In identifying ways to create inclusive spaces in the classroom, instructors should not be limited by singular modes of discourse to engage students. Particularly when teaching first-year students who seek to invent the university and claim their intellectual space within it, these considerations must be deeply integrated into the course…

This dissertation applied an extended version of Cropanzano et al.'s (2017) theoretical framework, integrating affective events theory with leader-member exchange theory, incorporating leadership self-efficacy and workplace satisfaction. It investigated challenges of peer supervisory relationships among eight head resident advisors at a small…

Over the last decade, STEM education research has reflected a turn towards framing disciplinary development in STEM as the repetition and stabilization of situated practices. In this dissertation, I turn further: towards "disciplinary relationships" as a potential focus of analysis. To centralize disciplinary relationships, I use a…

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictability of emotional intelligence factors on the relationship quality among African American male college students. Specifically, this study was concerned with the predictable relationship between the emotional intelligence factors of emotion regulation, self-regulation, emotion management, and…

The purpose of this quantitative comparative study was to determine if, and to what extent, there were statistically significant differences between NCAA Division I and Division II HBCU transfer student-athletes in terms of social identity, negative affectivity, and exclusivity. The athletic identity concept served as the conceptual framework for…

This descriptive qualitative study explores undergraduate students' experiences of physical academic libraries to identify possible connections between physical academic library environments and students' affective experiences. Drawing on a combination of theoretical perspectives focused on how humans understand, navigate, and respond to space and…

Scholars and educators are turning to culturally responsive education to create more inclusive and equitable educational experiences for an increasingly diverse student population (Gay, 2010, 2013, 2018; Ladson-Billings, 1995a, 1995b, 2014). However, despite its immense potential, challenges and pitfalls still exist (Sleeter, 2012; Warren, 2014,…

This dissertation explores how varied delivery strategies may influence college student affective learning in a mediated setting. I employed a hybrid-grounded approach to the exploration of student-participant interviews wherein student-participants engaged with one of two online media literacy learning modules. The results of this study…

This study evaluated the impact of a somatic wellness training pilot program specifically designed for marriage and family therapy (MFT) students. Anchored in mindfulness and the person of the therapist (POTT) model, the program aimed to cultivate heightened self-awareness, emotional regulation, and self-care practices, incorporating respect for…

This dissertation examines the affective qualities of non-player character motion in a Virtual Reality (VR) cognitive training game, their impact on players' core affective experiences, game performance, and cognitive training outcomes. How do the movements of game characters in a VR environment affect players' experienced emotions, gameplay…

Low-income first-generation students represent a significant portion of U.S. undergraduates, and they face unique challenges that other students do not, which can influence their decision to stay within their programs. Therefore, a better understanding of what resources a program can provide to support these students and what drivers can keep a…

Background: Autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy are prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders. Autistic individuals or individuals with cerebral palsy often struggle with sensory processing that further impacts movement execution. Immersive virtual reality (VR) is a promising assessment and intervention modality to promote motor learning in…

The problem this study addressed is that school districts have employed specialized Emotional-Behavioral Disability (EBD) classrooms to help facilitate greater participation in the general education setting by students with EBD; however, general education elementary teachers' intention towards inclusion of EBD students is a barrier to reaching the…

Conventional GIScience in favor of objectivity and rationality has focused mainly on locations in the physical environment while falling short of dealing with mental space and human perceptions, feelings, and emotions. Emotional factors are minimized in the majority of GIS algorithms as such factors are viewed as obstructive to spatial analysis.…

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) professionals often serve as change agents tasked with leading university-wide EDI efforts. Charged with advancing EDI initiatives as part of the University mission, the Vice President of Equity Diversity and Inclusion (VPEDI) must navigate campus organizational and cultural barriers in order to effect…