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 A Quantitative Comparison of Female High School Students STEM Degree versus STEM Non-Degree Completion(2026-02)Women remain underrepresented among degree completers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics despite increased exposure to secondary-level enrichment programs. However, there remains a lack of empirical evidence examining whether participation in high school programs is associated with higher rates of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degree completion. This study investigated the relationship between female participation in the FIRST Robotics project-based learning program during high school and subsequent completion of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees. The study was guided by social cognitive career theory, which emphasizes the influence of learning experiences, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations on educational decision-making. A quantitative, correlational research design was adopted for this investigation. The participants included female students who participated in the FIRST Robotics program during high school and a comparison group of female students who did not participate. Archival data on postsecondary enrollment and degree completion were analyzed to address the research questions. Pearson’s chi-square test revealed a statistically significant association between STEM degree completion and the two groups. The results indicated that female students who participated in the FIRST Robotics program were more likely to graduate with a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics than non-participants. The findings have implications for high school project-based learning experiences, such as the FIRST Robotics program, in fostering readiness for college-level science, technology, engineering, and math, as well as degree-completion outcomes for female students. A future qualitative phenomenological study could examine the lived experiences of female students in higher education, exploring their personal stories of persistence, to identify best practices in curriculum design and guide the design of project-based learning structures.Item Post-Traumatic Growth in Survivors of the 2013 EF-4 Central Illinois Tornado: A Qualitative, Phenomenological Study(2025-10)With natural disasters increasing in frequency and severity, understanding the impact on mental health is crucial. For those who experience tornados, the most common and most damaging type of storms in the US, the psychological impact can be devastating and long-lasting. However, it can also provide opportunities for post-traumatic growth (PTG) which is what this study has explored. With a qualitative, phenomenological design, six survivors of the 2013 EF-4 central Illinois tornado were interviewed using a semi-structured format to examine their subjective experiences of the tornado and the resulting PTG. The study was conducted more than ten years after the event. Tedeschi and Calhoun’s Five Factor theory of PTG was the framework for the study. The results supported this PTG theory with participants reporting experiences reflective of the five domains. Five of the six participants experienced PTG with the sixth participant experiencing positive change, but not actual PTG. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyze the data. From a societal standpoint, as climate change continues to be a growing concern with storms becoming increasingly severe, understanding the impact on mental health is vital. Mental health professionals need to understand the trauma of surviving a natural disaster such as a tornado and be prepared to help support recovery and the potential of PTG.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.
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