For several generations, the educational achievement gap of African Americans has continued to widen in the United States. The current study examined how racial identity influences the relationship between academic motivation and academic stress among African American college students. Participants for the study included 438 African American…

The purpose of this study is to compare the immediate college enrollment of students who participated in the community college's dual credit program in high school with students who did not participate in the dual credit program. Data from a local community college's dual credit program is analyzed to understand the effects of participation,…

Higher education institutions have been grappling with significant enrollment declines and have urgently implemented retention strategies to sustain their student populations amid shifting demographics and economic challenges (American Association of Community Colleges, 2023; Hanover Research, 2021). However, these programs often neglect the…

Gender inequality limits women's ability to make decisions in their best interest and behave independently of the male patriarch in the home. These inequalities can result in limited access to healthcare, support, services, and positive outcomes from receiving medical care. In addition, women deemed to have a lower social status than men do not…

Access to post-secondary education for first-generation college students (FGCS) has become even more important after COVID-19 brought to the forefront the most affected in the workforce: those who had a high school degree or less. College access programs play a vital role to move the needle in closing the educational achievement gap. These…

Dual enrollment is an early college opportunity for high school students who are in an eligible high school class with a qualified high school instructor. Research has shown that participation in an early college program like dual enrollment increases college persistence and retention rates post high school. However, students from underrepresented…

Adult learners from the Caribbean diaspora continue to enroll in American colleges as they seek to improve their academic ambitions. As they do, they utilize varying instructional strategies to assist in achieving their educational goals, one of which is cooperative learning. While cooperative learning is widely used across different age groups…

There are eleven million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. Approximately two million are young people under the age of twenty-four. Although they came to the United States as children and were essentially raised and educated here, they remain without a pathway to legal permanent citizenship. Relatively little is known about the…

This dissertation delves into the unique experiences of contemporary polygamist women pursuing higher education, exploring the intersectionality of their cultural backgrounds, educational aspirations, and the challenges they encounter within academic settings. The study critically examines the applicability of equity-centered, trauma-informed…

While the number of individuals in the United States between the ages of 25-44 with a bachelor's degree has been increasing, so too has the number of individuals who have started college and dropped out. Higher education has numerous societal and individual benefits that are not being actualized because there are simply not enough individuals with…

Hmong adolescents face many challenges during high school, particularly college and career readiness. School counselors are trained professionals who can help. This transcendental phenomenology study explored the lived experiences of six Hmong adolescents and how they make sense of college and career lessons in a group work format over six weeks.…

Federal government policies have shifted the financial burdens of paying for college away from the public (e.g., grants and scholarships) to more onus placed on students and their families (Elliott & Friedline, 2013; Robb, 2011). However, budget cuts due to economic challenges often increase tuition rates (Orfield, 2002) that outpace what…

Despite research (Cormier et al., 2022; Lindsay & Hart, 2017) highlighting the positive impact Black male educators have on Black students, and Black male students in particular, the representation of Black, non-Hispanic male teachers in the U.S. public and private K-12 teaching workforce remains notably low at 1.3% (Taie & Lewis, 2022).…

This qualitative grounded theory study delves into the profound impact of the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic (COVID-19) on Black working mothers, shedding light on its consequences on their pursuit of education and mental well-being. While prior research has explored the effects of COVID-19 on Black working mothers, this study focuses on the…

Historically, racially marginalized communities are less likely to access health care, partly due to structural inequities as well as distrust for white providers. This need for increased racial and ethnic representation is specifically an issue in the pharmacist career, as more than 90% of the United States population lives within five miles of a…