ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

There are so many who contributed to making this dream a reality and I am forever grateful. Without the Lord Jesus Christ, none of this would have been possible. I am so thankful for the abundance of blessings that have been bestowed upon me throughout this PhD journey. I would like to thank my dissertation chair Debra Woody for your wonderful guidance and support. To the members of my dissertation committee, Peter Lehmann, Joan Rycraft, Maria Scaannapieco, and David Stader, thank you for your input and support. I would also like to thank certain members of the UTA staff for your assistance and encouragement. To my mentor Dr. Shirley King, your guidance, support and assistance is appreciated more than you will know. I began this program because of your encouragement. I am so fortunate to know you. To my friends who have supported me throughout this entire journey, I thank you for your strength, prayers, encouragement, and excitement. I do not take friendship lightly and I am so fortunate to be able to call you my friend. To my crazy and wonderful family, thank you so much for your love, support, editing, and prayers. I am so blessed to have you as my family. To my youth, thank you for your assistance during this process and your words of encouragement. I am so blessed to know you. To Fortress, I thank you for your patience, prayers, and support during the dissertation writing process. To my acquaintances, co-workers, colleagues, fellow children of God, and those who I may have met once, I am so grateful for your prayers and words of encouragement. Finally, to iii my mother, you are off the chain! You basically went through this journey with me. Without your support, patience, encouragement, and love I have no idea where I would be. You believing in me, means more than you will ever know