This dissertation investigated the academic performance of immigrant high school students in urban settings, focusing specifically on mathematics. Drawing on Bandura's self-efficacy theory and Zea and colleagues' acculturation framework, the study explored the complex interplay between sources of self-efficacy, acculturation dimensions, and other…

This dissertation examined the issue of teacher shortages in the U.S. education system, with a specific focus on immigrant Filipino teachers as a solution. The research aimed to investigate the complex challenges and experiences faced by Filipino immigrant educators in American public schools, using a theoretical framework synthesized from…

The study of the personal and career narratives of immigrant Women of Color can lead to more appropriate standards in mainstream work environments and to the expansion of professional leadership opportunities for immigrant Women of Color. The experiences of immigrant Women of Color leaders are varied and complex, with each leader's experience…

As more children from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds (CLD) enroll in American public schools, the educational environment is changing. Teachers find it difficult to accommodate and assist this demographic of students, while attempting to comprehend the intricacies of students with such unique demands in schools that are historically…

Cultural discontinuity is recognized as a culturally motivated academic process where sociocultural behaviors and communicative skills valued in the home culture of students are discontinued at school thus resulting in their low academic performance. This process may be reinforced by structural inequality in the mainstream society and education…

This qualitative dissertation study explored how multilingual/multicultural immigrant high schoolers' multilayered identities intersected and shaped their experiences and imagined futures. I used intersectionality as a social action theory (Hill-Collins, 2019) as a theoretical lens to examine how multiple aspects of multilingual/multicultural…

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine how students of Somali-Jareer Bantu descent experience education, particularly how they navigate higher education in the United States and how they make meaning of their experiences. Grounded in a descriptive phenomenological approach, the design method includes semi-structured individual and focus…

Researchers interested in understanding the perspectives of U.S. minoritized parents of children with special needs often recruit participants based only on their ethnicity (e.g., Zuckerman et al., 2015; Jegatheesan, 2011; Chiang, 2014). However, this strategy masks the additional, unique challenges of minoritized parents who immigrated to the…

This study explores the transition experiences of first-generation Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) college students through the framework of Intersectionality Theory. The research examines how multiple intersecting identities, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and immigration status, influence these students'…

Literature exploring first-generation college students is evolving to include the often-missed lived postsecondary experiences of first-generation immigrant college students of color. Research delving further into the nuanced postsecondary aspirations and experiences of those college students of color who are both first-generation and from an…

For many years, the United States (U.S.) has been the country with the largest number of immigrants. As a result, policy about immigrant students' success becomes crucial since it carries not only ethical implications but also economic and societal implications. While there have been other alternatives for students' success, such as Career and…

Historically, teacher exams have been suspected of racial disparities and cultural bias. The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) report the first-time passing rate is 48%. While 75% of white applicants score a passing grade, a proficiency gap exists where only 38% of Black/African Americans pass. Foreign-born Black teachers are included in…

Increasing access and inclusion for underrepresented minorities in economics has been a focus for many in the discipline. Despite this, researchers have largely left two avenues of investigation that may provide insight into this issue unexplored: the role of community colleges and the role of reclassification of economics programs. I address the…

Indo-Fijian American women are intelligent, strong, humble, and passionate leaders who have contributed significantly to higher education. This study explored how the life histories and experiences of four Indo-Fijian American women leaders influenced their leadership development and practice. Much of what is known about Indo-Fijian American women…

Using validation theory as a conceptual framework this study sought to better understand the experiences of immigrant-origin students who were born outside of the United States (first-generation immigrant-origin students) attending a rural community college. Data on people who have immigrated to the United States show that immigrant-origin peoples…