Four Pillars of Growth for Youth Serving Nonprofits

Based on interviews, outlines how fast-growing youth-serving nonprofits prepare systematically for growth, demonstrate clear programmatic results, market to specific funders, and actively engage board members' time, talent, and financial resources

Network Transformation: Can Big Nonprofits Achieve Big Results?

In an era of tech-enabled, high-growth social enterprises, it's easy to overlook the very large, slower-growth organizations with expansive networks that have been serving children, youth, and families for a decade -- or longer. But it's these national and global networks that have the reach and power to take on big social issues. That's a challenge some have chosen to undertake in a quest to evolve from simply serving community needs to solving underlying social problems

Kelly Campbell TSSA Spring 2015

Enhances faculty\u27s teaching by attending a conference devoted to university teaching, a high-impact practice, evidence-based practice or a newly developing teaching practice

Kelly Campbell SOTL 2011-12

Supports faculty to redesign or develop a course in ways that implement high-impact, evidence-based, and/or innovative teaching strategies to improve student learning

Mathematical modelling of cartilage and bone defect healing after cell implantation

This thesis is concerned with mathematically modelling the regeneration of cartilage and cartilage-bone defects. Defects of the bone-cartilage unit, namely chondral and osteochondral defects, are a leading cause of osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis in the UK. These defects can occur through acute trauma, natural wear and tear of the joint, and underlying disease of the bone, and are typically found in the articular joints. Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) is the most commonly used cell implantation therapy for treating chondral defects in joints and has good clinical outcomes in osteochondral defects. The procedure begins by inserting chondrocytes into the defect region. The chondrocytes initiate healing by proliferating and depositing extracellular matrix, which allows them to migrate into the defect until it is completely filled with new cartilage. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used instead of chondrocytes with similar long term results. The main differences between these implantation techniques is observable at early times, as MSCs must first differentiate into chondrocytes before cartilage is formed. For osteochondral defect regeneration, the mechanism behind healing is not fully understood. Though osteochondral defects can spontaneously repair, the tissue is usually fibrous, typically leading to subsequent degradation of the newly regenerated tissue. A recent study in ovine models show osteochondral defects heal by first filling with regenerative cartilage tissue which is subsequently remodelled into bone, replicating the endochondral ossification process. We refine an existing model of cartilage defect regeneration using ACI to include important regulatory effects of growth factors, FGF-1 (fibroblast growth factor-1) and BMP-2 (bone morphogenetic protein-2). In vitro studies hypothesise these growth factors have a trophic effect on the chondral defect regeneration process. We then model the regeneration of a bone-cartilage defect using ACI in the presence of growth factors to verify the circumstances behind osteochondral healing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time this has been modelled for ACI therapy. The mathematical models formulated in this thesis successfully demonstrate the above proposed healing and growth factor mechanisms in chondral and osteochondral defect regeneration. Our key findings indicate a novel cell therapy that combines the ACI and MSC-implantation strategies increases the cartilage tissue formation rate within the first year of healing in chondral defects, regardless of the cell implantation ratio. Additionally, we show that osteochondral defects follow expected regeneration patterns when endochondral ossification is the proposed healing mechanism, under the influence of regulatory growth factors PTHrP (Parathyroid hormone-related protein) and Ihh (Indian hedgehog). The findnigs of these models enable us to better understand chondral and osteochondral defect regeneration by giving invaluable insight into the healing processes that are occurring, the impact growth factors have on these healing mechanisms, and highlighting the potential for advances of novel cell-based therapies

Work-life balance of women leaders in the Association of Theological Schools

Although women make up more than 50% of the student population at a theological institution, they are significantly underrepresented in leadership as evidenced by Lowe\u27s 2011 study, which found that women account for fewer than 10% of CEOs in theological education. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine work-life balance as it relates to organizational commitment for women leaders in Association of Theological Schools (ATS) accredited schools. The researcher used a qualitative methodology employing the life course theoretical framework, sometimes called the narrative life story framework, which is based on Giele\u27s (2008) original study. The interview questions were organized into four sections: childhood, young adulthood, current adulthood, and future adulthood. The interview questions explored the experiences (identity, relational style, drive and motivation, and adaptive style) that impact and form a women\u27s life course and directly influenced her work-life balance. The research questions for this study were: 1. What experiences (identity, relationship style, drive and motivation, and adaptive style) have shaped the life course of women who are currently in administrative leadership positions at ATS? 2. What are the relationships between the various influences (faith, organizational commitment, and career goals) on work-life balance decisions? The researcher sent the questionnaire to women in the specific job position of President, Academic Dean, Dean, Dean and Vice-President of Academic Affairs, or Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty as defined by ATS. Ten women participated in the interviews and provided socio-demographic data. The findings indicated that these women who participated in this study connected and intermingled their faith with their lives at all levels. They viewed their calling and work as a part of God\u27s purpose in their lives, and they derived significant meaning from that work. They valued professional and personal relationships that helped them achieve work-life balance in all areas of their lives. The key findings provided a composite of these women leaders working in ATS. In addition, the research study demonstrated that work-life balance and organizational commitment are both beneficial for ATS institutions and for women leaders working in the environment

EFFECTS OF VARYING FIELD CONDITIONS ON POTENTIAL PAINTED BUNTING HABITAT IN COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA

Daily point counts were conducted during the summer seasons of 2006, 2007 and 2008 in randomly selected agricultural plots at two field sites in coastal South Carolina to examine habitat use by painted buntings, indigo buntings, blue grosbeaks and brown-headed cowbirds. Plots were selected based on their original condition, such as planted, fallow or old field, in 2006. The two sites, James A. Webb Wildlife Management Area and Nemours Plantation, are areas managed in methods similar to those described in several Conservation Reserve Programs (CRPs), and CP33 - Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds - in particular. I propose the management regimes outlined in CP33, and similarly the practices implemented at both study sites, are too intense to be able to provide the early successional habitat needed by the focal species. Although there was no statistical significance found when correlating focal species occurrence and plot variables, I observed the greater the intensity of management regime, as determined by the frequency of manipulations, the fewer occurrences of the focal species. The study landscapes offer a variety of habitat, but lack adequate three-year old growth in the form of hedgerows and buffers to sustain populations of the focal species