LDS doctrine establishes three courses of action in conflict resolution: a) selective pacifism, b) action as proxy for God as prescribed under the doctrine of continuous revelation and c) absolute pacifism. Of these three, only absolute and selective pacifism are of practical use to the modern member of the LDS Church. Of the remaining two, government political decisions and technological momentum have moved current U.S. defense strategy and weaponry away from a defensive to an offense posture, thus invalidating the case of the selective pacifist and leaving only the absolutist's stand. Despite this development, however, the number of vocal pacifists within the Church remains conspicuously small. This can be attributed to: a) the confusion over the role of authority and obedience in the Church, b) the appearance of Church and Mormon cultural endorsement for militarism, c) the influence of "Just War" theory, d) the effects of fatalism and the "Armageddon" complex, e) disregard for the doctrines of stewardships, f) the lessening of personal responsibility and g) influence from the Utah military/industrial/university complex.

Sibling relationships transcend all other relationships. Described by scholars as “cradle to grave,” no other relationship is as long-lasting as the sibling relationship. Although one of the longest relationships any one person will be a part of in their lives, siblings communicative research is widely understudied. Specifically, supportive communication and the role birth order plays in sibling communication are important to examine. This study sought to explore topics of sibling support, the role birth order played in providing (or not providing) support, and the differentiation between sibling and parental supportive communication. Through qualitative methods of investigation, open-ended questions were answered by five same-gender sibling dyads (10 participants). The responses of these participants developed into four separate themes to explain the sibling communicative relationship. There is no topic too broad or taboo that siblings expressed they couldn’t talk to their other sibling about, and parental advice was described as outdated when siblings explained why they sought advice from their sibling over their parent. Similarly, firstborn children expressed an innate obligation to be supportive of their younger siblings, even without being told this message from their parents. The findings of this qualitative study are presented such that they can be used to further justify the importance of studying the unique communication between siblings.

Physical therapy as an emerging profession is committed to establishing its identity and solidifying its role as a leader in health care. With expertise in human movement, wellness, and disease prevention, physical therapists possess invaluable knowledge and skill to influence public health and enhance patient recovery without increasing cost. Physical therapists have the opportunity to transform the delivery of public health services to meet current and future needs. A major challenge, however, is a dearth of leadership development in preparation programs. Because most physical therapists have not received formal education or explicit training in leadership, a problem of practice exists. This dissertation is a report of a mixed-methods action-research study that explores leadership development among aspiring and practicing physical therapists. It describes a series of professional development (PD) activities designed to foster transformational leadership and a community of practice among a group of clinicians in a privately-owned clinic in north Florida. Qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis indicate positive changes were made in understanding transformational leadership, engagement in community service, relationship building among coworkers, communication, and community of practice after participation in the PD activities. Analysis of results also identified the need for continued relationship development, conflict resolution, and building strong teams. Because a paucity of literature related to leadership development in physical therapy exists, findings from this study may prove useful to the field. The results describe a feasible method of leadership development and sustainability of a community of practice to inspire transformative practitioners who lead in the clinic and the community.

The rapidly expanding use of technology in education has brought about the need for principals to be prepared as technology leaders. Although, there is a need for principals to be prepared as technology leaders, many currently are not prepared for this role. It is crucial that principals are prepared in order ability to lead their school in successful technology integration. The primary purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the perceived level of technology leadership preparation of Utah elementary principals using the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Administrators. In addition to the study’s primary purpose, the study identified the types and quantity of professional development principals are receiving and how this professional development relates to the principals’ levels of technology leadership. In addition, this study concluded whether or not the perceived technology leadership preparedness level of Utah principals correlates with the number of hours spent in technology leadership training. Furthermore, the study compared differences in technology leadership preparation levels based on principal characteristics. Literature shows that technology leadership research is scarce. The findings from this study will help fulfill some of the need for additional technology leadership research. In addition, the findings can help educators have a better understanding of how to prepare principals to be effective technology leaders. The data for this study were collected from 129 Utah elementary school principals using the 2009 Principals Technology Leadership Assessment (PTLA). This survey used the 2009 ISTE Standards for Administrators as the framework. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, t test, ANOVA, and qualitative coding. The findings provide evidence that Utah elementary school principals are not adequately prepared to lead as technology leaders. Furthermore, a technology leadership professional development model has been designed to further assist educators.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to find common themes among Latina leaders. This study aimed to identify the leadership styles and leadership qualities unique to Latina leaders. It also analyzed the factors that have contributed to or inhibited the advancement of Latina leaders, as well as the challenges they have faced during their journey to the top. Sixteen Latina leaders, representing a variety of sectors, were interviewed by the author asking each one to share her story of what has influenced the leader she has ultimately become. Three predetermined general research questions served as a basic structure for the interview, but the format of the interview was meant to be a conversational style. The themes that recurred throughout the sixteen interviews with Latina leaders were grouped under the corresponding research question and were analyzed using various quotations from the interviewees themselves. The essential themes that emerged included: a) transformational leadership; b) authentic leadership; c) leadership qualities—New Latina, visionary, and marianismo; c) successful educational attainment; d) family influence; e) networking; f) internal barriers; and g) family obligations. This study expanded the knowledge and research of the unique characteristics of Latina leadership and identified ways of preparing the next generation for achieving success and advancing the rise of Latinas in significant leadership positions.

This thesis explores the leadership styles of three female presidents in Latin America: Michelle Bachelet (Chile), Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (Argentina) y Dilma Rousseff (Brazil). These three women were chosen because each has been the first generally elected female president in their respective countries. Each woman’s profile is divided into two parts: 1) an expository evaluation of the life and career of each woman, and 2) a case study of her specific leadership style based on a particular event or challenge faced during her presidency. It is important to understand the political trajectories of these women because they demonstrate how certain cultural, structural, and institutional barriers have broken over time, allowing more women to ascend to the highest political offices. On the other hand, each case serves to enrich our holistic understanding of some of the current female presidents and in what ways they have been successful leaders. In general, Bachelet has been a transformational leader, Fernández de Kirchner has been a charismatic leader, and Rousseff has been an authentic relational leader. Through these case studies, we see that there is no one “feminine” leadership style, a conclusion which coincides with the existing literature.

This thesis seeks to uncover the ways in which China has seized political control of the HKSAR with the use of patron-client politics, before ultimately examining the growth of democracy within this patron-client system of governance. This goal was pursued with the intention of shedding light on the legitimacy of Chinese rule in HK and in order to consider the extent to which the HKSAR can really be called a democracy. In answering these questions, we consider both Chinese and HK history, as to understand how each region's political history has influenced governance in modern HK. We then move on to an in-depth analysis of what pro-Beijing and pro-democracy forces have each done to further their own agendas –what political and institutional successes and failures have each had, and to what degree of significance? We ultimately conclude that although Beijing governance, and consequently patrimonialism, is here to stay, democracy certainly has room for growth –In an attempt to balance electoral competitiveness and the patrimonialism, the HKSAR will continue to grow in unique ways that perhaps the world has not yet seen before. HK's political growth should matter not only to Hong Kongers, as it represents China’s first genuine attempt at experimenting with democracy, albeit in perhaps reserved ways. Furthermore, China's operations within Hong Kong’s more democratic arena have brought to light parts of its own character that otherwise may have remained shrouded in shadows. If China is ever to follow global trends towards democracy and perhaps pave the road for more to follow, we will certainly be able to trace the roots of change back to HK.

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A major focus of policymakers in recent years has been community colleges, which have been viewed as potential engines for economic advancement and student success. I examined the leadership history of Roane State Community College, a two-year institution of higher learning serving a nine-county service area mostly in rural East Tennessee as perceived by individuals who have served as the college’s presidents. Five current and former presidents were interviewed about their experiences as president and their perceptions of the college’s history. Narrative research was used to recount a history of Roane State Community College, and the key events and factors shaping it, as well the role played by various leaders. The results of this study illuminate the history of Roane State Community College, provide insight into the leadership of community colleges in general, and add to the literature on the history of community colleges in the U.S. Among the findings were that the founding of Roane State, funding concerns, the establishment of satellite campuses, the use of technology, and the establishment of Pellissippi State Community College were considered among the key historical events. Participants also reported that they valued collaborative, consensus-building styles of leadership.