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Dissertations

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Browse the published dissertations of our doctoral graduates below. Each listing includes the graduate’s name and a link to their full dissertation.

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Ariel Triggs	Dr. Casey Maugh Funderburk	Exploring Onboarding Strategies And Their Impact On Organizational Commitment, Belongingness, and Employee Retention Within A Community College
Dr. Jessica Langston	Dr. Casey Maugh Funderburk	Workload as a Tipping Point: A Serial Mediation Model Examining the Roles of Job Crafting and Workload on Work Engagement, Affective Commitment, and Turnover Intentions
Dr. Melinda Bowens	Dr. Casey Maugh Funderburk	The Perceived Cultural Intelligence of Leadership and Its Impact on Employee Organizational Commitment and Workplace Well-Being
Dr. Cory Bergeron	Dr. Jon Beedle	Generations at Work: Examining Differences in the Nonprofit Sector
Dr. Alexis Barbarin	Dr. Amin Alizadeh	Organizational Downsizing Perceptions and Its Impact on Work Engagement and Job Satisfaction Among Millennials and Generation Z Within the Federal Government: The Mediating Role of Trust

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Christina Galli	Dr. Jon Beedle	Exploring Internship’s Role in Non-Virtual Social Capital Development: A Gen Z Student Perspective
Dr. Kenneth Kirkland Jr.	Dr. Quincy Brown	Impact of Community College Size and Meeting Types on Leader-Member Conversation Quality in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Leaders: A Mixed Methods Study
Dr. Christopher Kinnan	Dr. Quincy Brown	Motivators and Work Role Satisfaction among a Post-Pandemic Multi-Generational Sports and Entertainment Industry Workforce
Dr. Shalither Cushenberry	Dr. Casey Maugh Funderburk	Exploring Faculty Perspectives of Roadblocks to Accommodating Students with Disabilities in Community Colleges
Dr. Marc Bady	Dr. Jon Beedle	An Exploration of Enablers, Barriers, and Strategies Influencing Black College Alumni's Sense of Belonging Through the Lens of Cultural Competence
Dr. Cherri Wells	Dr. Bhagyashree Barhate	Self-Perceived Employability and Employer Expectations of Community College Students' Skill Gap in Industry 4.0
Dr. Eric Shapiro	Dr. Quincy Brown	Examining the Moderating Role of Work Modality on Employees’ Engagement and Perceptions of Inclusion
Dr. Elnora Lewis	Dr. Casey Maugh Funderburk	Examining Non-Academic Staff's Perceived Value of Professional Development on Job Satisfaction and Anticipated Turnover in Higher Education
Dr. Tracie King	Dr. Heather Annulis	The Digital Incorporated Worker Narrative: A Mixed Methods Study of Digital Capital, Work Selection, and Outcomes in the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Dr. Melba Kennedy	Dr. Casey Maugh Funderburk	Examining Relationships Between Agile Workplace Practices, Productivity, and Agility in Organizations
Dr. Peter Oluwadare Kalejaiye	Dr. Quincy Brown	Exploring Contributions of Partnerships Between Employers and Disability Organizations on Recruitment, Hiring, Training, Retention, and Accommodation of Individuals with Disabilities in Mississippi
Dr. Serina Duke	Dr. Casey Maugh Funderburk	Investigating the Relationship Between Followership Styles, Follower Engagement in Leadership Behaviors, and Role Perspectives
Dr. Rebecca Brown	Dr. Heather Annulis	Exploring Factors Influencing Noncredit Workforce Training Program Selection
Dr. Randal Agee	Dr. Dale Lunsford	The Effect of Implementing a Development Program Using Mental Imagery on the Time to Master Psychomotor Skills
Dr. Jamaris Moore	Dr. Dale Lunsford	Federal Telework Intensity, Perceived Organizational Support, and Perceived Supervisor Support as Predictors of Affective Commitment in a Post-Pandemic Environment
Dr. Rachael Holman	Dr. Jon Beedle	Investigating Job Embeddedness, Organizational Commitment, and Work Stress Through a Stress-Reducing Mobile App in the Professional Sports Industry

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Brooke Reid-Graves	Dr. Heather Annulis	Impact of Safety Training on Employee's Perceptions of Organizational Safety Culture
Dr. Jan Sims	Dr. Heather Annulis	The Relationship Between Inclusive Leadership, Psychological Safety, and Job Embeddedness on Employees' Turnover Intent in a Post Crisis Environment
Dr. Steven Mulhollen	Dr. Dale Lunsford	Examining the Career Path of Certified Public Accountants in Audit and Tax Services: Perceptions of Accounting Graduates' Competencies
Dr. Melissa Lomas	Dr. Quincy Brown	Night Shift Acute Care Nurse Narratives: Exploring Collaborative Solutions to Reduce Burnout, Increase Morale and Engagement, and Improve Retention
Dr. Paige Jones	Dr. Casey Maugh Funderburk	Onboarding to Retention: First Year Experiences of Faculty and Staff of Color at a Predominantly White Institution
Dr. Jena Hartley	Dr. Quincy Brown	Examining and Exploring Online Instructors' Professional Development Experiences, Attitudes, and Perceptions in a Post-Secondary Education System
Dr. Garrett Hair	Dr. Casey Maugh Funderburk	Cognitive Emergency Management: Managing Human Capital in Virtual Workspaces Utilizing Emotional Intelligence
Dr. Anthony Eya	Dr. Jon Beedle	Examining the Relationship Between Textbook Formats, Students’ Self-Efficacy and Academic Performance in Higher Education

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Lianne Young	Dr. Quincy Brown	Coworkers and Leaders: The Relationship Between Trustworthiness, Trust, and Employee Engagement
Dr. Melissa Wheat	Dr. Heather Annulis	Employee Experiences with Leaders’ Influence on Autonomous Motivation: A Mixed Methods Study
Dr. Regina Spiers	Dr. Quincy Brown	Examining Psychological Capital, Leader–Member Exchange, and Doctoral Student Connectedness
Dr. Mario King	Dr. Quincy Brown	Exploring Local Elected Officials' Capacity to Govern Effectively
Dr. Felicia Hall	Dr. Quincy Brown	Revitalizing the Middle-Skill Talent Pipeline: Exploring the Decision to Enroll in a Postsecondary Career and Technical Education Program
Dr. Carlin Clarke	Dr. Quincy Brown	Power-Up with Emotional Intelligence: Exploring Flight Attendant Leadership and Crew Resource Management in A Dynamic Post-Pandemic Travel Environment
Dr. Alberta Brown Green	Dr. Quincy Brown	A Holistic Approach to Leadership Development and Self-Efficacy for Frontline Managers
Dr. Felicia Bowens	Dr. Quincy Brown	Human Capital Flight: Determinants of Out-Migration Decisions Among Mississippi’s College Graduates
Dr. Keiasha Hypolite	Dr. Quincy Brown	Affective Commitment, Mentoring, and Anticipated Turnover Among Millennials
Dr. Angela Daniels	Dr. Quincy Brown	The Mediating Influence of Organizational Trust on the Relationship Between Transformational Leadership and Job Satisfaction in the Virtual Workplace
Dr. Steven Puryear	Dr. Chad Miller	Transportation Managers’ Perceptions of the Diffusion of Innovation Within Logistics Clusters
Dr. Chericka Buckner	Dr. Heather Annulis	Exploring Employees’ Perceived Fairness and Effectiveness of the Performance Appraisal Process and the Influence On Employee Retention
Dr. Brian Sajdak	Dr. Quincy Brown	Using Imagery Practice to Improve Airline Pilot Situational Awareness
Dr. Wendi Lord	Dr. Quincy Brown	Flourishing in a Non-Traditional Workplace Using Technology-Assisted Imagery

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Mindy McDearmon	Dr. Dale Lunsford	Social Class and Employability: Equalizing Perceived Competence and Warmth to Control Biased Decision- Making During Resume Screening
Dr. Courtney Lange	Dr. Heather Annulis	An Asset Model: Identifying Institutional Characteristics and Behaviors that Close Community College Completion Gaps Between Black and White Students
Dr. Daniel Harrison	Dr. Quincy Brown	Barriers to Implementing a Work-Based Learning Program: A Health Science Educator Perspective
Dr. Tundra Gatewood	Dr. Heather Annulis	Psychological Capital and Perceived Employability: Exploring Women Veterans' Military to Civilian Career Transition
Dr. Gizzatta Cook	Dr. Heather Annulis	Strategic Human Resource Management Practice Integration and Organizational Ambidexterity in VUCA Times
Dr. Cory Wicker	Dr. Quincy Brown	The Value of Internships in Developing Social Capital for Improving Employment Outcomes: A Mixed Methods Approach
Dr. Gregory Sansone	Dr. Quincy Brown	Comparing Top Industry Demands for Talent to General Studies Curriculum for Competitive Job Acquisition
Dr. Philip Sandifer	Dr. Quincy Brown	Exploring Perceptions About American Theological Institutions in Preparing Worship Pastors for Services
Dr. Keith Boyd	Dr. Quincy Brown	Examining and Exploring Social Constructs, Conflict Management Style, and Workplace Conflict Among Workers in the United States
Dr. David Akanbi	Dr. Quincy Brown	Examining Workplace eLearning Programs Using Persuasive Learning Design: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Kristy Williams	Dr. Quincy Brown	The Relationship Between Social Isolation, Telecommuting Intensity Levels, Autonomy, and Job Satisfaction During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dr. Donna Valestro	Dr. Heather Annulis	Employee Engagement and the Role of Time Perspective
Dr. Taheesha Quarells	Dr. Dale Lunsford	An Exploration of Black Church Leaders' Intentions to Develop Critical Consciousness among African-American Students
Dr. Marcie Overstreet	Dr. Heather Annulis	The Relationship Between the Protean Career Attitude and Feedback After the Employee Promotion Process
Dr. Candace Johnson	Dr. Quincy Brown	Employees' Expectations of Leadership Development Programs and Their Effects on Anticipated Voluntary Employee Turnover and Organizational Commitment
Dr. Vashae Dixon	Dr. Quincy Brown	Exploring Emotional Labor, Emotional Dissonance, and Job Satisfaction Among African American Student Affairs Professionals at Predominantly White Institutions
Dr. Anesa Davis	Dr. Heather Annulis	Barriers, Enablers, and Strategies Influencing Female Leaders' Career Advancement in the Nuclear Industry
Dr. Justin Chandler	Dr. Heather Annulis	Personal and Organizational Characteristics Impacting Employee Self-Efficacy
Dr. Hannah Harrison	Dr. Dale Lunsford	Boosting Degree Attainment: A Mixed Methods Examination of an Adult Degree Completion Initiative
Dr. Katherine Lynch-Holmes	Dr. Dale Lunsford	Higher Education Business and Technology Leaders’ Behaviors that Drive Outcome Alignment
Dr. Chiquila Dolison	Dr. Heather Annulis	An Exploration of the Two-Generation Approach for Single Mother Degree or Certificate Attainment
Dr. Shanda Barrett	Dr. Heather Annulis	Barriers and Enablers to Building Entrepreneurial Ecosystems as Perceived by Change Agents in the Workplace

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Kristen Albritton	Dr. Heather Annulis	Organizational Stressors as Predictors of Burnout
Dr. Wendy Wells	Dr. Heather Annulis	The Relationship Between the Perceived Value of Professional Development, Job Satisfaction, and Intent to Leave
Dr. Christian Lagarde	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Work-Life Balance: Perceived Differences of Teleworkers and Non-Teleworkers
Dr. Wynde Jones	Dr. Heather Annulis	The Influence of Emotional Intelligence Training on College Student Employee Workforce Readiness
Dr. Jeffrey Coggin	Dr. Quincy Brown	Self-Regulated Learning Instruction’s Relationships with Teacher Subject Area, Teacher Beliefs, and Teacher Efficacy

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. David Mooneyhan	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Strategic Hiring and Research Productivity at U.S. Research Universities
Dr. Kady Pietz	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Change Effort Organizational Communication Effectiveness and Work Locus of Control Influence on Change Fatigue in the Workplace
Dr. Garry Thompson	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Relationship Between Self-Development, Mentorship, and Senior Military Officer Moral Judgment
Dr. Mark McLean	Dr. Heather Annulis	Essential Leadership Competencies for College Presidents in a Metrics-Driven Community College System
Dr. John Sherk	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	The Relationship Between Organizational Commitment, Discretionary Effort, and Turnover Intent
Dr. Larry Webster	Dr. Quincy Brown	Enablers and Barriers Influencing African American Administrators’ Career Advancement at Predominantly White Institutions of Higher Learning
Dr. Valeria Williams	Dr. Heather Annulis	Female Student Perceptions of Factors that Influence Persistence in Male-Dominated Community College Career and Technical Education Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Programs
Dr. Courtney Taylor	Dr. Heather Annulis	Influence of Career Services on Time to Undergraduate Degree Completion
Dr. Mitch Tarver	Dr. Quincy Brown	Promoting Workplace Health Using Wearable Technology: A Mixed Methods Study in a Non-Profit Organization
Dr. Gregory E. Higgins	Dr. Dale Lunsford	Screening the Managerial Applicant: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study of Résumé Review and Evaluation

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Bianca York-Crockett	Dr. Quincy Brown	Barriers and Enablers to Native American Persistence in Higher Education Programs: Narratives from Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
Dr. Ashley Scales	Dr. Quincy Brown	The Effects of Organizational Commitment and Harmonious Passion on Voluntary Turnover among Social Workers: A Mixed Methods Study
Dr. Lisa Sandifer	Dr. Dale Lunsford	Knowledge, Technical Skills, and Employability Skills Required of Accounting Graduates: Perceptions of Certified Public Accountants in Mississippi
Dr. Laura Haley	Dr. Heather Annulis	What Makes Employees Stay? Examining Social Exchange Relationships, Organizational Commitment, and Intent to Leave Among Casino Employees
Dr. Saurabh Gupta	Dr. Quincy Brown	Mechanism for Leadership Development and Effectiveness: The Relationship between Followership, Leadership, and Psychological Capital
Dr. Gregory M. Cole	Dr. Dale Lunsford	The Influence of Manual and Hydraulic Stretchers on Recruitment, Retention, and Turnover on the Emergency Medical Services Workforce
Dr. Catherine Cole	Dr. Heather Annulis	Exploring Retention and Environmental Alignment as Perceived by Professional Truck Drivers
Dr. Charles Childress	Dr. Quincy Brown	The Influence of an Electronic Attendance Monitoring System on Undergraduate Academic Success

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Timla Washington	Dr. Chad Miller	Self-Perceptions of Black Entrepreneurship in a Black Majority Rural Context - The Mississippi Delta
Dr. Richard Walker	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Examining the Perceived Influence of a Comprehensive Youth Development Program for Promoting Black Male High School Persistence
Dr. Angela Walker	Dr. Heather Annulis	Strategies for Increasing Female Navy Officer Retention: Deploying Mothers’ Perspectives
Dr. Gwendolyn Meador	Dr. Heather Annulis	Ethical Decision-Making Accounting Competencies: Practitioners’ Perspectives
Dr. William Markopoulos	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Perceived Influence of the Ferguson Effect on Law Enforcement Officer Turnover Intentions
Dr. Sharon Johnson	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Local Workforce Development Boards: Alignment with Operational Indicators and Behavioral Characteristics
Dr. John Hubbard	Dr. Chad Miller	Is Human Capital Development the Missing Component of the Aerotropolis Model?
Dr. Burdette Fullerton	Dr. Chad Miller	The Effects of Tax Increment Financing on Assessed Land Values
Dr. Steve Ellis	Dr. Quincy Brown	Applying Affective Engagement to Change Organizational Culture: A Secondary Analysis of Sexual Assault Prevention and Reporting Curriculum Outcomes on U.S. Air Force Technical Training Campuses
Dr. William Burge	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	The Relationship Between the Human and Social Capital Characteristics of Nascent Entrepreneurs and Expected Job Growth in the United States

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Robert Thompson	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	An Investigation of Work Environment Characteristics and Work Engagement of Limited- and Full-Service Hotel Property Front-Line Employees
Dr. Richard Ayers	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Optimizing Workforce Performance: Perceived Differences of Army Officer Critical Thinking Talent Across Level of Education

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Brock Stout	Dr. Heather Annulis	What Will the Neighbors Think? Perceptions of Failure Intolerance on Individual Entrepreneurial Intention in the Rural Midwest
Dr. Christy Riddle	Dr. Heather Annulis	How Did the Students Cross the Stage? The Relationship of Demographic Factors on Early Selection of College Major
Dr. Janea McDonald	Dr. Heather Annulis	The Relationship Between University Employees' Work Engagement and the Perception of their Influence on Student Integration and Retention
Dr. Tammy Means	Dr. Heather Annulis	A Study Identifying Information Technology Development Strategies for Nursing Professional Development Specialists Practicing in Healthcare Settings
Dr. Alan Martinez	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	The Role of Shared Mental Models in Team Coordination Crew Resource Management Skills of Mutual Performance Monitoring and Backup Behaviors
Dr. Jason Golden	Dr. Dale Lunsford	An Examination of the Volunteer Coordinator’s Influence on Church Volunteers’ Intent-to-Continue at the Largest Protestant Churches
Dr. Mary Funk	Dr. Heather Annulis	Assessing Nontraditional Student Dropouts on a Commuter Campus

Column title	Column title	Column title
Dr. Katie Wallace	Dr. Heather Annulis	Development of Workforce Skills: Student Perceptions of Mentoring in First Robotics
Dr. Dianna Perkins	Dr. Heather Annulis	Building Change Readiness Practices for Information Technology Support Staff
Dr. Ker Ferguson	Dr. Chad Miller	A Policy Framed Analysis of the Valley of Death in U.S. University Technology Transfer
Dr. Sharon Cureton	Dr. Heather Annulis	The Role of Exchange Ideology in Coworker Social Support and Work Engagement
Dr. Gary Burrus	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Strategic Human Resources in Casino Operations: Revealing the Perceptions of Casino Operators and Human Resource Leaders
Dr. Jim Black, Jr.	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Online Communities of Practice in the Contact Center Environment: Factors that Influence Participation

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Christopher Fox	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Emotional Intelligence and Community Healthcare Productivity
Dr. Yolanda Clark	Dr. Heather Annulis	Project-Based Section 8 Housing Participants’ Perception of Cultural and Structural Factors to Explain Barriers to Economic Self-Sufficiency
Dr. Tomeka Harbin	Dr. Heather Annulis	Workplace Health Promotion Programs: An Assessment of Factors Influencing Participation
Dr. Josh Duplantis	Dr. Chad Miller	Developing Social Capital: The Effect of an Academic Service-Learning Component on the Civic Attitudes of College Students

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Rich Stewart	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	A Study of the Leadership Code and Employee Engagement
Dr. Ginger Robbins	Dr. Heather Annulis	A Study of the Effect of Appreciative Inquiry on Student – Course Engagement and Attendance in the Community College
Dr. Deborah Moore	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	America Reads-Mississippi Future Teacher Corps: A Study of Program Completers' Perception of Factors Influencing the Program Completers' Perception of Factors Influencing the Decision to Become and Remain Classroom Teachers
Dr. Steve Miller	Dr. Brent Hales	Leading Through Crisis: Competencies for Effective Sport Security Professionals
Dr. Cheryl Zipay Kirby	Dr. Heather Annulis	Assessing a Culture of Innovation Leadership on the Human Capital in Healthcare
Dr. Mamie Griffin	Dr. Heather Annulis	Manufacturing Mississippi’s Workforce: An Assessment of Employability Skills as Perceived by Faculty & Senior Students of Four Year Manufacturing Related Degree Program
Dr. Evelyn Green	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Employee Volunteer and Employer Benefits from Business-Education Partnerships as Perceived by Employee Volunteers
Dr. Dionne Davis-Green	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Examining the Relationship Between Social Capital and Career Success Among Welfare to Work Participants in Louisiana

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. Rich Jeffries	Dr. Heather Annulis	Investments in Leadership and Management Succession Planning at a Department of Defense Organization in the Southeastern United States: A Review of Strategic
Dr. Dwuena Wyre	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Set Up for Success: An Examination of the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program's Mentoring Component
Dr. Sidney Mitchell	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Factors That Contribute to Persistence and Retention of Underrepresented Minority Undergraduate Students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Dr. Lindsey Lewis	Dr. Heather Annulis	The Computer Ate My Classroom: Assessing Student Interactions, Perceived Learning, and Satisfaction in Online Community College Career Technical Education Courses
Dr. Madonna Adams	Dr. Heather Annulis	Recovering From Hurricane Katrina, Small Business Owners Conquer Katrina: A Mixed Methodology Study

Student	Chair	Dissertation
Dr. John Kmiec, Jr.	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	A Study of the Effectiveness of a Pilot Training Program in an Organizational Setting: An intervention for work engagement
Dr. Holly Burkett	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	Change Capacity as a Determinant of Sustainable ROI Implementation in Human Resource Development Practice
Dr. Scott Alsobrooks	Dr. Cyndi Gaudet	The Quality of Student Experiences in Traditionally Scheduled Courses Versus Block Scheduled Courses at Pearl River Community College