The U.S. Latino population has surpassed 62 million and is projected to represent close to 29% of the entire U. S. population by 2060. Despite being the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States, Latinos hold the fewest college degrees compared to their peers. Current research illustrates that to address the lag in rates of degree…

Student ratings of instruction are used to elicit formative feedback to help improve teaching quality, however, due to their subjective nature they are vulnerable to implicit bias. In particular, gender bias, as framed by role congruity theory, has the potential to negatively impact female instructors more than their male counterparts. Changing…

Leadership development is a broadly discussed topic in industries across the globe. In education, administrative leadership has been explored at length, as has student leadership development. What is yet to be understood are the nuanced perspectives of leadership development for different student identities. This study explores women's student…

"Aya: The Enduring Spirit of Black Women in Higher Education" is a research study that sought out to better understand the experiences of Black women inside of higher education. Building off of two previous unpublished research studies that focused on the resources that enable Black women to stay in their programs, this study took a more…

This dissertation explores the impact of student organizations on the persistence of women in STEM programs at the associate degree level. The findings reveal that participation in SkillsUSA provides students with valuable opportunities for hands-on learning, skill development, and career exploration, all of which contribute to the persistence of…

Women face unique challenges in pursuing a doctorate, with potential barriers including Imposter Phenomenon (IP) and Multidimensional Perfectionism (MP). Intersectionality can intensify these feelings for Women of Color. Additionally, societal and organizational barriers hinder women's advancement to leadership roles, perpetuating stereotypes and…

This study explores the intricate narratives and experiences of Black women navigating the landscape of post-secondary business education. Drawing from Black feminist theory, this research aims to shed light on the nuanced challenges and triumphs faced by Black women within the confines of business education. Employing qualitative methods,…

This dissertation is an exploration of leader identity development and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) college academic classrooms. While there continues to be research promoting diversity in STEM professions, women remain underrepresented in STEM disciplines, leadership positions, and for this specific study, the…

This study examined the lived experiences of Black girls at a Predominantly White Independent School (PWIS). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight Black, female graduates of Arlington Hall, a private school in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. Transcripts were analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to…

The importance of post-traditional women's persistence in earning credentials at a community college cannot be understated. The literature addresses the issue of non-completion within the community college; however, it does not address why or how some students complete, in this instance, post-traditional women. Deficiencies exist in the…

The demographics of people attending higher education institutions are changing as more women enroll and complete their studies. Initially not designed to educate women, and certainly not Black women, institutions of higher education do not show interest in exploring ways in which they could make their campuses more inclusive to Black women.…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to conduct an exploration of resilience and how it motivates Black women in graduate degree programs to persist through feelings of imposter syndrome. The related research question was: "How do Black women graduate degree completers build resilience?" While existing as a double minority…

This study considered the experiences of graduate sorority women in Black Greek-lettered organizations (BGLOs) with social activism, using contemporary examples like Black Lives Matter as a lens. BGLOs exist as part of the fraternity and sorority framework at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). These organizations provide networking,…

Little attention has been given to research focusing on stress, coping, and their relation to body image for female collegiate endurance athletes. Beginning with a historical overview of the female collegiate athlete experience, the current study then implemented a synthesis of diverse research and theory to frame these relationships.…

The Flexner Report (1910) established the assessment that provided the standards of medical education. Although the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) has updated standards to increase the diversity of medical students throughout the years, the percentage of Black medical students identifying as women has not increased as expected.…