vAcknowledgments
I thank my dissertation committee—Dr. Michael Marquardt (Chair), Dr. Gary^
Low, and Dr. Brad Shuck—for your guidance, reviews, and coaching on this
dissertation. I was honored that these renowned scholars chose to be involved with this
study. You inspired me to explore this research terrain, and I learned much from each of
you. I thank Dr. Ellen Goldman for helping me craft the study’s foundation. I thank my
outside examiners—Dr. Andrea Casey and Dr. Millie Mateu—for your due diligence and
sage advice. I thank Dr. Rick Hammett for his gracious and helpful comments. Your
review improved the quality of this study. I thank the entire ELP 22 cohort and especially
an esteemed comp study group – Cynthia Bell, Edie Williams, Ellen Wilkinson, Kari
Schaeffler, and Ron Sheffield. We kept it real and kept each other from going off the
ledge. I thank all of the wonderful and fascinating participants in this study without
whom there would be no meaning.
Special thanks to Duncan ‘Mike’ Dennis – the best friend anyone could hope to
have – and for keeping the house (and cats) in order during my numerous study ventures.
A hearty thanks to dear friends Jeff and Felicia Horton, and Ron and Becky Sheffield, for
the much-needed company, research beverages, and superb accommodations. Thanks,
too, to Tom, Mary, and Libby Weber for the much-needed social breaks (Go Nats!). I
appreciate the unwavering friendship and support from Karen Terry, Pam Berg, Kent
Bell, Jesse Lennox, and Kathie Leavens. A shout-out goes to Terry Schauer for her
willingness to cat sit. Speaking of cats, Dame Crookshanks and Miss Fuzzums helped
me appreciate the fine art of relaxation, as they mastered it long ago. Gratitude also goes