The art market operates under substantial price uncertainty and information asymmetry. This thesis examines how pre-auction estimates shape bidder behavior and hammer price outcomes, and whether observable characteristics explain variation in estimate uncertainty, sale success, and hammer price realization.

Artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly shapes early-stage recruitment, often determining which candidates advance before human review. Although often framed as efficient and objective, these systems can reproduce or amplify labor-market inequalities by generating disparate impacts--outcome-based differences in selection rates across protected groups, regardless of intent (Barocas & Selbst, 2016).

In clinical and biological research, comparisons of treatment effects often involve rare events observed over unequal exposure times, making crude event counts misleading. This study focuses on exposure-adjusted incidence densities as a principled approach for comparing event rates while accounting for varying time at risk and stratification factors such as demographic or geographic characteristics.

Fueling (vs. depleting) employee well-being is challenging yet critical for organizations. Leaders’ ethicality or unethicality is a key contributor to employees' well-being. While research has documented associations between ethical and unethical leadership and employee well-being, the psychological process through which leader behavior influences employees is not as well understood.

Shrimp aquaculture expansion in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta has driven significant mangrove loss, as traditional extensive farming involves clearing mangrove forests for pond construction, resulting in little to no mangrove coverage and reduced coastal protection and ecosystem services.

This thesis examines how colonial legacies shape contemporary foreign policy alignment and vulnerability to U.S. economic sanctions. Using an original country-year dataset (1980–2005), it argues that extractive colonial institutions, characterized by resource concentration, weak sovereignty, and dependent economic structures, orient postcolonial states toward Russia (as measured by UN General Assembly voting), increasing their likelihood of U.S. sanctions targeting.

Scholars conducted statewide interviews and sector research at Go Global NC in Research Triangle Park, NC to develop a cross-sector training model that strengthens North Carolina’s global engagement and economic competitiveness.

Scholars served as internal consultants at KAL Firm in Atlanta, Georgia, developing strategic solutions for Soccer in the Streets’ initiatives through research, stakeholder engagement, and operational support to enhance community impact and sustainability.

Scholars advanced inclusive development initiatives at Kenan Foundation Asia in Bangkok, Thailand by supporting strategic communications, partnership development, and digital learning projects that promote education, economic growth, and social equity across Southeast Asia.

Scholars analyzed impact data and crafted a 25th anniversary report at Latino Community Credit Union in Durham, NC, highlighting how community-based finance and nontraditional lending models advance financial inclusion and economic opportunity for underserved populations.

Scholars supported strategic initiatives at the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development in Mesa, Arizona by conducting research, developing communications and grant materials, and advancing Native business growth through culturally informed, impact-driven work.

Scholars advanced strategic initiatives at CLIMB USA in Madison, Wisconsin by researching nonprofit funding models, collaborating across key workstreams, and recommending scalable revenue strategies to enhance organizational sustainability.