, revealing the important (open full item for complete abstract)