Higher education institutions continue to make significant strides in increasing the number of women in leadership positions, however, there continues to be an underrepresentation of women in leadership positions at higher education institutions in the Western United States. To explore the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions, the…

The purpose of this dissertation is to describe the factors that support and hinder reform of career and technical education in Maine. The single case study design examined the experiences of eleven participants connected to a single Career and Technical Education (CTE) Regional School in Maine. Based upon the lived experiences at a single site,…

Purpose. The purpose of this qualitative, life history study was to explore the cumulation of life and lived work experience and perceptions of gay male K-12 teachers in Southern California, and how school leadership has affected that journey. Theoretical Framework. Queer theory was the theoretical framework used in this story. The theory studies…

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) persons are largely invisible in historically Black post-secondary education research and discourse. To this end, LGBTQ students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are often ignored and their voices are silenced, thus impacting their feelings of marginality and…

This research examined special education transfer as it pertains to students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), using a case study of the Lagos Speech Center (LSC), a special education program located in Lagos, Nigeria. The study also examined LSC's advocacy and awareness efforts in relation to disability rights in Nigeria. David Philip's theory…

Blind/Visually Impaired (VI) youth of Bangladesh face a significant level of segregation and oppression compared to all people with disabilities living in the country. They are excluded from mainstream education and also face severe inaccessibility in terms of infrastructure and resources. This study aimed to identify the current barriers and…

In postsecondary education, ethnic and racial disparities in student academic outcomes have continued to be of urgent concern in the current context of changing demographics, racial injustice, and economic realities. Despite knowing the effects of educators' role on students' sense of belonging and impact of culturally relevant pedagogies on…

Largely because it puts higher education within reach for all people, the community college is thought to play a vital role in the democratic functioning of American society. Partly driven by an ethos of American egalitarianism, low-cost and open access community colleges enroll, train, and educate nearly anyone who aspires to higher education.…

Undocumented Latino students who enroll in and attend colleges and universities face a multitude of barriers and often must navigate complex situations and structures that make them more vulnerable of not completing their education (Diaz-Strong & Meiners, 2007). When undocumented students attend colleges and universities, they often encounter…

One area of identity that challenges dominant ideals of professional, neat, or appropriate appearance is Black hair. Although Black hair expression is frequent in media, politics, and pop culture, there still remains a perceived stigma surrounding its presence in positions and environments (e.g. tenure positions or predominantly White…

The relationship between learning and labor has long been a topic of concern for sociologists of education. In this dissertation, I conduct an ethnography of open learning in the United States following the 2008 economic crisis and argue that a new style of learning is emerging amidst changes in the labor market. I call that new style of learning…

This critical explanatory mixed methods study examined elementary teachers' perceptions regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ-themed literature in the curriculum. An electronic survey questionnaire and focus group sessions were used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data that described the perceived benefits and barriers of LGBTQ-themed…

Through an ethnographic approach, the perceptions of female college presidents from the northeastern region of the United States regarding leadership styles and the characteristics to become and remain the chief executive officer of a college were investigated. Six presidents from various types of four-year colleges were interviewed. Themes,…

Since the 1970s, a continuous decline in the number of males entering into the teaching profession has resulted in significant underrepresentation of male teachers in public schools, especially in elementary schools. The problem is applications to elementary school positions by females far outnumber applications by males. This qualitative…

Female student affairs leaders who also have family responsibilities find that a primary challenge they encounter is society's expectations concerning their roles and responsibilities in both realms. Research discovers that women experience internal and external barriers that hinder their advancement opportunities however; women's…