Skip to main content

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 2022 2022

Homelessness in Late Life: An exploration of the lived experience, Danielle Palmisano

The Lived Experience: Collective Realities of Black Maternal Healthcare, Rhonda Parham

The Protective Role of Ethnic-Racial Socialization and Ethnic-Racial Identity on Academic Outcomes among a Diverse Sample of Emerging Adult Immigrants in the United States, Veronica Parris

Transformational Learning Through a Success Coaching Graduate Assistantship Experience: A Qualitative Case Study, Rita Patel Eng

Sparking Debate: Private or Public? The Effect of Ownership on Electric Utility Performance, Joseph Pazzalia

A Comprehensive Analysis of the Pennsylvania Wine Industry with Actionable Recommendations for Industry Improvement and Growth, Seth Porter

Factors Contributing to the Success of Rising Latino Leadership in Central California, a Qualitative Inquiry, Yammilette Rodriguez

Centering Critical Vibes Through Community Immersion: A Mixed Methods Study of Early Grades Teacher Candidates’ Critical Consciousness, Ashley Rowe

Understanding Factors Impacting Volunteer Firefighters' Work, Family, and Volunteer Balance to Serve, Christopher Schultz

The Pandemic Dilemma: A Mixed-Methods Study of Student-Centered Science Education in the COVID-19 Pandemic, Jennifer Slavick

Communicating Effectively: An Exploration of Communication Methods between Parents and Teachers with Mixed Methods, Melanie Solano

Intermediate Elementary Teachers’ Perception and Use of a Learning Management System in Supporting Effective Teaching and Learning: A Mixed Methods Study, Jennifer Southmayd

The Emotional Labor of Special Educators: A Mixed Methods Study, Erika Thomas

Perceptions and Use of Digital Technology by Educators Who Support Students with Disabilities in Public Schools: A Mixed Methods Study, Tammy Thompson-Cooke

Identification and Screening of Iron Deficiency in Heart Failure, Anne Truscott

The Impact of the Mandatory PHAB Accreditation Process on Environmental Health Programs at Local Health Districts in Ohio, Wesley Vins

The Effectiveness of an APRN-led Pain Service on Patient Satisfaction Scores: A Retrospective Analysis, Maripatricia Welz-Bosna

Trauma-Informed Educational Practices in the Middle School Classroom During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Loralynne Yost

Windfall Payment Savings: An Examination of Act 13 Disbursements in Pennsylvania, Corey Young

Checking the Box: Evaluating Professional Development Evaluations, Cristin Young

Dissertations/Capstones from 2021 2021

Social Support from Parents and Friends Among Black and Multiracial Adolescents: Responses to Stressful Situations in Multiple-Risk Neighborhoods, Amarachi Akwarandu

The Perception of International Students Toward Programs and Support Services Offered by Higher Education Institutions in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States, Charity Alinda

The Impact of Grant Administration and Strategic Management in Nonprofit Organizations, Dammy Bamisile

Organizational Resilience of Cultural Institutions in the Time of COVID-19, Danielle Boyce

Drinking Water Affordability in Georgia. Are Water Rates Affordable in Georgia and is Infrastructure Investment Influencing Rates?, Guyer Boyle

Mindful Matters; The Efficacy of an Eight-Week Mindfulness Intervention on Boarding School Teacher Burnout, Nicole Campbell

Life Satisfaction Among Black Women, Ferlin Charles

Challenges and Successes Teachers Experience Educating Incarcerated Youth: A Mixed-Methods Approach, Morgan Crozier

A Mixed Methods Examination of Elementary Teachers’ Conceptions of Benchmark Reading Assessments, Marie N. Derby Ed. D.

The Evaluation of a Soft Skills Curriculum in Athletic Training Education: A Mixed Methods Study, Emily Duckett

The Use of Shared Decision Making and its Effect on Antibiotic Prescriptions, Jennifer Fernandes

Mental Health Effects of Maternal Substance Abuse Policymaking: Finding a Solution, SARAH FOSTER

Impact of Online Education on Student Success Outcomes and Institutional Effectiveness: Study of Florida State University System, Maria Graham

Catheter-to-Vessel Ratio and Catheter-Related Thrombosis in Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters: A Retrospective Review of Records, Kristin Hartner

Federal employee views across administrations: An examination of the 2010 Obama and 2018 Trump leadership capital and the perceptions of the agency employees, Dimple Sunayna Johnson

More Than Colleagues: Understanding International Higher Education Partnerships During Crisis, Christina M. Kinney

New Cyber Charter Teachers’ Perceptions of their Induction Program in Preparing them for Online Instruction: A Mixed Methods Study, Courtney Kofeldt

Mentorship Matters: An Instrumental Case Study of Mentorship in a Student Affairs Graduate Preparatory Program, John Adam Linetty

Due Process in Academic & Student Misconduct at Community Colleges: An Analysis of Policies, Practices, and Standards through the Lens of Principal-Agent Theory, Erin Logan

Examining the Implementation Fidelity of a Police Field Training Officer Program: A Program Evaluation Perspective: A Mixed Methods Approach., Yale Y. Margolis

Pioneers or Profiteers? Examining Pennsylvania's Cyber Charter Landscape Through the Lens of Principal-Agent Theory, Greg Mayle

The Importance of Peer Engagement and Peer Support Groups on Persistence of Online Law Students: A Mixed Methods Study, Larasz Moody

Spatial Disparities in Access to Veterinary Care: Problems, Politics & Policies, Sue Neal

State Government’s Impact on Campus Services for Unaccompanied Homeless Students, Tori Nuccio

Policies & Services Mitigating Gender-Based Violence (GBV): Perceptions of African Immigrant Women in the Northeastern, U.S., & Empowering Their Human Rights., Chinenye Nwoke

The Factors Influencing Hazard Mitigation Governance, Kyle Overly

False Confession in Wrongful Convictions and the Effect of Recording Custodial Interrogations Through Exoneration, Nana F. Owusu

Online Instructors’ Use of the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning Design Principles: A Mixed Methods Investigation, Thomas C. Pantazes

Local Governmental Structures And Its Effects On Public Services, Quiana Pettiford

An Exploration of Ethically Challenging Situations Experienced by School Psychologists and Related Outcomes Associated with Those Experiences-A Mixed Methods Study, Janice Pietrowicz

Assessing and Measuring the Fiscal Health of Local Governments: A Focus on Pennsylvania Municipalities, Rosa Quintana

Code the Code: Surveillance Capitalism, Education, and the Critical Theory of Technology, Robert Rust

Improvement of Stroke Alerting Process Utilizing Haiku, an EHR Based Alerting System, Michele Sellers

The Strengths and Challenges Perceived by Special Education Teachers of Students with Emotional Disturbance: A Mixed Methods Study, Brittany Severino

The Benefits of Evidence Based Practices in Public Administration: Does Therapeutic Listening Training Increase Emotional Intelligence to Affect Change Management Outcomes in Public and Private Sector Organizations, John Sillup

Mental Health Issues Development in Law Enforcement Officers and Its Impact on Law Enforcement Agencies: The Need for Policies Focused on Law Enforcement Officers Mental Stability, Joseph A Sorgini

Avengers Disassemble! How Varying Views on Public Administration Dismantled the Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tynslei Spence-Mitchell

Mass School Closures in the School District of Philadelphia: Personal Narratives and Impacts, Cristina Utti

Implementing Content Literacy and Disciplinary Literacy: A Mixed Methods Study of Middle School Teachers' Pedagogical Dispositions, Madison Weary

Utilizing Video Education to Improve Self-Care in Heart Failure Population at Home, Adrienne Wharry

From Networks of Necessity to the New Normal: How Collaboration and Networks Can Provide Efficient and Equitable Service Delivery in Rural Maryland Counties, Robert Willoughby

Dissertations/Capstones from 2020 2020

Patient Satisfaction with Nurse Versus Non-Nurse Post-Discharge Outreach, Iyore Adonri

Federal Health Reform: Breast Cancer Outcomes, Nia Imani Bailey

The Impact of Training and Development on Employees in the Northeast Region of Florida State Government: An Evaluation of The Northeast Region Professional Development Training Program, Sandy Beaumont

Every Drop Counts: Quantifying Blood Loss Can Lead to Early Detection and Intervention for Postpartum Hemorrhage, Christina Bouikidis

Data-Driven Decision-Making: An Analysis of Needs Assessment Methodology in Northwestern Pennsylvania Nonprofit Organizations, Jason Brady

Rural Veterans of Texas and Their Accessibility to Mental Health Care Services, Jeremy Buchanan

Antimicrobial Stewardship in an Urgent-Primary Care Clinic, Jian Connell

Study Abroad and Liminality: Examining U.S. American Collegiate Undergraduate Student Engagement in Risky Behaviors Betwixt and Between Borders, Jill L. Creighton

United States Department of Defense Acquisition of Leading-Edge Information Technology Services and the Impact of Public Market Research on Efficiency and Effectiveness, Thomas Denning

Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education & Perceived Administrative Biases in Funding Review Processes, Emily Devereux

Negotiating Difference: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Writing Center Interactions Between Peer Tutors and Multilingual Tutees, Lisa DiMaio

The Association Between the Products of Alternative Financial Services Providers and the Unbanked in the Era of Banking Deregulation, Dianna Dixon

Moments of Reflection: A Phenomenological Study of Preservice Teacher Reflection, Jane Ferris

Professional Learning Communities in an Elementary School: Teacher Perceptions, Implementation, and Impacts, Michael Garvin

Evidence-Based Policy and Misinformation: Exploring the Public’s Processing of Information, Amy E. Hann

Promoting social equity: The role of social capital on education outcomes among young adults with a history of foster care and special education., Shone Hughes

Creating Project-Based Math Curricula: A Narrative Inquiry, Marcie Hull

An Exploration of Teachers' Experiences with the Completion of Behavior Rating Scales for Their Students with ADHD, Amy Jenkins

“Being Yourself”: Self-Determination at a Summer Sports Camp for Youth with Visual Impairments, Maria Lepore-Stevens

Development of Intercultural Competence and Cultural Empathy in High School Students Participating in a Short-Term Study Abroad Exchange, Jeffrey Mapes

Creating Restful Environments: Applying Evidenced-Based Interventions to Increase the Patients Perceptions of Room Quietness at Night, Timothy Marks

More Than A Score: The Test-Optional Movement in Higher Education, Lisa Montgomery

Enhancing Patient Portal Usage, Patricia Pawling

Prehospital Use of Cuffed Endotracheal Tubes in Pediatric Patients: Thematic Analysis of Barriers to Practice Change., Thomas E. Pearson

Initiating a Collaborative Cybersecurity Governance Framework at the State Level, Autum C. Pylant

Reframing Professional Learning to Analyze Teacher Practice and Promote System-Wide Change, Jennifer Smerecky

Evaluating the Implementation of a Risk Screening Tool to Decrease the Incidence of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting, Lauren E. Stoltzfus

Using Input from Landlords Participating in the Dothan Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) to Streamline Operations and Increase Retention, Michael C. Threatt

Skilled Trade Education in America, Brent Tracy

Municipal Fiscal Distress in Pennsylvania: Assessing the Municipalities Financial Recovery Act 47 of 1987, Terry Tracy

Fare Free Public Transportation Bus Systems: An Examination of Funding Strategies to Replace Passenger Fare Collection, Amy VanGuilder

Heart Failure Self-Care At Home, Dinah Warren

The Blind Spots: The importance of measuring non-academic indicators that are critical to producing positive outcomes specifically for youth who are living in adverse conditions, Orrin White

Dissertations/Capstones from 2019 2019

An Analysis of Complaints against Police in Philadelphia: A Case for Social Equity and Collaborative Governance in Police Reform, Jacqueline Bailey-Davis

Year-Round Community Supported Agriculture: A View from an Advocacy Coalition Framework Perspective, Kelly A. Baker

The ABCDE Bundle : A QI Tool to Reduce the ICU Stay, Cynthia Bembry-Weiser

The Value of Backyard Chickens in Reducing Municipal Solid Waste, Maureen Breen

A Primary Care Weight Loss Program with an Intensive Behavioral Therapy including Diet and Exercise Education, Karen Detweiler

A Behavior-Focused Assessment of Hand Hygiene Practice and Associated Factors Among Students at an Upper Elementary School in Pennsylvania, Roseline Ekuta