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West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Thank you for viewing the Doctoral Dissertations and Capstone Projects Collection of West Chester University of Pennsylvania. You may view the abstracts of the dissertations and capstone projects by clicking on one of the specialization links below or view the entire collection by selecting the link at the bottom. To inquire about access to a specific manuscript, email thesisdoc@wcupa.edu for more information.

To submit your doctoral dissertation or capstone project, please click on the 'SUBMIT RESEARCH' link on the left side navigation bar.

Dissertations/Capstones from 2024 2024

Public Value: The Viability of an Anchor for the Design of Adaptive Zoning Regulations, Venard Asongayi

Analyzing the Performance of Community-Oriented Policing by Assessing Justice Assistance Grants Issued in Pennsylvania: The Impact on Violent and Property Crimes, Robert L. Bailey

Household Chaos Relates to Cortisol Levels for Children in Head Start Preschool, Mary Ann Blumenthal

The Manifestation of Elementary Teachers’ Mathematical Identities: An Explanatory Mixed Methods Study, Kyle Brun

Transformational Leadership for a Remote Work Environment – Post COVID-19 Pandemic Era, Liza Craig

The Interactive Read-Aloud: A Case Study of Children with Intellectual Disabilities, Christine Cuozzo

Educators' Experiences of Childhood Trauma Infiltrating the Classroom: A Mixed Methods Study, Paige Dea

Waiting on the World (of Allied Healthcare) to Change: How Undergraduate Preparedness Curriculum Dis/Includes Ability, Brianna Donnelly

Differentiated Instruction: A Qualitative Study Focusing on the Voices of Elementary Teachers and Their Needs, Suzanne S. Fanelle

Examining Pre-service Teachers’ Learning Experiences Utilizing Different Modes of Case Studies and their Perceived Self-Efficacy in Trauma Informed Instruction, Michelle Fisher

Understanding the Experiences of a First Grade Class with Explicit Phonics Instruction: A Qualitative Case Study, Haley Fry

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

Impact on Abortion Rates: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis of Planned Parenthood’s Refusal of Title X Family Planning Funding, Carrissa Griffing

Utilizing a Structured Music Therapy Program for Adolescents with Anxiety and Depression, Amy Haagen

Is Involvement the Key to Students' Post-Graduate Success? A Study of Undergraduate University Exit Survey Results and Co-Curricular Activity Participation, Kari Harris

Community Integration Experiences of Formerly Homeless Persons with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) Housed in Washington DC using the Housing First Model, Gwendolyn Harter

Evaluating Change in Teacher Stress, Burnout, and Classroom Behavior in A School Implementing A New Mindfulness-Based Curriculum, Emily Hershorin

Land Use Policy Impact on Health Equity in Rural America Counties, Shayla Holmes

Diagnosing Market Inefficiency: The Impact of Consolidation in the Private Health Insurance Market on Healthcare Costs in the United States, Zachary Ising

Amplifying Voices of Postsecondary Outcomes for Physically Disabled Students a Qualitative Research Study, Jessica Keogh

Power to Elect: Voter Perception of Accessibility in North Carolina, Kristi Langford

Child Welfare Social Workers: Socially Situated Bureaucrats at the Forefront of Systemic Racism in Practice, Christina Lau

Understanding Students’ Cognitive Processes While Evaluating Online Sources: A Mixed Methods Study, Julia Lennox

The Impact of Early Screening for Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome on Delirium Tremens and Hospital Length of Stay, Erin Lopes

Applying Executive Function for the Sake of Well-Being: A Case Study of Gifted Middle School Students, Erika Lucas

Classrooms, Hallways, and Peleas: The Violence and the Education of Latino Students, Pamela Margolis

Stories of Dismantling Whiteness in Social Work Educational Spaces, Jeanean Mohr

Enhancing Commercial Driver Safety Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Through Educational Intervention, Wendy Mortimer

Screening for Postpartum Depression in Mothers whose Newborns are Admitted to the NICU: A Quality Improvement Project, Megan Mustachio

Examining Student and Teacher Perceptions of the iLit 45 Reading Program: A Qualitative Case Study, Ashley O'Connor

Use of a Clinical Pathway in the Management of Magnet Ingestion in the Pediatric Population, Kelly Pruden

Exploring Perceptions of Self-Compassion in Individuals with Complex Trauma Symptomology: A Qualitative Approach, Brooke Roseman

Information Impact on Home-Based Palliative Care Admissions, Donna Rugh

Optional Depression Screening in College Health, Brittany Schugsta

Community Cultural Wealth and its Impact on Pandemic Relief Funding for Small Businesses, Brett Smith

Navigating Post-College Career Paths: Perspectives on Career Identity and Self-Efficacy from Autistic Alumni, MaryEllen Stephens

An Evaluation of the Teacher Effectiveness Framework in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Its Perceptions from Pennsylvania Public-School Teachers and their Evaluators K-12., Jeremy Stetler

Securing U.S. Critical Infrastructure: Evaluating the Function of a Cybersecurity Defense-in-Depth Strategy to Maintain the Security and Resilience of Energy Infrastructure Against Cyberattacks and Geopolitical Risks, Dion Stovall

The Impact and Effectiveness of Welfare Programs in Reducing Poverty in South Asia, Lamar Stovall

Implementation of a Nonpharmacological Sleep Bundle in a Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Kristen Talvacchia

Pennsylvania K-8 General Education Teachers’ Perceptions of Preparedness for the Inclusion of Students with Autism: A Mixed Methods Study, Erica Tate

Individuals Who Experienced Early Reading Difficulty: How Teacher Connections and Educational Practices Shape Motivation, Nicole Tinney

Examining Academic Partnerships: An Explanatory Sequential Design of the Perceptions and Impacts of Homeland Security’s Engagement with Higher Education Institutions, Frederick Turner

Cognitive Functioning in Well-Controlled Asthma, Erin Walsh

Safeguarding Sleep: A Comparative Analysis of a Non-pharmacological Sleep Protocol in the ICU to Prevent Delirium, Rebecca Walsh

Cortisol and Executive Functioning for Young Children attending Head Start Preschool, Zachary Weaver

To Be Tutored: Exploring How Female-Identifying Undergraduates Experience Tutoring, Samantha Barbara Weiss

Surviving Pandemic Practicum: Early Career Music Teachers' Perceived Self-Efficacy Following the COVID-19 Pandemic, Aubree Pacifico Windish

Institutional Factors Associated with Closing the Equity Gap in Six-Year Graduation Rates at Public Four-Year Universities, Lisa Yannick

The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Inhibitory Control Among Emerging Adults, Lindsay Zavislak

Dissertations/Capstones from 2023 2023

How can the Baka people of the Southern Region of Cameroon be empowered to participate in the design, monitoring, evaluation, and implementation of programs to reduce poverty in their community?, TIMOTHY ABORA

Equitable Funding for Trauma Informed Social Policy: A Critical Analysis of the 2019-2020 Pennsylvania Department of Education School Safety and Security Grant Program, heather bickley

“Like a Whole Thing”: Dialogic Sensemaking in One Sixth Grade Classroom, Catherine Bienkowski

Embodiment, Scholarship Pressures, and Eating Disordered Behaviors in Division II Collegiate Athletes, Kelsey Blum

Descriptive Analysis of Open Government Practices of Four Mid-Sized Cities in New York State, Brian Bray

Liberatory Language Instruction: A Dusselian Self-Study, Renee Burgos

My Sister is My Role Model: Why Girls Choose Science, Patricia Butler

An Analysis of the Contracted Service Providers of Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS), Elsie Chocho

Examination of Intramural Sport Officials’ Training, Development and Performance: A Mixed Methods Study, Daniel Comas

The Search for Something Better: Narrative Inquiry into Why Women in Non-Faculty Roles Left Higher Education During COVID-19 Pandemic, Amanda Corsi

Digital Preoperative Education for Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Surgery and Effect on Outcomes, Kelley Culley

Sustaining Equitable Child Welfare Policies in Foster Care: Perspectives from Non-profit Support Professional and their Role in Multidisciplinary Policy Collaboration, Shirley Dews

Is Nuisance Abatement "Broken Windows" Policing? Searching for Code Enforcement's Impact on Crime, Shane Diller

Evaluating Assertiveness, Support, and Gameplay Patterns by California Rural County Departments in Acquiring Budgetary Resources, Janet Dutcher

Using Input from Administrative Staff to Make Cost-Effective Decisions for Telecommuting, Technology, and Productivity during the COVID-19 Era, Chika Egemba

Term Limits: An Argument for the Senate, Deanna Ferry

The Impact of An Electronic Handoff Tool on Transfer Times from the Emergency Department to the Observation Unit, Lorie Fosbenner

The Impact COVID-19 on the Healthcare Industry’s Systems and Policies: A Case Study, Jameyshia Franklin

Division II College Athletes' Perceptions of Name, Image, & Likeness Compensation: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Eric Frans

Successful Admissions in a Time of Great Uncertainty: A Case Study of Employees' Perceptions of Employee Well-Being and Emotional Intelligence, Sarah Freed

Under the Radar: Legislative Intent to Silence Critical Race Theory, Meg Hazel

Reading Proficiency As A Public Policy Agenda Indicator: The Importance Of Reading Ability On The Educational Outcomes Of Students And The Collateral Effects To Society, Mark Jaronczyk

Service-Learning Curricula in Eastern Pennsylvania’s K-12 Schools: Educational Decision-Makers’ Experiences Through a Critical Lens, Megan Jerabek

Navigating the Financial Aid Application Process: The Voices of First-Generation College Students, Holly Kirkpatrick

A Case Study of Cross-Sector Collaboration in Community Schools in Central Pennsylvania, Jesscia Knapp

Student Loans, Persistence, and Well-being: The Need to Support Single Mothers in College: A Qualitative Study, Kimberly Lemon

Centering Consumer Dignity Within Volunteer Operations, Meghan Loftus

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

The Effects of a Six-Week Mindfulness Intervention Designed for Adolescents on Emotion Regulation and Perceived Stress in College Students, Theodora Malinowski

Unbounding Rationality: Observing and Mitigating K-12 Public Education Administrators’ Cognitive Bias, Julie K. Mesaros

Student Affairs Professionals’ Experiences Supporting Students through a Grief Loss: A Qualitative Study, Lenora Mitchell

Economic Impact of Land Use Planning (Transit-Oriented Development): A Comparative Analysis, Sam M

Anticoagulation Adherence in Atrial Fibrillation Patients with a Scheduled Cardioversion, Caitlin Naimo

Effect of Telemonitoring and As Needed Patient Support on PAP Adherence, Saoirse Owens

Tell Me Your Story: Utilizing Photovoice to Explore the Journeys of First-Generation College Graduates, Christina Pantoja Williams

Eighth Graders’ Approaches to Reading Analysis as Compared with the PSSA’s Application of Common Core Standards, John Phillips

Innovating Education Through Design Thinking: A Case Study of Problem-Solving Educators, Matthew Pimental

Impact of an APRN Directed Workflow Change on Outpatient Palliative Care Referral Acceptance Rates, Stefanie Rashti

The Effect of Patient Reminders on Patient Engagement With Digital Preoperative Education, Christine Reger

Familiar Faces and Comfortable Spaces: The Role of the College Union in Fostering Sense of Belonging on a College Campus, Adriane Reilly

Succession and Workforce Planning in Small to Mid-Size Academic Libraries in the United States, Kaci Resau

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

Community Violence and Adolescent Aggression: The Moderating Role of Perceived Parental Support, Giemaly Soto

Navigators as a Means of Overcoming Administrative Burdens: A Quantitative Study of State-Administered Federal Assistance Programs, Jonathan Sternesky

Progression and Protectiveness of Social Bonds and Play in a Captive Group of Western Lowland Gorillas, Madeline L. Vandevere

Exploring Sub-Saharan African International Students’ Experiences of Racism within Higher Education Institutions in the United States: A Qualitative Study, Gloria N. Wafula

Everyone is on Their Phones: Eighth Graders' Struggle with Social Media in School, George Weinhardt

Animating Faith Development: The Experience of Student Affairs Professionals at U.S. Catholic Colleges & Universities, Sarah Williamson

Diversity Matters: Federal Executives’ Influence, Will Williams

Unveiling Sense of Belonging of Lower-Income, First-Generation College Students, Devan Zgleszewski