I would like to give honor to the Sovereign God, who is the head of my life, for the determination, strength, and courage to dream and the faith to see those dreams come true. My life is orchestrated by God and I am thankful that He has ordered my steps and his will is continually being accomplished in my life. I thank my parents, the most amazing people I know. You have been the wind beneath my wings, encouraging me to give my best, do my best, and be my best. Your prayers and words of encouragement have carried me through this journey, without which I would not have made it. Preparing meals, running errands, and completing household chores for me so that I would not have to be concerned with trivialities, but work on the work, is a testament of your support and selflessness. Thank you for listening to doctoral student chatter (sometimes positive and sometimes in the form of complaining), being my audience when practicing for an important presentation, and giving valuable feedback to improve the substance and quality of my work. Thank you for leading by example and being lifelong learners and leaders; my inspiration for being the same. I could not have asked for better parents. You have been to me what every child wants, needs, and aspires to become. Thank you, Jason, for being a wonderful brother and encouraging me to push beyond my own limits.