The College of Education

Announces the Final Examination of

Laura E. Demarse

for the degree of

Doctor of Education

November 9, 2015 at 11:00 am

Ball Hall, University of Memphis

Memphis, TN

Biographical Sketch

Bachelors of Arts, Psychology, Marymount Manhattan College

Masters of Science in Education, Counseling, Fordham University

Advisory Committee

Larry McNeal, PhD, Professor, Leadership, Committee chair

Reginald Green, Ed.D, Professor, Leadership

Mary Boudreaux, Ed.D, Assistant Professor, Leadership

Ernest Rakow, PhD, Professor, Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Research

Major Field of Study

Adult Education

Period of Preparation: 2011-2015

Comprehensive Examination Passed: March 2015

CASE STUDY ON SPIRITUALITY IN SENIOR CENTER EDUCATION:

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN ADULT EDUCATION

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the deeply personal role of spirituality in adult education as seen through teaching seniors and examined the personal manifestation of spirituality through the life experiences of five adult educators. The research questions will examine how the participants implement spirituality in their teaching practice, principally informed by their personal definitions of spirituality and how these personal experiences of spirituality influence and shape their work as adult educators. The case study will use non-participant observation and semi-structured interviews, which provide the narratives that informs the basis of this study.

Keywords: spirituality, adult education, transformation learning, case study, educators