NU Masters and Dissertations (Open Access)
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This collection contains open access National University student dissertations and master's culminating work, including work by students who graduated from National University, Northcentral University, and John F. Kennedy University. To learn more about this collection, please visit the NU Institutional Repository webpage for students and alumni.
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Item Emerging Drone Risks and Protective Measures: A Study on the Western Interconnection Electrical Grid(2025-10) Werner, JustinThe rapid growth of low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has introduced new risks for U.S. critical infrastructure. The problem to be addressed by this study will be the threat that current and emerging aerial drone technologies pose to the Western Interconnection electrical power grid, as perceived by subject matter experts (SME) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC). The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study is to analyze and identify the severity of risk posed by current and emerging commercial aerial drone technology to America’s Western Interconnection Electrical Grid Infrastructure. Data were gathered via an IRB-approved anonymous survey of 24 subject matter experts (SMEs) with follow-up interviews. Open-ended responses addressed (a) perceived UAV risk levels, (b) SME concern, and (c) adequacy of counter-UAS measures and interagency coordination. Thematic analysis revealed that SMEs view the grid as vulnerable due to gaps in detection, statutory authorities, and coordinated response protocols. Most rated current protections only slightly or moderately effective, with no SME identifying safeguards as highly effective; interagency coordination was assessed as minimal to moderate. Findings highlight the need for stronger policies and cross-agency collaboration. Recommendations include integrating counter-UAS scenarios into training, expanding statutory authorities, and investing in layered detection and mitigation systems. The study contributes stakeholder-driven insights at the unclassified level and offers guidance for regulators and practitioners seeking to strengthen energy infrastructure security against evolving aerial threats.Item Sustaining School Leadership Through Principal Retention: A Longitudinal Descriptive Study of Maryland’s Promising Principals’ Academy(2025-12) AMSTUTZ, RACHEL VIRGINIAPrincipal turnover and the lack of sustained school leadership remain national concerns, with nearly one in five principals leaving their schools each year. Sustained leadership is critical to student achievement, teacher development and retention, and school improvement; however, limited research has explored participation in a job-embedded professional learning and administrators’ longevity. Grounded in Lave and Wenger’s communities of practice theory, this longitudinal descriptive study examined retention among administrators who completed a cohort-based professional learning academy. A near-census sample of 249 academy completers across five cohorts (2014–2022) was analyzed using archival statewide staffing data. Retention in Maryland school-based administrative roles was documented at 3-, 5-, 8-, and 10-year intervals. At the 10-year interval, Cohort 1 retained approximately 39% of participants in Maryland schools—substantially higher than national mover-plus-stayer benchmarks of about ~22%, representing a 77% higher retention rate and indicating participants were 1.8 times more likely to continue serving in school-based leadership roles. Framed as a departure risk, principals nationally face an estimated 78% likelihood of leaving school-based leadership roles within 10 years, whereas the MDPPA Cohort 1 departure rate was 61%, reflecting a meaningful reduction in long-term attrition risk. Together, these findings suggest that structured professional learning models that build collegial networks may contribute to stronger long-term leadership continuity. Findings support continued investment in structured, mentoring-based professional development as a strategy to stabilize the school leadership pipeline. Implications include the need for policy and practice enhancements that strengthen leadership development systems, expand access to mentoring and coaching for principals, and sustaining leaders through collegial networks of practice. Recommendations for future research include longitudinal analyses examining the impact of professional learning on principal effectiveness and school outcomes.Item What’s Love Got to Do with it? A Qualitative Study Addressing the Unmet Needs of Older LGBTQ+ Individuals Caring for a Spouse or Partner with a Chronic Medical Condition(2025-12) Almond, JenniferCaregiving for an older spouse or partner with a chronic medical condition has become a prominent role in Western society as individuals are living longer and requiring more care. Most in-home care is provided through informal means by family members and friends. Spouses provide care longer than other informal caregivers and may suffer stress, burnout, and other physical and psychological challenges if they have unmet needs, such as lack of support and resources. Due to the events, encounters, and history experienced by older LGBTQ+ caregivers, they face a unique set of challenges and needs when caring for a spouse or partner with a chronic medical condition. The purpose of this qualitative study with an interpretive phenomenological design was to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of the unmet needs of older LGBTQ+ individuals caring for a spouse or partner with a chronic condition. Six spousal/partner caregivers participated in semi-structured interviews to explore their experiences and whether they led to any unmet needs. Findings of the data analysis with an idiosyncratic approach suggested that the participants did not currently experience significant discrimination from medical professionals, but this had not always been the case. There were several challenges that were unique to LGBTQ+ older adults, as well as remarkable ways they have developed resilience and created methods to minimize challenges. Some of the challenges included an increase in chronic conditions experienced by caregivers, lack of advance directives, stress, and unique family relations. To minimize these challenges, the participants formed chosen families and developed strategies for choosing medical professionals. Practical recommendations include cultural competency training for medical practitioners to improve wellbeing and outcomes for both the caregiver and care recipient. Further research can expand upon the background and demographics of the participants, specifically, the impact of race, location, and socio-economic status of individual participants.Item Changes in Marital Conflict and Marital Attachment Needs Among Iranian Couple Therapists After EFT Training and Supervision(2025-12) Khorshidi, RosaThis quantitative quasi-experimental study examined changes in marital conflict and marital attachment needs among Iranian couple therapists following participation in an introductory emotionally focused therapy (EFT) training and group supervision. The problem addressed in this study was that many clinicians begin practice without adequate preparation in evidence-based couple therapy models, yet little is known about whether learning EFT influences therapists’ own relational functioning, particularly within the Iranian cultural context. The purpose of the study was to examine whether participation in EFT training and supervision was associated with changes in marital conflict and fulfillment of marital attachment needs among married, licensed Iranian clinicians actively practicing couple therapy. Forty participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group, which completed the EFT training and group supervision, or a control group, which did not receive the training during the study period. Data were collected using the Marital Conflict Questionnaire–Revised (MCQ-R) and the Marital Attachment Needs Scale (MANS). Gain-score analysis and one-way ANOVA were used to compare pre- to posttest changes between groups. Results indicated statistically significant improvements in both marital conflict and marital attachment needs for clinicians who completed the EFT training and supervision compared to those who did not. These findings extend the EFT literature by demonstrating that structured training and supervision may foster personal as well as professional growth among therapists, contributing to the broader understanding of EFT’s impact across cultural and clinical contexts.Item Developing a Manual to Address Mental Health Stigma and Barriers for African American Women(2025-12) Edwards, CherieThis project developed and evaluated This House: A Manual for Culturally Responsive Mental Health Care, designed to address the stigma and cultural barriers African American women face when seeking mental health services. Grounded in cultural competence theory and intersectionality, the manual was created to support mental health professionals better understand and respond to the cultural narratives that shape help-seeking. A qualitative methodology was used, incorporating structured rubric reviews and a focus group discussion with African American women with lived experiences, faith-based leaders, and mental health professionals. Data from rubric evaluations and the group discussion were analyzed thematically to assess the manual’s clarity, cultural relevance, and practical usefulness. Results indicated that the manual effectively addressed key cultural barriers and was viewed as a valuable tool for improving engagement among African American women. Participant feedback informed revisions to enhance clarity, cultural depth, and applicability across clinical and community settings. Overall, the project underscores the need for culturally responsive resources that reduce stigma, increase accessibility, and support more equitable mental health care for marginalized populations, with recommendations for continued research on the manual’s impact in real-world mental health practice.