Women are forced to navigate many barriers while pursuing a leadership position. Alice Eagly and Linda Carli (2007) introduced the metaphor 'labyrinth of leadership' as a well-rounded image that represents the complex journey women face while pursuing leadership opportunities. The sample of this study included women who currently hold a provost…

The purpose of this study was to examine the organizational cultures of collegiate and professional athletics and the influence they have on Black women's leadership opportunities. It also explored inclusive leadership and the impact this has on the experiences of Black women in athletics. Despite how long Black women have existed in this country…

The percentage of female faculty members who have achieved tenure is disproportionately represented against their male peers. Even more so, female faculty members who are also mothers, or mother-scholars, represent less than half of tenured female faculty. Current research posits that a lack of female faculty in higher education translates to a…

The problem addressed in this study was that elementary teachers in a culturally and racially diverse school district in the Midwest did not have adequate training, support, and resources to implement culturally responsive teaching strategies. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore teachers' perspectives on their current needs for…

This qualitative, multiple case study examined the factors that affect classroom experiences of trans* college students in the United States pursuing associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees. Participants included 19 students with a variety of trans* identities attending various institutions across the United States. I conducted…

Scholars Leonard & Woodland (2022) suggest schools and districts face a crucial challenge. Are schools and districts ensuring their personnel are prepared to engage in critical practices to affirm, include, and support all students, families, peers, and communities? Or are schools and districts just haphazardly committing to diversity, equity,…

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenology study was to explore how African American women administrators described their lived experiences of achieving leadership roles in higher education in the Southern region of the United States. McClelland's achievement motivation theory was utilized in a study to analyze the experiences of African…

This qualitative study looked at the experience of teachers, past and present, who have taught Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) students at an inclusive school on an island nation. The researcher explored the perceived ability of the teachers to support these students in learning social and emotional skills. Additionally, the study included the…

Race-based over-representation in special education, or disproportionality, is a pervasive equity issue correlated with poorer educational outcomes. While racial disproportionality is described widely in literature as a persistent and significant problem, few studies suggest ways to positively disrupt this pattern. This study aimed to test whether…

This dissertation delves into the unique experiences of contemporary polygamist women pursuing higher education, exploring the intersectionality of their cultural backgrounds, educational aspirations, and the challenges they encounter within academic settings. The study critically examines the applicability of equity-centered, trauma-informed…

The problem addressed in this study is that the number of historically marginalized and diverse students in U.S. classrooms is rapidly increasing and schools are not prepared to address the need for culturally responsive curriculum and instruction. This study is important because K-12 principals are challenged to address equity, inclusion, and…

This study investigated the impact of professional development support structures for enhancing teacher mastery of Response to Intervention (RTI) in an urban elementary school setting. With a focus on effective implementation strategies, the research explored the role of tailored professional development initiatives in equipping educators with the…

In this participatory action research study, I designed a digital storytelling program to facilitate conversations with racially minoritized students about their experiences with diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus--an elite, predominantly white, state flagship. I implemented this program with three groups of students (18 students total)…

This dissertation investigated how expansive framing can foster an inclusive and empowering learning environment for minoritized students in first-year seminars that focus on composition. This paper is especially important for those who teach and support minoritized students who often face crises of faith about belonging at primarily white…

This research focuses on the critical components of caring relationships and how they relate to first-generation Black students' achievement in higher education. It will reveal how staff-led collegiate programming could benefit first-generation Black college students by allowing them to establish caring relationships and mentorships that allow…