Adult cultures matter. In today's volatile political climate, the call for human-focused leaders is stronger than ever. Guided by adult development theory and supported by multiple scholarly sources, the researcher synthesized a theoretical framework for understanding what human-centered leadership entails: Honing compassion; Understanding one's…

The study investigates educators' perceptions of Restorative Justice Practices (RJPs) in inclusive classrooms, focusing on students with dis/Abilities, within the frameworks of Social Justice, Critical Race Theory, and Disability Studies (DisCrit). It aims to address a gap in the literature on equity in education, particularly the effects of RJPs…

Most educators enter the profession with a strong sense of purpose, often connected to a love of children and hope for the future, a desire to make a difference and give back to the community, or a belief in education as a catalyst for social justice. However, competing educational goals and purposes, as well as current educational reforms rooted…

This qualitative study investigated the factors contributing to limited access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in rural high schools in the United States. Despite the potential benefits of CTE programs in preparing students for the workforce, studies showed that underrepresented groups have limited access to CTE programs,…

Global student mobility, as a rapid growing phenomenon, has had a major impact on the diversification of the U.S. college student population (Laanan, 2006; Jindal-Snape & Rienties, 2016). There were around 1 million international students in 2021-2022 in U.S. higher education (Open Doors, 2023); these students experience different kinds of…

Care is foundational to the way we reproduce and transform the world around us. Today, in a time marked by widespread calls for racial and social justice, and simultaneous backlash against these calls, it is imperative that we understand the ways that care circulates and operates within racialized struggle. In this dissertation I engage in this…

In this study on educational change in Pennsylvania from 1790 to 1838, I reexamine the history of how the state established its common school system, the predecessor to the state's public school system. In doing so, I identify a series of three leaders, argue that poverty was the primary catalyst for educational reform, and explain the nature of…

As the global human population increases, the need to provide sustainable food and water systems is becoming more prevalent. The United States has been at the forefront of training individuals to contribute to the agricultural and natural resource workforce by establishing the land-grant university (LGU) system. However, LGUs face challenges…

The education of young people is a vital task in a democracy with significant implications for both for young people themselves and for the state. How authority over schooling should be shared and organized is, therefore, a vital question in a democracy. This dissertation takes on that question and ultimately defends a broadly democratic account…

Public science events (PSEs) are an increasingly popular mode of informal science engagement. The burgeoning research on PSEs suggests a number of important benefits for visitors to these events, including increased scientific knowledge, improved attitudes toward science, and an increased awareness of science in everyday life. However, these…

Training and development are used extensively in the United States to impact employee learning and performance. The considerable investment and expenditures across public and private sectors and the vast number of employees who receive support from training and development professionals warrants exploration into how instructional designers are…

This study addresses university leadership and the need to affirm diversity, equity, and inclusion in order to institute organizational change for social justice. My key research question is, "What are effective ways for leaders to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion with the goal of achieving social justice?" There is much research…

With the increasing demographic diversity and critical focus on social justice in the United States, leaders are under significant pressure to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) strategies into their core operations and organizational culture. Challenged to think more critically about how to better prepare and support…

Community colleges struggle with enrollment and student success challenges to enhance student experiences and improve completion through various initiatives. Despite efforts, many lack long-term sustainability efforts, leaving colleges seeking solutions. The Guided Pathways framework leverages a college's existing practices and restructures…

Each year in New York state, tens of thousands of student-athletes participate in interscholastic athletics on over 15,000 public school teams. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on interscholastic athletic participation rates in New York state public schools and their relationship to school districts'…