Inequities in faculty representation and support have long been documented, though a potentially key contributor to these inequities--negotiation behavior--remains underexplored. We leverage descriptive analyses and hierarchical linear modeling with a sample of over 30,000 faculty to explore gender- and race-based differences across negotiating…

While racially minoritized students are gaining access and enrolling in post-secondary institutions at higher rates, institutionalized oppression and exclusionary practices impact students' experience and success. Colleges and universities have an obligation to create environments that are welcoming, just, and fair for all students who choose to…

This dissertation contains three essays that examine the influence of state policies on transfer enrollment at 4-year institutions. The first essay is a systematic review of 16 studies that provide an understanding of the literature on state policies and transfer enrollment at 4-year institutions. In the review I provide an understanding of who…

This study investigated whether instructional modality in an undergraduate degree program, either traditional on-campus or asynchronous online, and racial/ethnic group could predict students' reports of satisfaction with the institution, retention year-over-year, and graduation within an eight-year award rate. Data from surveys and enrollment…

This qualitative study examined the experiences of faculty members who have participated in cross-racial mentoring experiences at four-year public universities. This study explored faculty members' experiences and the impact of race on the relationship. Mentoring was an avenue that positively impacted the trajectory of the mentees' careers. This…

This research explores the experiences of Latina mothers residing in San Antonio, Texas, using testimonios as a form of data collection; asynchronous interviews were completed to obtain the participants' experiences as they journeyed through their respective doctoral programs. Through this qualitative study, the research provided an in-depth…

In order to explore whether the Watermark™ Educator Disposition Assessment (EDA) is an equitable assessment for all teacher candidates regardless of race, this study used a Quantitative Critical Race Theory (QuantCrit) methodological design to analyze a pilot implementation of the assessment representing 650 discreet disposition assessments…

Objective: To determine the prevalence of long-distance relationships (LDRs) among college students and explore how relationship dynamics differed between LDRs and geographically close relationships (GCRs). Participants: Data were from romantically involved students (N = 2075) who participated in the 2020 College Sexual Health Survey. Methods:…

Objective: To examine the prevalence and correlates of lifetime cannabis use (i.e., experimental [use 1-5 times] and non-experimental [use [greater than or equal to] 6 times]) in relation to interpersonal trauma (IPT) above and beyond relevant covariates. Participants: A large (n = 9,889) representative sample of college students at an urban…

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented mid-semester transition to virtual learning. Instructors and students had to adapt to new ways of delivering and receiving course material. Objective: The present investigation examined whether course format and sense of belongingness were associated with learning satisfaction during the…

Psychometric characteristics of CESD-R scores were explored on a sample of 966 undergraduate students. Internal consistency ([alpha] = 0.92), external convergent and discriminant validity, and response bias were adequate to excellent. Strong measurement invariance was evident for gender and race comparisons, and the unidimensional model fit the…

It is essential that all students who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) have the motivational supports to persist in their STEM career trajectories. "STEM role models," or successful individuals in STEM, can be powerful tools to motivate college students towards STEM careers, particularly if students…

Despite much effort by engineering education scholarships to make engineering more inclusive, women are still underrepresented in engineering. Women earn less than 30% of the bachelor's degrees in engineering. However, when we examine the intersectionality between gender and race/ethnicity, the lack of representation in certain groups of women…

This quantitative study examined the comparative factors of academic success between ECHS students (ECHS) and non-ECHS traditional college students, and utilized secondary data from National Student Clearinghouse and an East Texas community college. The enrollment of students in ECHS and non-ECHS traditional college students guided the study. The…

African American students are entering into higher education institutions at higher rates. This population has specific needs and faces various challenges entering college at predominantly white institutions compared to their counterparts of different races. While college is already a stressful time with academic pressures as well as navigating a…