The purpose of this study was about how nonprofit organizations can provide effective career development programs for the vulnerable and underserved people, resulting in employment and assisting them with being self-sufficient in Houston, Texas, as well as the surrounding geographical region. The study was based on qualitative research data…

Black males with mental health diagnoses face substantial barriers to gaining and maintaining employment. Tailored employment support services may help increase employment access, yet utilization remains low among this demographic area. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study is to explore the employment challenges for Black males with mental…

In this three-study dissertation, I present an in-depth examination of patterns in the paraeducator workforce across two states: Indiana and Washington. In each study, I leverage longitudinal administrative data to answer questions about the distribution, turnover, and impact of paraeducators in the workforce using both descriptive and causal…

There is a shortage of sales education programs that develop sales-trained graduates with the business skills required to succeed in the sales profession today. More than 50% of U.S. college graduates will work in sales (Sales Education Foundation, 2023c), yet fewer than 4% of more than 4,800 U.S. institutions offer sales programs at the…

This study examined Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) participants' perceptions of integrating digital literacy training with the TANF job readiness program to bridge the gap between TANF and earning higher wages to provide for their families without government assistance. A combination of qualitative content analysis and focus group…

If this is the age of innovation why is our educational system still navigating the future from the past? Recounts of industry hiring managers' negative perspectives about recent graduates' soft skills, when will this end and how will it be achieved before the 22nd century? The problem addressed in this study is that industry hiring managers and…

Difficulty in nursing student graduate transition to clinical experience has been reported in previous literature. Lack of confidence, feelings of inadequacy, and limited peer support have been attributed to the stress associated with transition. The purpose of this qualitative, constructivist grounded theory study was to (a) examine the process…

Having a job immediately after graduation is the dream of every IT graduate. However, not everyone can achieve this outcome. The study's primary goal is to develop predictive models to forecast IT graduates' chances of finding a job based on factors such as academic performance, socioeconomic status, academic habits, and demographic data.…

This dissertation comprises three chapters. The first two address issues within the education system, focusing on strategies to attract and retain high-quality teachers in the public sector. The third chapter, a collaborative effort with Martin Martinez and Miguel Saldarriaga, explores the application of machine learning tools for nowcasting…

The purpose of this study investigated the role of K-12 education in breaking the cycle of poverty in the Southeastern Public School District, focusing on the relationship between school-level poverty and key student outcomes: (a) graduation rates, (b) job placement, and (c) college acceptance. This study assessed the timing of federal-, state-,…