The National University System Repository exists to increase public access to research and other materials created by students and faculty of the affiliate institutions of National University System. Most items in the repository are open access, freely available to everyone.
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Item Leadership Development for Chambers of Commerce CEOs and Boards of Directors: A Comparative Qualitative Case Study(2026-03)Nonprofit organizations, including Chambers of Commerce, rely on effective governance to ensure organizational sustainability, strategic direction, and community impact. However, more than half of U.S. Chamber boards receive little to no structured leadership onboarding or development. Insufficient training for nonprofit boards and chief executive officers may hinder leadership effectiveness and organizational performance. This comparative qualitative study examined why some Chambers of Commerce effectively onboard and develop their boards of directors while others do not. Guided by Knowles's theory of andragogy, the study explored the lived experiences and perceptions of Chamber chief executive officers and board members regarding leadership development and onboarding practices. Participants included nine Chamber Chief Executive Officers and seven board members from Chambers across the United States. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically to identify patterns in onboarding practices, leadership development experiences, and perceived organizational needs. Findings indicate that most Chambers provide onboarding; however, it is typically limited to a one-time organizational overview and is widely viewed as insufficient. Participants reported gaps in ongoing training, role clarity, and understanding of organizational functions. CEOs identified barriers such as limited time and financial resources, which may cause frustration but also highlight opportunities for support. Participants emphasized the need for customizable training tools, clearer role definitions, and continuous professional development to build a sense of shared purpose and resilience. This study contributes to nonprofit leadership literature by documenting persistent gaps in board onboarding and highlighting the need for scalable, affordable training grounded in adult learning principles to enhance governance and organizational effectiveness, fostering a sense of empowerment and progress among leaders.Item A New Modality: Scaffolding Asynchronous On-Demand Instruction with Microsoft Power Automate(2025-10)At our library, we have beta-tested a series of email-based modules called “Learn in a Week.” When students can sign up for a module, they will receive one message per day for the ensuing week; each module covers a different information literacy topic ranging from the simple “Choosing a research topic” to more complex topics like “Finding Tests & Measures.” Through this program, we can carefully scaffold asynchronous learning over seven mini-lessons (each an email) and pace the students’ learning to facilitate retention and application. On the students’ end, they can choose when to initiate learning and consume the emails at their own pace. This model of on-demand, scaffolded email-based training can be easily implemented by any institution with Microsoft 365. The modules are powered by Microsoft Power Automate flows that are triggered when a student submits a Microsoft Form. These can be provided alongside other modalities covering the same topics (such as live webinars, recorded webinars, and libguides) to ensure students have a choice in how they learn. The "Learn in a Week" email-based modules represent a promising and scalable solution to the challenge of delivering scaffolded, on-demand, asynchronous information literacy instruction.Item A Quantum Parallel Framework For Distributed Quantum Algorithm Execution, Architecture, Scheduling, And Industrial Case Studies Across Simulators and QPU Hardware(2026-03)With the arrival of robust error correcting quantum processors in the 5-year horizon, some sectors of the industry will require quantum computing knowledge and capabilities to stay competitive by integrating solutions with industrial grade closed loop applications. Current projections place mainstream quantum computing by 2030. Quantum computing technologies will be fundamental to maintaining competitive advantages in key technologies including cryptography, optimization, modeling quantum systems, molecular medicine, and image processing. This research develops a novel Quantum Parallel Framework (QPF) and builds the expertise to deploy quantum algorithms for distributed processing for industrial applications. This research addresses the need to develop mature quantum parallel algorithms executing in closed loop by using simulations and hardware for Quantum Processing Units (QPUs). The QPF hosts, schedules and synchronizes the execution of parallel quantum algorithms across simulators as well as IBM QPU hardware. The QPF framework is comprised of a Qiskit interface to manage communications to QPUs, C++ code and an OpenGL scene generation Graphical User Interface (GUI). The case study integrates the QPF manager framework with a Quantum Hadamard Edge Detector, Quantum Convolutional Neural Network, Quantum Charge Coupled Device, and Quantum Crypto Key Distribution algorithms. QPF parallelizes the execution of multiple QPU instances of the algorithm. Also, the QPF will compare to Quantum Interlin-q, a similar framework. In this research we explored alternate parallel processing methodologies that successfully and significantly yield better performance over classical computing. Although quantum technology is still maturing, the study provides an opportunity to explore complex distributed parallel quantum algorithms in preparation for mainstream quantum computing by 2030.Item More Than a Meal: Food as a Pathway to Healing, Connection, and Community(2026-03)This capstone explores the growing sense of disconnection experienced by many young people and considers how communal cooking and shared meals might serve as relational practices that support healing, empathy, and belonging within school environments. Historically, preparing and sharing food together functioned as a daily rhythm of family and community life, offering natural opportunities for conversation, cooperation, and the transmission of cultural knowledge. However, modern western social structures, including increased busyness, changing family routines, and the industrialization of food systems, have contributed to a decline in shared meal practices and relational time. Drawing on interdisciplinary research from psychology, sociology, education, and food studies, the literature review examines the importance of social connection for human well-being, the developmental benefits associated with shared meals, and the cultural significance of food within Mennonite traditions, Indigenous food sovereignty practices, and other communal food systems. Research on cooking interventions and experiential learning further suggests that cooking can support psychosocial well-being by fostering confidence, collaboration, resilience, and a sense of shared accomplishment. Within this context, schools emerge as important environments where relational experiences can be intentionally cultivated. Building on both the research and the author’s experience teaching a middle school foods program, this capstone suggests that foods classrooms can function as spaces where students learn not only practical life skills but also empathy, cooperation, and belonging through the shared preparation and enjoyment of food. Recommendations include reframing foods education to emphasize relational learning, creating opportunities for collaborative cooking and shared meals, and recognizing communal food experiences as accessible approaches to supporting youth connection and well-being within schools and communities.Item African American Owned Small Business: A Phenomenological Study Examining Success Strategies to Survive Five Years and Beyond(2025-12)Small businesses in the United States are vital to the economy's overall health, representing 99% of employer organizations. Small businesses provide critical resources to their communities by creating jobs, fostering economic stability, and building family wealth. However, only 49% survive for 5 years. African American owned small businesses (AAOSBs) experience the highest rates of failure compared to other racial groups and are four times less likely to succeed in business. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the skillsets and strategies required from the perspective of successful business owners in the Midwest region to help increase the survival rate of AAOSBs. AAOSBs are opening businesses faster than any other racial group, but struggle more when keeping their business open beyond 5 years. The problem identified was that AAOSB owners in the Midwest region often lacked the necessary skillsets and strategies, contributing to only 4% of AAOSBs surviving the first 5 years. The conceptual framework that guided this study was strategic planning and resource-based theory (RBT). Using a phenomenological qualitative design, data were collected through one-on-one semi-structured interviews of 20 AAOSB owners. All participants were successful AAOSB owners in business for 5 years or longer, representing Midwest states: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The business industries included fashion design, event planning, grocery store, healthcare, hospitality, professional hairstyling, restaurants, retail, and the beauty industry. The analysis was guided by Colazzi’s seven-step method and NVivo 14. Trustworthiness was established through reflective journaling, member checking, and triangulation of data. The skillsets and strategies identified were people management, time management, goal orientation, problem-solving, continuous learning, business planning, business strategy, marketing strategy, and resource management. Positive implications included managing resources to reach goals and achieve business success. Negative implications included the inability to obtain needed resources and failure to achieve business success. Recommendations for future research included conducting a quantitative or mixed-methods study to identify specific skillsets and strategies that correlate to specific business success metrics. Practice recommendations included conducting business planning, developing business strategies, creating a business and marketing plan, and hiring skilled employees.
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