The low transfer-out and degree completion rates amongst community college students transferring to four-year institutions demonstrates an issue that leaders within higher education should seek to address. In investigating the challenges transfer students encounter, I discovered that undergraduate students transferring from a community college to…

There has been a particular emphasis on the ways that an individual's concept of self and their own perceived academic competence is influenced by their socio and external environment (Bandura, 1999; Baumeister, 1999). However, existing research has provided little to no focus on how these internalized beliefs of self, and perceived academic…

Feelings of distress over the unknowns of the future refers to an intolerance of uncertainty (IU). IU is significantly linked to internalizing disorders like anxiety. College students are in a unique position of uncertainty and anxiety as they emerge into adulthood. Additionally, external sources of uncertainty, like the economy, may contribute to…

The Imposter Phenomenon (IP) has been studied since the 1930s but gained renewed interest with a spotlight on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The 2013 book, Lean In, by former Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg, brought the topic of IP into the spotlight focusing on women in the workplace who struggle with feeling like an Imposter. Although…

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…

This study explored the unique leadership journeys of Latinx women holding principal positions in K-12 schools across New Jersey. The research findings revealed that these women's career paths were significantly influenced by their social identity characteristics, specifically as female Latinx individuals. The study serves as a crucial reminder to…

Under the backdrop of high-quality development in China, college instructors are crucial for higher education institutions to achieve their high-quality goals. To motivate college instructors, these institutions have increased the requirements for professional titles. However, how instructors experience their workplace directly influences the…

This dissertation investigates the relationship between stigma, knowledge, and help-seeking attitudes among high school students in two New York City Jewish day schools: a Modern Orthodox all-boys high school and a Sephardic Orthodox Jewish all-girls high school. The primary focus is on understanding how these factors: stigma about mental illness…

This mixed methods study explores burnout in individuals who work in learning design and performance improvement. Fifty-three learning professionals completed a survey that gauged the degree of burnout, burnout causes and supports, and job satisfaction. Ten of those participants took part in interviews to collect further qualitative data. The data…

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth of color (LGBTQ-YOC) face disproportionate risks of adverse mental health outcomes, including higher rates of depression and suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (STB) compared to their White LGBTQ and heterosexual peers. Despite the documented disparities, there is a critical lack of…

This study examined the relationship between quality of friendship and social networking site (SNS) usage, co-rumination, and self-disclosure among 355 adolescents aged 11 to 15. Participants completed an online questionnaire addressing frequency, intensity, and rate of their online communication, how they perceived the positive and negative…

Career technical education and skilled trades have been the subject of a social stigma that continues to make it a habit of mind that career technical education is inferior to a 4-year college education. This stigma is partially responsible for a shortage of skilled labor. This study aimed to explore how educators describe and understand the…

Inclusive research based on collaborative partnership with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities has the potential to lead to relevant and meaningful research outcomes. An inclusive research approach is necessary for research endeavors which strive to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people with intellectual and developmental…

This dissertation explores the use of place-based pedagogy as a tool for teaching for transfer in a college composition class in West Virginia. Although existing composition scholarship indicates that themed classes (such as a place-based class) are unlikely to facilitate transfer among the students, this is mostly due to instructors of themed…

This study sought to understand the perceptions of African American males enrolled in remedial education courses within two-year institutions. The researcher gathered information by interviewing ten African American male students at community colleges in southern urban locations. This qualitative research allowed the researcher to learn directly…