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Women in Teacher Leadership
No full textThis study examined the impacts of women teacher leaders on shaping instruction and collaboration across K-6 educational contexts in the United States. Utilizing a survey method, I gathered data through Likert-type and open-ended questions to explore how women teacher leaders shape collaboration and instruction. Researcher-developed tools were shared via social media and email to encourage broad outreach, though exact participant location data was not collected. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed to identify leadership characteristics, strategies, and their perceived influence on instructional practices. This research aimed to provide insights into the unique contributions of women teacher leaders and inform leadership development practices and policies within diverse educational environments. Quantitative findings suggested that leadership behaviors were generally consistent across demographics, while qualitative analysis revealed key themes of mentorship, modeling, inclusive leadership, and relationship building. These findings highlight the importance of empowering women teacher leaders through professional development that shows value to collaboration and reflective practices. By emphasizing the voices of educators, the study contributed to a deeper understanding of gender dynamics in teacher leadership, with implications for district-wide student success
Complete search strategies for "Assumptive Intersectionality: Researchers do we generalize too much? A Scoping Review," Novak et al., 2025
No full textThe concept domains for this search included: low socioeconomic status; gifted students; gifted and talented students; underrepresented/vulnerable populations. Searches were performed in April 2025. Databases included: ERIC via ProQuest, Education Research Complete via EBSCOhost, SCOPUS, Education Database via ProQuest, and SOCIndex via EBSCOhost. Limiters used were ten years (2014-2024)
Effect of Anticipation on Lower Extremity Biomechanics During Drop Jumps and Chop-Cutting Tasks
No full textINTRODUCTION: Sudden changes in direction or speed during sport-specific tasks like cutting and landing increase the risk of noncontact ACL injuries. The risk of injury during these tasks increases during unanticipated real-world scenarios where individuals are needed to react to external stimuli. Unanticipated tasks have been known to produce greater knee abduction and internal rotation angles as well as the associated joint moments. These variables are associated with increased ACL loading and therefore considered poor biomechanical adaptations to unanticipated tasks. Typically, anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) of the trunk are used to accommodate movement. This study used a novel chopping approach to the cutting movement (also known as “quick feet”) to isolate the effect of anticipation on the lower extremities. The second novelty of this study was its ability to directly compare two unanticipated tasks associated with ACL injury. PURPOSE: Determine how knee biomechanics are affected by the anticipatory condition during drop jumps and chop-cut tasks. The primary hypothesis for this study was that unanticipated conditions during both tasks would produce biomechanical adaptations associated with increased ACL loading at initial contact (IC) and peak values calculated between 0-25% of ground contact. The secondary hypothesis of this study was that adaptations to the unanticipated conditions would be correlated between the left and straight directions of both tasks. METHODS: Motion capture data was collected on 22 recreationally active participants. During the drop jump tasks, the two directions analyzed were left leaning and straight (vertical). For the second task, participants performed a chop-cut at 60-degrees or a chop-straight run. The approach required participants to chop their feet for a minimum of 3 seconds before the cut or run. Unanticipated Conditions: Unanticipated conditions were created using FITLIGHT Training pods affixed to tripods in front of the participant. Just prior to ground contact for both tasks, one of the FITLIGHT pods illuminated, indicating the direction (either left/cut or straight). RESULTS: For the chop-cut and chop-straight tasks, significant condition*direction interaction effects were found for time to peak vGRF (p = 0.006), knee flexion angle at IC (p = 0.011), and knee internal rotation angle at IC (p < 0.001). For the drop jump tasks, significant main effects for condition were found for knee flexion angle at IC (p = 0.026) and peak knee adduction moment (p = 0.021). Significant Pearson correlation coefficients were found for the change scores between conditions during the chop-cuts and left drop jumps for knee abduction and internal rotation angles at IC and peak. CONCLUSION: Unanticipated conditions produced some knee biomechanics associated with increased ACL loading, but it was direction specific. The lack of condition main effects suggests the use of anticipatory postural adjustments to protect the knee from injury. Furthermore, kinematic adaptations to the unanticipated conditions were correlated between tasks which indicate that the adaptations are not task specific. These findings emphasize the importance of using multiple tasks and conditions during injury risk assessment and doing so on an individual basis
Perceptions of AI-Generated Content: How College Students Feel about AI-created Content in the Field of Marketing
No full textArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a tool that has become heavily integrated into the lives of many individuals and businesses. Due to AI’s popularity, its impact on marketing, specifically digital content creation, has become a topic of significant interest. The rapid advancement of AI technologies has enabled the creation of sophisticated graphics and content that can sometimes be indistinguishable from content produced by a human. This technological advancement presents a question in the field of marketing: Do consumers care to know if the marketing content they engage with is AI-designed? This study aims to investigate consumer perceptions and preferences regarding AI-designed marketing content, particularly whether consumers are interested in knowing, if the content they engage with is AI-created. Through one-on-one interviews with 11 East Carolina University students, this research will assess their awareness, trust, and preferences regarding AI-generated content in marketing. By examining consumer attitudes toward AI disclosure, this study will provide insights for marketers to maintain transparency and ethical responsibility as it relates to AI content creation
Executive Summary: Evidence-Based Practice in Diagnostic Radiology
No full textBackground: Evidence-based practice is used in variable amounts in the radiology setting. Clinical practice in radiology is influenced by tradition, organizational culture, and outdated resources. Resources in practice should be supported by evidence.
Study Purpose: To improve the use and knowledge of evidence-based practice in diagnostic radiology by creating an evidence-based procedural manual. The manual will provide clinical practice guidelines that can be utilized across multiple sites and improve the quality of care.
Methodology: Quality Improvement (QI) initiative in the outpatient radiology setting using the Six Sigma Framework and DMAIC process.
Implementation: Physical and electronic version of a diagnostic procedural manual and education huddles/presentations implemented in the clinic setting for 12 weeks. Post-intervention survey during the last four weeks of implementation.
Results: 19 study participants, which included diagnostic radiographers, registered nurses, advanced practice providers, and physicians (18 participants completed the entire study). Overall, the survey revealed a positive response to the procedural manual and educational component of the study.
Conclusion: Consistent use of EBP is needed in the radiology setting. Although research in radiology is limited, studies that use evidence to create clinical tools and implement practice guidelines can be completed, and these studies should be accompanied by an education component.D.N.P
Navigating Anxiety and Uncertainty: Cultural Adjustment of International Students at ECU
No full textInternational students face unique challenges when transitioning into higher education in the United States. For many, adjusting to life on a new campus brings moments of uncertainty and anxiety, especially when cultural norms, communication styles, and classroom expectations feel unfamiliar. This mixed-methods thesis explores the cultural adjustment experiences of international students at East Carolina University (ECU), focusing on how students navigate perceived cultural distance and manage the emotional and academic pressures that come with studying in a new country. The study is guided by anxiety-uncertainty management (AUM) theory, which explains that people adapt more successfully when they are able to keep their anxiety and uncertainty at manageable levels.
This research combines both survey and interview data to better understand how students experience their adjustment. A survey was distributed to international students at ECU (n = 42) to assess their anxiety, uncertainty, cultural distance, involvement, academic, social, and psychological adjustment. Follow-up interviews with ten students allowed for a deeper look into their day-to-day realities, including the specific challenges students have encountered and how they have managed. The themes from the interviews included managing pre-arrival expectations, navigating American communication styles, adapting to academic power distance, building social connections, and finding personal growth through mindfulness and support systems.
While not all quantitative results were statistically significant, meaningful patterns still emerged. Students who managed anxiety more effectively were also more likely to engage on campus and report stronger psychological adjustment. One of the more unexpected findings was that students who perceived a greater cultural distance sometimes reported stronger academic motivation. The interviews helped explain these trends by highlighting the resilience and determination many students bring with them.
This study highlights the importance of creating support systems that go beyond surface-level help. International students benefit most from resources that feel culturally aware, empathetic, and easy to access. Their stories reflect not only the challenges of adjusting to a new culture but also the strength it takes to grow in the middle of uncertainty. Their experiences serve as a reminder that meaningful connection, involvement, and support can make all the difference
LEADERSHIP MATTERS: EXAMINING THE BENEFITS OF A MENTORING PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL LEADER DEVELOPMENT
No full textLEADERSHIP MATTERS: EXAMINING THE BENEFITS OF A MENTORING PROGRAM
FOR SCHOOL LEADER DEVELOPMENT
By
Michael Vetter
July, 2025
Director of Dissertation: Dr. Elizabeth Hodge
Department of Educational Leadership
School leaders play an essential role in shaping student outcomes, supporting teacher effectiveness, and fostering a positive and inclusive school community. Their preparation, professional training, and ongoing development are critical components in ensuring their success and, by extension, the success of the schools they serve. In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, the demand for highly effective school leaders, particularly at the assistant principal level, is more urgent than ever.
This study examined the impact of a structured mentoring program on the self-efficacy and leadership development of assistant principals within a K–12 public school district. Utilizing a mixed-methods research design, the study collected and analyzed both quantitative and qualitative data through pre- and post-surveys, as well as semi-structured interviews with program participants. The primary aim was to assess how participation in a mentoring program influenced assistant principals’ perceptions of their leadership capabilities, particularly in the areas of decision-making, relationship-building, and instructional leadership.
In addition to examining self-efficacy, the study also explored the perceived influence of the mentoring program on school culture at participants’ respective campuses. Findings suggest that mentoring positively contributed to assistant principals’ sense of professional confidence and enhanced their capacity to engage collaboratively within their school communities. The study concludes with recommendations for the continued implementation and refinement of mentoring programs as a strategy to build leadership capacity and strengthen school culture across educational settings
Optogenetic Characterization of the Stress-associated Focal Adhesion to Cluster Transition of Profilin-VASP Biomolecular Condensates
No full textOptoProfilin, a light-sensitive biosensor derived from Arabidopsis thaliana Cryptochrome 2, triggers profilin oligomerization when exposed to blue light. The primary objectives of this study are to investigate the biochemical composition of stress-associated clusters formed with OptoProfilin and to investigate individual amino acid residues within OptoProfilin and its VASP binding partner to determine their role in its response to light activation. Ultimately, this work seeks to understand the binding proteins and cell stress pathways involving profilin and VASP that contribute to stress granule formation and biomolecular structures. The observed OptoProfilin response to energetic and oxidative stress may offer valuable information about diseases in which profilin has been implicated as a key component of disease progression. Our findings identify mutations that have significant effects on the OptoProfilin response, including the identification of a new knockout mutant of OptoProfilin activity. We have also identified focal-adhesion associated proteins (zyxin, vinculin, paxillin) that are co-localized in OptoProfilin in focal adhesion (zyxin, vinculin, paxillin) and in stress-associated clusters (zyxin, vinculin). This result supports our general hypothesis of a multi-layered model of focal adhesion composition
Plant-Growth-Promoting Bacteria Effects on Stress-Tolerating Salt Capacity
No full textEnvironmental stressors, including climate-induced saltwater intrusion and sea level rise, are challenging coastal agricultural production. The increasing intensity of saltwater intrusion contributes to crop yield declines. Salt stress causes water to leave roots through epidermal cells, ultimately decreasing plant growth. Plant-microbe mutualisms, species interactions where both partners benefit, can be harnessed to enhance crop production. For example, plants benefit from metabolites and nutrients that microbial mutualists release, while microbes benefit from plant-derived organic carbon resources. However, how salt-tolerant soil bacteria with plant-growth-promoting potential influence plant growth under excess salt conditions is unknown. Therefore, this experiment evaluates how plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can buffer or protect plants from salinity stress. I tested how a simplified salt marsh bacterial community influenced Scarlett rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings exposed to a saltwater gradient. I isolated soil bacteria Priestia aryabhattai, Streptomyces violarus, Bacillus hominis, and Bacillus paramycoides, from a coastal North Carolina salt marsh. These bacteria can potentially provide growth-promoting metabolites that could help protect the plant host against salt stress. I observed variation in morphological and growth rates across the four coastal marsh sediment bacterial isolates. To test whether these bacteria protect rice plants from salt stress, we set up a replicated (n=9) factorial experiment where I added a simplified PGPB community (seeds treated with bacteria or no addition) across four salt levels (freshwater 0 PSU, 2 PSU, 5 PSU, 10 PSU using Instant Ocean) to total 72 experimental units. I measured plant height each week, for 4 weeks. Plant height was significantly higher when the simplified PGPB community was added compared to no addition control samples at lower salinity levels (0 and 2 PSU), but this PGPB effect was not observed at higher salinity levels (5 and 10 PSU). This suggests, the simplified bacterial community experienced a reduction in growth-promoting functions at these salinity levels during the early growth of the rice plants. This work is important for understanding sustainable approaches to enhancing crop resilience against climate change-induced salinity stress. Future research should evaluate the compatibility of these bacterial strains in soil and test their ability to combat more salinity levels, as there might be a threshold where they become suppressed
Overcoming Stereotypes and Shaping the Future: The Motivations and Challenges of Male Nursing Students in a Gendered Profession
No full textAim: This study aimed to explore the personal experiences and factors influencing males' attraction to nursing while seeking to understand their motivations, perceptions, and challenges.
Background: The lack of male recruitment and retention exacerbates the nursing shortage, decreasing overall effectiveness and worsening patient health outcomes. Men offer a fresh perspective to the profession yet face greater adversity than their peers during their nursing education and careers.
Methodology: This study will use a qualitative descriptive design involving one-on-one interviews with male nursing students from all ECU College of Nursing semesters. The interview and questions will be open-ended, and each interview will be recorded to ensure the accuracy of the answers listed in this study. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.
Results: Seven male nursing students from varying levels of education, aged 21-31, responded. Themes found in the individual interviews about the recruitment and retention of males in nursing included job stability, altruism, and competitive pay. Other themes highlighted many barriers for men in nursing, including a lack of role models, a lack of masculine imagery associated with the profession, and harmful societal stigmas.
Discussion: Male nursing students face greater adversity during their education than others, struggling with a perceived stigma and rejection from their peers. They could be attracted to the profession by advertisements surrounding issues of job stability, competitive salaries, and appeals to their altruism. Future research must focus on how to appeal to men to combat a growing shortage