Events

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Temilola Salami TITLE: FAITH IN THE STRUGGLE: RELIGIOUS COPING AS A MODERATOR BETWEEN RACE-RELATED STRESS AND WELL-BEING IN BLACK COLLEGE STUDENTS ABSTRACT: The current study explored the relationship between race-related stress and psychological well-being among Black college students moderated by religious coping. By examining these processes within a Historically Black College [...]

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Cajetan Akujuobi TITLE: DESIGN AND HARDWARE VALIDATION OF A 5G NR OFDM TRANSMITTER ON THE INTEL DE10-NANO FPGA ABSTRACT: Fifth generation (5G) wireless networks have made Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) the backbone of modern physical-layer communication, enabling high spectral efficiency, resilience to multipath fading, and support for everything from smartphones [...]

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Abida Solomon TITLE: EVALUATION OF A BREAST CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM FOR FEMALE VETERANS WITHIN PATIENT CARE ALIGNMENT TEAMS AT VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER ABSTRACT: Breast cancer remains a significant health concern among women veterans and is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Early detection through routine screening mammography is [...]

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Lin Gong TITLE: DISTRIBUTED COORDINATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF UTILITY-SCALE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS VIA MULTI-AGENT REINFORCEMENT LEARNING ABSTRACT: The increasing integration of renewable energies into modern power systems has created significant operational challenges, including transmission congestion, renewable energy curtailment, and increased real-time supply-demand variability, which makes effective coordination and optimization of [...]

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Abida Solomon TITLE: IMPROVING PROTOCOL ADHERENCE THROUGH STAFF EDUCATION: A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE TO STANDARDIZE CHLORHEXIDINE GLUCONATE USE IN AN AMBULATORY OBSTETRIC CLINIC ABSTRACT: Introduction: Surgical site infections (SSIs) following cesarean delivery remain a significant challenge in obstetric care, contributing to increased maternal morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs. [...]

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Chloe Gaines COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR: Dr. Shannon Chopp TITLE: INCREASING HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) VACCINATION RATES AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN THE PRIMARY CARE SETTING: A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. It is the most common viral infection of the reproductive [...]

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Fred Bonner TITLE: MORE THAN BELONGING: HOW AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE VERTICAL TRANSFER STUDENTS USE COMMUNITY CULTURAL WEALTH TO NAVIGATE PREDOMINANTLY WHITE INSTITUTIONS ABSTRACT: Vertical Transfer students who are Black Male, remain to face disproportionately low graduation rates at predominantly White Institutions (PWIs), even while community colleges have had a historical impact [...]

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Reginald Bell TITLE: FROM INFLUENCE TO EXHAUSTION: HOW LEADERSHIP STYLES PREDICT BURNOUT IN HEALTHCARE LEADERS ABSTRACT: Burnout among healthcare leaders has become an increase issue due to its potential influence on organizational performance, employee well-being, and quality of patient care. Although previous studies have extensively examined the relationship between leadership styles [...]

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Louis Ngamassi Tchouakeu TITLE: THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL RISK AVERSION IN SHAPING FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH AMONG BLACK LED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ABSTRACT: Black-led nonprofit organizations play a vital role in addressing social and economic inequities, yet many operate within funding environments characterized by persistent financial constraints and limited access to [...]

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Erick Kitenge TITLE: BILATERAL DETERMINANTS OF PRICE CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE ACROSS U.S. METROPOLITAN AREAS ABSTRACT: This dissertation will examine the bilateral determinants of price convergence and divergence across U.S. metropolitan areas, with a particular focus on how location-pair characteristics shape the speed and persistence of price adjustments over time. While prior [...]

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Robert Zinko TITLE: DEEP CONDITIONED: UNPACKING HAIR BIAS IN PERCEIVED PROFESSIONALISM AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR HIRING OF BLACK WOMEN ABSTRACT: This study examines the relationship between Black women’s hairstyles, perceived professionalism, and hiring willingness. Using a two-study design, the research investigates whether hairstyle influences workplace evaluations and whether these perceptions change [...]

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Stacie Defreitas TITLE: DEVELOPING AND ASSESSING AN ADLERIAN PLAY THERAPY K-5TH MENTAL HEALTH CURRICULUM USING QUALITATIVE METHODS ABSTRACT: In the United States, 33% of students exhibit internalizing or externalizing behaviors in academic settings. These behaviors can impact student engagement and performance by disrupting affected students’ and their classmates’ ability to tend [...]

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Chloe Gaines TITLE: UTILIZATION OF AN ON-SITE PRIMARY CARE CLINIC - AN EVALUATION ABSTRACT: Employers are increasingly incorporating on-site primary care clinics into their workplace health strategies to improve access to timely care, reduce absenteeism, support chronic disease management, and lower healthcare-related costs. Yet, despite the demonstrated organizational and health benefits, [...]